The Lying, the Witch, and the Werewolf (Down & Dirty Supernatural Cleaning Services Book 4) by Kate Quinn (uplifting books for women .txt) 📗

“Well, don’t worry about me,” McGinnis says. “I got away.” He slaps his bad leg. “I just wish I had seen something that could help.” McGinnis was drugged and woke up in a fog in the back of a truck...or van... or car. He doesn’t even know—he was pretty out of it. He managed to jump out of the vehicle and break his foot. Luckily a passerby picked him up, but by the time he could call me, it was already too late for Liam.

“I’ll get these to the lab right away,” he says, grabbing the bags and putting them next to him on the seat. He’s being kind, clearly understanding that it bugs me having them within eyesight. “Did you hear your friend Eva Esposito made detective?”

“I did!” I say. Eva and I celebrated with a crazy, drunken night clubbing, then she went home with a llama shifter, which I didn't even know was a thing. And I went home to my sad lonely empty bed…

“She’s bright, that one. I got her put on the VSK case as a junior detective. It’s not a lot of prestige but I think it will be good for her.” Supe cases are the lowest of the low, so it’s actually not a great place for Eva to start out, but McGinnis is trying to help.

I already knew all this from Eva, but I let him talk. His whole life has been working as a cop, and now he’s on administrative leave. His foot being busted is only half of it—they have him going to therapy about the abduction as well, even though he can barely remember any of it.

Eva thinks McGinnis is a bit of a sad loser, but I shut that talk right the hell down. McGinnis has helped me tons of times. After I told Eva off, I thought she’d be mad at me but she just told me that she was glad to be friends with someone as loyal as I am.

“I’ve gotta run,” I tell him. “My ride is leaving soon.”

“Are you going to the spa with someone?” he asks, his eyebrows creeping toward the ceiling.

“No!” I hurriedly explain. “I’m going by myself. One hundred percent. No one is coming with me. I’m just getting a ride from Nico.”

McGinnis lets out a growl. “You can’t trust that mangy werewolf.”

“You are preaching to the choir,” I assure him.

“Okay, Kiddo.” McGinnis tilts his head up to me. “Stay safe.”

“Of course,” I tell him as I grab my bag. “I’ve had enough drama; all I want is a quiet weekend away.”

As I give McGinnis a final wave, I realize it’s not a lie. I do want a quiet weekend. I’ve got a feeling, though, that a sex cult is not the best place to get that.

9

I feel much better after meeting with McGinnis. If he can pull DNA or prints off the glove, maybe by the time I return VSK will be behind bars. And Brent will have given Giselle an STD. And Darron will have found someone that accepts his true self. And Shauna will be content. And Liam will see me again…

Okay, that last one is maybe too long of a long shot. But a girl can dream.

Speaking of dreams that don’t work out...Jax pulls into the office parking lot as I’m crossing through it on my way back.

My ex-husband has been less of a douchebag since he got a serious girlfriend—a witch named Kimmy—but I’m still not thrilled to see him. Even worse, he has it in his head that we are friends now, which I’m not really sure I’m up for. I’d rather we stay more in the distant acquaintances category.

“There’s my girl!” Jax exclaims, bounding from his car. And that right there is exactly why.

“I’m not your girl,” I remind him.

He goes in for the hug, ignoring my ‘stay back’ body language. “You’ll always be my girl, Paige.”

I believe setting boundaries is important. So reaching between us I grab hold of Jax’s balls...and squeeze. “I am not your ANYTHING,” I tell him between clenched teeth.

“Okay!” he yelps.

I smile sweetly. “And you’ll always be the guy I will not hesitate to castrate if he pisses me off.” I release Jax and he quickly takes a hop back out of my reach.

Hoping we’re done, I head to the office. Unfortunately, Jax isn’t easily discouraged and he follows behind.

“Love the new look, Paige! Are you going to a costume party? If you have a second, I actually got a great opportunity for you,” he says.

“No,” I tell him as I open the door.

“But…”

“No,” I tell him again as I gather my stuff off the floor and shove it back into my bags. Maybe Hepa was right and I have too much crap. I consolidate a few things into the smaller back. I guess it’s time to embrace the hippy lifestyle.

Nico, leaning against his desk with Shit at his feet, looks down at his watch. “We gotta get on the road and we gotta figure something out for this dog, because there’s no way he’s going in my car.”

“Don’t be such a baby,” I tell Nico. “Just put a towel down or something.”

“Nico,” Jax says, holding out his fist for a bump. “You may want to get in on this deal too.”

“No,” Nico says, pushing Jax aside and crossing to me. “I’m not having only a towel between that Dalmanther and Italian leather seats.”

“You gave me Shit,” I remind him. “To keep me safe. I thought you loved him, actually.”

“Okay, fine, but he’s still a destructive puppy. And yes, I…” Nico balks at the word love and I can’t help but be amused. “I am very fond of your Dalmanther,” he admits. “But I don’t know if…”

“I’m not asking you to marry him,” I say. “Look, he can sit on my lap.”

“The whole way?” he raises an eyebrow.

“Hey!” Jax yells, giving up on the subtle approach. “C’mon guys, stop ignoring me. I just need five hundred bucks