by Vella Day
Damn. He hadn’t meant to jump down their throats or imply he had an issue being around her.
“Seems to me,” Connor said, “you’re the perfect person. We can’t afford to have her messing things up, and she did say she wanted to prove to you that she’s changed. I think she’d listen to you.”
Well damn.
*
Vinea’s head was spinning with all the ways she could help Devon and his crew capture the thieves. Not only would that bring closure to the poor woman whose husband was killed, it would show Devon that she wasn’t the bad person he believed her to be.
It was clear that achieving her goal of winning over Devon would take time. That meant she’d have to find a place to live. Being short on cash, a hotel room was out of the question. While she had the capability of stealing a car, her newfound morals forbade her.
Riding a bike in the cold would suck, but what choice did she have? To minimize frostbite, she wanted a place as close to McKinnon and Associates as possible while being fairly near a grocery store, restaurants, and her place of employment—assuming she could find a job. She didn’t have many qualifications other than waitressing. It wasn’t like she could program a computer or do someone’s taxes.
Okay, now she was even more depressed about her current state. The only thing she’d been good at was harming people.
As much as Vinea wanted to simply disappear and reappear at her destination, she had to stop using her abilities. If this had been last year, she wouldn’t have cared if anyone saw her and learned about goddesses and shifters. Now, she understood how detrimental that could be to some people—like Devon.
Basically, she had to live like her goddess status was a thing of the past. That meant she’d have to walk or ride a bike if she wanted to go anywhere. Ugh. In order to find a place to live, she had to do some research, and that meant a trip to the Silver Lake Café where they offered free Wi-Fi.
The walk turned out to be more pleasant than she thought. The last time Vinea had been in Silver Lake she still had a lot of hatred on her mind and couldn’t enjoy anything nice. Today was different. Seeing two people hold hands made her a little jealous, but then she squashed that emotion. That was what caused her expulsion from the light realm in the first place.
The Valentine’s decorations in the Silver Lake bookstore looked festive, but she didn’t think she’d ever understand that holiday. Why only pick one day of the year to express love? From what she’d been told, it should be done daily.
As Vinea entered the café, she noticed a Help Wanted sign. Well, wasn’t that convenient? For a brief moment, she wondered if anyone from above was watching her. If so, she’d have to thank them if she ever saw her family again.
While she couldn’t be certain how long she needed to stay in Silver Lake, her money would run out long before she could convince Devon she’d changed. Vinea definitely needed a job. If she hadn’t just stepped inside the restaurant, she would have swiped a hand over her body and put on a more appropriate interview outfit. She sighed at having to make do with the sweater and jeans she’d put on this morning.
Wanting to see if she could find an apartment before asking about a job, she followed the waitress over to a table in a relatively quiet corner. After she ordered a cup of coffee and a Danish pastry, Vinea began her search on her smart phone. Had her friend EmmaLee not helped her find a place to stay when she first arrived in Georgia, Vinea wouldn’t have any idea how to locate rentals. By the time she worked her way through her second cup of coffee, she had three potentials.
After she ate her Danish, she made her calls. The first place was available, but between the deposit and first and last month’s rent, it was too expensive for her—especially since she didn’t have a job yet. The second apartment had already been rented, and the man apologized for not removing the listing. The last one—her least favorite—was an old trailer. The good news was that it was available, close to McKinnon and Associates, and affordable, so she made an appointment to meet with the landlord in an hour. Even better was that she could rent it month to month, and that served her needs perfectly.
After she finished eating and paying, she mentally readied herself to ask about the job. Fingers crossed, she hoped she would succeed.
*
Vinea thought the interview went rather well. The manager said he’d have to check her references, but she was confident Warren would give her a good recommendation. With a bit of pep in her step, she hurried to reach the rental place on time, hoping the space was livable.
When the landlord showed her the trailer though, she tried not to express her disappointment. Compared to her place in Georgia, this trailer was a big step down, and the Billard efficiency was nothing to cheer about. However, the trailer was warm and it provided enough amenities for her to survive. Best of all, it came furnished, and even though the sofa cushions were sagging, and the place needed a good scrubbing, the bed looked decent.
While someone from above seemed determined to make her pay for the bad things she had previously done in her life, she was fine with it. Vinea had been an evil person. If that were the case though, why help her find a job—assuming she was offered it? Ugh. She’d never understand the universe.
The dingy trailer was unoccupied, and once she gave the landlord her first month’s rent, he handed her the keys, wished her well, and left. With nothing to do, she checked out her new abode, making a list of what she needed to purchase. Food was the first thing on the agenda. Thankfully, the supermarket was within walking distance. At least by living here, she’d stay in shape.
On the way to Save-a-Lot, her mind spun, trying to think of ways to help Devon and his team. Even though they had no concrete evidence the Changelings were involved in the robbery and murder, everyone in the room seemed to think they were the most likely suspects. Not liking when people drew unfounded conclusions—especially when it was directed at her—it was her duty to find some evidence one way or the other.
