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I went to the tiny staff bathroom, changed out of my bloodied trousers and into the back-up pair I’d stored there. I kept a change of clothes at my friends’ homes, as well as Sera’s coffee shop. My job made that a necessity. The blood would probably come out of these just fine, so I bagged them and went back out to the shop.
“Behind you,” I murmured several times as I went behind the counter and poured myself a cup of black coffee.
Grumbles from the line faded when I slid into a recently emptied chair and put my sheathed sword on the table in front of me. I wasn’t threatening anyone, but I didn’t feel like listening to their bitching. I took my “payment” for protecting Sera in endless cups of quality coffee. It was the only way Sera tolerated my overprotectiveness.
So, I sat and watched her charm the wary and weary with the sort of grace I’d never have. Sera was a striking mix of curves and bold features. Average height. A voice like warm honey. If I was anywhere near her type, I suspected that the one night we’d spent together in college would’ve become a habit, but as she politely pointed out back then, she was looking for love, and I was looking for sex. That detail hadn’t changed.
Since that night, five years ago, I no longer slept with friends because the risk of ruining a friendship had been made crystal clear to me then. I couldn’t risk losing someone precious to me again. Honestly, over the years since, it hadn’t even been a complicated choice—until Eli. He was about as subtle as a rock to the head.
I re-read Eli’s texts while I sipped delicious chicory coffee and waited on Sera to decide she could leave guilt-free.
A buzz of incoming messages pulled me away from considering bad decisions. Another job offer? That was the third one this month. Typically, I averaged only one a month. Sometimes, I had two. Three was unheard of, and three within the first ten days was worrying. I hated to do it, but maybe I should give in and get back-up. I opened my text log with Eli and considered what to say.
“You okay, Gen?” Sera was beside me, coat and bag in hand. Usually, I was on my feet before she was there.
“Sorry.” I held my phone up. “Work stuff.”
She gave me the pinched look that she always did about my job, but she nodded. I didn’t miss the look she shot at the trash bag next to me. She handed me a more subtle canvas grocery bag, where I shoved my trash bag of bloody trousers.
“I’m okay,” I assured her.
We were silent as we left Karl’s together. Knowing the little she did about what I did, she was obviously worrying. It was what she did.
Carefully, I offered, “I fell. They were just dirty.”
“A fight?”
“No.” I smiled, and then, trying to sound lighter, I added, “Fell after going over a wall.”
As I escorted her to the safety of her car, I wished I hadn’t mentioned work. It was hard to explain to her why I did what I did for pay. Sure, removals paid well, but most people stayed clear of the kind of danger I hurtled myself into monthly. Sera, like the rest of my friends, didn’t know I was uniquely qualified to do this job. If I told her about the masked woman with the syringe or the kids in the graveyard, that would take her worry from its usual level to lecture-land.
“You know, Jesse could use help at the bookstore,” she said as she opened her car door.
“What about you?” I teased, trying to shift to anything but lectures or anxiety. “Need a barista?”
Sera sighed in that put-upon way of hers. The last time I tried to help her, serving coffee and pastries to customers, she’d come near to punching me. Often. Sera wasn’t violent, but I was apparently lousy at customer service.
“Honestly? If you were serious, I’d cope, Gen. I don’t like you risking yourself. There are options. Just think about—”
“Darling, I love all of you guys, but we would hate each other if we mixed business and friendship.”
Another sigh. “You’re being careful, though, right? I mean it, Geneviève! I don’t know why you take thesemurderingjobs, but . . . I worry.”
I melted just a little. All three of my very human close friends—Sera, Christy, and Jesse—worried about me. Christy coped by stopping to watch me train sometimes. Jesse nagged and lectured. Sera fussed and plotted to convince me to choose a safer path.
“Draugrare already dead,” I reminded her softly.
“Obviously not or you wouldn’t be out acting like some ancient warrior with a damned sword,” she muttered.
I squeezed Sera’s hand. “I’ll do better. Don’t worry.”
Sera nodded, closed her door, and drove away while I watched.
She and I were both businesswomen, even if she would really prefer my business was just about anything else. We are what we are, though, and what I am is good at killing. That didn’t mean I should be careless, though.
It was time to face Eli.
Chapter Three
