Born in Fire (Demon Days, Vampire Nights World Book 1)(13)

If that danged hole hadn’t been so deep, I would’ve felt the magic a lot sooner, and wouldn’t have had a run-in with the goo. Nor this inquisitive, chatty lady.

Too bad kicking a dead body was in bad taste.

I hunted through Big C’s drawers until I found some tongs. “Men aren’t islands because they want someone to do all the domestic stuff for them.” I peeled back the canvas, realizing it was a sack. “They leave their islands for the promise of a lazier future. But there are a bunch of women islands. We’d rather be alone than take on the role of life secretary and housemaid.” Or so my mother had always said. I wouldn’t know.

“I suppose you have a point. If my ex-mother-in-law had raised her son to lift a finger, I might still be married,” she groused.

“Reason number two for being an island—I don’t care.” I opened the bag and found what I’d expected, a bunch of various-sized casings in good condition.

Thank you for the cache of mediocre spells, Big C. I will use them in your memory.

She laughed. “Honesty is good. I can support honesty.”

“Awesome,” I muttered. I grabbed a paper bag from under the sink and emptied the spells into it, the transfer a bit awkward what with the goo and kitchen utensils. I didn’t want to touch that stuff again. I didn’t need another spit bath.

“You’re taking his spells?” I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

“Finders keepers, Ms.…”

“You can call me Margaret.”

“Great. Finders keepers, Margaret. With mediocre risk comes mediocre treasure.” I bunched the top of the paper bag to keep everything in, abandoning the goo-covered sack.

“You’re really capable, which is good, because I should warn you that he had friends.” She hurried after me as I stalked down the hall. “I’m not sure I mentioned that on the listing with the agency.”

“You’re not sure, huh?” I stopped in front of the bedroom door and stuck my hand out. “Stay here.”

I could tell she was trying to see what I was doing in the bedroom and, judging from her squinting, having a hard time of it. I grabbed Big C by the back of the shirt and carried him over to where I’d hidden the book.

Concealing my movements behind Big C’s bulk, I slid the book into his shirt.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Minding my own business.” I tucked his shirt in to keep the book put, then hoisted him up and draped him over my shoulder, thankful for the daylight outside, which would mean no vampire could come and steal my mark.

“Wow. You’re strong.” It sounded like another accusation.

“I think there was a vampire in my lineage somewhere…”

“Vampires can’t breed.”

“You know what I mean.” I pushed past her and hesitated at the mouth of the living room.

“No, I’m not sure I do,” she said, still watching. “Oh heavens, is that him?”

“The vampire thing was a joke, and yes, it is. I don’t cart dead people around when I go on jobs.” After a quick decision, I set Big C on his stomach so he was still hiding the book, and darted for his laptop. Weird porn searches aside, the machine was pretty new, and I’d make good use of it. Once it was stowed in its computer bag and slung over my shoulder, I bent for Big C

again.

Margaret started, giving me room, her eyes somewhat glassy. Clearly she’d known him before he’d gone crazy, and now she seemed to feel a bit squishy in the middle from his passing. But I didn’t have much sympathy for someone who’d tagged a bounty notice with dead or alive. She’d made her bed, and I’d help her lie in it.

I started for the door. “All right, then. Have a good one.”

“Wait, you’re taking his computer?”

“Evidence,” I mumbled as I hastened down the steps.

At the sidewalk, I grabbed my duffel bag. I would put my weapons and everything into it later. I didn’t want to give Margaret time for more questions.

With a body on my shoulder that, happily, wasn’t leaking blood, I quickly headed down the street. I went a couple blocks away, making sure I wasn’t followed, before stopping by a sprawling bush. I set the dead body on the ground and jabbed my app for Lyft, the ride-share service that made my life so much easier. That done, I stowed all my weapons and rearranged Big C so he looked like he was lounging near the plant. Finally, I sat down next to him, really hoping the person whose yard we were crashing wasn’t home.

That’d be an awkward conversation.

When the driver pulled up, I hopped to my feet and opened the back door.

“Can you pop the trunk?” I asked innocently. “I have a couple bags.”

Thank heavens Lyft drivers never helped with the bags.

“Yeah, sure.” He bent for the button.

I moved quickly, picking up the body and stashing him in the clean trunk.

I followed that up with my duffel and pushed down the lid. I slid into the back seat, adjusted my seared tank top so a nipple didn’t accidentally pop out, and waited.

“Hi,” the driver said, glancing back at me, also waiting.

“Hi. I’ve loaded the destination.” I pointed at his phone.

“Right, yes.” He studied his phone to communicate his knowledge of the coordinates before glancing back again. “Is the other guy coming too, or…?”