Devon Monk - Magic in the Shadows

“Yes, you’re breathing. I think you should take steps to avoid injury in the first place. You need self-defense training, and I’ve put together a list of people you can check into.”

She dug in the purse at her feet and put a manila file on the table. “Contact information, profiles, photos, classes, and costs are there. Beckstrom Enterprises has an employee wellness program set up that will cover any one of these. I’d like you to seriously consider it.”

I settled back in my chair, taking my coffee with me but leaving the file where it was. “I’m not an employee.”

“No, you’re not. You’re an owner. And the members of the board all voted to hire a bodyguard for you.”

“Oh, absolutely not,” I said. “I will not have someone breathing down my neck every second of the day.”

“Then take the training.”

The woman was relentless.

“And if I don’t?”

“Beckstrom Enterprises will take appropriate steps. Allie”-she pressed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and folded her fingers together-“personal preferences have to be put aside when you are dealing with a corporation this large. There is a lot riding on you and your majority share. The stockholders have some say in how you live your life. I’m sorry if you don’t like that, but it’s true. For years, your father was able to keep that pressure off you while you grew up, went to school. But he’s gone now. Now you have to step up to the realities of living a public life.”

“Gee,” I said, “I know I brought enough money for dessert and coffee; does the lecture cost extra?”

Violet smiled, which I hadn’t expected. I bet she was the head of her debate team in school. “You are so like him. I know that doesn’t win me any favors. Still. It’s true.” She took another drink of her coffee. “Stubborn, sarcastic, annoying.” She flashed me a smile. “But funny.”

Funny? My dad? The flutter behind my eyes scraped and scraped. I rubbed at my forehead and tried to will him away.

I picked up my plate again and finished the torte so I had an excuse not to look at Violet.

“Have you thought about your role in the company?” Violet asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Well, mostly I’ve thought about how much I don’t want to have any role in the company.”

“Really.” She didn’t sound surprised, just curious. “So you don’t want to take a major position?”

“What, like CEO? No. I’d like to have some say in what happens, but I don’t want to bother with the day-to-day decisions. Or paperwork. Or boardroom meetings. I’d like some money set aside that I can access for myself and for causes I am sympathetic toward. Maybe that money could be sheltered so my decisions on how to use it don’t reflect poorly on the company.”

“Why? Are you going into smuggling? Drugs? Weapons?”

“Worse. I’m thinking of creating some kind of insurance plan or resource for the Hounds in the city. I know Dad never approved of what I did.”

Violet took a drink of coffee and shrugged. “I think he wanted better for you. A safer career. Something more certain. But I don’t think he was ashamed that you are a Hound.”

“Yeah, well, I have my own opinion on that.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m comfortable with your interests being associated with Beckstrom Enterprises. But this is something we should have the lawyers work out. Would you be willing to meet with someone?”

“When?” I asked.

“I’ll have to contact everyone and see when it would work. Hopefully in the next week or so.”

“Okay,” I said. “Oh, and what do you think about me giving you the CEO position in Beckstrom Enterprises?”

“Huh.” It came out like someone had slapped her hard on the back and she’d lost her breath. She frowned and took another sip of coffee. “Let me think about that. You know your father’s will left me comfortable financially, and I own the condo and many of his other assets.”

“This isn’t about the money,” I said. “Well, I mean, it is about the money, but that’s not the only thing it’s about. I think you and I would work well together, even if we don’t always agree.”

“I’m not so sure. . ”

“And,” I cut her off before she could protest any further. “That will keep the business in the family. For the, uh, future. You know.”

“You mean for your brother or sister?”

And all that scraping and fluttering in my head went dead still.

“Yeah,” I said, because it was too late to deny it now. “For that.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said again.

Somewhere in the center of my head, Dad jerked on something. It felt like he had a rope around my neck. He pulled so hard, I inhaled. Everything went black for a second, but I heard my own voice say, “I love you.”

“What?” Violet said.

Kevin choked on his coffee, then cleared his throat.

Oh, sweet hells.

I pushed against the wall of my dad blocking me from control of my own mouth. He didn’t fight me; maybe he was too weak to fight me. I stumbled back into my conscious mind like I’d missed the last stair. Which is to say, not very gracefully.

I stood, because it was time to get out of here before my dad did something worse.

“I’d love you to think it over,” I said.

Nice save. Go, me.

“Call me when you decide, and let me know when you want to meet with the lawyers.”

I pulled on my coat.

“Okay.” She sounded a little confused. “And you’ll tell me which self-defense instructor you choose.”

Kevin pointedly handed me the manila folder, which I shoved in my pocket.

“If I choose one,” I said.

“I’ll know if you don’t.”

“Not sure that I care,” I said with a smile. I tossed my share of the tab down on the table. “See you soon.”

“Good night, Allie.”

I strode away, but not before my Hound ears picked up Violet’s last comment. “I don’t think she understands the danger she’s in.”

And Kevin’s reply. “She will.”

Iwas restless, wanted to be on my feet, moving, thinking, doing. My apartment wasn’t exactly within walking distance; still, I walked a little while before catching a cab. Halfway to my apartment, I decided I wasn’t ready to go home yet. I asked the driver to drop me off about six blocks from my house and got out. I stood there on the sidewalk for a moment, trying to decide if I wanted to just walk home and let the cold, damp air clear my head, or if I wanted to go out for a while, get away. Maybe spend some time in the comfort of Get Mugged.

It didn’t take me long to decide. I wanted warmth, light, and a crowd around me. Get Mugged it was. I started down the hill. The air was bitter cold, the light of dawn hours off. Most of the bars were just getting going this time of night, but I wasn’t about to go wandering through dark alleys or unlit parking lots. I stuck to the streetlights, to the bus lines, and kept a good pace.

Just as my muscles were beginning to warm enough that I could really stretch into the walk, and I was actually a little more relaxed and a little less restless, I heard the sound of footfalls behind me.

Someone was following me.

I took a deep breath, searching for a scent.

The smell of blackberry burned down to a bitter, thick tar, the jarring scent of bubble gum and booze, and the dark heat of copper. The same smells from the Necromorph in the alley. The same smells from the job I Hounded for Stotts.

The wind shifted just enough to bring the smell closer, stronger. My heart skipped a couple beats.

That thing, that man-thing was here, on the streets. Stalking me.

Holy shit.

Panic drew delicate fingers through my stomach and legs, leaving behind a weak, watery sensation. I didn’t know how to defend myself against that thing. I didn’t think I could outrun it. Zayvion had been very clear that I should not throw magic at it.