Page 24 of Exes, Hexes, and Strategy
“You’ll also need to decide who on your team will be doing what,” Cam added. “Play to your strengths, decide how best to use your magical assist, who will be on coms, and, of course, shifters are excellent trackers.”
“Not so much in my case,” Sierra stated with a little frown. “Felines don’t have the best noses. I can climb just about anything though,” she added hopefully. “And if you need someone to sneak into a building, I’m your girl.”
There were several nods, and three of the four vampires began to speak at once, each of them attempting to take command while Rafe, Nina noticed, remained quiet – just watching, and waiting.
Cam let out a sharp whistle. “None of this needs to be decided tonight,” he pointed out before moving to open a blue and white cooler that had been set off to the side. Pulling out four bags of blood, he tossed them to the vampires. “Tonight, you’re all going out together as a team, do some bonding. This will be your last chance to blow off steam for a while, so blood up, vamps. We’re all going dancing, and we can’t have you snacking on the population.”
Her team wasn’t the only one going out tonight. When Nina arrived back at her room, it was to find Mel with her entire wardrobe spread out on every surface of the room as she held up a particular ensemble in front of her and scrutinized her appearance in the mirror.
“Oh, my God!” her friend gushed, dropping the clothes and latching immediately onto Nina’s arm as soon as she entered the room. “You’re on the same team as Rafe! How exciting is that?” Her face quickly morphed into an exaggerated pout. “I’m so jealous. Why couldn’t Logan and I be on the same team?”
Since she knew the question was rhetorical, Nina didn’t bother to answer, motioning instead to the colorful display of clothes. “You’re going out too?”
“Yes! Isn’t it exciting? A night out in New Orleans! You have to help me get ready.”
Mel’s enthusiasm was nothing if not contagious, and they fell easily into their old rhythms. How many times had they picked out each other’s clothes through the years, done each other’s hair and make-up before a night out on the town? They joked around, laughter ringing through the room, and by the time they headed downstairs to meet up with the others, Nina was feeling at ease, and almost as excited for this night out as Mel was. She’d have to be cautious, yes, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have fun.
Rafe, who she, of course, spotted almost immediately, was standing with Logan, talking, and Mel, bless her, immediately grabbed Nina’s arm and pulled her along, stating loudly enough for anyone to hear that they needed to talk to Logan. One could always count on Mel to cut straight through the awkward to get the desired result, and as such, she was standing in front of Rafe in what seemed like two seconds flat.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured low enough for her ears only.
He looked good as well – scrumdiddlyumptious, as Mel would have put it – in a pale yellow button-down that perfectly complimented his tanned complexion. He’d left it unbuttoned at the neck and had rolled up the sleeves to display his deliciously muscular forearms for a more casual look. Crisply pressed black trousers and a black leather belt that matched the shoes on his feet finished the ensemble.
“You guys match,” Mel hissed in Nina’s ear. “That issocute.”
Nina hadn’t made the connection, but Mel was right. She’d chosen to wear a yellow, sleeveless blouse, and narrow black trousers though she’d paired hers with a crimson scarf, matching belt, and red leather half-boots with kitten heels, but she and Rafe did kind of match.
“So where are we all going?”
“Bourbon Street,” was Logan’s succinct reply and Mel let out a squeal of delight that had the poor man flinching at the assault to his sensitive shifter ears.
“We’ll take my car?” Rafe suggested.
Nina was about to suggest they go in separate vehicles when Mel let out another squeal and began bouncing up and down in excitement, practically screaming, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
She shot her friend a speaking glance which Mel didn’t even pretend to misunderstand though she feigned thoughtfulness, tapping her chin, as she pointed out, “Hm, let’s see. Arriving for a night out on Bourbon Street in your Frankenstein mobile or arriving in style in Rafe’s sweet Maserati. Let me think…” Mel rolled her eyes. “Um, no brainer.”
Nina scowled at the uncomplimentary description of her car but conceded the point.
Chapter Fifteen
This job was a big waste of time. Nina Errani was firmly ensconced behind the walls of a Hunter training facility. It wasn’t like he could just walk into the place to keep an eye on the witch. Now, if this had been a termination, that would have been different. There wasn’t a building standing that could keep him out if he wanted in. Get in, eliminate the target, silently, efficiently, get out. Easy – or it would have been if this particular facility weren’t being run by Morgan Rhys. He knew Morgan, and shadow he may be, but the almost legendary first female Hunter had a nose that would put most shifters to shame. Goddamn bloodhound. He wouldn’t be surprised if she’d smell him coming. But this wasn’t a termination. DeMarco suspected this witch he’d been set to watch had put a spell on the man’s son, and his job was to see if they were, in fact, spotted together. So, all he could do was sit here and wait.
It was a good thing this job was paying a small fortune, or he would have been out of there. He hated the boring shit. Always had. He loved the hunt, the thrill of stalking his prey, that’s what had made him a phenomenal Hunter back in the day. He’d only left them because he didn’t play well with others and the Hunters’ Society had gotten it into their head that they should begin working in teams. Bullshit. But, whatever. This work, as it turned out, suited him even better. Assassinations, espionage, smuggling, he did it all – for a price – and he’d become an obscenely rich man for it.
The doors to the facility opened and people began spilling out. The sound of laughter carried to him on the wind. He raised his high-powered binoculars to his eyes. Fifteen, then twenty, then thirty people milling about, speaking with excitement as they broke off and headed to vehicles, and among them, was his target. It looked like this job might pick up after all – and what was this? Nina Errani looked to be getting into a car with none other than Raphael DeMarco. A cynical approximation of a smile curved his lips. Snapping a picture with a murmured, “Gotcha”, he climbed into his car to follow the group leaving the school. The chase was on, and a predatory thrill of anticipation shot through him.
∞∞∞
Bourbon Street was amazing. The people, the music, the festive atmosphere… and not only that, but Nina was shocked to learn you could actually buy a drink in one place and leave with it, openly drinking on the street. It was crazy, and she loved it!
Mel suddenly bumped her, her eyes wide and her head nodding vigorously to the right. Glancing over to see what had her friend acting weird, or weirder than usual, she spotted a shop proclaiming itself a house of voodoo.
“I bet someone in there could teach us how to do a hex,” Mel whispered, her eyes flicking pointedly to Rafe. “You know,” she continued with a hard nudge of her elbow. “Foryou-know-who.”
Nina rolled her eyes. “Let’s keep that in mind for later.”
“All right,” was Mel’s grudging response as she pulled out her phone. “But I’m taking a picture so I can find the place again. You never know when you might need to slap someone with a good curse.”
