Page 22 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
Ones flowed down the screen, faster than before, as if the code was eager to be understood.
“HexaCore,” Andromeda repeated, her expression darkening.“That’s one of the biggest magi-tech companies in the country.”
“I’m familiar with them.”Donatello mentally cataloged what he knew.“Multi-billion-dollar corporation.They specialize in security software for magical institutions—banks, hospitals, and government agencies.High-profile.”
“They’re also notorious for their aggressive corporate tactics,” Andromeda added.“They’ve been known to either buy out or crush smaller competitors.”
“Were you working for them?”Donatello asked the screen.
Zeros.
“Against them?”
Ones.
“Interesting.”Donatello turned to Andromeda.“We need to pay HexaCore a visit.”
“Their headquarters are in Boston,” she said.“About half an hour away.”
“Good,” Donatello nodded.“I hope you’re a morning person, Miss Swan.”
“Why?”
A grin spread across his face.“Because we’re driving to HexaCore headquarters first thing tomorrow.The early bird catches the killer.”
“Defineearly.”Her eyes narrowed.“Because my early starts at ten.”
“Great.”Donatello’s grin widened.“I’ll pick you up at seven.Leave the attitude at home.”
He expected a sharp retort—another quip about cartoon bloodhounds or his authority complex.Instead, she surprised him by smiling sweetly, her head tilting to one side demurely.
“I will,” she said, her voice honey-smooth, “if you do too, detective.”
The sugar in her tone set off alarm bells in Donatello’s head.In the short time he’d known Andromeda Swan, he’d learned that she was many things—brilliant, beautiful, sarcastic, defiant—but “sweet” and “compliant” weren’t on the list.This sudden change in demeanor was more suspicious than reassuring.
She was planning something.He could feel it in the prickle at the back of his neck, in the too-innocent curve of her smile.Whatever game she was playing, he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out the rules.
Chapter Ten
License to Hex
ANDROMEDA
The bullpen of Salem’s Magical Police Department buzzed with gossip-thick energy that prickled Andromeda’s skin.Officers swiveled in chairs as she and Malatesta emerged from the special case room, their gazes hungry for gossip like vampires eyeing fresh veins.Something was off.The air vibrated with suppressed laughter and shared smirks, creating an atmosphere that reminded Andromeda uncomfortably of high school right before someone got ambushed in the cafeteria.Whatever it was, Detective Cocky was the target, and judging by the thundercloud brewing on his face, he knew it.
“Ignore them,” Malatesta muttered.“They’re worse than a coven of teenage witches.”
His hand ghosted behind her lower back as they navigated between desks, never touching her, but close enough that the heat radiating from his palm reached her.It was—not unpleasant.
They were halfway across the bullpen when Sarah Michelle materialized in front of them.Her dark hair shone under the fluorescent lights, but not as bright as the shit-eating grin plastered on her face.Had someone slipped a cheering potion into her coffee?
“Malatesta,” Sarah Michelle purred, her eyes dancing with unholy delight.“News is the hearing went well.”
Well?Was her roommate nuts?Andromeda blinked in confusion.She’d been sentenced to community service instead of paying a fine and forced to work with the most infuriating man in law enforcement.In what universe did that qualify as “going well?”
Even more baffling, was Malatesta’s reaction.His entire body tensed beside her.He exhaled, the sound somewhere between a sigh and a growl.“For hex’s sake, Callidora, not you, too.”
What did he have to be so prickly about?He’d won.
