Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“All right,” said Mia.
Dionne did a little head flick that made her hair bounce. “I’m sorry for taking the cash. I shouldn’t have. And I should have apologized before now so, yeah, sorry.”
Neither of them are being sincere, Mia telepathed.
I know, it’s weird that they’d even come here. “Apologies accepted.” Not entirely true, but there was no sense in dragging out the conversation, so it was best to round it up.
Maxine’s mouth curled into a placid smile. “Thank you. For Jocelyn’s sake, I would like for there to be no friction here.”
“As would we,” said Ella.
“Wonderful.” The harpy turned her smile on her daughter … only to see that the hellcat was idly scrolling through her cell. “Dionne?”
The hellcat didn’t look up from her phone screen as she absently responded, “Uh-huh?”
“Dionne.”
The young woman’s head snapped up. “What? What now? I said what you told me to say. Can’t we just go?”
Ella clamped her lips shut to hold back a smile.
“You’re supposed to be … ” Maxine trailed off.
“Come on, Mom, they’re not going to give me back my job. I wouldn’t give me back my job.”
Which clearly pleased Dionne immensely, Ella noted, but the same could not be said for Maxine. “You’re right, we won’t. But we wish you the best of luck in what comes next.”
The hellcat gave a whatever shrug and then headed for the door. Maxine bounced her gaze from her daughter to Ella and Mia, clearly torn on what to do. Reluctantly, she followed Dionne, muttering something too low for the words to carry.
Watching them leave the store, Ella frowned as a thought came to her. “You know, it just occurred to me …Dionne’s had a lot of jobs.”
“Yeah. And?”
“And Maxine is always the one to get her these jobs.”
“Right.”
“And Dionne never seems to want to work in any of these places.” Or so each of her past employers had claimed when Ella spoke to them before hiring the girl.
Mia lifted her shoulders. “Yeah, so?”
“So, what if Maxine is choosing her daughter’s jobs for her? And what if it’s because she wants to use Dionne as a plant?”
Mia’s lips parted, her eyes widening. “You could be right. People do that. Information is an important currency in the demon world.”
It was, and it was sometimes used as blackmail material.
“And you know something, I always thought it was weird that Maxine befriended our aunt. I mean, they have nothing in common.”
Ella dipped her chin. “So maybe she just hoped to get info on our lair … or maybe even on Luka, come to think of it.” It was more likely the latter, since their lair wasn’t in Vegas or at all influential. “Nothing’s been going on in our lives over the past few months that would make Maxine inclined to send a spy our way.”
“If Dionne resents being made a plant, it would explain why she ensures she gets herself fired,” said Mia. “It would also explain why Maxine’s now pushing for her to get her job back. Damn, I’d better warn Jocelyn to be even more careful than usual in what she says in front of Maxine.”
“Do we pass on our suspicions to Knox? He’s Maxine’s Prime, but would he even want to know?”
Mia twisted her mouth. “You could tell Harper just in case. If she feels it’s noteworthy, she’ll mention it to her mate.”
Ella nodded again. “I’ll head over to her tattoo shop on my lunch break.”
Arriving at Urban Ink, she pushed open the front door. The place was trendy and bright but with an edgy vibe. Customers lounged on the leather recliners at four almost identical stations. Beyond them were doors to various rooms, along with a tracing table and other equipment.
Waiting clients could hang here in the very neat reception area on the comfy-looking sofas while watching TV or flicking through the tattoo portfolios on the table in front of them. There was also a vending machine for anyone who might be feeling peckish.
Ella smiled at the imp who stood behind the reception desk. “Hi, trouble.”
Khloë saluted her. “Yo, demon witch.”
Snickering, Ella walked to the desk. “I was hoping to speak to Harper. I only need a minute.”
Khloë briefly glanced at the sphinx over her shoulder. “She’s with a client right now, but she’ll be done soon.”
Noting that Harper had set down her tattoo gun and seemed to be giving her client aftercare advice, Ella said, “I’ll wait. No Piper today?” She couldn’t see her anywhere.
“She left early—had to go somewhere with her mom.”
Shame. Ella loved chatting with her. She was about to take a seat on the sofa, but Khloë held up a staying hand.
“No, don’t go sit,” the imp pled. “Stay here with me.” She leaned forward, propped her elbows on the desk, and gave Ella a huge smile. “Tell me how life’s treating you these days. I’m interested.”