Page 7 of Sins of Leo

“Might not be them,” Leo muttered, even as it seemed likely. Cetus, a company that seemed benign on the surface, had shown interest in the Zodiacs of late. An unhealthy interest. Apparently blowing up their headquarters might not have been enough to discourage it.

“One way or another, we need to find out who sent him.” Aries turned his stern gaze back on the thief. “I want to know exactly what was said. Was this image the only thing you were supposed to take?”

“Nah, I was also told to look for a journal by a Dr. Octavius Warmstone, which I didn’t find.”

Octavius Warmstone. Obviously related to his shrink.

“You said they contacted you on the dark web,” Aries stated. “Did you keep those messages?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll need to see them,” Aries demanded.

“No way. If it becomes known I ratted out an employer, I’ll get blacklisted.” The thief had the nerve to whine.

“Let me make something clear to you. One, I don’t give a fuck if you get any more jobs to rip off people. Two, if you don’t tell me what I want, then you’ll force me to do unpleasant things to get those answers—hope you’re not attached to your body parts. And three, I have no problem ridding the world of scum, so give me an excuse.”

Turned out Aries didn’t need to offer a fourth reason to cooperate.

The thief, one Theo Brown, AKA Magpie, spilled everything he knew. He gave Aquarius, the Zodiac tech expert, access to his dark web account for a task board that catered to those looking to hire people who didn’t care about laws. The messages for Theo’s current job weren’t very detailed. Basically, steal two specific items—a journal and the image—then earn fifty grand. No reason given. No identity listed for the hiring party.

Aquarius, who’d been the one to do the digging on the dark web, cracked his knuckles. “Guess I better get hacking to see who hired Theo.”

Speaking of whom… “What are we doing with the thief?” Leo asked Aries. For the moment, Theo blubbered in a cell.

“I don’t know. Execution might be extreme for a guy who’s just a high-priced crook.”

“He tried to use a knife on me,” Leo reminded.

“He also swore he’s never stabbed anyone.” Aries rubbed his jaw. “Still, even if he doesn’t physically harm his victims, he’s far from innocent.”

“Want me to take him out to the desert and make him into vulture food?” Leo believed in recycling, and that included bodies. Cycle of life and all.

“No. He’s scum, but his crimes don’t merit death. At the same time, I don’t think we should dump him back in New York.”

“What are you thinking?”

“That we give Theo a fresh start,” Aries replied with a grin.

The boss had Sage cook up a forgetful potion, which the thief chugged after being persuaded with threats of being dumped naked in the desert. When the guy’s eyes glazed over, Aries had Leo take him through a portal—the kind that linked to a specific location. The one chosen led to Australia. Theo would be released with only the clothes on his back, a thousand buckscash, and a subliminal message to get a job, a real one. As for his ill-gotten gains spread across three banks? Aquarius siphoned the funds. After all, it wasn’t as if the Zodiacs got paid to protect the world. Let Theo realize crime didn’t pay. Maybe he’d turn over a new leaf. Maybe he wouldn’t. Whatever the case, Leo didn’t care. What did bother was the knowledge that someone hired Theo to target his shrink.

A shrink Leo had been told to see specifically by Sage—Sage being the Zodiacs’ seer.

Why the sudden interest in Dr. Warmstone? Upon meeting her, Leo had taken in her appearance. A woman somewhere in her thirties with a chin-length haircut that went well with her no-nonsense suit. A professional outfit that didn’t manage to conceal the generous hips, nipped waist, and bosom that strained behind her blazer. Despite not wearing makeup, her lips were full and her lashes thick. All in all, very attractive.

Leo almost slapped himself at the last thought. Her looks didn’t matter. He’d sworn off relationships after Kylie. Women were nothing but trouble.

But apparently, he wasn’t done with this one yet. When he went to grab dinner, Aries beckoned Leo to join him and his wife, Sage.

The mystic, currently a few months pregnant, smiled. “How did your first therapy session go?”

“Didn’t do much, seeing as how it got interrupted,” Leo replied before shoving food in his mouth in the hopes of avoiding a conversation about his mental state.

“I’m sure the next one will be more productive,” Aries replied.

“Ha,” Leo snorted. “As if I can go back.” Leo kept shoveling his dinner as fast as he could so he could escape to his room and the bottle of whiskey that awaited. He’d not had a sip in hours, as he hadn’t wanted to be falling-over drunk for his first session.

“Why wouldn’t you?” Aries asked with a furrowed brow.

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