MAKING MAGICKAL ALLIANCES: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Leigh Raventhorne (best color ereader .txt) 📗

A little shiver ran down my spine at his words as I remembered Gloria’s ‘suggestions’ about letting Jeremy ‘handle’ certain matters not all that long ago. But Jeremy had been the one to pick up most of the slack in the community when my aunt had no longer been able to manage the territory, so he’d probably only done what he’d had to do. He’d been more than loyal to my aunt and he hadn’t hesitated to help me with anything, so far, so I couldn’t really fault him for his methods.

“So you’re saying she could be somewhat dangerous.” Rand’s voice interrupted my thoughts. He didn’t sound like the idea bothered him. “This is the part where still being incorporeal would definitely come in handy.” He gave a little sigh. “What’s the plan? We go in and do the good cop, bad cop thing? Or maybe Roxie and I just play tourists while we scope the place out?”

“Nope.” This part I’d already thought out and everything Jeremy had just told us about the woman confirmed it should work beautifully. I smiled, letting a little slyness show. “We’re going to walk in like I own the place.”

Rand guffawed as Jeremy gave me a look that told me he was reevaluating just how dangerous I might be—and he liked it.

I strode in ahead of the two men as Rand held the door for me. Jeremy had pulled a pair of mirrored Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses out of his glove box, which Rand now wore, giving him an even more edgy dangerous look than he normally had. With as disdainfully bored an expression as I could muster—hoping it didn’t just make me look constipated—I stopped just inside the doorway as the bell on the door jingled as it closed. I picked up a small baggie off the nearest shelf and inspected it. The label said it was an all natural herbal blend useful for heightening the senses, but a careful sniff told me there was at least a little weed in there. Dropping it dismissively back in the basket, I looked around, schooling my face to what I thought of as ‘courtroom Sam.’ There were only two others in the shop browsing at the moment—a couple of teenage girls in goth clothing and heavy makeup who were pawing through a bin of clearance items.

Rand stepped closer to me, looking away as he murmured, “Two cameras, one in each corner, facing the door and windows.” Turning slightly, his lips barely moving, he added, “There’s one more on the outer wall, facing the register.”

Whether she was responding to the bell on the door or had watched us enter from a monitor in the back room, a woman of average weight and build, who could have been anywhere between my age and my aunt’s human appearance, pushed through the heavily curtained doorway that divided the retail space from whatever was in the back. She was dressed like a cross between a gypsy and hippy. She scowled at the teenagers, who studiously ignored her, before pasting a smile on her face and moving around the glass checkout counter that doubled as a display case.

“What can I help you with today? Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?” Her sharp eyes took in my clothing, making me very glad I’d taken more care in dressing than I usually did. Her gaze moved on to Rand, warming appreciatively as it moved down his well-muscled form. When she looked behind us and recognized Jeremy, though, there was a definite flash of fear, just before her eyes turned cold and hard. She must not have been watching the monitor if she hadn’t realized he came in with us. Her smile took on a more forced appearance.

My own smile showing a bit more tooth than usual, I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I casually strolled down a row of shelves displaying more baskets of what appeared to be glass beads, sticks of incense, kitschy incense holders, and a minutiae of other trinkets. I ran a finger along the top of one of the shelves, made a point of looking at the dust on my finger, and brushed the dust off. Finally, I looked at her.

“I assume you know who I am?” I kept my voice soft, but haughty. Oddly enough, I was enjoying this a great deal more than I probably should.

She narrowed her eyes, pointedly not looking at Jeremy, though her eyes did flick to Rand, now standing at parade rest, more than once. I didn’t have to see him to know his face was an expressionless mask, especially with the mirrored sunglasses hiding his eyes. “You must be Roxanne Devraux.”

“Got it in one. Good job.” I let my smile broaden with approval.

“What can I help you with, Ms. Devraux?” Margo’s voice was cool, not betraying so much as a hint of the nervousness she had to be feeling.

“I’m taking a small tour of some of my holdings.” There it was. Just a tiny flash of anger in her eyes before she let her lids drop to hide it.

“Oh?”

“Yes. I’m sure you received notice of the change in ownership of this building when I inherited. My legal counsel assures me everything was sent out in a timely manner.” I strolled toward the counter, being sure to make a point of cringing away from some displays and brushing imaginary dust from my sleeve.

She noticed every nuance I allowed her to. If her eyes narrowed any more, they’d be screwed tightly shut. She did manage to maintain that clenched, wooden smile, though. “I did. I was hoping to speak directly to you about it, but the letter didn’t have any of your personal contact information, only that of a representative at Lido Law. But now that you’re here in person, perhaps we can discuss what terms you’d like