When she’d come to Silver Lake the first time, her goal had been to steal Sam Pompley’s magic. Because she hadn’t been imbued with the ability to fight, she’d had to elicit help. Planning had been the key. In the process of figuring things out, she’d researched Silver Lake, thinking she might need to join forces with their evil residents—the Changelings. Vinea had learned that Jacob Richards, aka Brother Jacob was their current leader. At the time, they had something like twelve councilmen, but somewhere along the way, a few had been put to rest. Their second in command, John Ernst, seemed to be the most visible of the Changelings and perhaps the meanest.
Because Vinea had found someone else to help her, she hadn’t needed to contact the mutated werewolves. When her sister thwarted her goal of stealing Sam’s powers, Vinea had been livid. Now, she could look back and thank her. That cleansing sure had changed her perspective on life for the better.
Once at the grocery store, Vinea piled the needed food items into her cart, but because she was on foot, she could only carry two bags, so she didn’t buy a lot.
However, by the time she returned home, a plan began to formulate in her head as to what she could do to help Devon. It was one that carried little risk, but had the possibility of a great reward.
After she put the groceries away, she decided on what to do next. She would float on up to Brother Jacob’s home. Because the workday hadn’t ended, she might even get lucky and learn something. If nothing else, she could search his office. Staying invisible for any length of time would be tricky, but as long as she didn’t lose focus, she should be successful.
With a nod of her head, she was inside his house a second later. Not knowing the location of his office, she’d imagined landing in his living room. In reality, she ended up closer to the kitchen. Invisibility sure had its benefits.
A voice wafted toward her, and she followed the sound. Even though the door between her and the voice was closed, she went right through it. A man sat at his desk. Head bowed, the top of his head was bald with gr
ay at the temples. This must be Brother Jacob. He was thinner than she’d expected. His hawk nose and sunken cheeks made for an unattractive appearance. Then there were those thin lips that were pressed into a line. He had a similar appearance to Androf, and the coincidence wasn’t lost on her. Perhaps this was what evil looked like.
“How much?” he asked, leaning back in his seat and tapping a chewed pencil on the desk.
For a second, Vinea debated wrenching the annoying thing from his fingers, but he’d hang up for sure if she did that. Staying as still as possible, she mentally urged him to continue.
Brother Jacob shook his head. “Fifteen thousand is as high as I’m able to go.” A moment later a small smile lifted his lips. “Very well, I look forward to meeting you tomorrow.”
That conversation sounded like it had potential, especially since the price quoted matched the amount of money stolen, but she wished she knew what he was buying. This might be a wild goose chase, but if she didn’t follow through, she’d never know for sure.
Brother Jacob pressed an intercom button. “Marcy, can you purchase a round trip ticket to Los Angeles—direct flight only—for tonight or early tomorrow morning. Yes, LAX airport. And get me a rental car and a room at the Windsor Hotel in Laguna Beach for one night.” He then disconnected.
Well, that was interesting. Vinea always did like to travel, and California in February had to be warmer than here.
With the when and where figured out, Vinea only waited another minute before teleporting out of there. This time her internal GPS worked, and she returned to her kitchen. Compared to Brother Jacob’s elegant office, her place was dingy, but at least she had a roof over her head, for which she was thankful.
When she had originally transported herself to Silver Lake, she’d carried two suitcases and a backpack since it was all she could manage. She might be a goddess, but her current powers didn’t extend to moving objects from one location to another.
From her knapsack, she dragged out her computer and booted it up. There couldn’t be that many direct flights from Tennessee to Los Angeles. Identifying the exact flight would make it easier on her.
A quick search revealed he wouldn’t be able to fly out tonight, which meant he’d take an early morning flight out of Nashville and arrive in Los Angeles by noon. From what she’d heard Brother Jacob say, he’d make his deal, spend the night, and return the next day. This was going to be so easy. Poor sucker, wouldn’t know what happened.
Happy to have a plan, Vinea debated passing it by Devon, but then she decided she wanted to surprise him. If whatever Brother Jacob was buying wasn’t anything important, she’d only disappoint Devon by getting his hopes up. The last thing she needed was for him to look down at her for being incompetent. No, it was best to have something tangible to show him.
Though she wouldn’t need much while in California, she would need money and her computer, in case she needed to email something to Devon. Just as she’d finished packing her toiletries and computer, her cell rang, jacking up her heart rate. Believing it was Devon calling to ask for her help, she rushed to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Summer, this is Charles DuPree calling about the waitressing job.”
Vinea grabbed hold of the kitchen counter. “Yes?”
“I’m calling to offer you the job at the café, if you’re still interested.”
She pumped her fist. “I am.”
“Can you start tomorrow morning?”
Crap, she’d be in California tomorrow. “I’m afraid I have to make a quick trip across the country. It just came up before you called, but I can come in on Sunday if that works for you?” She held her breath, awaiting his answer. She had to guess that one or two additional days without help wouldn’t be too big a burden on the other waitresses.
“That would be fine. Your shift is from ten am to six pm.”
