Blood Magic by Laken Cane
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I ran everyone out of my office and called Sixten. I’d need a truckload of blood and as long as I had the money, Sixten could usually get me anything.
“Two liters,” he said, sounding surprised for the first time since I’d met him. “That’ll cost you.”
“I need four needles and a small funnel, as well.” I hesitated. “I need it now, and it has to be legit, Six.” I trusted the quality of his products, I did. But two liters of human blood was a lot for him to grab on such short notice. I didn’t want him sneaking any pig blood into the mix.
“Where shall we meet, Legs?” As far as I remembered, Sixten had never used my real name—not even in person. I usually wasn’t sure whether to be amused or pissed off with some of the names he called me. “Number five good with you?”
I had to think for a few seconds to remember where our fifth meeting had taken place. “Yes,” I said, when I remembered I’d met him behind a Finley’s Grocery in the middle of the city.
“Four hours,” he told me, slightly apologetic. “It’s the best I can do.”
Honestly, I was surprised he could do it that quick. I didn’t ask him where he got the blood. I was afraid he might tell me. “See you then.”
I paced a little more, thinking.
I wanted to send Joe to my mother’s with Zach—I’d feel better knowing he was there in case the vampires guessed Zach was there and went after him. Joe couldn’t fight vampires, of course, but no vampire could get inside my mother’s house without permission, and no way in hell would she ever invite a vampire into her home. And Joe could take care of humans if they were the ones who came calling.
But I needed him to help me revive Bastien and Farrow, if there was a chance they could be revived. Max couldn’t help me with that. He couldn’t protect my mother’s house, either, but I knew people who could.
Getting someone to agree to help me save the lives of two vampires was a different story—so Joe it was.
The man was probably going to need a raise.
I called my mother.
“Hi honey. What’s up with your bad self?”
I relaxed immediately, just a tiny bit, but it was better than nothing. My mother affected people that way, some more than others. Zach would benefit from a little relaxation. “I need your help.”
“What can I do?”
“I need you to come to my office in the city and pick up a friend. Take him to your house and watch over him until I can retrieve him. He’s a vampire hunter who was captured by the vampires. I recently rescued him, and they want him back.”
“Got it,” she said. “I’ll leave right now. And don’t worry. No vampire will set foot inside this house.”
I smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you too. It’ll be okay, Kaity.”
I could only nod.
“I’ll be there before dark,” she told me, then disconnected the call.
I left my office, mainly because I smelled food, and I was starving. Not even my anxiety and worry over Rick Moreno could kill my appetite.
I texted Lucy as I scarfed down Chinese food to find out when she’d be back. Turned out she was going to be a while. I tossed Max my house key. “Can you babysit Ash until I or Lucy get home?”
He dropped the key into his pocket. “This is not part of my job description.”
“So you won’t do it?”
“Of course I will.” He wrinkled his nose at me, smiling. “I’ll snoop through all your stuff while I’m there.”
“Just stay away from my bedside table.” I crammed half an eggroll into my mouth. “No telling what you might find.”
“Um, eww?”
Zach ate as much as I did, but his appetite likely came from believing the bounty would soon end. I expected him to argue when I told him my mother was coming for him, but he simply nodded. He wasn’t even remotely a hundred percent yet, and he knew the best thing he could do for everybody was to stay out of the way.
Joe paced back and forth, occasionally throwing dismal looks at Max, who had his nose stuck in his phone, as usual.
I went through the requests my new—and neglected—clients had left, hoping that after the vampires and the detective I could get a little more organized. Surely I would. When there were no more files to go through, I stood at the door—which currently held a sign informing people that we were away on an emergency, thanks to Max—looking out at the street. Time seemed to crawl, and though I was impatient, the looming darkness and what it would bring tied my stomach into knots.
When I spied a spirit on the sidewalk running in circles I left the door and went back into the reception area to wait with the others, but thoughts of the detective and what he was likely going through right that second started battering my brain. Finally, I went into my office, closed the door, and called his cell to leave him a voicemail.
I closed my eyes at his recorded greeting, at his familiar voice. “Rick,” I said, and then had to stop and gather myself because saying his name made it too real. “I’m coming for you,” I told him, finally, my voice raw. “I hope you know that. I hope that no matter what they’re doing to you, you know I’m coming for you.”
I hung up, then regretted the call almost instantly. If by some terrible chance he didn’t make it and the police got his cell and heard that message, it was going to seriously complicate my life.
My mother finally arrived, blowing into the office like a hyper, happy wind. Max went to sit behind his desk, slightly panicked, probably afraid she carried a hen under her coat. Zach stood as she hurried toward him, and the lines of tension on his face eased as she took his hands. Maybe in his former life, he’d known a lady like my mother.
“I’m Susan,” she told him. “You’re coming home with me.”
“Thank you.” He turned to pick up his jacket, then looked at me. “Don’t worry about me.”
I nodded. He was letting me know he wouldn’t try to break out, cause trouble, or get himself recaught by the vampires. I leaned down to kiss my mother’s cheek. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”
She searched my face with a stare that had finally gone just slightly worried. “Be careful, Kaity.”
Max left for my house a few minutes later, and finally, it was time to go.
Don’t be afraid,my wolf whispered. I’m always here.
I was going to need her.
