Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

my surprise, owen Grayson just smiled. A But there was something owen Grayson could help familiar emotion shimmered in his eyes, one that had me with. And I was ready to cash in on that goodwill he gotten me into trouble on more than once occasion. Cuowed me. riosity. It burned even brighter than his desire had a mo“Let’s say I believe you, that you really do want to get ment ago.
    to know me and not just my breasts,” I said. “Do me a
    “oh, I’ll introduce you to Dawson, just to see what favor, and I’ll consider your proposal.”
    you’re up to.” Amusement colored Grayson’s voice, and Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 310-311
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    he held his arm out to me for a second time. “Shall we, Gin?”
    owen Grayson’s curiosity might cause me problems later on, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. So I placed my hand on his arm. “Let’s.”
    28
    owen Grayson escorted me back into the ballroom. We stood by the terrace door, looking for Dawson. Finally, I spotted the cowboy dwarf, standing near the long, crowded bar. Tobias Dawson drank a shot of what looked like whiskey, chased it with a mug of beer, belched, and wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand. Classy.
    “You sure you want to do this?” Grayson murmured. I paused. Grayson probably thought I was reconsidering approaching Dawson, given the dwarf’s obvious disregard for napkins. But really, I was remembering Violet Fox and the way Trace Dawson had bashed her face in. The way Tobias Dawson had spit tobacco juice on the floorboards of the country store. The way that diamond in his office safe had practically sung. The way Warren Fox’s shoulders had drooped when I’d told him what Dawson really wanted his land for.
    “Yeah, I’m sure.”
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    Web of Lies 315
    owen escorted me through the crowd. We passed
    “Hello, Tobias,” Grayson said. “How are you this eveMab Monroe, who was now speaking to an elderly Asian ning?”
    vampire. The Fire elemental saw me on Grayson’s arm The dwarf looked around me at the other man. “oh, and raised her champagne glass in a silent toast. I must hello, owen. I’m fine. And yourself?”
    have made more of an impression on her than I’d realized.
    “Marvelous,” owen replied in a glib tone. “Allow me Not good, but I smiled and tipped my head to acknowlto introduce my acquaintance. This is . . .”
    edge her. More importantly, Mab’s toast also told me
    “Candy,” I said in a flirty tone. “Because I’m so she hadn’t found Jake McAllister’s body in the bathtub. sweet.”
    Which meant I still had enough time left to kill Dawson. The dwarf’s eyes latched onto my boobs, then flicked We also swept past Finn and Roslyn. Finn’s bright up to my blond hair, thick makeup, and blue contacts. green eyes flicked from Grayson to me, and he raised his He must have liked what he saw, because he smiled. His eyebrow in a silent question. I shook my head the tiniest yellow teeth matched the dirty, sandy color of his hair and bit, telling him that I was okay. Still, Finn’s eyes stayed mustache. The dwarf tipped his oversize cowboy hat at on the two of us, even as he and Roslyn chatted up some me. “My pleasure, ma’am.”
    Hispanic giant with legs that seemed to go on forever. Given what Roslyn Phillips had told me about Tobias It took us about two minutes to maneuver our way Dawson’s cowboy fetish, I decided to play the part of a over to the bar. owen arranged it so I stood between him hooker with a heart of gold. “Aw, aren’t you just the perand Tobias Dawson, whose back was turned to me. Grayfect gentleman.” I lowered my lashes and batted them. son ordered a Scotch.
    “Handsome too.”
    “And for the lady?” the bartender asked.
    Dawson’s smile grew a little wider, but his pale blue
    “Gin,” I said. “With a twist of lime.”
    eyes took on a sharp, predatory look. I’d interested the owen’s mouth twitched with amusement, but he dwarf. Time to reel him in—or at least let him pretend he didn’t say anything about my choice of drink. The barwas the one doing the reeling. tender handed us our orders. I took a sip of the gin. The I turned to owen and put a big, fake pout on my lips. cold liquid burned down my throat, before spreading a “So when are we going to dance? You promised me a pleasant warmth through my stomach. After we’d put a dance.”
    dent in our