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

more time that passes without another move from VSK the more tense I get, because I know he’s going to strike sooner or later.

“Paige,” Nico says, his voice coaxing and gentle. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“To me?” I stare at Nico in surprise and then a horrible laugh comes out of me. It’s an ugly broken sound. “You think I’m worried about myself? VSK hasn’t touched me. Not once. He’s never even tried. Instead he went after my enemies and when that wasn’t enough he started to take down my—” I was going to say friends. But Liam was more than that. “I can’t lose anyone else. I can’t stand over someone else I care about and have to decide whether they live or die.”

The tears I’d been holding back break free, streaming down my face. I cover myself with my hands, not wanting Nico to see. A moment later his arms close around me and press me to his chest. I breathe him in, letting myself have this small moment of comfort—and then I push him away.

“I’m fine,” I say, pulling up the bottom of my t-shirt to wipe my face. “Just give me some space, okay?”

I snap the words out, hard and mean, needing Nico to back off.

And he does.

“All right,” he says, heading for the door. “I gotta run an errand anyway. But you can’t fight VSK alone, Paige,” he tells me and then the door shuts before I can respond.

Not that there’s anything to say. Because Nico’s wrong. There’s only one way to get VSK and that’s to keep doing what I’ve been doing—isolate myself and wait for that son of a bitch to come and get me.

3

I gather my stuff to leave, planning on going home and seeing if I can possibly still get off on the cold plastic of the Thunderstick after feeling Nico’s arms around me—when a man enters and makes a beeline to my desk.

“Hello,” I tell him, glancing up. “I’m not a secretary.” At his desk, Nico laughs.

His so-called errand only took fifteen minutes and he came back with a bag of donuts that he then left on the corner of my desk. I made the supreme sacrifice of eating two just so Nico could see his gesture was appreciated.

I swipe a hand across my mouth, just in case some glaze is still sticking to my lips. Meanwhile, the man adjusts his glasses. He’s probably mid-thirties, a bit dorky looking, rocking khaki pants and a polo shirt. He screams disposable income.

“Erm, sorry, I’m not looking for a secretary. You’re Paige Harper, right? I’m here for you.”

“Great!” I motion him to the chair on the other side of my desk. “How did you hear about me, Mr…”

“Bennet. You can call me Gary.”

“Fantastic, Mr. Bennet...Gary. How did you hear about Down & Dirty?”

“Friendbook. You have a lot of glowing reviews.”

“Good to know!” Hepa must have upped my Friendbook presence. That girl is magic. Literally.

“And what can I do for you?”

“It’s about my sister.”

I nod, not quite understanding. “You want me to clean for your sister? Like, as a present? Or would this be a recurring job?” I try to not let my voice sound too hopeful.

He shakes his head. “No,” he looks around. “Sorry, I think we have our wires crossed. I don’t want you to clean for me. I want to hire you as a private investigator.”

“You do?” I ask, truly confused, then deflated. “I think the two logos on the office window might have led you astray. I’m not—”

“You’re the one that saved that vampire girl during the Humans First rally, right? And shut down all those horrible businesses that were taking advantage of supes?”

“I’m not a licensed P.I.,” I acknowledge. “But I can direct you to someone I know,” I glance at Nico who is pretending not to listen to our conversation.

“No. I want you. It’s a long story…” He shifts in his chair, suddenly uncomfortable.

“Would you like something to drink?” I ask. “A tea or coffee?” Or a shot of whiskey? I think to myself.

“Yes, that would be great.” He looks over to Nico. “Coffee, two sugars, no cream,” he tells him. I smother a grin and try not to put another imaginary point into the air. He thinks Nico is my assistant. Paige Harper, 2. Toxic masculinity, 0.

Nico stands, his look somewhere between amusement and annoyance. I’ve played the secretary for him enough that he behaves, though. “Anything for you, boss?” he asks me, putting an unnecessary snark on boss.

“I’ll have my usual,” I tell him. I add a, “Thanks hon,” just to mess with him. If he was closer I’d smack his ass, but I’m pretty sure sexual harassment works both ways so that might be pushing it.

Nico prepares the coffee while Gary starts on his story. “It all started with this podcast,” he explains. “Together We Go...Come Together…”

“Together We Come?” I ask.

“That’s the one. It’s all about…” He lowers his voice. “Sex.”

“I’m familiar with it. I’ve known a few people who were devoted to the philosophy, which can be boiled down to the idea that humans and supes should just bang out our differences. Literally.”

I do love it when I can use the word literally in a sentence correctly.

“That’s exactly the word. Vicky is devoted. She tried to get me involved, but I’m a married man. My wife thought it was a bunch of new age kooky nonsense, and I had to agree. Also, I’m not going to sit there and listen to sex stuff with my sister.” He looks traumatized just talking about it.

Nico brings over the coffees and I take mine without looking at him. I take a sip and almost choke. There’s a healthy serving of whiskey in there. I wish he didn’t know me so well. I raise my eyebrows at him and he winks at me. Hard to do with just one eye, but somehow he manages. Nico leans against my desk, waiting for the man