Page 78 of Deadly Lineage
I loved speaking like this, like we had decades ahead of us. I was even happier that Boone felt comfortable enough to play along. “Oh, I’ve probably got another fifteen, maybe twenty years. I doubt I’ll be able to keep things this tight for that long, but I’ll need to stay in shape if I’m out on the streets.”
“Saying it like that makes it sound like you’re selling your bodily wares.” Boone lifted an eyebrow. “Something you’re not telling me, O’Hare?” Boone made a valiant effort to keep his smirk under wraps but lost the fight and doubled over in a fit of giggles. My belly warmed at his unfettered laughter. Wiping his eyes, Boone laid his head back on my shoulder and said, “I think you need a different way of saying that.”
“Evidently.” My fingers found their way back to his hair while Boone’s fingers wiggled their way under my shirt and began tracing circles on my abdomen.
My breath caught and Boone asked, “You want me to stop?”
“Don’t you dare.” It was the easiest decision I’d made all day.
“Anything you want.”
I turned that phrase over a few times. “That’s a dangerous offer.”
“Depends on who you make the offer to. I’m not worried. I trust you.”
I sucked in a humidity-laden gulp of air. Only the foolish or truly naïve gave trust away easily. Erasmus Boone was neither of those things. Placing a kiss on the top of his head, I inhaled Boone’s citrusy shampoo scent and whispered, “I’ll try hard not to break that trust.” I wanted to promise never to break it. Right now, it sounded like an easy promise to make, but none of us had a crystal ball. Only oracles could see the future and they were generally too insane to make sense of it.
I rolled the balls of my feet, pushing the swing into motion and creating a lazy arc. My beer was warm by the time I drained the last drops. Warm or cold, the alcohol helped relax the stubborn muscles that refused to enjoy the evening without chemical help.
“Have you heard back from your father yet?” I asked.
“No.” Boone blew out an exasperated breath. “Well, I got a text saying he overnighted the contact charm. It should be heretomorrow. I guess he didn’t want to wait the extra day or two for him to get here to bring himself.”
Silently, I agreed with Boone’s father. “I’m glad he sent them. I’ll be even happier when they arrive and I’ve got one in my hands.”
Boone shifted so he could look up at me and ask, “You really don’t mind?”
I scoffed. “If I could, I’d chip you and download an app on my phone so I could follow your every movement.”
Boone’s nose scrunched. “That sounds a bit…”
“Stalkerish? Overprotective? Paranoid?”
“Maybe,” Boone dragged the word out. “Given recent events, I can’t say that I blame you. But if I get some kind of tracking device, so do you.” Boone poked my abs for emphasis. “You’re the homicide detective. There’s no reason to think the serial killer won’t come after you too.”
“I’ve thought about that,” I agreed. “But so far, I don’t fit the profile. I’m straight up human, and as much as I hate to say it, so far our killer doesn’t have much to fear from my detective skills.”
Boone’s poking finger turned into a slap. “That is not your fault. You’re working hard and doing the best you can. There’s just not much to go on and it’s not like I’ve been a lot of help either.”
I stared at my empty beer bottle. Currently I wasn’t working too hard, but Harrison was right—everyone needed a break. There were only so many times your brain could travel down the same dead-end streets without threatening to shut down. My brain needed new scenery. It needed a detour, and Boone’s front porch was the perfect mental vacation. When I got back to the case, maybe my brain could see around those dead ends and find a new alley to explore.
Without much to add, I changed the subject and asked, “Anything from Aurelia?” Last I knew, she’d left withoutcommitting to wearing the communication charm. She hadn’t said no either.
“Not a peep. Or a creepy pop-up. Maybe I scared her off.”
“Scare a djinn off? You?” I asked, unable to hide my disbelief.
Boone squirmed a little and his hand slid from my skin. I instantly missed the contact. Unfortunately, Boone wasn’t done. He sat up, pulling the rest of his body from me. With one knee bent and his foot resting on the swing, Boone folded his hands on top of his knee and laid his chin on top. His gaze was distant, staring across the yard.
“Boone?” I questioned. Had I offended him? “It’s not like anyone else can do any better. When it comes to djinn, we’re all fucked.”
Turning his head, Boone laid his cheek on his folded hands. “You sound pretty sure.”
I twisted my body as much as the swing would allow, focusing on Boone, studying him. Boone appeared nervous, like he was sitting on a secret landmine that might blow his ass up any minute.
“What do you know?” I asked, confident that he did, in fact, know something. Boone had a lot offriends—an eclectic mix of species. It would only make sense that he’d know something I didn’t. “Have the fairies figured something out? Or maybe the warlocks or witches?”
Boone shook his head as much as possible given his questionable position. Sucking on his bottom lip, Boone said quietly, “As far as I know, I’m the only one that’s a threat to djinn.”
