Part 27 (1/2)
”Yeah, though an amazing number of our people don't seem to.”
”We need to stay secret, Anita.”
Jake was the wolf to call of one of the Harlequin. They were the closest thing to police that the vampire world had. They were supposed to be some of the finest warriors to ever live, or unlive.
”If you'd come to kill us you wouldn't be calling, so why are you calling?” Jesus, didn't I have enough disasters on my plate without the Harlequin? Some days it doesn't rain, it f.u.c.king drowns you.
”Your Nimir-Raj put out the word that he's wanting clanless weretigers. He wants to honor all the weretigers and not just the clans.”
”Micah's very fair-minded.”
”He is,” Jake said.
”You just want to bring us some tigers,” I said.
”I'd also want to come back to work as security for you.”
”Why?” I asked.
”Are you saying you can't use another guard?”
”No, extra manpower is going to come in handy.”
”I want the kittens safe, Anita, and things are getting very dangerous out here.”
”Kittens?” I made it a question.
”The weretigers, someone's hunting and killing them. It started in Europe, but I'm afraid it will spread to here.”
”Funny coincidence that we're calling for weretigers and someone else is killing them.”
”Do you really believe in coincidence?” he asked.
”No. How soon can you get here?”
”I'm in your parking lot in a van being watched by your guards. If you'll ask them to allow us inside, I would beg an audience with you alone before you meet my tigers.”
”Just me?”
”I think at first, yes.”
”Jean-Claude won't let me see you alone.”
”Fine, choose the guard you would most want to stake your life on, but the fewer who know the truth the better.”
”What truth?” I asked.
”Please, Anita, let us inside where it will be safer, and I will tell you everything.”
I wasn't sure I believed that last part, but there was nothing I could do for the cops in Atlanta. h.e.l.l, I couldn't even leave the Circus until we had a plan for the hit men who had almost killed Richard. I wasn't sure that he and Jean-Claude would be as good at healing me, and there was always the chance that I'd take Nathaniel and Damian to their graves. It wasn't just my life anymore, in a very real way.
”Fine, I'll tell the guards to let you in, but you don't get into the underground with your tigers until I know what's going on.”
”If you insist, but if not the underground, then where do you wish to meet?”
”Do you know where Asher's office is in the Circus?”
”Of course, I did work security here once.”
”I'll see you there,” I said. I got off the phone and started trying to find a number for one of the wererats who wasn't wounded and could plausibly be in charge. I guess we were down to Bobby Lee, who was finally back from parts unknown after a lengthy job out of town. I didn't know details, and with some of the business that the wererats did around the world I probably didn't want to know. Plausible deniability is good when you play with criminals but carry a badge.
”Anita,” Damian said, ”it isn't safe to meet Jake like this.”
”He saved my life.”
”He's also an a.s.sa.s.sin.”
”Who is this guy?” Nicky asked.
”Jake is what he calls himself.”
”But who is he?”
”Since you get to sit in on the conversation, you'll find out. Just stand in the corner and look intimidating unless he does something bad.”
”Then what?” he asked.
”If he tries to hurt me, then kill him.”
He widened his one good eye. ”You're usually all about taking 'em in alive.”
”Not this one. If he's on our side we are going to be very happy, but if he's not, then he's too dangerous for anything but killing.”
”He must have hurt you bad last time he was in town.”
”Actually he saved my life and gave me this.” I touched the charm again.
”But you'll let me just kill him if he tries anything.”
I nodded.
”I'm missing part of the story, aren't I?”
”Yep, and you can't repeat anything you hear in the room unless he kills me, in which case, tell everyone.”
”If he's this dangerous, why meet with him at all?” Nicky asked.