Page 63 of The Firebrand
“A question for Logan,” said Kole.
Ram brushed imaginary lint off his expensive cargoes. Only he wore designer duds while on the job. “Whatever the case, the human needs better protection. The female shouldn’t even be on Scath. Since she is, she should be more secure.”
“Why’s that your business?” Rein popped out of his seat, squaring off against Ram.
When Kole’s fist hit the desk like an ear-shattering jack hammer, all action stopped. “Shut the fuck up. We have enough problems without two swinging dicks going at it. Things stay as they are. She’s with Rein. Any more commentary, satyr?”
Ram clenched his lips.
“Where are Jaxet al?” asked Tyr.
“Where they should be. Dead.” Rein backed off from Ram, re-attaching his ass to the chair.
The Firebrands all nodded, except Dax, who continued to stare at his boots.
“Why nab her?” Chay scrunched his dark brows.
Rein shrugged. “I took a portal jumper off Jax, too. Nobody would give that incubus permission to travel Earthside.”
Just then, Logan, the Firebrand’s computer whiz, hustled into the office, squeezing past Ram while punching his arm. “Sorry. Late, but I heard that. You’re right. The jumper was not assigned to Jax. I tracked its number to Gunner, a vampire in the Earth export biz.”
Kole threw up his hands. “Illegal jumpers. A nymph murdered. An incubus tracking a human on Earth. Braelyn and Rein attacked by said incubus along with the Eater who killed Melia? Too many overlaps.”
The phone rang. “Fuck, Bounty, I said hold my calls.”
“Fuck you, too. Just pick it up.”
“I really need to fire her.” Kole cradled the receiver against his ear. “Yeah. Yeah…Yeah? Thanks.” He slammed the phone down.
Bounty sauntered up to the doorway, a hip against the jamb, an insincere tilt to her lips. “If you hit the button at the bottom of your telephone, I’ll ask if I can help you. You’ll tell me what you need. I’ll do it. No loud voices. No drama. Also, vampires have exceedingly sharp hearing. Bottom line. Don’t shout.”
The slack-jawed Firebrands eyeballed Kole while Bounty waited. When he just sat there, she smirked, snorted, spun around, and returned to her desk.
“If she weren’t so damn good at her job, I’d fire her,” Kole whispered.
“Hell, Comm. She’d snap your thick demon neck like a twig if you tried,” Brak warned.
“Yeah. There’s that. Where was I? The phone. That was Boden at the Ministry of Compliance. Here’s another interesting development.” Kole’s eyes flashed fire-gold. “The jumper taken from the Kalli didn’t belong to Melia.”
“But he took it off her,” said Rein.
“It would seem he did.” Kole tented his fingers, tapping them together to contain the sparks. “I’m a simple soldier. I hate puzzles, and this is a fucking big one.”
“So, what was she doing with the jumper? Whose is it?” asked Ram.
“According to Boden, it belongs to the incubus Stefan, an advisor to his king and the succubus queen.”
“Has he reported it stolen?” asked Chay.
“No record of that,” said Kole.
Ram crinkled his forehead. “Why would Stefan give it to Melia? It’s not legal to pass off your portal jumper. That’d be like jackin’ your bean stalk in front of the king and queen and then offering to shake hands. Fast track to unemployment.”
“That’s what we’re going to find out. Rein and Chay, pay an unannounced visit to Advisor Stefan. Dax and Ram, go to Gunner. I want to know why Jax had this device,” said Kole. “Once you have answers, we’ll meet.”
Rein glanced at his D-chip. “It’s late. Chay and I will get an early start tomorrow morning. Braelyn’s gotta be running on empty. Her father smacked her between the eyes with a secret. She fended off an attack, and Sabine is wearing her out in the training room. I’ll get her tucked in at my place tonight.”
The Firebrands exchanged looks before snickering.
