Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(99)

“We can’t let her find out who that other dude is. She knows we’re not bad guys, so why bring it to us?”

“She’s hoping we work the case for our own gain and probably has a copy that will change based on what happens to the original.” Jeremy swallowed hard. “It’s what I would do.”

“You are the expert on shady shit.” Simone shook her head in disgust.

“If we accept the job, she seems like the type to want a signed contract.” Clive frowned at the energy vamp. “I’m not up for that.”

“Maybe we can—” Jeremy began, but Clive cut him off.

“An innocent could die if she finds the right spell.”

“What do we do?” Simone asked.

“We take the job because we don’t have a choice either way,” Clive said. “Her propensity for killing makes her threat credible, and she may have other hostages we’re unaware of to force Mr. Ragsdale’s hand. Assuming he cares.”

Last-name basis. Clive was definitely as pissed as she was. “I vote that Clive is probably right. What about you, asshole?” Simone turned to Jeremy.

“He doesn’t get a vote,” Clive said before Jeremy could answer.

Jeremy crossed his arms. “Yes, I’m so awful and not an honorable knight who couldn’t possibly be considering this job because he wants the photo for himself.”

“Don’t assign me your low morals.” Clive pointed at the energy vamp. “Make us heard again.” When Jeremy snapped his fingers to end the spell, Clive addressed the vamp, “We’ll take the job and upon completion, Mr. Ragsdale will hand over whatever property he has of yours. He will also remove the barrier.”

“Not a chance in hell,” Jeremy said.

Simone glared at him. “Stow your drama. She’s not gonna try anything until we give her what she wants.” Deep down, she prayed she was wrong.

“Shit.” Jeremy waved his hand in the air, and the alarms stopped.

“What a quaint spell.” The witch rubbed her hands together. “We have a deal.” She suddenly leaned forward while keeping her hands at her sides. She tilted her head toward Jeremy. “Do you know my name?”

“That’s not something you give out freely,” Jeremy said.

Simone closed her eyes. Fuck me. I’m going to kill him.

The woman sighed. “A simple no would have sufficed, but avoiding me hearing a lie means yes.” She walked backward while keeping Jeremy in her view. “Have the results soon, so I can forgive your trespass.”

When she walked out the door, Clive pointed to the inner offices. “I want you out of my sight, Mr. Ragsdale.”

“I’m not a child who hangs on every word you say, Sir Knight.”

Clive rushed to Jeremy’s side so quickly that Simone thought he was going to hit him. “If I look upon you longer than need be, so help me I will strike you.”

Jeremy’s eyes glowed. “If you want to try, then go ahead.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you had her personal items and name?” Simone asked. “You knew she and her people were a danger to my pack, and you had the tools to bring her down this whole time.”

Jeremy’s eyes stopped glowing. “It’s not that simple. What I have isn’t enough to kill her, and she has several curses in place for anyone who utters her name. I only have two strands of her hair.”

“That’s more than enough!” Clive shouted just as Edarra walked through the door.

The Amazon froze. “Did I miss something?”

“Big Bad paid a visit, and Jeremy got caught holding out on her name and hair,” Simone said.

Edarra frowned at Jeremy. “Why would you do something so grievous?”

“Because Mr. Ragsdale only thinks about himself,” Clive answered. “I’ll be in my office for the rest of the day.” He stalked off, and the two women stood staring at Jeremy.

“Fuck this.” Jeremy turned toward his own office.

Oh hell no. Simone followed him because they were so not done.




“BRILLIANT,” JEREMY muttered because his only choice was to slam the door on Simone. He didn’t close it and put his back to the cabinet. “Come on, give me the ‘I done fucked up’ speech.”

“Don’t belittle this shit. This was about you one-uping us, so you can say how much smarter you are.”

“It’s not like that!” Jeremy shouted. “I didn’t know if your plan or the Council’s would work, so I kept the hair as a backup.”

“When were you going to whip it out and save the day?”

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?”

“Today! That’s what I was bloody trying to tell you earlier.”

Simone’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Are you fucking serious? You expect me to believe that bullshit?”

“You’re the one who cut me off!”

“Well, you know what? It was too fucking late anyway!” Simone threw her hands up. “I don’t know what to say to you right now, so I’m walking away and hopefully, you’ll stay out of my way too.” Simone turned her back on Jeremy and left his office.

A few moments later, Edarra stood in the doorway, and if Jeremy heard one more speech, he’d walk out. “There aren’t a lot of pieces left to take out of my hide.”