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Jinx nodded at Harper’s curse. “We need to be smart here. Whatever you’re planning, I’m going with, but first, we’ve got to get my handbag from the salon.” Harper opened her mouth to protest, but Jinx forged ahead. “Babe, if nothing else, our combined credit cards mean more bail money.”
Good thinking and exactly what Harper needed in a crisis: a best friend who could plan ahead. “Go. Now. Run. You have two minutes. Meet me outside.”
Jinx rushed back out the swinging doors.
“Bail money?” Magda wiped her hands on the black chef’s apron covering her sturdy six-foot frame, before propping them on her hips. “What the hell are you planning that you’d need bail money?” Her brows formed a deep V and, when combined with her ruddy complexion and the wisps of flame-red hair escaping her navy cap, made her look even more annoyed.
“I’m going to kick some ass,” Harper said over her shoulder before she marched through the doors leading back to the café.
Harper focused on Nitro. “This won’t take long. I’ve got my phone if it’s an emergency.”
Ignoring the stares of her customers, she charged out and crossed the road to Jinx’s salon. The loud honk of a car horn reminded her to pay attention. Sure, her private life was on the ’net for everyone to mock, but the wider world didn’t give a damn. Sucking in a deep breath, she dragged together the tattered edges of her control. Without it, she’d be denied serving Seth a well-deserved smackdown.
Jinx met her outside as Harper typed the name of Seth’s company into Google maps. Two blocks across. Made sense. Since Dillon Justice was a regular customer of the café, his workplace couldn’t have been far.
Harper started off, needing to find her quarry and wreak her vengeance before the tears that burned her eyes reduced her to a self-pitying mess. Because that wouldn’t do. Crying, that is. No way would she give this jerk her tears.
One block in, Jinx grabbed her arm. “Honey, you need to share. I can’t be an effective wing-man without some idea of what the hell’s going on.” Jinx sounded a little breathless, and with good reason since Harper had never walked so damn fast in her life.
Funny what being pissed-off did to raise a person’s cardio endurance.
She stopped, gave a brief rundown of last night to her bestie and was gratified to see Jinx’s face harden as Harper finished with, “And as a treat, when he left, I gave him an extra slice of chocolate cake. I had no idea he’d use it as a way to mock me on social media.”
“The bastard,” Jinx said, her eyes narrowing.
Harper nodded. “That’s what I say.”
“But from what you described of Seth’s behavior last night, this post is the exact opposite of how you’d expect him to act. You’re sure it’s him?” She rushed on as Harper opened her mouth. “I’m just asking the question before we storm into his office.”
“Jinx, the photo of Seven Dishes was taken last night. Late. Around the time Seth left my apartment, and the post mentions chocolate cake. Nobody else knew about the cake.” She swallowed past the lump of regret in her throat. “Nobody.”
Evidently, that was enough for Jinx. “Okay. Let’s kick some ass.”
They completed the short walk, with Jinx giving Harper sage advice on how to be awesome and kick ass at the same time, and were standing in Shazad’s reception area in less than ten minutes. A young woman with short, vibrant blue hair combed back in a high and full style glanced up as they exited the elevator.
“Remember our game plan,” Jinx whispered under her breath. “Cool and composed. Go in for the kill.”
Harper leaned her arm on the top of the high reception desk. “I need to see Seth Justice.”
The woman glanced at the phone on her desk. “He’s on a call right now. If you’ll give me your name?”
Right, so he can stall, think up some lame excuse?
Male laughter came from the open door to the right behind the reception desk. Was that Seth? Was the jerk laughing at her?
“Thanks, but we’ll handle it from here.” Grabbing hold of Jinx’s hand, she dragged her friend past the desk and through the doorway, ignoring the receptionist’s shout to wait.
With a loud oomph she ran straight into two men.
A quick scan revealed both were lucky to be over twenty and dressed in tight jeans and button down shirts.
Hipsters. Not her target.
They leaned back as if she was about to take a swing.
Harper ignored them and spied offices against a far wall. One had to be Seth’s. She motored past rows of desks covered with multiple screens, keyboards, and other paraphernalia she couldn’t be bothered cataloguing in her thirst for blood.
“So much for our plan,” Jinx muttered as she hurried to keep up with Harper.
