Page 111 of Dead Heat

Ray materialized beside me. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but one of your front windows is busted.”

That was the reason I wasn’t looking forward to her efforts to break the ward. In the process, she was liable to break every window in my house.

“I’ll take care of the window,” Kane offered.

“This is my mess. I’ll clean it up.”

“Already on it,” Nana Pratt declared.

I turned to see her sweeping up the glass with a dustpan and brush. My ghostly roommates were more invaluable than they could ever know.

Posy smiled and unleashed another earsplitting note. The Castle shook but the other windows remained intact, as did the ward.

Thank you, Phaedra and Ashley.

I drew closer to the gate. “Listen, I don’t have the budget to pay for any more broken windows. What exactly do you expect to do if you make it past the gate? The only way you’re going to take me off this property is to kill me, and as we’ve already established, you’re not allowed to do that.”

Posy’s mouth opened to answer and then clicked shut. Just as I suspected. No answer. It seemed she was more interested in winning than executing an actual plan.

She dusted the front of her retro pink coat. “Come with me now, or I’ll destroy your house.”

I shrugged. “This house was in far worse shape when I bought it. It can be fixed again, but I won’t be happy about having to do it.”

“All I ask is that you pay a visit to corporate headquarters. I’ll arrange the meeting. I’ll even book the best conference room. It has a view and everything.”

“I have a perfectly nice view right here.”

She turned to look at the town below. “Ah, yes. All those houses so close to the river. I’m surprised there hasn’t been a major flood here.”

My body tensed. “This is how you recruit people? Brute force and threats?”

Her smile was sticky sweet. “Whatever seals the deal.”

“Will there be donuts?”

“Not typically, but I’m sure we can accommodate your request. Boston cream?”

Wow, they really did their homework. It was equal parts impressive and terrifying. “Or apple cider. I’m not fussy.”

“Fine, Miss Not Fussy. If I promise cappuccinos with monk fruit sweetener and Boston cream donuts, will you come?”

Ray looked at me. “That kind of makes you sound fussy.”

Kane answered her before I had a chance. “No, she will not. We know how you operate. The second she steps foot on your premises, her life as she knows it will be over.”

Posy sucked in a dramatic breath. “Mr. Sullivan, that’s a very negative mindset. Then again, I’d expect nothing less from the prince of hell who got his tuchus kicked by Lucifer. Must be hard to bounce back from that level of humiliation.”

“No need to take potshots at my boyfriend. I’m the one you want.” I shot a glance at Kane. “Did Canto leave yet? Maybe he can take Brutal Barbie with him. She’d fit right in.”

Posy gave the gate one last shake. No entry. “This won’t hold up against us in case that was your expectation.”

“It held up against you.”

“I’m a recruiter. I’m not designed for manual labor.”

Designed. Like an object. Typical corporate mentality. “If I show up at your headquarters and hear your company’s pitch, you’ll leave me alone after that?” I estimated it would be worse than an enema but better than a time share presentation.

“We only ask that you hear us out,” Posy said. “We’d love to offer you a peek behind the proverbial curtain.”

---