Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

thing’s just a partI asked. “I thought she stayed home during the day and time gig. Besides, why go out there when they’ll all just be watched her niece, Catherine.”
    coming here later on tonight?”
    Finn shrugged. “Not today. She said she was here look“Good point.”
    ing over the books since it was getting close to the end of Xavier grabbed a couple of wooden boxes that had the month. She’s expecting us.”
    been stacked by the front door, and the tink-tink of glass
    “Marvelous,” I murmured.
    inside caught my ear. Looked like a delivery of liquor We got out of the car and headed toward the entrance. of some sort. The giant hefted his burden and headed The front door was locked, so Finn rapped on it. His deeper into the club. Finn and I followed him. knuckles made a hollow, ringing sound on the reinforced The outside of Northern Aggression might have been steel door. A few seconds later, something clanged, like a faceless shell, but the inside had a distinct personality, a security bar being thrown back, and the door rattled even during the middle of the day. The few overhead open. Xavier, the nightclub’s head bouncer, stuck his head lights that were on highlighted the heavy, crushed red outside. The giant looked even larger, wider, and stronger velvet drapes that covered the walls. The floor was a wonin the weak afternoon sun than he had at the Pork Pit derful springy bamboo that cushioned our feet, but our when he’d arrested Jake McAllister a couple of nights ago. steps still echoed in the hollow, empty building. His dark eyes flicked over Finn, then me, then moved We crossed the dance floor, and Xavier veered off back to Finn.
    to the right toward a long bar made entirely of Ice elFinn knew exactly what was expected. He smiled and emental. The structure was almost a hundred feet long stretched out his hand. Xavier shook it and palmed the and more like an elaborate sculpture than a piece of offered C-note with surprising grace for someone with furniture. Runes had been carved into the slick surhands as big as a melon. face, mostly suns and stars, the symbols for life and joy. The giant grinned. “Always a pleasure to see you, Finn. Both of which could be found in abundance here late at Come on in.”
    night, as long as you had enough money to pay for the Finn and I stepped inside, and Xavier shut and locked privileges. The bar, of course, had been created by the the door behind us.
    Ice elemental who worked as the club’s bartender, and
    “You know I’ve seen you manning the door here,” I he’d used enough of his magic to make sure his creation said. “But I didn’t realize you worked for the police dewouldn’t melt before his shift started tonight. I could partment too until you dropped by the Pork Pit to clear feel the cool caress of power halfway across the club. My Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 262-263
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    own Ice magic, weak and sluggish though it was, stirred saying Sherman only set a few fires in Atlanta—a comin response. plete understatement. Her eyes and perfect skin were Xavier put his liquor boxes on the bar and gestured for a rich toffee, and her cropped, layered black hair highFinn and me to go on without him. “I’ve got to get these lighted the edge of her strong, square jaw. Silver glasses unloaded. Roslyn’s waiting for you guys in her office. You perched on the end of her button nose and made her eyes know the way, Finn.”
    seem even larger and more expressive. The vampire had Finn straightened his tie. “Indeed I do.”
    the kind of face that made you do a double-take to wonHe headed for the back of the nightclub and pulled der if such symmetrical perfection was possible. on her, open a door discreetly set into the crushed velvet that covyes. ered the wall. It opened up into a small hallway that ran Since the nightclub wasn’t open for business yet, Roin either direction before branching off at both ends. Finn slyn was dressed down in a pair of skinny jeans and a turned left, and we zigzagged through a series of hallways button-up white shirt. But the simple outfit still showed before he stopped at a closed door. Finn knocked on it. off her body to its full potential. Plump breasts, lush “Come in,” a muffled voice said.
    hips, flat stomach, toned thighs, just the right amount of Finn opened the door, and we stepped inside an ofcurve to her ass. Roslyn was like a female version of the fice. Roslyn