“Sure. From the afterlife.”
“You can’t just randomly kill a human,” I said, wishing I could back up. There was nowhere to go. “Especially one who just helped your faction. And your boss.”
Moss’s scowl didn’t change. “You aren’t human, and by killing a bond-mate, you committed a grave offense to our faction. The punishment is death.”
“I didn’t peg you for the type who’d bond a crazy person, Moss. You don’t have enough humor for that.” I eased my sword out of its sheath. It was harder than it should’ve been. I was way too drunk for this. “I get that you’re pissed about John. Look, that was a bounty set up by his neighborhood. I’m not saying they should get your heat, but…they should get your heat. I just go where the money is.”
“That will be your undoing.”
I laughed, then snorted. I couldn’t help the latter. “You’re a nerd. But seriously, is that scowl glued on? Do you ever just slip it off just to see how it feels?”
He rushed at me, way faster than I was used to, since I wasn’t used to fighting while intoxicated. I stabbed out with my sword, missing entirely. I felt a hand wrap around my neck, coming from the side. It was the vampire from the kitchen. Claws bit into my skin.
Moss reached out, his face a horrifying mask of violence. I slashed at him, catching him weakly on his side. His hand closed around the swampy arm at my neck. Moss ripped it away, and the claws scratched across my skin.
I jabbed at Moss again, catching him in the torso. Until I realized that version of him was not real. My sword cut through empty space.
I closed an eye and tried again, pretty sure I had it right this time. I still missed. He wasn’t an elder, but he was an old-ass vamp.
His claws ripped through the chest of the vampire right next to me, yanking out the heart.
“Oh shit. I’m confused.” I stopped from attempting to jab Moss as more vampires rushed in from the side.
“Would you be at all helpful?” he said.
“I’m still so confused!” I turned to the oncoming vamps, thankfully much slower. I slashed, missing the one I was aiming for but hitting another. My sword cut through his chest, catching his heart. Lucky.
I hacked at a different one, but hit the wall and stumbled, falling next to the dying, failing vampire and the legs of his living cronies. “Oops.” I flipped to my back and hacked away a leg. A vampire stumbled in its monster form. He bent to slash me.
I grabbed my gun, yanked it free with some effort, and fired. The ceiling rained down on me as the claws kept coming. I gulped as I prepared for them to slice into me.
The vampire was ripped away. The other disappeared a moment later.
“Good work, Moss. Team player.” I jumped to my feet, staggered, and prepared for more action. I probably should’ve stayed sober after all.
Darius stood in front of me in a crisp suit, smelling freaking divine. He smoothed back his hair before adjusting a cufflink.
I put my hand to my forehead. “I’m confused again. I think I might be delirious.”
Movement by the door drew my eye. Two Mosses waited with their arms crossed.
“So. Wait.” I pointed at the Mosses. Then closed an eye so I wasn’t looking at two Dariuses. “Was he, or was he not, bonded to John? And who were those other guys? Also, and this is the most important question, who is going to clean up all these gooey, dead vampire bodies?” I held up a finger. “One more. Does anyone have a bottle of whiskey? Mine died in the fire.”
“Reagan,” Darius said, “why do you still have no eyebrows?”
I felt the area where said eyebrows were pinched together. “They were burned away in the battle and Callie ran out of serum restoring the hair on my head.”
“You look hideous.” His gaze took me in. “And the state of your house. How can you live like this?”
I struck with my sword, closing my eye to make sure I got the right Darius. He moved away easily. Suddenly, my sword went missing. My gun, which I stuck out next, disappeared from my hand a moment later.
“No problem. About that whiskey…” I lifted my chin, not bothered. I was too drunk for that.
He stepped backward, away from the bodies, and checked his shoes. They were still shiny. “I’ve come to deliver your earnings,” he snapped. Moss came forward with a briefcase, his scowl definitely permanent. “This case holds cash. If you would prefer a check, or to be on payroll, that can also be arranged. Whatever you would like.”
“Just turn my mark in.” I matched Moss’s scowl. “Just turn her in and we’ll do this legit-like.”
“The mark died before Vlad could question her, unfortunately. Without the demon, she was unable to cross the gate into the Realm, something we did not foresee.”
I’d opened my mouth to argue, because that was crap, when it sank in. If she’d been able to talk to Vlad, she would’ve told him all about me. Darius was trying to protect me.
My mouth snapped shut so hard that my teeth made a gross sound.
“She has been dealt with, the bounty removed and the fines paid. You get a percentage of that, I believe, along with all your expenses paid, no receipt needed. I will turn a blind eye to the way you broke into my house, threatened everyone, and robbed Mr. Giles.”
“He deserved it.”
“Yes. He is being punished. This is the rest of your fee, as promised.” He set the briefcase at my feet, “Along with the contact information for multiple real estate agents I trust so you can choose your new home. We can…fix this one so you don’t accrue any financial damages.” He stepped back again. “I pay my debts, Reagan. You should never doubt that.”
“I can kill you. You should never doubt that.”
His lips tweaked upward into a smile. “Not now, you couldn’t. Do you have a spell for seclusion?”
I gave him the Evil Eye. “Why?” I wiggled, because my lady bits had roared to life. Drunk and horny were not a good combo. I was liable to launch myself at him.