The Lady in Pink - Deadly Ever After 2 Read Free Page B

shocked to hear a ringing in my ears. I shook my head, trying to stop the noise. When that didn’t work I glanced down at my Levi’s. Sure enough, my pocket began to vibrate.
    I swore softly, lifting the cell phone from my pocket as if it was plague riddled. I hated carrying a cell phone, ever since those damn fairies had bugged my last one. They’d used it to track my every move. If those idiots could do it, anyone could. But Izzy insisted on my carrying the latest smartphone technology, so like a good boy I did as she asked/ordered. “What?” I snapped into the phone after answering.
    “Is that any way to answer?” Izzy’s voice pierced the static. “What if I was a client?”
    I grinned at her bossy tone. “I’d wonder what the hell you were doing calling me on my cell phone rather than the office number.”
    “Blue,” she said in warning.
    “What do you want, Izzy?” I glanced toward the alleyway. “I’m a little busy, so make it quick.”
    “What are you up to?” she asked, her every word laced with suspicion.
    My smile widened. “Not a thing. I’m practically a choirboy.” Which wasn’t far from the truth, but what Izzy didn’t know wouldn’t hurt me. I straightened to my full six-foot height, my eyes on the mouth of the alley a few short feet away. My focus returned to Izzy. “Are you all right? Did something happen?” I pictured James’s charred body and my voice rose an octave. If anything happened to Izzy . . .
    “I’m fine,” she said. “It’s you I’m worried about.”
    I laughed. “I can take care of myself. You know that.”
    She snorted, and I rolled my eyes. Damn her. I’d saved her life last year and this is the crap I get? I could damn well take care of myself and anyone else who came along. “Someone tried to kill you today, Blue,” she was saying. “If James hadn’t walked in instead, who knows what would’ve happened to you.”
    As much as I hated to admit it, she was right.
    Then again, you only live once.
    “Izzy,” I lied in my most calming tone, “I’m fine. Really. I’m sure whoever fried James isn’t about to try again so soon.”
    “I’m not going to let you risk your life because you think you’re bulletproof.” She hesitated for the barest of seconds. “Because you’re not.”
    I made tsking sounds. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think that was a threat.”
    “I’m serious,” she said in her sternest voice, which oddly enough turned me on more than I would ever admit. It was like being scolded by a naughty winged librarian. I pictured Izzy’s long fiery-red hair wrapped tightly in a bun and thick black-framed glasses slipping down her nose. Not a bad image. “Please don’t do anything stupid. Go home, lock the door, and I’ll see you at the office in the morning. Together we will figure out who’s behind this.”
    “Izzy, everything’s under—”
    “Please, Blue,” she whispered. “I need you to stay safe.”
    “Okay,” I lied.
    “Good,” she said, sounding pleased with herself. “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”
    I agreed again, my gaze still fixed on the alleyway. We hung up, and I shoved the cell phone back in my pocket before I bolted toward whatever danger lurked in the darkness ahead.
    At the mouth of the alley, I scanned the shadows with my gun. A small squeak echoed off the bricks, and I jumped, nearly blowing a nice round hole in a tiny sunglass-wearing mouse with a cane pinballing its way through the garbage strewn on the ground.
    I frowned, disappointed, as I shoved my gun in its holster. Patience, I reminded myself. Not that it was one of my virtues, if I had any virtues, that is. I had no doubts that whoever had killed James would try to murder me again. I would just have to wait until they made their move. And then I would have them.
    I grinned at the thought.

CHAPTER 5
    I headed toward my apartment, hoping like hell the charred filet-mignon stench of James had dissipated, not to mention that the