Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

the Spider, the assassin as his mouth, but his father held up a manicured hand. It sharp as the silverstone knives she carried. I hadn’t been was as free of wrinkles as his ageless face was. small, weak, or frightened in a long time. And I certainly “If you know who I am, Ms. Blanco, then you know wasn’t now.
    who I work for,” Jonah said in a smooth voice. Changing
    “Keep it up as long as you like,” I said. “Do whatever tactics again. Bringing out the big guns.
    you want to keep people away from the Pork Pit. I’ll still
    “Mab Monroe,” I replied. “Everyone knows that.”
    be here every single day, doors wide open, food hot and
    “Then you know the connections I have, the power, ready. I’d rather give my food to the rats in the streets Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 148-149
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    than shut down for one fucking hour because of a slimeFor a second, I sat there and considered my options, ball like you. Is that clear enough?”
    something I probably should have done before I opened The charm oozed out of Jonah McAllister’s eyes, like my smart mouth and started antagonizing the McAllissyrup slopping over a pancake. “Crystal clear. Too bad, ters. But somebody needed to wipe that bullying sneer off Ms. Blanco. Too bad for you.”
    Jake McAllister’s face, and I’d wanted to be the one to do
    “I told you we should have just killed the bitch,” Jake it. I’d succeeded too, because now, hot anger filled Jake’s snapped. “Come on, Dad. Let me do her, right here, right eyes. If I let him put his hands on me, I was going to be now. That dwarven bitch behind the counter too.”
    in for a painful beat-down. one that might not stop until Cold rage filled me at his words. It was one thing I was dead, especially with Jonah’s giant bodyguards in to come into my restaurant, Fletcher’s restaurant, and the restaurant. only one thing to do now. Fight back and threaten me. I’d expected nothing less from the fathermake Jake think twice before he messed with me again. It and-son duo. I knew I’d brought it on myself by havwas the only thing I knew how to do anyway. ing Jake McAllister arrested in the first place. But I’d be Just before Jake hit me, I got to my feet, grabbed my damned if the Fire elemental punk was going to talk trash plate off the table, stepped forward, and slammed the about my family—or threaten them in any way. And Sowhole thing into his face as hard as I could. phia Deveraux was family. So were Jo-Jo and Finn. Food splattered into Jake’s eyes, and the cumin, red Fletcher Lane had been murdered five feet from where pepper, and other spices in the barbecue sauce caused him we were sitting. Been horribly, brutally tortured by a sato scream. He stumbled back, flipped over a chair, and distic Air elemental. Nothing like that was ever going landed on his ass—hard. Jake cursed and tried to claw the to happen to my family again. Not as long as I was still mess off his face. He was too busy doing that to hold on breathing. Especially not in here.
    to his magic, and the flames dancing on his fists snuffed It was time to let Jake McAllister know I wasn’t afraid out.
    of him and his petty threats—and exactly what I was caI turned back to Jonah McAllister and the two giant pable of if push came to shove.
    guards. Waiting.
    “You weren’t man enough to take me out by yourself, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sophia come out Jakie,” I snapped. “So what? Now, you’re going to get from around the counter. The dwarf held a metal spoon Daddy and his guards to help you? Pathetic.”
    in her hand. With her strength, it might as well have been Evidently, Jake McAllister couldn’t take a little critia baseball bat. Sophia would back me up just like she had cism because he surged to his feet. Fire flashed in his eyes, the other night. That’s what family did.
    and orange-red flames spurted out between his clenched Jonah McAllister saw her too and realized the odds had fists. He charged at me.
    slipped to four on two. He looked through the storefront Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 150-151
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    windows. People moved back and forth on the street outSo Jonah McAllister had decided to stick to his speside, going out to lunch and back to work. More than one cialty—squeezing people through somewhat legal means. glanced inside the Pork Pit as they passed. A few slowed “Until then, Mr.