Page 14 of How to Hack a Hellhound
Dex looked offended. “I know that! They’re stray humans. Obviously. I still don’t think you can just steal and rehome them.”
I just shook my head. Dex was… well, he was Dex. Not the most human-savvy hellhound of the group.
“I didn’t steal them. I saved Q from this one,” I gestured with the pliers toward James, who whimpered again until I shot hima look. “Besides, they’ll be much safer here than an apartment downtown. We’re all here to protect them.”
Dex nodded his head at that, because it did make logical sense. “I don’t usually keep my strays,” he added thoughtfully.
Shit. I didn’t need Dex getting any ideas. “Listen, you aren’t keeping them. They’re just staying someplace safe. They’re not strays anymore anyways. They’re friends now. Friends can stay over. Strays need homes. Ok?” I clarified.
I really didn’t need Dexter to start bringing home every mortal he happened upon that was in trouble. We weren’t starting a compound here, for fuck’s sake.
Dex nodded, then asked, “You want help with this one? He stinks of rot.”
I turned back and looked at James. He looked so unassuming. Quinton had thought he was a friend. I’d watched him cheerily serve drinks, flirt and smile, all the while sensing a soul that was blacker than tar. I wondered how many people he had hurt to deserve such darkness.
I was betting he was involved with Marcus and the human trafficking ring. It made perfect sense. A bartender would know regulars. People would naturally talk to him. He’d know who would be vulnerable, who wouldn’t be missed.
“I got it,” I replied, even though I wasn’t looking forward to using the pliers. It was just so… messy. I did hate making a mess. But still… “He drugged Quinton, and I’ll be getting my answers, one way or another.”
The man started shaking again, and that suited me fine. I stalked back over to James, pliers at the ready as he began whimpering. Yes, I thought lying by omission probably did deserve a little punishment.
I heard Dex laugh behind me as James started screaming.
I finished drying off, throwing on clean dress pants and a clean shirt. My computer was sitting on the bathroom counter, and Quinton was still sleeping. I wondered if that was healthy. He had gotten up briefly to go to the bathroom, and Aiden had given him some orange juice and a muffin, but he was back asleep.
Perhaps I should ask Cassius about it. Or maybe Toby. He was a human, after all. He should know about normal human stuff.
I buttoned up my shirt, grabbed the laptop off the counter, and made my way into the kitchen. We were in the house that Corbin and Jude had claimed since Dexter had moved in with Toby, but everyone was gathered in the kitchen. Jude was sitting at the kitchen island to eat, scrolling through his phone. The rest of the crew was at the table, with Corbin feeding a crow bits of his sandwich, and Toby sitting in Dexter’s lap while they fed each other bites of food. It made me think of Toby as Dexter’s version of a crow. Somehow I didn’t think Toby would be offended if I said that. He was quirky like that.
I placed my laptop on the table and grabbed a plate and sandwich from the counter. When I sat down, I looked over at Toby, asking, “How long do humans usually sleep for?”
“Well, I suppose that depends. I think seven to nine hours is pretty normal, but some people sleep less. Some people take naps, too,” Toby said, directing his attention to me.
“What about if they’ve been drugged?” I asked.
“Did you drug someone?” Toby asked curiously. “Is he down in the torture basement now?”
“No,” I answered, looking at the computer screen.
Toby leaned over curiously, looking at my computer screen and then gasping. I turned it away from him.
“You shouldn’t invade someone’s privacy like that, Toby,” I chastised.
“Are you freaking serious, Liam?” Toby pulled the computer towards him again and gasped. “OMG, did you drug Q?”
“Of course not,” I answered. “The person who drugged him is taken care of, but he’s been sleeping all night and most of the day, and I wondered if that was healthy.”
Toby blinked at that a few times, just staring at me. Then he turned to Dexter. “Dex, he’s got a camera or something on Q.”
Dex looked up at Toby, puzzled. “Yeah?”
Toby huffed impatiently, looking at Corbin, who was still feeding his crow, and then Jude, who was still scrolling on his phone. “No one is concerned that Liam has a camera in Q’s room? Hisbedroom?” Toby demanded.
“Liam probably has cameras all over each of the three houses, the properties, and perhaps even half the town by now,” Corbin said, scratching his crow on the head.
Toby gasped again, and Dex looked up, the first stirrings of concern on his face. He glanced at me curiously and I shrugged. I wasn’t exactly sure what the problem was, either, but I guessed Toby was worried about his own privacy.
“I don’t have cameras in your home, Toby. There’s no need. Dex is always with you,” I said, trying to set his mind at ease.
