Page 45 of Love & Heart Braking

But there were a couple of things that I could get immediately before or upon signing, and that made these negotiations worthwhile. “The cupid in your possession will need to be released before I give you anything.”

“Pending his acceptance of a seal, then agreed,” Tiqlig said.

That was so messed up.

They’d taken Jaeke off the street, committed a serious crime, and they weren’t afraid whatsoever to admit it. Behind closed doors anyway. That made my stomach roil. “I’ll also need to see the daemon before I sign. I wasn’t aware there were any gen ones left in that line, and I’m sure you can understand that I believe very little out of your mouths.”

The sphinx lifted its head to regard me.

But not his paw.

If his paw was lifting, I’d be jumping through the yawning hole in the floor.

He lowered his head again.

Phew.

The four representatives of the twelve exchanged long looks.

“No,” Li said.

I snorted. “Then I guess this is over.”

“Poor Jaeke.” Mr. Hucs clucked.

“Guess so,” I replied shortly, grabbing my tote. “I’ll show myself out. I’m not going out on a limb for you guys with no guarantee there’s something in it for me.”

“What’s in it for you,” the siren hissed, “is that we don’t kill everyone you love.”

“You won’t kill Soleil. You may try to force her return to the estate, but you won’t kill her.”

He pressed his lips together. Yeah, we’re onto you, dickwad.

“Detective Vincori,” Acribus announced.

I rolled my eyes, though my heart hammered. “What about him?”

Li grinned. “I enjoyed listening to your little ‘no you hang up’ conversation the other day.”

Dammit. They could listen in on phone conversations? Fuck. Soleil and I usually saved the juicy stuff for Gossip O’clock because of the confidentiality securities on Yearning Hearts. But we definitely said secret stuff over the phone too.

I lifted a shoulder. “I broke up with him. He works too much. Anyone else you’d like to threaten? I don’t have any family just in case you haven’t checked that already.” I waited. “No? All right. Have a good evening.”

Walking to the sphinx, I held out my hand for the document. Cool, I could see each one of his whiskers from here.

The sphinx lifted his hands to give me the document. I tensed even though he’d been so purposeful about using both.

“Clause 102 is very good,” he murmured. “But will it save the day?”

The twelve didn’t fail to hear him and narrowed their gazes on the contract in my hands.

Uh… “Thanks?” I offered.

Tiqlig said something in undertones to the others, then stood. “We will arrange for the release of the cupid.”

“Jaeke,” I stressed.

He nodded. “Jaeke.”

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