Page 21 of Pike

“What is this you’ve brought?” The speaker stepped forward and stared up at them. The hair on his head twitched, the color of grayish-brown fur. Herb strode past his comrades and held out a hand. Stopping a couple of feet away from them. “Bring her to me.”

Lavinia swallowed loud enough for him to hear. “I’d rather not.”

“She smells delicious.” Herb leaned back his head and sniffed the air. “Is that a masking spell? Pike, what are you trying to hide?”

“None of your business. She’s not here for you. Just a casual observer. I’m ready to pay up.” He went for his wallet. “In full.”

The shifter stroked a hand through his hair and gestured with his chin. “Grab it.”

Two men moved toward them through the mire. The one on the left squealed. Lavinia nearly leaped through her skin.

“It’s okay,” Pike soothed. “Nothing to fear.”

“Oh, she has plenty to fear. All it would take is a little scratch to have her on the floor, bones snapping.” Herb seemed to delight in the image. “She’d make a grade-A shifter. And so beautiful.”

When Pike spoke again, his tone was sharp. “That’s enough.” Lavinia pressed closer, as if she could sink into him and disappear.

The nearest shifter crept close enough to take the outstretched wad of cash. Pike wondered if Lavinia could see the intelligence in their eyes. The humanity despite their appearance. Sure, these guys were the scourge of the were world, but they weren’t animals, if one ignored the four-inch-long yellow incisors with razor edges and lips pulled back in a half snarl, half smile. They had decent characters as well, as long as you were on the right side of a deal.

“Thank you for your cooperation.” Pike bent at the waist in a curt bow. “It’s all there.”

Herb glanced his way when the cash fell into his palm. “This isn’t a trust situation, Radclyffe. This is business.”

“You have no reason not to trust me. I’ve been a loyal patron for years. Decades.”

“Decades it may be. However, we’ve survived this long by being smart. Counting a payment is a smart practice.”

“So suspicious.” He ignored the wide-eyed look Lavinia shot in his direction, the questions written across her face. She only knew what little he’d told her about his past. This amounted to nothing in the grand scheme. Here was proof of his life, outside witnesses with insight she didn’t have. She wanted answers he wasn’t ready to give.

“How about you throw her in tonight?” Herb swung his chin in Lavinia’s direction. “I’ll hand half of this back to you right now if you give her to me.”

Pike stiffened. “I don’t think so.”

“I’ll hand this entire wad of cash back to you, then. One-time deal. Hand me the woman.” Herb drew in a deep breath and motioned to one of his henchmen. “The necklace.”

The closest shifter was behind her in seconds. A single swipe of a pointed yellow nail had her necklace tumbling to the ground. Lavinia gasped, her hand rising to her neck.

“Psychic,” Herb said, “but not just psychic. Immortal. How interesting! We could have fun.”

“I’ll pass, thanks anyway. Despite your pleasantries,” Lavinia said. Sure, her voice trembled. Her body wasn’t much steadier. Still, she stood up for herself. “I’ve seen your party space and I’m not impressed.”

Part of him wanted to applaud her indisputable courage.

The leader froze. Dammit, Pike thought. Provocation might be his normal cup of tea, but not when it came to the rats.

“We’ll be taking our leave. Keep the cash. We’re done here.”

A heckling laugh drew his attention. “Not so fast, Pike. I think we can make a deal. Sit. Stay for a while. Let me teach your friend some manners.”

CHAPTER 6

Oh, shit. She wasn’t built for this line of work. The kind of work that involved being aggressive, beating heads, and taking names to go along with them. She’d never been good with names, either.

Her body didn’t want to respond to anything adrenaline-related right now, let alone the threat of an attack. More than a threat, judging from the unblinking look in the shifter’s eyes. Especially when a single scratch could earn her banishment to the sewers with less than reputable company.

“What are we going to do?” she asked Pike. “Please don’t tell me you want me to fight them one on one. I don’t have it in me. It’s past my bedtime.”

Pike pressed the weight of his powerful form into hers, pushing her against the wall and keeping a forearm glued to her shoulder. “Stay back.” His eyes were fierce. “I’ll let you know when I need you.”

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