Page 70 of I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker
“Look, demons be damned, I’m not messing up my business. According to Raymond, a day in hell is like a week on Earth. I can’t be away for that long without making sure everything is good here. When all this is done, I still have employees to pay, a mortgage, and clients who depend on me.”
“We can buy some time,” Raymond spoke up, looking at Jackie. “It makes sense to get things in order here before leaving. I’ll get the guys together, and we’ll coordinate our efforts with your team as well.”
“How long will you need?” Miguel asked. “We have men here, but we can’t keep them for weeks or months.”
“Just a couple of days to get Natalie trained.”
“I can hang around after you leave.” Jackie nodded. “Just to keep an eye on Natalie and the place until you return. It will be easier for me to move my operations here for a while than trying to keep our field men here. But they will stay until we’re sure the heat is off.”
“Once we leave, no one will be interested in coming here,” Raymond confirmed. “And if they do, they’ll follow our energy signatures back to the Bane.”
“What happens once you’re there? How will we know if you’re okay?” Jackie asked. “You’re taking one of my best friends to hell. I need to know what’s going on.”
“There’s no cell service in the Bane.” Raymond sipped his coffee.
“Do you want to take a moment and come up with a better answer? You better find a magical solution to this problem,” Jackie fussed. “Use your damn shadows. I don’t know, but figure out a way to let me know what’s happening.”
“I will do my best.” Raymond took a long sip from his coffee. “Actually, Noville, he may have some ideas. I wonder if there is an implant we can use.”
“Implant? In who?” My head snapped up. “You’re not implanting anything in my ass!”
“What about the one with the vanishing horns?” Jackie asked after laughing at my response. “He seems pretty smart. Maybe he knows something, considering you all said he had a girlfriend on Earth. How do they keep in touch?”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Raymond grumbled. “I don’t know what he knows, but I’ll ask.”
“Touchy subject, that man. What was his name?” Jackie tapped the table with her nail. “Metice, right?”
“Is there anything else we need to consider before I head out?” Raymond asked. “It will take a while to gather everyone. I’ll need at least the rest of the day.”
“Nope, I think we’re good. We can reconnect in the morning. Get a security detail up and running for the next couple of days until you leave.”
“Good.” Raymond stood and touched my shoulder. “I’ll be back.”
Without addressing any of Jackie’s comments, Raymond left. That familiar chill lasted only seconds after he vanished.
“You need to find out what’s up between him and that Metice.” Jackie snatched the piece of bacon Raymond left untouched on his plate. “There’s something there, I’m telling you.”
“Why?” I shook my head. “Does it matter?”
“Because I want to know! Since when do I need reasoning for wanting tea? Something tells me whatever is brewing between themis piping hot!”
“Be careful, or you’ll get burned,” Miguel chimed in. “Wouldn’t be the first time either.”
Jackie and Miguel hung around after Raymond left. The three of us hadn’t been together in years, and with what was happening, we didn’t want to miss the chance to catch up. I laughed as they recounted their adventures and tallied their kills. It was always a competition between the two of them.
Jackie updated me on Lena and Whitney and showed me her growing social media platform and business. I gave her a few of my marketing contacts I thought would be able to help her further expand when she spoke about a product line she was thinking of launching.
While the conversation continued, I worked on finishing up the tea blend I owed Miguel and tripled the recipe. He deserved it, especially with having to deal with Jackie, who was more energetic than ever before. Part of me wanted to call her out about Miguel like she had me about Raymond. How quick would she be to curse me out if I pointed out that she clearly liked the man?
We also talked about her staying at my place once I was gone. Someone would need to take care of Kaa and the other plants. Jackie eagerly volunteered for the role. They liked her energy, and I trusted her not to give them dirty water or forget to rotate the potted plants for adequate sun exposure.
When they left, I went to my office,busying myself with finishing up the training materials for Natalie. I shot off an email letting her know we would start a new training schedule the next day.
After eating the food I’d ordered, my favorite burger and fries, I took a brief shower and headed to bed.
As my mind drifted off, I thought about Raymond and how much I wanted to have him next to me. Just before I could get frustrated by those thoughts, the chill was quickly replaced by the heat of his body. Raymond was there.
“I got you,” he whispered into my ear as he pulled me into his body.
