Page 14 of Visions in Blood
I took a swig of water, waiting to hear the reason for his visit.He’d been ignoring my morning workouts all week, and he wasn’t dressed for a sparring match.
“I know our discussion didn’t end well last night, but I wanted to ask if your offer to let me see the necklace was still good.”
Good grief, after all the talk about dreamwalkers, I’d spaced the necklace until he’d walked through the door.I shrugged.“I don’t see why not.”
He seemed to brighten, but I only knew that from watching his eyes and the way they warmed.I cursed under my breath at the slight tremors it evoked.“Excellent.I’ve called for a cab.You have an hour to shower and eat breakfast before it arrives.”
Wait.What?
“A cab?Can’t Lucas or Simone take me?”
“They’re both on other assignments today.Besides, I had the impression the necklace was with other possessions you’d prefer to keep safe from prying eyes.I didn’t want to intrude on that.”
Huh.The thought shouldn’t have surprised me.He’d never asked anything personal, not unless he thought it might impact his mission.I didn’t know why he was so adamant about seeing the necklace or his fascination with all this dreamwalker talk, but this was the first time he’d let me out on my own.
“Thank you.”I had no idea what else to say, but I shouldn’t have worried.Devon had already left.
Anna was the only one waiting at breakfast, and while I had the morning to run my errands, I would be expected back in the afternoon for her lessons.She was willing to push them back an hour since I’d need time to get where I was going, but her reasonable side only went so far.
The cab showed up on time, and I directed the driver to City Center.It wasn’t anywhere close to where I needed to go, and while Devon trusted me on my own, something told me Sergi would somehow trace my route, if they weren’t already following me—for my protection, of course.
Santiga Bay was the largest town north of San Francisco and hugged the coast for several miles.City Center had been built closer to the hills that bordered the eastern edge and included a transportation hub with a train and bus station.The large marina five miles from downtown supported small-scale cargo ships, several dozen fishing boats, and even more pleasure crafts.There was a private airport to the northeast, but for commercial flights, the airport in San Francisco was a couple of hours away.
Three different buses and a ten-block walk took me back to my old neighborhood.I had no plans on going by the apartment.After the break-in last night, it was obvious the place was now toxic.My destination was four blocks from the apartment, and I’d bought a baseball cap and shades at the bus station for a disguise.During the morning hours, the neighborhood was quiet, and since this was a weekday, most people had already left for work.The drug trade didn’t pick up until the afternoons.
The laundromat was next to Guillermo’s mom-and-pop store and across from the Lowdown, the bar Ginger and I frequented when the apartment felt too tiny.The washing machines and dryers were all occupied, not surprising for the morning hours, but the real business was handled in back rooms.
Greco, who ran the neighborhood’s illicit drug trade, had his hands in various pots.He was a true capitalist who believed in diversification, and the thought always made me chuckle.In addition to the drugs, he ran an escort business, a sportsbook, and had a private room filled wall to ceiling with lockboxes.The room was as serene and secure as a bank vault.Security cameras were prominently displayed, and I spotted several better hidden ones—just in case someone tried to dismantle the others.If that wasn’t enough of a deterrent for theft, there were two guards posted outside the room twenty-four seven.It was good enough for me.
“Hey, Pandora.I figured you’d be laying low after all the activity at your crib.”
I smiled and punched Bulldog in the shoulder.He punched back, but his normal greeting didn’t push me back a couple of steps like it used to, and his eyes widened.
“Shit, girl.You been working out?”
My grin grew wider.“A bit.”
He squeezed my upper arm until tears sprung.“Not enough to go up against those white boys cruising the hood.You start carrying?”
“In a way.”I opened my jacket to reveal the bone-handled dagger.
Bulldog whistled.“And I bet you know how to use it.”
I held my smile and nodded to the door of the private room.“I need a minute with my box.”I passed him some cash, which he immediately put in his pocket.
“Ten minutes enough?”
I nodded.“What’s with the time limit?”No one ever stayed long, but I’d never been given a limit before.
“Just today.Special client.”
Ah.A new connection.“No worries.I won’t need that long.”
When he nodded to the guards, one unlocked the door, but before I entered, Bulldog pulled me back and whispered, “I’ve seen you with some dangerous dudes.Are you okay?”
I was touched.Ginger and I always had a good relationship with Bulldog, and he took care of us as best he could without involving himself with anything that would bring the heat.I didn’t blame him for not going up against Christopher’s men, they were well-armed, but license plates would have been noted.Bulldog had his own way of payback for disturbing his neighborhood.
I squeezed his arm.“It’s all good.Believe it or not, I have my own bodyguards now.At least for a while.”
