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Raini nodded. “We’ll need to tell humans we’re shutting down the business altogether or they’ll ask where we’re moving.”
Tanner folded his arms. “How fast do you think you can get this place ready, bearing in mind that you can’t spend a lot of time here while you’re still working at the other studio?”
“Around three weeks, if we call on our lair,” said Khloë, tapping her fingers on her iPhone.
Devon pointed to the carpet. “We need to get rid of that. In fact, it might be best to strip the place bare.”
“In terms of furnishings and equipment, I think we should get all new stuff,” announced Khloë.
“Yeah,” agreed Raini. “We can afford to, since we won’t have the costs here that we have in the other place.”
Khloë looked up from her phone. “Okay, so, we list every single item.”
“Let me guess,” began Tanner, “you’ll then hand over that list to your relatives. And they’ll probably steal half of it so you’re not waiting on delivery companies.”
Khloë looked appropriately affronted. “Of course they won’t. I can’t believe you’d say that.”
Tanner just snorted.
“The last grand opening we did was fun,” said Devon. “We should make this fun, too.”
Raini nodded, smiling. “We could do a street party. Maybe get a band from one of the bars to play outside. People love free food.”
“And we could do a ribbon cutting,” added Devon.
Harper pursed her lips. “Yeah, that would be fun. We could even get a celebrity to cut it.” Everyone stared at her, and she frowned. “What?”
Tanner spoke. “Harper, you are a celeb.”
She frowned. “No, I’m not.”
“To our kind? Yeah you are,” insisted Devon.
Harper just waved a dismissive hand.
“Can we please get a vending machine?” asked Khloë. “We didn’t have room for one in the last place.”
Harper blinked at the surprising request. “I guess.”
Khloë brightened. “Score!”
“We’re going to make this place look good,” declared Devon. “Even better than our first studio.”
Once they’d finished their list, they called in her family. The imps set about rolling up the carpet and getting rid of anything Harper didn’t wish to keep – all of which her family would no doubt sell. Her uncle, Richie, claimed to have a van she could use to help transport the things they wished to bring from the old studio when she was ready, which was probably the same van he used to transport all the illegal shit her family got their hands on.
It was around 6.30 pm that everyone agreed to call it a day. As Harper and Tanner made their way to Knox’s office, the sentinel walked just a little in front of her to protect her from being bumped or jarred by pedestrians. Most of the bars, restaurants, and clubs came alive in the evening, so it was fairly busy. Security shutters were being lifted and street vendors were setting up all over the place.
“Excuse me, have you seen this woman?”
Oh, God, she knew that voice. Up ahead, Roan was walking around with a photo of Carla, showing it to people. There was genuine worry in his expression, and she couldn’t help feeling a little bad for him. Jolene was the closest thing she’d ever had to a mother, and Harper knew she’d be a wreck if something happened to —
He spotted Harper. Froze. Then he was shouldering his way through the pedestrians, heading right for her; eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring. Shit. Tanner obviously saw him too, because his shoulders stiffened and a low growl built in his throat. Harper grabbed his arm. “Let me deal with this, Tanner.”
The hellhound slowed to match her pace and frowned at her. “You don’t need to deal with him. That’s what I’m here for. I’m your bodyguard.”
“And I’m his Prime.” She wanted to deal with this herself. Harper didn’t hide behind anyone. What’s more, she couldn’t be seen to hide behind anyone. She was now a Prime, and there were plenty of demons around who would witness the little encounter.
As Roan came to a stop, she did the same. Tanner stayed at her side, vibrating with menace. Roan didn’t even spare the hellhound a glance, too focused on her. His face twisted into a hostile scowl that both annoyed and saddened her. This was her half-brother, after all. Things could have been different if he didn’t seem so determined to hate her.
Her demon wasn’t sad about it. No. In its opinion, they’d dealt with enough hate over the years from the maternal side of their family. And, unlike Harper, the demon had happily accepted the position of co-Prime and picked up the torch. It demanded respect.
“You don’t even care, do you?” Roan said through his teeth.
“About what exactly?” asked Harper, tone even.
“You don’t care that he took her. You don’t care that she could be dead.” He was making sure his voice carried, obviously wanting people’s attention. He easily got it. People stopped. Stared. A hush fell around them.
She spoke. “It wouldn’t matter what answer I gave you to that question – you’d still snort at it.”
“It was a rhetorical question,” he spat. “You know what a rogue is capable of, but you haven’t tried to find her. No. You’re not interested, even though it’s your fault she’s gone.”
