Page 45 of Aleko
Alekos scratched his head. “I guess I didn’t realize you spoke wolf?”
“You had an entire conversation with him yesterday while youse was a wolf,” said Colin. “What you think he spoke?”
“I...” Alekos looked genuinely perplexed. “Never really thought about it?”
Trevor and Colin exchanged looks. “Uhh... K,” said Colin, and Trevor shrugged.
Alekos shook his head and went back to the kitchen.
“I did sort out the issue with the union,” said Pellos, turning to her with a smile. “Thank you for asking.”
She shrugged and added what she thought was the correct head tilt. He grinned.
“Yes, I know you were just asking. Although, speaking of work, I would appreciate it if you could text your friends today.”
She scratched behind her ear.
“I asked some people about you, and I think they’re concerned. Please let them know you’re not dead.”
“Oh!” Lia was shocked enough to stop playing at speaking wolf. “Were they really worried?” She felt herself blushing.
“Yes, I think so. No one is quite sure what happened at Sergio’s warehouse, but a lot of them know you work for him sometimes. I would like them to know we didn’t kill and eat you or whateverit is they think the Devil of Kavala does. Otherwise, I won’t be able to get them to work for me again.”
“Yes. Or actually, no. Alekos said I should turn off my phone last night. There was a problem. Um.”
Pellos was looking at her blankly.
Sebastian cleared his throat as he sat down. “That problem has been cleared up,” he said, shoving half a sausage in his mouth.
“Oh, right, the Russians,” said Pellos. “Yes, the problem resolved itself. Now we’re just down to warlocks, the mummy chick, and theStrumwolke.”
Lia wanted to ask how the problem had resolveditselfbut wasn’t sure she dared. Was this something she really wanted to know the answer to? Alex had handled them quite violently, so if he said they weren’t coming back, she believed him and, by extension, Sebastian and Pellos, but what had they done?
“I wish Hudson was home,” said Sebastian, around a mouthful of food.
“Me too,” said Trevor. “I watch all his videos. I want to ask him about tridents.”
“You just want to be Neptune,” said his brother.
“Fuck yeah, I do.”
Alex came out of the kitchen again, this time carrying his phone and a cup of coffee. He sat down next to Pellos and snagged the portion of the newspaper that wasn’t being read.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” asked Lia, looking at the groaning sideboard.
“I nosh while I cook,” said Alekos, then glanced around the table. “Where’s Luca?”
“Hasn’t come out of his lair,” said Sebastian sourly. Pellos didn’t add anything, but behind his paper, she saw that his expression agreed with Sebastian’s tone. “That’s why I wish Hudson was home. I’d be happier if he was the one sorting out the Nazi shit.”
“I think Luca’s more worried about Cleopatra,” said Trevor. “He had us move all the sarcophagus bits down to the basement.”
“Her name is Anuket,” said Lia.
“Her name is death,” said Colin. “Not a fan.”
Lia didn’t know how to respond to that. It wasn’t like she was anxious to meet Anuket again, but regaining the ability to have a body seemed like a pretty good reason for a killing spree.
“She was mad as a cut snake,” agreed Trevor. “It looked like someone had a liquid laugh with body parts after she spit the dummy up in there. Don’t want any more of that, if you please.”
