Shay’s friends nodded.
“That’s very enlightened of them,” Kara offered.
I don’t even want to know what sort of magical cleaning they make them do in the dorms at that school.
Kara marched over to the smudge pot and tugged on a small oil-soaked wick to pull it out farther. She produced a lighter from her pocket and lit the wick, scurrying away a little too fast for Shay’s taste.
I wonder if my insurance covers fires started by smudge pots.
A healthy flame emerged from the top, and thick aromatic smoke poured from the pot.
Shay shook her head. This seemed more like something a SWAT team did to holed-up criminals than something a person would do on purpose to help their house.
Kara stood near the smudge pot and extended her hand, a large blue crystal in her palm. She half-closed her eyes.
The tomb raider made her way over to the couch to whisper to Alison.
“Is that crystal actually magic?”
Alison shook her head. “Nothing they’re doing is magical at all,” the girl whispered back. “But watching their soul energy is too much fun. They believe it all, and they’re genuinely excited to help you.”
“Guess they aren’t really hurting anything…I hope.”
Shay stood and blinked her eyes a few times, the smoke already quite thick. Kara danced around the smudging pot, chanting while shaking her crystal.
I can’t believe I agreed to this. I guess it’s the thought that counts.
James’ F-350 screeched to a halt in Shay’s driveway. Thick smoke poured out of the windows and doors. His heart rate sped up.
“Fuck,” the bounty hunter rumbled. He scanned the place, looking for a collapsed wall or any sign of a rocket attack.
He threw open the door of his truck and hopped out, his hand drifting inside his jacket. A brief thought of bonding with his amulet crossed his mind, but he didn’t want to use it if it were a minor threat.
Instead, James yanked out something easier to understand and far less vocal about its work: his .45.
Maybe it has nothing to do with criminals. Maybe a gas line exploded. Shit.
He jogged over to the open door, raising his gun. If anything had happened to Alison or Shay, his destruction of the Harriken would look like a minor inconvenience compared to what he would do. Even if it weren’t criminals, he’d go after every contractor if it was the result of shoddy workmanship.
James burst through the front door, half-expecting mercenaries, or perhaps a witch or a few cartel members. He didn’t expect Shay’s three friends to be dancing, laughing, and chanting around something in the center of her living room.
What…the…hell?
Alison watched them from the couch a huge grin on her face. Shay leaned against a wall, more restrained amusement on her features.
Why the fuck do they have a smudge pot inside? I thought you used those outside in orchards. I’ll never understand women.
The bounty hunter blinked and shoved his gun back into its holster before the women noticed.
James started to back out of the door when Janelle spotted him.
She gasped and pointed. “That’s why I recognize Alison. From the news. From the hearing when they tried to block her adoption.”
The bounty hunter grunted and looked at his recently adopted daughter. She gave him a thin little grin and a shrug.
“You’re James Brownstone,” Janelle all but shrieked. “And she’s Alison Brownstone.”
The two other women stopped and stared at him before pivoting as a group toward Shay.
“You didn’t tell us you were dating James Brownstone,” they shouted in unison. “The James Brownstone!”
James groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face.
Shay shrugged. “Surprise.”
Chapter Eight
Shay smirked when James’ hand twitched. He picked up his pizza with a frown and took a bite. It’d been hard enough to get him to agree to the date, so she wasn’t surprised to see him less than relaxed.
The man can kill hundreds of gangsters without blinking, but push him outside his comfort zone for a few hours and he’s like some nervous little kid. KISS screwed you over, James. You should have lived by AETU, Always Expect The Unexpected.
Shay sighed. “She’ll be fine alone at my place. She’s not a little kid, James. If she can take the train from Virginia to LA by herself, I think she can last a few hours at home without Dad. She was walking the streets by herself before you even met her if you remember.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t worry.” James grunted. “Just so you know, Alison says it still smells funny from your friend’s weird shit yesterday.”
The tomb raider chuckled. “It does. I think it’s gonna take a while to get the smell out, but at least I don’t have any negative energy in my house.” She laughed and picked up her water to take a sip.
He snorted. “Negative energy. Magic’s real now, so why do people still believe in bullshit?”
“Knowing magic’s real means there’s a greater than zero chance that any bit of bullshit is true.” Shay shrugged.
James shook his head. “Your friends are strange.”
“Most of your friends are ex-gang members or criminal information brokers. Not exactly a normal group of guys.” She snickered.
He frowned. “Information brokers? You talking about Tyler? He’s not my friend. He’s just a guy I know.” He pointed at her. “And don’t call him a frenemy. I fucking hate that word.”
Shay rolled her eyes. “Yeah, he’s totally not your friend. You guys just hatch idiot plans together to make money all the time, and he constantly bets on you kicking ass. Hell, after the hearing, he pretty much said he was your friend. Was half-weepy about it, even.”
“It’s weird to think of Tyler as my friend.” James shook his head. “At least he’s not coming over to my house and trying to set it on fire, unlike your friends.”
“Yet. I’m sure if he can find a way to make money betting on Brownstone arson, he will.”
James grunted. “Wouldn’t put it past him. The guy’s not a total piece of