“Great. I’ll be there.” They spoke a bit more about how he’d provide her with three slightly used uniforms, and that she would have to purchase any other ones. Vinea had learned her lesson the hard way about not being grateful. “That’s perfect. Thank you.”
Pleased things were falling into place, Vinea finished gathering her gear. California here I come. From what the men at McKinnon and Associates seemed to think, the Changelings’ main focus in life was obtaining sardonyx. Maybe because it was so rare that the price seemed to be quite high.
Had she still been a goddess of the dark realm, she would have created the stone herself and then made oh so much money. Being honest sure did come at a cost, but she was happier now because of it.
Chapter Four
‡
The next day Connor waltzed into Devon’s temporary office and pulled up a chair. “I wonder what Ms. Vinea is up to today,” his brother said with a smug look.
Did Connor really care, or was he here to bust his chops? “I don’t know, and frankly I don’t care. Just as long as she stays out of my hair, I’m happy.”
“I thought you were going to keep an eye on her.”
“If I hear she’s making trouble, I will. As long as she behaves, I’m not giving her a thought.”
His cheerful demeanor evaporated. “You are so full of shit. You still like her, I can tell.” Connor leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “What I don’t get is why do you like her? Sure, she has a smoking hot body, but she’s overly self-confident and arrogant, not to mention a liar, a thief, and an attempted murderer.”
Devon bristled. He didn’t like that Connor had even noticed Vinea’s body. It didn’t matter that physically she was gorgeous. Her auburn hair, coupled with her long legs and stupendous tits, made his own mouth water, but to hear his brother say it didn’t sit well. He would ignore the other slanderous remarks.
“At the time I met her, I thought she was a caring person. I bought into her sad sack story about how some guy had stolen all of her possessions. I realize now that it was a lie to get me to help her. Now that I know what kind of person she is, I’m totally over her.”
You know I still want her, his wolf whined.
“Yeah, you did fall for her line,” Connor said. “I trust you’ve learned your lesson?”
Was that supposed to be a warning? Devon was doing a good job here and had only occasionally let his mind wander. “I have. I already told you, I’ll be happy if I never see her again—unless, as I said, she does something to interfere with our job.”
His wolf whimpered. Vinea might cause his animal to make these outrageous accusations about them being mates, but logic said it was impossible. Vinea was a goddess, and goddesses couldn’t mate with humans, albeit a human who could shift—or so he’d always believed.
“Good.” His brother slapped his thighs and stood. “I just needed to find out if you’re fully on board here. I don’t need you pining over what could have been. I know you said you cleansed her, but you can never be sure.”
“I’m pretty sure I failed. She even told me right after I dunked her that cleansings only worked on Changelings. I guess I was being overly optimistic at the time.”
Sure, she had attempted to kill Zane shortly thereafter, but then she tossed down her weapon and ran away, saying she couldn’t do it. Would a purely evil goddess do that? Or did she have an ulterior motive for not following through? Maybe she didn’t really need to kill Zane, and she was after a bigger fish to fry—namely him. He inwardly growled. The woman would be the death of him if he let her.
“I’m glad you’ve seen the light. We have to find out who killed the guard and robbed the armored car sooner rather than later. I want to bring some closure to Lori, Will’s wife. If the Changelings are responsible, we need to let them know they can’t terrorize our town and get away with it.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Devon shut out Vinea’s image. “What would you like me to do?”
“Help Jackson go over the security tapes. Kalan sent over a copy of the camera footage from the back of the van. The sheriff’s depart
ment couldn’t see anything, but maybe a second set of eyes will help.”
Devon pushed back his chair, happy to have a specific job. Once Connor returned to his office, Devon found Jackson in their control room where all of the video equipment was located.
Jackson looked up. “Hey, you here to help?”
“I’m going to try.” Devon pulled up a chair. “What do you have?”
Jackson made a few mouse clicks. “I’ve combined the footage from the security cameras on the armored truck with the street cams to give us some added angles.” He pointed to the screen. “This is where the black SUV pulls in front of the armored car, forcing Will to slam on the brakes.”
Thankfully, Jackson had turned off the sound. Hearing the squeal of tires and glass shattering would only make it that much more real. “How convenient that they picked a spot where there wasn’t any traffic.”
“Exactly. The SUV driver knew when and where to pull the heist. Plus, he managed to only damage the rear panel of his vehicle. It’s not easy to disable the armored car while maintaining the function in your vehicle.”
“I don’t think I could pull that off,” Devon said.
“Me neither.” Jackson pointed to something on the screen. “It’s hard to see, but this looks like Will is leaning forward right after the crash and pressing a button to alert the cops that there was an attack.”
That was smart thinking. “At any point did you get a read on the license plate?” Devon asked.
“Yes, but it turns out it had been stolen that morning.”
“Figures.” The footage continued to roll, showing Roger jumping out of the front seat of the armored car as three armed men approached. The guard got off one shot before he was hit in the stomach. “That man closest to Roger flinched. Do you think Roger hit him?” Devon asked.
“If he had been hit, he has to be a shifter because he was able to take the bullet without collapsing.”
