Page 39 of This Ravenous Fate
“Listen,” Elise snapped. “Wayne’s philanthropy is about eradicating reapers and he’s working with my father to clear reaperhood through the Cotton Club. He plans to fund the study of reapers in the lab too.”
Layla crossed her arms, frowning. “What does that mean for our investigation?”
Elise swallowed. “I just thought you should know. For Shirley and Giana. It won’t be safe for them there.”
Layla shook her head. “They’re already there.”
***
Jamie Kelly sat in his usual spot at the Cotton Club entrance, holding a pen in his teeth and a stack of papers in his hands. He looked up and grinned when Layla called his name. Something about the curl of his blond hair against his forehead and the way his eyes brightened relaxed Layla. She knew she was letting her guard down around him these days. Maybe too much. Still, she smiled back. Better to play the role of a friend and get what she needed than cause trouble.
“Morning. Didn’t get everything you needed last time you werehere, Quinn?” Jamie stood and made his way toward her and Elise, pulling the pen from his mouth.
Layla sighed, a little too tired to engage in the tease. With Jamie staring her down and Elise staring pretentiously at anything that moved, Layla needed to get to the point. “I need to see Giana and Shirley.”
“And Calhoun. The manager,” Elise inputted sharply.
Layla exhaled, closing her eyes. “And Calhoun.”
Jamie lifted a brow. “You think I have control over who sees him? I’m just here because he needs liquor. If you want to talk to him, you’ll owe me something.”
Frustration seeped into Layla. “The last time I did a favor for you, I ended up as the most wanted person in the city.”
Elise scoffed at the same time Jamie laughed. “Please,” Elise muttered.
Layla glared at Jamie. “Don’t say it.”
But Jamie, of course, did. “You’re not a person, you’re a reaper. But if you want something from me, then I’m going to ask for something from you. We all have responsibilities. I have a son to feed,” he said.
Layla blinked. “You have a child?”
Jamie looked away for a moment, then back at her. “I do. Why are you surprised?”
Several questions filled her mind, but before she could ask anything, Elise smacked her arm.
Layla shot her a glare, then turned back to Jamie. “Right, fine.What do you need from me?”
Jamie’s eyes shifted for a moment before leaning in close. “I don’t need anythingfromyou. I needyou.”
This unsettled Layla. But she had no other choice. Right as she was opening her mouth to agree to his conditions, Elise spoke up, “That’s not how business transactions work.”
Jamie gave Elise a side-eyed look. “Sweetheart, respectfully, unless you’re part of a gang, stay out of our business.”
“Don’t call me ‘sweetheart,’ you criminal,” Elise snarled.
“Shut up, both of you,” Layla snapped.
Elise glared at Jamie. “I would mind how you speak to me, or I’ll have the Saint—”
Quick as a whip, Jamie aimed his gun at Elise. Layla darted forward between him and Elise. “Watch yourself,” she seethed. Her fangs had sprung free and they dug into her lips hard enough to draw blood.
Jamie’s eyes widened a bit to see her reaperhood on full display. But he kept his gun raised, gaze sharp on Elise. “You brought a damn Saint here? It’s almost like you’re looking for bad attention,” Jamie said in a low voice. “The Saints are the ones who rat us out to police; they’ve sacked as many of my men as they’ve killed your clanmates. You’re on their side now?”
“I don’t pick sides. Everything I do is for myself.” A cold satisfaction filled her chest when he flinched at those words. “You didn’t think we were friends, did you?”
“I certainly thought you hated the Saints,” Jamie muttered.
He finally lowered his gun, but Layla’s eyes continued to glow and she kept her fangs on display for him. “If anyone kills her, it will be me. Don’t even try it,” she hissed.
