Page 92 of How to Stake a Vampire
“The arrangements were made through a lawyer,” he said, like that excused his actions. “He was very professional and paid six months in advance, cash. He told me the client valued privacy.”
“Privacy,” Barney repeated in a deadly voice. “A mysterious cash client who values privacy sublet the basement and that didn’t raise any red flags?”
“Look, business is business,” Oscar said defensively.
A low growl left Samuel.
Pearl jumped on the table.
“I see expecting competence from a demon who decorates his office with velvet paintings was overly optimistic,” she said with arctic disdain.
Oscar spluttered. “Now, see here?—!”
“No, you see here,” Gregory snarled, rising from his chair. “Your incompetence has put every supernatural being in this town at risk! Never mind the innocent humans we cohabit with.”
“It’s easy to point fingers now,” Wendall shot back, sparks popping from his nostrils. “But where was this concern when we voted against increased surveillance six months ago?”
“That was completely different,” Titania protested, her wings buzzing.
“Is it?” Cornelius narrowed his eyes. “We’ve been so concerned with privacy that we’ve ignored basic security.”
“Don’t spread the blame around,” Melody said sharply. “This is on Oscar.”
“Actually,” Finnic said icily, “I think we’re missing the point.”
The dwarf seemed remarkably calm, considering the circumstances.
Daria frowned. “Which is?”
“We’re arguing about blame instead of solutions.” He brought out an impressive battleaxe out from under the table. “Seems we’d accomplish more if we just cut down the demon first.”
Not so calm after all.
Cornelius and Wendall grabbed the dwarf chieftain’s arms as he lunged for Oscar.
“That dwarf’s lost it,” Bo panted while Oscar hastily retreated inside his kingdom of gloom.
I felt my blood pressure rise and swallowed a groan.
“Killing Oscar is not the solution, Finnic,” Daria told the dwarf firmly as Cornelius and Wendall wrestled him into his chair and took his axe away.
“I mean, it would improve our moods,” Melody said sourly.
“This is not the time for jokes!” Gregory snapped.
Titania nodded jerkily. Irritation surged through me.
Samuel shot a warning look my way when he picked up on my emotions.
“Gregory’s right,” my alpha said grimly. “If we don’t work together, Ludvik will pick us off one by one. We’re the only ones standing in the way of his crazy plans.”
That sobered everyone up.
Pearl swished her tail coolly. “You fools need to get your act together.”
Daria’s eyes shrank to slits. “What we need is to track down Ludvik and eliminate him.”
“Easier said than done,” Barney said. “He’s had weeks to prepare.”
