Page 110 of Amber Gambler

The call had been Josie, who insisted she was fine and demanded to be brought home to see Matty. The fuming redcapdeclined with a snap of her bright-white teeth. Matty had been used as leverage, and she refused to put Josie at risk if Harrow decided to bait me again. So then Josie demanded Carter release Aretha to tend Matty. It got loud after that.Louder. I would have sided with Josie, if she had asked me. It was what sisters did. Even when they didn’t want to. But I would be lying if I didn’t confess I was grateful she had targeted Carter as her verbal punching bag instead.

“I feel like I already know this—” I dreaded Kierce’s answer, “—but would Ankou bargain with a child?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “Ankou has committed untold atrocities to further his own schemes.”

“We need Little.” A bag of cheddar puffs crinkled in Carter’s hand. “Only she can confirm who she sold the intel to or if she held on to it for Farah’s sake.”

“Others hoping to eliminate competition could have overheard as well.” Kierce stroked Badb’s head, the crow snug in the baby sling. “The position is a coveted one in such a hierarchy. Even those they saw as their friends would have envied them. Perhaps not enough to strike out in the open, but the odds are good more than one set of ears listened in on their conversations.”

Especially during the times when they hung outafterAudrey claimed Farah’s title.

That was when they would have expected dirty laundry to get aired for anyone to hear.

A knock on the door preceded Aretha, who let herself in. She adjusted her bag, waved at us, then locked up behind herself. “I would ask where to find my patient, but you guys make it easy with this floor plan.”

Our beds were positioned in the exact same spot, a concession to the size of our apartments.

“This makes you three for three on treating the Talbot siblings.”

“Yeah.” Aretha graced me with a brief smile. “But treating them isn’t as challenging as treating you.”

“In that case, I’ll try to injure myself in new and exciting ways in the future.”

“Please don’t.” She began her exam of Matty, who was asleep. “If you miss me that much, just call.”

“You would go out for drinks with us?”

Fingers on his pulse, she moved her lips in a slow count. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re Harrow’s friend, and he’s no longer welcome in this house.”

“Ouch.” She dug around in her bag. “What did he do this time?”

“You’re looking at it,” Kierce said darkly.

“Samuel did this? To Matty?” She fumbled her bag, and it hit the floor. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.” I went to help clean up her things. “Will that cause a conflict of interest for you?”

“Nope.” She offered her palm, crisscrossed with purposeful scars. “I can offer magically binding HIPAA.”

“Magically binding, I get.” Carter glanced between us. “What the hell is a HIPAA?”

“Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.” I shrugged at Aretha’s surprise. “Who do you think shopped company insurance policies for us? I did a lot of research before choosing our provider.”

The premium was ridiculous, but that happened when a preexisting condition guaranteed a policy would get plenty of exercise. There would come a time when Matty needed a nurse around the clock. Oneiros I had questioned about his future health warned he might require a ventilator and otherlife support if we wanted a physical tether for him. Otherwise, his anchor in this world would erode, barring him access to this plane, until he became as insubstantial as the dreams he inhabited.

Breathe, Frankie. Dreams aren’t taking him today. He’s okay. He’s right there. You can reach out and touch him. You still have time.

“I offer binding oaths that guarantee what is said or done to you and yours will never be shared with a third party.” She gestured around the room. “There’s also flexibility in coverage. We can add or remove contacts as they come into and out of your life. For example, I have a feeling you would loop in tall, dark, and…” A subtle wrinkle creased her nose. “He has ababy?”

“Do you not want kids,” Carter asked, “or do you only find men with kids by other women unattractive?”

Big talk from someone who almost had a stroke the first time she saw Kierce wearing a baby sling.

“Who are you?” Aretha snapped her gaze to Carter. “My mother? Or actually my grandmother? Even my aunts, honestly. And there’s one uncle. Sheesh. A woman’s success shouldn’t be based on the number of kids carrying her genetic material. Children aren’t a prerequisite for happiness, damn it.”

“I didnotmean to step on that emotional land mine.” Carter held up her hands. “I’ll be sheltering under a desk if anyone needs me.”

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