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Gary’s nickname suited him extremely well.
When she could finally lift her gaze to his face, he wore a satisfied smile and took a drag on his fat cigar. It was as though God had given him a single outstanding asset and he worked it like a one-ring circus.
“So you knew the bridge would blow. That a witch thing?”
“My witch thing. Yes.”
“Yeah, you witches have a complete panorama of gifts. I lose track. And I never use one of your kind in my club, in case you’re offering.”
“I’m not.”
Big Nuts’s gaze slid to Connor. “What d’you want, anyway, Officer?”
Connor’s deep voice rolled through the room. “Heard a rumor you sent a runner my way tonight. A woman with a fake jacket. I need to know why.”
Iris felt the tenor of the room change, like a first strike of lightning in a thunder storm. It was a warning from a spiritual plane and she knew she couldn’t ignore it.
She drew her gun, whirled, then settled her back against Connor’s arm. She was essentially at a right-angle to him. He didn’t move, yet she could feel his body had drawn up into a single tense line, ready for action as well.
Big Nuts’s bodyguard force came to attention during the same split-second of movement. Blades came out and a couple of hand guns.
“Back-off,” Iris cried out, “or I’ll start shooting because I don’t give a damn who dies here tonight. Not me, not Connor, not any of you.”
There was a joint intake of breath. A few of the bodyguards muttered a string of expletives. A witch making threats in a Crescent Territory establishment was something to be feared.
Gary waved a hand. “Put your weapons away.”
Big Nuts’s force obeyed immediately, though all eyes were on her.
“What are you doing?” Connor asked, nudging her gently with his arm from behind.
“Protecting your ass.”
For some reason, this made Connor chuckle. “Thanks, but I got this.”
“You sure? Because I felt a premonition glide through the room. I think maybe you need to ask Big Nuts here who paid him to set you up?” Iris didn’t shift position. The warning still registered with her like an itch on her skin. She kept her gaze moving from the shifters she could see back to the velvet curtains and the two women ready to reopen them on command. Each stood with eyes wide and panicked.
Connor’s voice once more rolled through the space. “So, Gary, why did you set me up?”
“It was all in fun. I sent Tammy out there myself just to give you a hard time. No one else had a hand in it. This is on me.”
Iris didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts. “He’s lying.”
~ ~ ~
Connor loved that Iris was as deeply engaged in the process as he was and he could feel her witchness as she stayed connected to his arm. She’d also brought the real issue to the forefront, exactly where it needed to be.
He began again, holding Gary’s gaze tight. “Now, why do you want to lie to me? Haven’t I always been fair with you? When was the last time I raided your establishment?”
“Never.”
“Exactly. So, why the runner?”
Big Nuts released a heavy sigh. “All right. Someone wanted you to kill her. He was sure you would. Said you had a habit of putting innocent women in the grave.”
Clearly, whoever was after him knew the worst parts of his history.
“And how did you know Tammy? She was too thin to be one of your big women.”
