Guild Boss (Ghost Hunters #14)(32)

“I’ll get the sheets and a blanket,” she said.

She started down the hall.

“Lucy?”

She turned around, aware that she was suddenly, and for no apparent reason, holding her breath. “Yes?”

“I enjoyed dancing with you tonight,” Gabriel said.

She smiled a little. “All in all, I’d say the evening went well right up until Otis destroyed the engagement cake and those men tried to grab you. But who’s quibbling? It was my first date in two months.”

“It’s been a while for me, too.”

“I’ll get the bedding stuff.”





CHAPTER TEN





Disaster. Again.

Dillon Westover poured himself another glass of good whiskey to calm his rage and frustration. He walked across the vast expanse of the living room, opened the glass doors, and went outside onto the deck. Gripping the railing with one hand, he took a healthy slug of the booze.

He contemplated the glittering Amber Zone spread out before him and the glowing ruins beyond. He had been a fool to rush the job. But the client was really leaning on him. He was in too deep. He had a feeling that if he didn’t salvage the project, he might not survive.

The hastily organized effort tonight had ended in failure, just as his intuition had warned him and just as Tuck had predicted. Taking out a Guild boss was always an extremely high-risk endeavor. The men at the top of the Guilds got to their positions of power because they were strong, dangerous, and ruthless. They had survived just about everything the Underworld could throw at them and managed to navigate the treacherous waters of Guild politics. They were never easy targets.

Arranging for the disappearance of a Guild boss required extensive planning, and above all, it meant making certain there was no evidence left at the scene.

The only sensible strategy was to handle the entire process in the Underworld, where murder could easily be explained as death by natural paranormal causes.

The attempt at a quick grab-and-go on the surface had been a serious mistake, but thankfully, he had been smart enough to outsource the job. There was no connection to his private security team. That meant no link to him.

Next time he would arrange things so that the murder of a Guild boss and the kidnapping of his lover happened in the Underworld. No more relying on out-of-town talent. He would use Blue Amber.





CHAPTER ELEVEN





Gabriel was pouring a second cup of coffee for Lucy and thinking that it was very pleasant to have breakfast with her when the heavy black SUV pulled up in front of the apartment house. Lucy went to the window.

“Another Guild car,” she reported. “Can’t miss one. Has management ever considered a color other than black for its fleet?”

“No,” Gabriel said. He set the pot down. “Tradition.”

A short time later the entry buzzer went off.

“That’ll be Joe,” Gabriel said. “I’ll get it.”

He set the pot down and rezzed the button.

“It’s me, Boss,” Joe announced.

“Here you go.” Gabriel hit the enter button. “When you’re inside the lobby, take the stairs to the second floor. Number five.”

“Got it,” Joe said.

Otis was on top of the refrigerator, enthusiastically working his way through a bowl of scrambled eggs. He abandoned his breakfast, grabbed his toy dust bunny, and bounced down to the counter. He landed next to the toaster and gave Gabriel an expectant look.

“Sure, you can come with me,” Gabriel said.

Otis launched himself up onto Gabriel’s shoulder.

Lucy went back to the counter and sat down. “Tell Joe he’s welcome to a cup of coffee.”

Gabriel paused in the kitchen doorway and looked at her. His blood heated a little. This morning she was dressed for Underworld work in cargo trousers and a loose-fitting denim work shirt. The glamorous, mysterious witch from the night before was gone, but the cool, determined professional weather channeler was just as fascinating, just as compelling. Regardless of what she wore, the seductive power of her aura called to his senses.

He had to make himself continue toward the door.

Joe was standing in the hall. He had a pair of boots in one hand and a duffel bag in the other. “Your change of clothes, Boss. When I went into your apartment, I noticed you didn’t have much in the way of furniture yet.”

“I’ve been busy,” Gabriel said.

“Right. The rest of your Underworld gear is in the back of your vehicle.”

“Thanks.” Gabriel stepped back and opened the door. “Come on in. Did Aiden pull up any information on those three guys who tried to get in our way last night?”

“Yep.” Joe shook his head in disgust. “Low-rent, out-of-town muscle. The cops didn’t recognize them. Definitely ex-Guild men, though. Free-lancers who do contract work for anyone who will hire them.”

“Who were they working for last night?”

“They claim they don’t know. It was a brokered job as far as they’re concerned, and the police believe them. I agree. Locating the broker won’t be easy. You know how it is with those guys. They’re very good at staying in the shadows. It’s going to take a while to find whoever put the deal together, but there can’t be a lot of guys who would take the risk of arranging the kidnapping and murder of a Guild boss.”