Page 78 of That Mafioso Magic
“Never knew of a soul that could be restored after a demonic possession.”
“My lover and I can do it. We just need to capture the demon.”
“Oh, is that so? Your lover must be a powerful mage? Why didn’t you say that from the beginning?”
“Wasn’t important.”
“Maybe I want a favor from your mage friend in return for this favor.”
“And that would be?”
“Immunity to silver?”
I laughed. “For something like that, you’re going to need me too and that’s a tall order. Better think of something equivalent to an hour and a half of your time.”
“Maybe a barrier spell, then? Something I can put around my home to protect it from attacks?”
It was a simple enough spell for Adrian to give him. And probably one I would peddle to Corteo in exchange for his pardon. “Fair. I’ll let him know. Better have some roses, dirt from your home’s foundation and something that will act as a talisman for him to spell that you can keep on the premises.”
“Can he do a spell on me, to protect me?”
“Awfully paranoid, aren’t you? You’ve got enemies, Callum?”
“Don’t we all. Answer the question.”
“No, spelling an object that can have a range of protection is easy. It’s stationary. To protect you from whatever has you so concerned takes more magic and is a bit complicated. Again, he would need me and it’s a tall order. You’re giving him an hour and a half of time to zip in and hopefully out of your territory.”
“So, like three hours of my time, since we’re talking round trip,” Callum remarked.
“It doesn’t change the rules of magic.”
“But does make me an even more patient and generous man.”
“Then may I request he grant you that barrier favor on the return visit through your territory, on the way back to the airport? Because he needs to save the girl and time is of the essence,” I reminded him.
Callum laughed, then sighed. “Oh, sure, because I will not let him leave my territory without doing me the favor. See, my envoy will be accompanying them the entire time. Corteo and I have a deal. Since our territories are so close and businesses cross lines, one of our people can enter each other’s territory for no more than three days. So, your people will be in good hands while they are here.”
I wasn’t too thrilled to learn that Adrian will have Callum’s wolf breathing down his neck the whole time, but I also wasn’t in a position to refuse. I just had to trust that he and Jewel could take care of themselves. Xavier, too, I supposed.
“Fine. He’ll do the spell to protect your home so you can sleep soundly at night. That’s enough,” I said, not wanting to promise Adrian to have to do anything more. It wasn’t like Callum was my friend.
“I suppose I will leave the door open for future negotiations.”
“I guess you should be very hospitable to them while they’re there, then.”
Callum chuckled. “Very well. Now, that was fruitful. I’ll be expecting your friends soon.” With that, he ended the call.
I contacted Corteo next and he answered, “Who is this and how did you get my number?”
“Sage Tamir and I got your number from a friend,” I said. That friend being a hacker on my payroll. I had been eyeing the Orlando territory for a few years, wanting to build a resort there. Having info on Corteo was just smart business since his territories were Bay Lake and Celebration where Disney World resided.
“What do you want?”
I told him the same thing I told Callum. “So, can you spare your territory for about an hour or so for a good cause?”
“Like I give a shit about that girl.”
“And the body count she’s no doubt piling up in your territory means nothing?” While waiting for the griezel Tom was to bring home, I decided to kill some time by looking up police records around the country. Orlando was one of the cities that had seen an increase of ghastly murders in the past week. I wasn’t all that surprise when Adrian told me that was where Lacey was.
