“I’m not.” Heat rises up my neck. I see no reason to give them the full truth about my night.
Mags turns to Jos, her voice tight. “A gunfight is unexpected. Bad timing? Should we get Ella out of town?”
Jos nods, calm as ever. “We can. Private plane, whenever we need it.”
“No.” I lift a hand. “I’ve got this. You three need to trust me. We’ve got more important things to worry about. Like a child trafficking ring. And that poor dog—what’s his name?”
Jos exhales. “We zoomed in on his collar. It says Killer.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay. Send in animal control.”
“No,” Mags says. “The owner has papers. We need you to get him. Unless you want us to get you out of here?”
It’s a threat. Seriously. Yeah, they could have me kidnapped. I’d get free but I don’t have time to waste. “I don’t have time to save a dog.”
Jos gasps and holds her chest.
I exhale. Now I’ve done it. “All right. Sorry. I’ll make the time. Think of another name for him. We’ll give it to him before I drop him off at one of the shelters.”
“Be careful,” Jos says, narrowing her faded blue eyes at me. Somehow, even with age clouding them, she still looks right through me.
Each of them has talismans—Mags with her smoky crystal pendant, Jos with a topaz locket that never leaves her neck, and Aura with her citrine stones tucked under the rhinestones and glitter.
“I will,” I promise. “I know what I’m doing.” I mentally go over the cars I’ve stashed in the area, running through which one will serve best.
Mags tilts her head, studying me. “You really blushed when you talked about Justice.”
I arch a brow. “He’s very sexy.”
Her voice flattens. “He really is.” Then her chin drops. “A good man is a challenging one.”
I fold my arms. “I’m not getting involved with a mobster. He’s just the brother-in-law of my best friend.” That’s all I give them. I push up from the sofa. “All right. I’ll go get the dog.” Which I really donothave time to do.
“Do you need money?” Mags asks.
Frankly, I always need money. “No. I’m good.” The lie rolls out easy enough.
The three of them exchange a look and then turn backto their computers. Keys clatter in fast rhythm until Jos hits a button with a flourish. “Your accounts are fully funded now.”
I feel like an ass. “I don’t need your money.”
Jos waves a jeweled hand like she’s brushing the idea away. “We have so much of it. We play the stock market for fun.”
She swivels back to her monitor while Mags digs into her candy bowl. “She’s right,” she says, unwrapping a caramel with sharp fingers. “I made a killing yesterday. Tech stocks are insane.”
“Got to know when to sell,” Jos adds without looking up.
“Got to know when to buy,” Mags finishes, her mouth full.
I slide my phone into my pocket. “What I really need is to stay out of Justice Beathach’s line of sight.”
Aura chews on her lip, glances at the others, then fixes her gaze on me. “All right. The question has to be asked. Do you want us to have Justice Beathach taken out?”
I drop back onto the loveseat. “No. I don’t want him taken out.”
“We might have to,” Mags says, voice calm but pointed. “You did try to kill his brother. His brother’s now out of town. If Justice wants you removed, now’s the time.”
“I’m aware of that,” I say. “I don’t think he actually wants to hurt me.” Well, not really. Maybe a little. I lift a shoulder. “Okay, it’s possible. But if he wanted me gone, I’d probably already be gone.” Maybe. Thorn just left town, and Justice was probably waiting for that.
