Page 35 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

“So, any insight as to who was behind the attack and why?”

“Delphine thinks whoever came after me wanted people to see me and theBlack Devilsweakened,” Vlad said bitterly. “And by people, she meant the rest of the criminal underworld.”

Cortes sobered. “To be fair, that thought did cross my mind. The timing can’t be a coincidence.” His brow furrowed. “Someone may be trying to destabilize the current power balance in New York.”

“I agree,” Delphine said levelly. “Our mercenary corps have seen similar patterns in countries where there have been acoup d’état.”

Vlad hesitated. “That scenario does makes sense.”

They ate in silence, each lost to their own thoughts.

Cortes wiped his mouth and put down his napkin at the end of the meal. “Speaking of power balance, I’ve heard some strange rumors about Wei Chen’s Kingston contacts.”

Vlad frowned as he got up and cleared their plates. “What kind of rumors?”

“The kind that make seasoned criminals nervous.” Cortes drummed his fingers on the counter. “They’re involved in some pretty nasty stuff.”

Delphine was pondering how much nastier the criminal underworld could get when the Colombian’s phone rang.

Cortes stiffened when he checked the screen. “It’s one of the guys watching Mrs. Son-Ha’s place.” He took the call. Whatever he heard made his expression brighten. “How long ago?” He listened for another moment. “Keep an eye on the house and make sure she doesn’t leave. Block the street if you have to.”

Unease prickled Delphine’s scalp.

Vlad had reluctantly admitted exactly what line of inquiry he and Cortes were pursuing to her and Yuliy that morning. The fact that it involved a Shaman who could see spirits had done little to reassure her. Even though she knew there were things in this world that could not be explained by logic or science, the super soldier inside her drew a line at ghosts.

“Mrs. Son-Ha is back?” Vlad asked when Cortes ended the call, hope underscoring his voice.

“She just got home. Looks like she’s been away. My guy said she had a case.”

“Finally.” Vlad turned to exit the kitchen. “Let’s go.”

“Hold up,” Delphine said. Her tone stopped the incubus mid-stride. “We need a plan of action first.”

“The plan of action is to go see Mrs. Son-Ha,” Vlad said impatiently.

“I get that you want to talk to this woman, but everything you do from now on needs to be carefully thought out. You’re currently without your powers and someone strong enough to suppress them is still out there.”

Vlad bristled. “I can handle myself.”

Delphine arched an eyebrow. “Like you handled yourself at theOro Divino?”

Cortes winced. “Ouch. She kinda has a point.”

“Tarang and Cortes will be with us,” Vlad said flintily.

Cortes lifted his hands. “Hey, don’t bring me into your lovers’ spat.”

Delphine’s eyes shrank to slits. “This is not a lovers’ spat.”

“Yeah,” Vlad snapped. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”

“The one that entertains me the most,” Cortes said bluntly. This earned him a pair of heavy frowns. He sighed. “How about you listen to your super soldier bodyguard?”

A muscle worked in Vlad’s cheek. He finally relented.

“What do you suggest?”

She took out her phone, mapped out the two most defensible approaches to Mrs. Son-Ha’s address as well as three viable exit routes, and showed them her plan.

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