Page 114 of Lady Killer

“You didn’t uphold your end of our agreement. I can leave,” I threatened.

His nostrils flared. “If you think we’ll just let you go, little demon, you’re not as smart as you think.”

“I think that if you lock me up and throw away the key, then I am as good as dead.”

“We can catch the killer without you,” Alister argued, but his voice lacked its usual stoic conviction.

“Are you willing to bet my life on it?”

Alister swallowed as Nixon let out a low whistle.

“Damn, she’s got you there, Ali.”

I looked up at Alister, begging him silently to understand.

He sighed in defeat. “We’ll talk to Lucian about setting up a trap.”

I pressed my head into his chest in relief.

“But you have to be the one to tell Ever, ma petite diablesse . . .”

“Absolutely not!” yelled Everest over the speakerphone.

He was currently in California hunting down a movie executive who’d made the mistake of taking advantage of the daughter of one of the Blackwells’ clients.

“Lucian, you have to stop this!”

Alister, Nixon, and I were seated around Lucian’s desk while we called Everest.

The eldest Blackwell had frowned when I told him my idea but agreed it was the best path forward.

“It’s already done,” I said, “and there is nothing for you to worry about.”

Time was of the essence, and I had texted Clayton as soon as I was out of sight of the twins.

“It was her idea, Ever. Would you rather I let her go off on her own, without any backup or safety measures?” said Lucian.

“I would rather you lock her up and keep her safe and alive until I am back across this goddess-damn country to talk some sense into her! Ali, do something!”

I don’t think I had ever heard Everest yell. The man was passion incarnate, but he never raised his voice.

Alister pinched his lips. “I’m afraid I have been outvoted.”

“Have you all lost your fucking—‍”

I reached over and tapped the Mute button on the phone. “Do we need him for this? I don’t think he’s going to stop yelling any time soon, and I’d like to make a concrete plan.”

Nixon chuckled while Alister sighed, and Lucian looked at me appraisingly.

“Clayton’s expecting to meet me on Friday evening after class. I assumed you would want some say in location to control the situation. Was I wrong?”

I wasn’t.

Lucian kept his eyes on me as he reached over to the phone to unmute it.

“—unpredictable! It’s insane that you think—‍”

“Everest, be quiet and listen, or we’re hanging up on you.” His voice was low and authoritative, and it sent a pleasant prickle down the back of my neck.

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