Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Down in the three-car garage, Sebastian pulled off a car cover and then whistled softly. “I think we’ve missed a new fad, Captain. Look at this baby!”
A sleek, old-fashioned automobile sat to the side of the garage, in the farthest position from the door leading into the house. Cherry red and in pristine condition. All Nessa knew was that it was some sort of Ferrari, it was a classic, and it was expensive.
“This thing is a beauty,” Sebastian purred as he ran a hand over the fender. “Kingsley would kill for this. I mean…Austin would, too—anyone would, but Kingsley would understand it for the true gem it is.”
“How many fancy cars have we found since we started this thing?” Nessa asked as she looked around the rest of the garage. The other cars in the mage’s collection were new luxury models, nothing too exciting. They weren’t worth the hassle of selling them to a chop shop.
“There are fancy cars and then there are collector’s items. This is the latter. So are the other ones we’ve seen or procured. Watches are still a thing, obviously, and clearly used for tracking and communication, but it seems like the big players are moving on to cars. He sank a lot of money into this thing. Money I’m not sure he has. He’d have to stretch for this sort of price tag.”
“Or else he killed for it.”
Sebastian put up his finger. “Or else he killed for it. Is this the new way to get status, then? You take someone important down and show up in his collector’s-item car?”
“That certainly sounds like a fad Momar would like.”
Sebastian looked at her for a long moment, and she could tell the wheels were turning. He nodded slowly before going back to look at the car.
“We’re taking this,” he said, grabbing the car cover and pulling it back over. “This is perfect on so many levels. We’re on the right path, Captain. The way is shitty, but it is right, I can feel it. Let’s get ready for our host.”
They had all their tools ready by the time Malachi walked in. He passed through the kitchen, went to his wet bar, fixed himself a drink, and headed to his office, following the same routine they’d logged over the past few days. He didn’t notice the intruders in his space until after he’d logged on to his computer. They sprang the trap, and a cable looped around his neck, his hands, and then his upper body as Nessa hoisted him into the air. His eyes bugged until she lowered the blinds and then loosened his neck loop just enough so that he could breathe.
“Here’s the thing,” she said in a silky voice, having taken the time to do up her makeup and put on something that would identify her as the Captain. “Elliot Graves and I haven’t done this solo in a while. We’ve been pampered. Now I’m missing my friends.”
She pouted as Sebastian walked in. He’d changed into a suit and slicked back his hair. Now, he made a show of taking off the jacket and rolling up the sleeves on his dress shirt.
“By the time we’re finished here”—he gave a cocky grin, stopping in front of the now-struggling mage—“my lovely white shirt is going to be sprayed red.” He held up his hands. “And I’m not even sorry about that fact. Let’s get into it, shall we, Malachi? I have so many questions.”
“Please,” the mage said with a wheeze, licking his lips. “Please, they have a magical spell on my head. I can’t talk. It’ll kill me if I try.”
Nessa laughed, picking up one of her more pain-inducing instruments. “We’ve run into that before. It was very frustrating. Luckily…” She hooked a thumb Sebastian’s way.
“I’m smarter than the person who designed that spell,” he said. “It hurts like hell to strip it away, but that’ll be nothing compared to what’s coming if you don’t talk. Here we go…”
Nessa slumped against the wall as she waited for Sebastian to bring the van around. Her nails were stained red even though she’d scrubbed them in scalding water, and the clothes she’d been wearing were ruined. She’d forgotten how hard it was to get information out of someone who’d been magically induced not to give it. Sebastian could do a lot, but nothing could help like the magic of Jessie and the pizzazz of the Ivy House crew. Nothing was so neat as however Tristan had gone about it on Kingsley’s land.
Fuck, she missed all of them. So badly. They’d made her forget this life a little. They’d made her feel less wicked. Less monstrous. With them, she was doing things like this within the unity of the crew for a common goal. Now…they had that same goal, but she felt raw. Lonely.