Page 41 of Seer

Mutters fill the room, and I glance around, confused by everyone’s reaction. I open my mouth to ask Seer, but he shakes his head and speaks over me.

“Next on the agenda. Kai was arrested but not charged tonight for terroristic threats. Ma,” he motions to Judge, who steps forward with her wife on her right like a sentinel.

“What have I always told you if you’re in lock up?” She leans over the table and taps her long red painted nail on the table, staring her son down.

“Keep our mouth shut until you or Abel arrive,” Kai says from our left.

“Exactly! And you follow directions well, Cher.” The members seated around us chuckle.

“Ma,” her hand flies up to stop her son from speaking.

Seer lets out a rumbling noise of annoyance that runs down my back.

“Fabien Alexander Fukama, did you just growl at your mother?” Karma’s eyes narrow.

Oh shit.

I feel like I’m in the direct line of fire and attempt to use this as my excuse to get off his lap, but his arms form a vice around my waist, and I glance at him.

“Are you using me as a human shield?” It comes out louder than I meant, making the people closest to us chuckle.

“Yes, baby. Do not move.” He kisses my nose and then turns to his Ma.

“I’m sorry I didn’t follow protocol.” She straightens at his words but does not stop glaring.

“Cher, what the fuck were you thinking!” Her shout stops all other speech in the room.

“That my partner was being accused of something he didn’t do.” He shrugs behind me.

“You told that cop you sign all your threats.” Every single head turns to us.

“Yes?” I close my eyes.

His mothers are going to kill him.

“Bête! ARIA, call Abel.” Judge’s voice activates the AI system.

Mutters start as I stare at Seer.

“Evening all. Fill me in on what I’ve missed.” Abel’s voice sounds downright cheery.

“We have a possible murder being pinned on my idiot son and partner. What did you find on Charlotte Monroe?” She crosses her arms, and Karma rubs her shoulders.

Neither of them have stopped watching us.

“Not much. Charlotte Monroe, twenty-three years old, with no family to speak of, lives alone in the Garden District; she was reported missing and presumed dead after neighbors called the police about a weird smell three days ago. Nobody has been recovered, but it’s the bayou, so the chances of that happening are slim if whoever did this is a pro.” Abel trails off as the speaker fills with sounds of tapping.

“Now that is interesting.” He sounds amused.

“What Cher? I’m not in the mood for your theatrics tonight.” Judge’s voice is clipped.

“Seems Ms. Monroe isn’t as squeaky clean as she portrayed.” He lets out an evil laugh that makes me widen my eyes.

“Cannibal, what did you find?” Seer sighs in annoyance and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Seems Ms. Charlotte is an alias. Let me do some more digging.” The line goes dead, leaving us all looking around the table with more questions than answers.

Chapter

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