Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

had tattooed on his Like the fact that I felt this peculiar kinship with the bicep.
    Foxes. That in a weird way, seeing Violet and Warren toFinn noticed the writing and rune as well and glanced gether was like looking at a sweeter, more innocent verat me. “Trouble,” he said in a low voice. sion of Fletcher Lane and myself. What we might have “You think?” I asked, already reaching for one of my been, if circumstances had been different. Maybe it was knives.
    crazy, but I wanted the Foxes to stay just the way they were. To keep on loving and fighting. To keep what was left of their innocence, especially Violet. My mouth twisted again. “Besides, my retirement’s been pretty boring. Last night was the most excitement I’ve had in ages. And I find myself interested in why somebody like Tobias Dawson wants to get his hands on Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 172-173
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    seated in their rocking chairs. Violet’s face paled, and she crossed her arms over her stomach, like she was trying not to vomit. A scowl deepened the lines around Warren’s 16
    mouth.
    The dwarf stopped at the base of the stairs that led up to the wooden porch. He hitched his thumbs in the belt loops on his jeans and put a foot up on one of the stairs. Black snakeskin boots covered his feet. orange-red flames spread over the tops, while silverstone tipped the pointed ends. A black ten-gallon hat rested on the dwarf’s head, making him seem taller than his five feet, and the lariat tie around his neck featured a piece of turquoise almost as big as my fist. Somebody liked playing cowboy. The dwarf’s hair was a curly, sandy blond mane that The SUV stopped, the doors opened, and several men fell to his shoulders. His nose was a bulbous piece of flesh poured out. one after another, they kept coming, like that puckered out from his face like a boil, and a wide, they were clowns crammed into a circus car and this was fuzzy mustache drooped over his lips. His eyes were a their only chance of escape. Five men total: two giants, pale, piercing blue in his tan face.
    two shorter, burly guys, and a dwarf. The giants and other
    “Warren,” the dwarf rumbled.
    men wore work clothes—grimy coveralls, sturdy boots,
    “Tobias,” the old man replied.
    thick gloves. The dwarf was dressed a little nicer—clean The two men looked each other square in the eye the jeans, boots, a black T-shirt, and a tight black blazer that way old enemies do. Squinting, staring hard, neither one looked like it would do a Hulk rip down the sleeves if he willing to back down, look away, or even fucking blink breathed too hard.
    first.
    The dwarf headed toward the front porch, and the While Tobias Dawson and Warren T. Fox played eyerest of the men fell in step behind him. Finn and I exball chicken, my gaze flicked to the men standing behind changed a quick glance, and he made a motion with his the dwarf. The two shorter guys were human, although hand. I nodded and slid left into a shadow that pooled on they probably had some giant blood mixed in them, from the porch. Finn moved off to the right. Donovan Caine the looks of their powerful muscles and fists. Easy enough stayed where he was on the porch steps, although the deto put down with my knives. The giants standing behind tective got to his feet. Warren and Violet Fox remained them would be a bit more of a challenge—especially conEstep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 174-175
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    176 JENNIFER ESTEP
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    sidering the fact each of their fists was only a little smaller comforting in my hand, just like always. An old, familiar than my head. I’d have to bob and weave with them, just friend.
    like I’d done with the dwarven assassin last night. Still, Donovan Caine cleared his throat. Tobias tore his gaze nothing I couldn’t handle.
    away from Warren and stared at the detective. The dwarf My gray eyes rested on Tobias Dawson once more. He’d gave Donovan the once-over, dismissed him as unimportbe the real problem, the real test. Especially since I felt the ant, and turned his attention back to Warren. faintest bit of power trickling off him, like a piece of sand“Have you thought any more about my latest offer?”
    paper just brushing against my skin. Magic. The blond, Tobias Dawson asked in a voice that was pure twangy mustached dwarf had some kind of elemental magic. country.
    Being an elemental myself, I could sense when others Warren’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll tell