Page 7 of Curse of the Wolf

“Probably because he doesn’t say geeky things likeje ne sais quoi.”

“Oh, he does. He’s got the family smarts too. It’s exceedingly obnoxious.”

“So, you naturally want to be his boss.”

“Yes.”

“If your smirk gets any more gleeful, I’m going to classify you with the two evil overlords.”

“I wouldn’t be mean to him. Just… superior.”

I sighed, far more concerned about Radomir and Abrams than the family dynamics of my intern. “Look, Bolin. That isn’t a legit offer. Your parents aren’t going to get to retire this month. If you’re as smart as you think you are, you’ll nose around andlook those two up. You’ll see that they don’t have any other multifamily properties. They don’t want to be landlords.”

I opened my mouth to argue further, but Bolin held a finger to his lips and nodded past my shoulder. Rory was returning with Kashvi, Radomir, and Abrams. I clamped my mouth shut, though I didn’t care that much if those two learned I wanted to thwart their scheme. They had to know I would warn everyone who would listen.

As they approached, movement on the rooftop of the building they’d left caught my eye. Duncan crouched up there, peering over the crest.

Hah. Hehadbeen spying on them.

I hoped he’d learned something useful, though he probably hadn’t. Since Rory had presumably been with Radomir and Abrams the whole time, they wouldn’t have said anything to give away their ruse.

Kashvi led the group into the leasing office, but Abrams deviated, heading toward me. I tensed and glanced toward Duncan, but he ducked out of view. Abrams also looked toward the rooftop but not in time to spot him.

“Ms. Valens, was it?” he asked, stopping in front of me.

“You know damn well who I am. You and your buddy have been stalking me—and my family’s artifacts—for weeks.” Technically, the wolf case wasn’t a family artifact and didn’t, as far as I knew, have anything to do with my pack, but it at least had to do with werewolves. Yes, itprotectedthe holder from werewolves instead of working on behalf of our kind, but it was in the ballpark. And these two wanted it.

“I’m certain I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Abrams said blandly with a much less charming version of Duncan’s accent.

“Bolin knows who you are. He wasatthe cabin when Radomir charged in and tried to get Duncan to attack me and my son.”

Bolin opened his mouth, probably to remind me that he hadn’t seen Radomir. I glared at him, and he closed it again.

“That sounds like a fanciful accounting from a fictional tale,” Abrams said.

“Uh-huh. What the hell do you two want? And what’s up with the big charade?Mostpeople who want my stuff just rob my apartment to get it.”

“Is that an invitation?” Abrams asked.

“No. You wouldn’t find any artifacts in there anyway.”

That was sort of true. I’d given Mom’s magical medallion back to her, and the wolf case was in the heat ductunderthe apartment, not inside of it.

“I see.” Abrams looked at Bolin, then inclined his head in the opposite direction. “Might I chat with you briefly in private, Ms. Valens?”

“Do you want to interview me for a possible property-management position should you buy this complex?”

“Wewouldlike to know more about your qualifications.”

“Right.”

Even though I wanted to punch Abrams, notchatwith him, it would be silly to pass up the opportunity to learn something. Reluctantly, I trailed him to a private spot under a tree, the birds chirping cheerfully in the branches, unaware that the fate of their home lay in the balance.

“Radomir told me what you did.” Apparently, Abrams wasn’t one for small talk.

That suited me fine. “It’s so nice that you two are buddies and can confide in each other.”

“You were the one to destroy thedux.”

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