Page 82 of The Darkest Night

“We had word a shipment of humans trafficked out of South America was arriving in the city tonight,” Dickson said. “NYPD got a tip-off on their whereabouts shortly before we were called to the disturbance at the club.”

Mae’s pulse quickened.Vlad’s bodyguard!

It seemed the incubus had helped free the slaves intended for the Dark Council beforeOnikscould get their hands on them. A warm feeling filled her chest.

That guy isn’t anywhere near as bad as he makes himself out to be. Him or his tiger.

“I’m afraid I don’t know anything about that,” Mae lied.

Dickson and Calvarro looked unconvinced.

“We didn’t know you were Vlad Vissarion’s girlfriend,” Dickson said.

Mae squinted.Strike that. That guy’s an asshole.

“We are more acquaintances than boyfriend and girlfriend,” she muttered, unable to hide her sullen undertone.

“That’s not what he said.” Calvarro raised an eyebrow. “He claimed you were gonna get engaged.”

The table trembled slightly. Dickson and Calvarro stared at it.

Mae unclenched her teeth and suppressed the burst of magic that had escaped her.

I’m gonna kill that red-eyed bastard!

Brimstone was similarly aggrieved.I shall assist you!

“You hang around in dangerous circles, Ms. Jin,” Dickson remarked.

Mae met his gaze unflinchingly. “These are dangerous times, lieutenant.”

Her words made a strange expression dart across Dickson and Calvarro’s faces. The door opened before Mae could ask them who they really were.

A woman in a smart business suit walked in with two identically dressed men. They ignored the detective protesting in their steps and stopped by the table.

“Ms. Jin?” the woman said briskly.

“Yes?” Mae said warily.

“My name is Piper Bennett. I am an attorney with Benson and Benson. I will be representing you and your party. These are my associates.”

The men beside her dipped their chins in greeting. Mae stared. Benson and Benson was one of the biggest law firms in the city.

“I work for Bryony Cross,” Bennett added at Mae’s blank expression.

“Oh.”

Mae studied the three lawyers closely. She couldn’t feel any magic from them.

Bennett’s cool gaze landed on Dickson and Calvarro. “My client has a right to counsel. As of now, I’m advising her not to say a single word to NYPD. This interrogation is over.”

Dickson narrowed his eyes. Calvarro’s face turned stony.

To Mae’s surprise, the lieutenant assented to Bennett’s request without raising a fight. He asked the detective who’d accompanied the attorneys to prepare Mae and the others’ discharge paperwork, his tone stiff.

“Vissarion’s lawyers are here too,” the man told Dickson grimly. “They’re demanding the same thing.”

“Let him go,” Dickson said dismissively. He sighed at the detective’s pinched expression. “All we’ll end up with is a pile of paperwork and a headache if we try to fight those guys.”

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