Black Wings, Gray Skies (Black Hat Bureau 4)

“Tell you what.” I eased my grip as sensation returned to my fingers. “Keep the shop closed tomorrow.”

Clay shot me two thumbs up for quick thinking.

“Aedan can meet the electrician,” he said loud enough to carry. “You and Camber take the day off.”

“Hey.” I swatted him. “Bossing her around is my job.”

“That is what bosses are for.” I heard the smile in her voice. “How do you want me to handle this, Rue?”

“Aedan can meet the electrician.” I stuck out my tongue at Clay. “You and Camber take the day off.”

“Ah, the joys of being the new hire.” She chuckled. “I’ll get the ball rolling.”

The call ended, and I almost fell face-first onto my bed to scream my relief into the pillow.

“See?” Clay chucked me on the shoulder. “Our luck is already turning.”

The idea of driving to my house and falling into my own bed instead of a borrowed one, decompressing for the night and then facing the next catastrophe—while the girls were home safe and the shop was locked up tight—was almost enough to bring a tear to my eye.

Tears, much like sleep, would have to wait. “Any word on Marty’s plans for the victims’ parents?”

“The CPD will be knocking on doors tomorrow, but without bodies, the parents will hold out hope.”

“If boo hags were dinosaurs, I would be rooting for the asteroid.”

“On the topic of extinction,” he said grimly, “the director ruled the guilty parties have been punished. He won’t support any further actions taken against the boo hags. He feels it sets a bad precedent if we wipe out their entire faction.” His jaw worked. “Even if they deserve it, in my humble opinion.”

“Marah got what she wanted, and she got away with it.”

“Not every story ends with an HEA.”

“Since when does any case we work end in happily ever after?”

“I can’t think when you put me on the spot, but I’m sure there was one.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Speaking of science fiction…” Clay rubbed his hands together. “What if Colby and I make a pit stop?”

Unsure if he meant dinosaurs or HEAs, I figured I would let it go. Probably safer that way.

“What kind of side trip?” I straightened the kinks out of my back. “Why aren’t we all invited?”

“There’s a convention in Atlanta. Mostly games and comics. We could catch the last day’s presentations, get her some exclusive codes for Mystic Realm bonuses for attendees only, then head back.” He checked the hall then eased in and shut the door behind him. “I can’t help but notice you and Ace getting closer. I found his torn underwear in your pocket when I was doing laundry, and Ace has a ruined bra on his bed. Maybe the two of you could use some time alone to explore this new…intimacy…without fear of interruption.”

For a full minute, I debated whether he was responsible for the power outage allowing me a guilt-free night with Asa, but surely even he wasn’t dastardly enough to arrange for an empty house and make it possible to skip out on the shop’s problems for another day.

Who was I kidding? He was definitely that dastardly. “That’s very kind of you to offer, but—”

“Thanks,” he cut me off with a wave. “I’ll let Shorty know and book a car.”

He ducked out before I could haul him back by his wig for questioning, but he’d made his point.

Gah.

Meddling golem.

Now, instead of relieved to get home, I was debating if I could buy an orcess costume online to avoid the alone thing. And the intimacy thing. But I owed it to Asa to confront this relationship stuff head-on, even if it meant telling him how I felt—gulp—using my big-girl words.