Page 144 of Home to the Hollow

No fucking way is that nosey bitch getting involved with this.

“I don’t think third party involvement is wise, Jamie. The instructions were explicit that you and I should handle this and Nelia would be apprised separately. I don’t believe you can send someone, nor can you hand the paperwork to that toad in the office. There are too many moving parts with keeping the secret until mydrugaremerges.”

He’s quiet as I complete my lap, and I wonder exactly what’s going on in his office, that he’s being so cautious. When he finally speaks, it makes me curious. “Well, I’ll get right on that. There are some VIPs at the farm at the moment, and I believe I have visitors in the south pasture, but I’ll scoot on over once I have my guests settled. Don’t fret, buddy. Old Jamie has it all in hand.”

For fuck’s sake…

“Text me when it’s done. I’ll contact the elves to begin once you have all the clearances. The timeframe on this project is short, and I don’t want blowback if we don’t make their deadline.”

With that, I hang up and continue my workout. I plan on getting the lass out of Jolene’s house as quickly as possible—not just because I’ve been ordered, but because it gives me room to figure out how to approach her without a peanut gallery in tow.

Literally.

If I’m lucky, I can talk to her before any of the girls in town reopen old wounds.

* * *

By the timeI’ve finished cardio and my weight sets for the day, Jamie texts me as promised. The paperwork is taken care of and I can pick it up at Town Hall. I expected it to take longer based on his reaction, but who the fuck knows with that guy? He could have anything from a group of tourists to a rock star to a fucking sheikh at his horse farm on any day, so it’s hard to predict what ‘guests’ he’s entertaining. Such is the life of one of the richest horse trainers in the world, I suppose.

I hop in my car and cruise down to the city building, frowning when I see theotherIrish pain in my ass outside of the Society HQ, smoking as he looks at Town Hall. As soon as I park, I stalk up to him, glaring at the annoying shit.

It’s like that country is sending its most annoying supes to torture me, I fucking swear.

“Doyle, why are you standing out here drawing attention to this building like a fucking gargoyle on fire?”

The space has remained empty for years based on the rumor of recurring toxic mold, and standing in front of it like a moron only puts more eyes on the empty spot on Main Street. Some witches in town have cast an aversion charm on it to keep nosy tourists or dumbass teens away, but that only goes so far. We don’t need anyone wondering why it’s stayed condemned for so long or how we’ve failed at defeating what should be a basic issue. This dipshit is fully aware of that, and what’s inside, even if he rarely shows up to meetings.

Haggerty rolls his eyes as if I’m the most tedious thing he’s ever experienced, and turns to face me fully. “What areyoudoing here instead of meting out justice with Vlad and Randall? What do my taxespayfor?”

That actually makes me snort and I shake my head at the Mayor’s pet PR guy. His faux indignation is laughable, and so is the idea that he pays for anything. “You work for us, idiot. You don’t pay taxes. Hell, very few people in this town do outside of tributes and humans. Answer my question.”

He pushes off the wall, running a hand through his fiery red hair as he glares at me. The reluctance to answer has my hackles up, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him get away with skirting the issue with tricksy word play. That’s his M.O. and I’m not fooled by the nonchalance he’s trying to exude. There’s a reason he’s out here, and Doyle doesn’t want me to know what it is.

“I’m having a fag, Boone. Even in the South, you can’t do that inside city buildings anymore.” Shrugging, he walks a little way from the building, his eyes glued to something in the distance.

“Look, Haggerty. I can tell you’re up to something, and if I find out you’re meddling where you don’t belong, I’ll inform the Town Council. Don’t think I won’t go higher if I need to, either.” I follow his gaze and realize suddenly that he’s watching Tilly’s giant bird perch on the statue outside of the Hall. “And leave Jolene Whitley alone—she’smine.”

His hand flies to his chest as he bats his lashes at me in a mockery of coyness. “Edgar, I’d swear you were sweet on the lassie. Must sting like a bee that rumors have the doctoral duo warming her bed most nights. Did you not measure up?”

That’s it. No more Mr. Nice Hound.

A growl shoes out of my chest before I can stop it, and allthreeof my supe sides come crashing through the barrier of my control. The fog breaks loose from my pores as a wing smashes into his stupid face, then the other crashes into his shoulder. The air is full of pheromones and sulfur—a feat no one has evoked in a long time. I keep mytriplásiasecret for a reason; I don’t want to be asked to do more for the Society than I am currently. I have no interest in being recruited for a board seat, a Council position, or worse case scenario, an active Warrior Agent commission. Any of those things is a possibility if the right people discover my secret.

“You’re out of your league, Boone!” Doyle snarls as his eyes light with a deep emerald light that makes them glow. He’s not concerned about my partial shift, nor is he worried about who hears him. When he speaks again, I can feel the persuasion he uses in his job dripping from his words. “You don’t want to do this, mate. The fog can’t charm me, and this will draw more attention than my smoking outside of the club. Shift back, and we’ll go have a drink at Benjy’s.”

My breath hisses out as I watch him warily. He keeps repeating his instructions while I work to tame the raging beasts within me. I’ve never had an issue like this, and I’m not sure if my incomplete bond with Jolene is causing it, or if something else is at play. It takes much longer than normal, but as I watch him trace circles in the air, my feathers fade and the fog dissipates. Once I’m calmer, his eyes dart around the street to see if there were witnesses, and when he seems satisfied, he looks at me with a smirk.

God forbid he has to do his fucking job for once.

“Haggerty, I’m going to wring your fucking neck.” I run a hand through my hair as I feel the impact of unleashing all of my inner monsters simultaneously seep into my bones. I whistle, calling Kali and Hecate from the car. I know that jackass fed on my power—it’s what part of himdoesthe rumors say—and I’ll need their strength nearby to help stabilize me. “Leave Jolene alone and shut your mouth about her bedmates. She can have whatever she wants, and it’s none of your goddamned business.”

His expression goes from shocked to thoughtful to wicked in a blink. “Mmmmm. Methinks the uncatchable Judge Boone has met his match. And she must be averyspecial supe indeed to convince one ofyourkind to accept this situation. Color me intrigued.”

I shake my head, sighing at his stubbornness. “I mean it, Doyle. She doesn’tknow. Not any of it—even what she is. Hell, the snakes don’t even know. So leave it alone until we figure out why a lost one came back without being awakened first.”

Winking saucily, he shrugs. “Mate, I’m known for my… discretion. I won’t let it slip, but I’m hurt that no one’s asked me to unlock the secrets. It’s one of my fundamental skills, as you well know.”

No, I didn’t know that mind control was in his fucking skill set. As far as I knew, no one but Nelia has a clue what this asshole can actually do.

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