Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Chapter Sixteen
Kierse took Colette’s warning for what it was—truth. She could hardly deny that it felt real. And it was a darkness she was walking swiftly into. At least her eyes were open.
She backtracked out of the brothel, narrowly avoiding another Druid patrol. Bastards were everywhere. She skipped the subway for a chilly walk to Houston Street, where she hopped on a bus just before it pulled away. She headed off the bus again in Greenwich Village, walking the last few blocks to her meetup point with Nate. Varying her routes was another sure way to keep anyone from tailing her, and by the time she hit the late-night coffee shop, she was certain she was alone.
But Nate hadn’t come alone. Wolves lurked in the shadows. The bartender from Five Points, Cara, was on the corner, her blond hair slicked back into a tight ponytail. Her stance was predatory and ready to pounce at any moment. A taller brunette with a pointed nose hung to her left. Farther out were more wolves she didn’t recognize. But one she did. Slim Ronan, with his black hair parted down the middle and his beige skin almost completely covered by the black pack attire, had a cigarette dangling between his lips. He’d joined the Dreadlords to get his family protection during the war, but they always threatened to move back to Korea. Not that anyone could afford it.
If Ronan was here, that meant his brother-in-arms was nearby.
Finn stood at the entrance to the coffee shop as she approached. He had onyx skin and a muscular physique, but while Ronan was the intimidating one, Finn was all love with full golden-retriever energy. His smile brightened at the sight of her.
“Hey there.”
She tipped her head at him. “Finn.”
“Good to have you back, McKenna.” He pulled the door open for her.
“Can safely say the same,” she said as she entered.
Nate was already waiting at the empty coffee shop at their regular booth. She slipped into the seat across from him.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Nate said.
This had been their favorite place to meet back when she’d worked for the Dreadlords. Money and stolen goods had changed hands over burned coffee and from-scratch pie.
“Cute,” she muttered.
“It’s nice that you could just text this time,” Nate said with his easy laugh.
He wasn’t wrong. She hadn’t had a cell phone to communicate with him back then. She’d left coded messages on the chalkboard out front when she wanted to meet. A text message sure would have been easier than hoping they didn’t erase the board early.
“My, how times have changed.”
He nodded. “Like your outfit. I see he can afford quality.”
“He could afford the moon if he wanted,” Kierse said. “But that’s not why we’re here.”
“Suppose not. You took the job? Why the cryptic message?”
“I took the job with the condition that I won’t see Gen and Ethan again.”
Nate scowled. “Why the fuck was that a condition?”
“I want to keep them safe. There are Druid patrols everywhere. The last thing I want is for them to hurt the people I love trying to get to me.”
“Their increased attention is nothing we can’t handle.”
Kierse didn’t doubt it. If she could evade patrols, so could Nathaniel O’Connor. Didn’t mean she’d risk Gen or Ethan.
“They can stay with you?” she asked. She shoved the backpack under the table, and Nate took it from her. He pulled the zipper and looked inside. He arched one eyebrow at her. “Should that suffice?”
“Sure,” Nate said, yanking the zipper closed.
She had a feeling he would have done it for free, but she didn’t work on debts. Their relationship had always been on equal footing, and she wanted to keep it that way.
“There’s a burner in there. Use that to reach me. I looked over the phone he gave me, but I don’t trust him farther than I can throw him.”
“Is there anyone you trust farther than that?”
She just tilted her head. Of course she trusted her friends more than the warlock who was certainly going to get her killed.
“So, what’s the job?” he asked, knowing to change the subject.
“The heist is taking place inside Third Floor on the winter solstice.”
Nate’s eyes bugged at those words. “Third Floor. Kierse . . .”
“I know, but he can get me in.”
“Torra isn’t still down there,” he said, his voice going soft. “It’s been a year.”
“I know that,” she snapped and then forced herself calm. “I know she’s gone. This is about justice. And I want to know that you’ll back me up if I can get you inside.”
Nate pursed his lips. “The solstice? That’s the twenty-first?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck,” he said. “That’s a full moon.”
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” she grumbled. “You’ll be locked down.”
“The whole pack,” he said. “At least you won’t have to worry about Gen and Ethan. No one goes in or out of Five Points during the full moon.”