I wave my hand at the TV, telekinetically turning off, as I’m unable to hear any more. “I can’t let him do this,” I mutter under my breath. “I can’t let him get away with trying to hurt me by in turn hurting others.” I shake my head. “I’m so sick and tired of people trying to get to us by using other people. How many humans work at Taproom? And what about your other businesses? And that’s not to mention all the other people I don’t even know.”
“We’re married,” Lucas starts. “And you’re a part owner to a store.” He glances back down at the phone, reading something. “Your employees might fall under this category, too, deemed too reckless to warrant any sort of insurance.”
“That’s bullshit!” The lights above us glow bright red. “I’m going there—now.”
“Where?”
“Scott’s office. His day isn’t over, and I’m not going to sit here and let him control me like this.”
“It’s not quite sunset yet,” Lucas says.
“Give me a head start?”
“Yes, my Queen.” Lucas give me a devilish grin, fangs coming down.
I know exactly what he means. As the Queen of Hell, it’s my job to punish the wicked, and this time, I won’t be merciful.Chapter 19“Hi, how can I help…help you?” The smile disappears off the receptionist’s face as I step up to her desk. She’s not the same receptionist who was here last time, which is probably a good thing, but her eyes widen a bit in fear, making me think Scott has my photo posted somewhere with big warnings under it that I’m armed and dangerous or something. The fact that I’m carrying a black cat in my arms is a tad odd, too, I suppose.
“Hi,” I say, letting Binx jump out of my arms and onto the desk. “I’m here to see my brother, Scott. You can tell him his little sister, Callie King, is here to see him or I can just scoot on by and surprise him. It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other, and I know he’s going to just die when I show up.” I flash a big smile, and the receptionist slowly starts reaching for something under the desk, no doubt a panic button specifically to warn against vampires and me, no doubt.
“You know what,” I say and telekinetically push her hand onto the desk. “It’s been a long day and you look tired. I think you should take a nap.” Heels clicking on the tile floor, I move right up to her desk and extend my hand. “Somnum.” The receptionist’s eyes flutter shut, and she slumps forward, head landing on her keyboard.
Binx shadows forward, and I make it a few feet before heavy footfalls come from behind me
“Hold it right there!”
I turn and put a hand on my hip, watching a security guard rushing toward us. Binx slinks between my legs, tail swishing, and lets his shield down just enough for his eyes to glow red. The guard comes to an abrupt stop, reacting as most nons do when they see something they can’t make sense of.
They’re instantly scared but also instantly want to dismiss it. A cat with glowing red eyes doesn’t make sense. They had to have imagined it, right?
And then Binx flashes his eyes again.
“Who are you?” The security guard reaches for the gun on his hip.
“The Sandman.” I hold out my hand and give him a wink. “Somnum.” He falls to the ground in a heavy thud.
Binx rubs against me, and I bend down, scooping him up.
“Good boy,” I say as I kiss the top of his sleek and furry head. This is the second time I’ve been in Scott’s office building, and I know exactly where to go this time. Someone gets off the elevator right as I’m about to get on, and I can’t really have them going into the lobby and seeing two people slumped over unconscious.
“Cute cat,” the woman says, eyeing Binx suspiciously. She’s holding a stack of papers that will go flying across the floor once she passes out, dammit.
“Thanks,” I say, stepping to the side. Binx looks up at me and closes his eyes in a slow blink, letting me know he heard my thoughts and is ready. He jumps out of my arms, shifting into shadow form, and moves behind the woman. “Somnum,” I whisper and reach out, taking the papers. Binx, in his shadow form, helps lower her to the ground, dragging her out of the elevator entrance and over to a potted plant in the hall. I set the papers down in a neat pile next to her, and then Binx and I get up, going up to the floor Scott’s office is on.
It’s nearing the end of the workday, but since it’s a Monday, I know the other offices will be full of people as well, and not everyone in this building is affiliated with Scott fucking Martin, but I’ll cast sleeping spells on the whole damn building if I have to.