Page 140 of Dead Heat

“Ahem,” Ray said.

With my arm around Kane’s waist, we retreated inside the house. Nana Pratt hurried to prepare a pot of tea.

“There are leftovers from game night if you’re hungry,” she said.

“Famished.”

Kane observed the kettle as it drifted to the stovetop. “Would you mind giving Lorelei and I a bit of privacy? I can take care of feeding her. In fact, I insist on it.”

Nana Pratt looked to me for a response. “I’ll catch up with you and Ray later.”

The ghosts made themselves scarce. There was no sign of Claude.

“You’ll be pleased to know Alessandro is back to normal,” I said, as Kane took over kitchen duties.

“Dare I ask how you managed to escape with the shade?”

“We didn’t.” I told him the full story of Erika’s treachery. “I made a deal with Hel. She let us go on the condition that I ask The Corporation if they know Loki’s whereabouts. That’s her father.” And if anyone in the human world knew where to find the trickster god, it was the evil organization. “She kept Max as a hostage. If I don’t provide the information, Max can never leave. Unbeknownst to Hel, Max wants to stay, so he told me not to endanger myself by honoring the deal.”

Kane watched me closely. “But?”

“What? But nothing.”

He stood to pour boiling water into the teapot. “Are you certain? I sense conflicted feelings.”

Were there any other kind? “I’m just tired. It was a lot.”

While Kane prepared a plate of leftovers, my phone rang.

“It’s West. Do you mind if I answer really quick?”

Kane sighed but said nothing.

“Guards said you were back. Glad to hear your voice.”

“Thanks. Did I miss anything?”

“Chief Garcia would like to form a secret task force.”

“I guess she’s been mulling this over since our meeting.”

“Without a doubt. She wants Leo on it, and a few key supernaturals in town. We’d meet twice a month to share information and educate the police about the crossroads and potential threats.”

I nodded. “Sounds good.”

“I’m thinking you, me, Sage, Phaedra, one of the mages, and Josie.”

I snorted. No surprise he failed to include Kane.

As though reading my thoughts, he said, “I thought introducing them to a prince of hell might be a bridge too far.”

Yeah, right. “Why Josie and not Otto?”

“Because Josie’s already a director of security. She’d be more useful on a task force than Otto.”

“But Otto keeps his ear to the ground, and he would feed us really well at the meetings.”

“In that case, maybe we could have them both. Which mage would you recommend?”

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