Page 55 of The Most Wanted Witch

Now what to say? How much did he know?

“I do believe he will be back to check up on things, but I don’t call the shots. It’s at his discretion.” Again, all true but a bit vague. I was definitely getting the hang of this.

“The little problem you’ve been having, we’ve been aware of it as well, and it is an issue. I might be able to help you out if you’re willing to make certain concessions. I’d have to make sure that if I tipped the order of things one way or another that you’d be willing to repay my kindness. Roads must lead in both directions, after all.”

Oh, no. I already didn’t like where this was heading. What was the point of getting help to swap out one takeover from another?

“We’re still exploring our options right now, so I’d have to get back to you on that.” These bogus lines were really flowing now. If I’d stayed in Rest, I might’ve been able to get a job in PR.

“That’s fine. We have a bit of time.” He smiled and shrugged in a way that made me wonder if there might be something he knew. “You’ll need to make sure to call me after your next meeting with Xazier, though. Just step outside and say the word ‘Lou’ into the fifth wind. I’ve got you tagged as a VIP caller, so you’ll get right through. But you must realize how important it is to call. If we’re friends, you’ll call. That’s what friends do.” He stopped walking and turned to me. “We are friends, aren’t we? I wouldn’t want to not be friends. That wouldn’t be good for anyone.”

It was about as thinly veiled a threat as you got. Any thinner and there’d only be air. If I agreed to being friends, was I locking myself in magically? Why had I agreed to talk to him at all? That was right. I’d been too chicken not to.

“I’d like to be friends if possible,” I said, being as evasive as I could pull off and hoping he’d take it.

He smiled and then turned on his heel, directing us back to the office. “That’s good. Come. I’ll walk you back.”

“No need. I’m sure you have a busy day,” I said, risking a faster pace.

“Not at all,” he said, walking faster with me. “So, you came from Salem, I hear? Interesting how you ended up in Xest.”

“Yes, I guess. Never really thought much about it myself.” This was getting oddly familiar. Demon or angel, they were starting to merge in my mind.

“Was your family witches?” he asked.

“My mother was a witch.” He probably already knew that. He probably knew a lot of things—more than I did, if I had to guess.

He hummed. “Was she strong?”

“I hate to admit it, but I’m really too ignorant to say.”

“And your father?” he asked, not letting a second lag between questions.

“Can’t say. I didn’t know him.” Finally, I could give him a truth.

There was more humming. I could see the broker building up ahead. Just a little bit closer and I’d be away from him.

“I find you so very peculiar. There’s”—he put his hand out, twisting it back and forth like a seesaw—“something.”

“I’m a weird girl, is all. Nothing overly interesting about me.” Few more steps. Almost home free.

“Well, here we are. Don’t forget, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

“Definitely won’t forget.” I gripped the front door.

Lou smiled again, and then he was gone.

The door to the broker office swung open and Hawk was standing there.

“Where the hell have—”

I clapped a hand over Hawk’s mouth and put a finger to my lips. I looked about the office, making sure they were all getting the message, and then made sure the door was shut completely.

“I think he can hear things through the fifth wind, so no talking about any matters if the doors are open,” I said, making sure everyone was listening.

“Where did he take you? I’ve been looking everywhere,” Hawk said.

“We were walking around Xest, but I don’t think anyone could see us.” As angry as I was at Hawk for varying reasons, knowing he had tried to find me gave me a warm feeling. Besides, this mess superseded any fight.

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