More Monsters, More Mayhem (Big Easy Bounty Hunter Book 5), page 10
“She didn’t miss a beat rippin’ that shirt off, slingin’ it at Xavier’s head, an’ breakin’ out her wand.”
Matt shook with suppressed laughter as he continued.
“I was tryin’ ta snuff out da fire with a water spell I’d learned a few days before an’ finally called up enough ta put out Xavier’s hair before it all burned off. While I was doin’ that, Sera Ann reached out an’ found where one of da neighbors had recently buried a cat in da yard. She had an affinity for da dead from a young age, must be in da blood with Marie’s family or somethin’ ’cause she was always doin’ stuff like that from about six or seven.”
Matt paused and gulped some tea before continuing. “About da time I got da fire smothered, that damn cat dug inta Xavier’s back with four sets of claws. I tell you, Xavier screamed so loud I’m sure they heard him a block away.
“Now I tell you, if you drop a zombie into a group of magic-usin’ kids, you gonna get a bunch of different reactions. Most of da older ones thought it was cool, but da little ones started cryin’ and screamin’. Some folks are scared of death magic, an’ they push that fear off on their kids.
“By da time Granmama and Marie came runnin’ ta see what da commotion was, da old lady next door had come out because of da ruckus. She lost it when she saw that zombie cat ridin’ Xavier like a jockey on a horse an’ Sera Ann runnin’ behind them half-naked, swingin’ her wand ta spur that ole tomcat on.
“Missus Marchant dropped to her knees, prayin’ loud for God bringin’ her old cat back from da dead. That got her husband an’ sister what was visitin’ from up north out of da house ta see what she was goin’ on about.
“Well, old Mister Marchant was in da know about magic an’ recognized what that cat was immediately. He grabbed a hoe from da flowerbed an’ chased after it about da time da sister saw Sera Ann an’ started goin’ on about how we was all goin’ ta hell.
“Now we got Xavier runnin’ around da yard with this decomposin’ cat tryin’ ta chew off an ear, Sera Ann addin’ to da commotion flashin’ everyone, da neighbor woman freakin’ out over da cat being alive, her sister havin’ a conniption over Sera Ann not havin’ a shirt on, an’ da two chasin’ after that damn cat.”
Matt had to stop and catch his breath while Natalia had a hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter.
“By the time Granmama and Marie got everythin’ calmed down, half da neighborhood had come out ta see what was goin’ on. Lucky for us a few of da folks at that party were some of her Silver Griffin pals. They managed ta quash da issue before it got too out of control. Needless ta say, Granmama an’ Marie were not amused. We was all grounded for a month, an’ that was da last time Granmama had anythin’ bigger than a tea party at da house.”
Natalia couldn’t contain herself any longer and burst into gales of laughter. It took her several moments to regain her composure. She wiped tears from her eyes. “Why did you get in trouble? Sounds like you were innocent in all that.”
“Didn’t matter. Guilty by association or somethin’ was what Granmama told me when I tried defendin’ myself. She said if I wasn’t involved, she knew damn well I was guilty of somethin’ she missed us doin’. I couldn’t argue with that, so I took my licks an’ was thankful she didn’t know about some of that other stuff.”
“Did you have many parties here?” Natalia imagined what it would have been like to have a group of friends different from the cutthroat people she grew up around.
“Nah, da house an’ grounds were in bad shape then. It wasn’t ’til I was older that I started fixin’ da place up. Da bones were still good, but years of abandonment an’ neglect took their toll. When I renovated this part, I went on an’ put in a commercial kitchen so we could host big parties like that again. We had a few with Henri’s folks handlin’ da cookin’ an’ servin’ after I finished fixin’ up da place. Never had ta worry about much but disturbin’ da gators and such out here, an’ they didn’t complain if it did.
“It wasn’t long after da last one that everythin’ went to shit when da dark families got hold of that list of Silver Griffins. After that, people scattered and went into hidin’. Granmama hasn’t wanted to have any big gatherin’s since.”
Natalia was silent for several minutes, her eyes distant as she considered how much damage the dark families inflicted on everything around them. She sucked her bottom lip in, then blew it out. “I think once we get the crap with Winston and my mother sorted out, we should have one for all of Celine’s friends who will come. I think she would enjoy it, and this place needs the sound of kids laughing and having fun.”
“She’d like that. We keep in touch with several families that left after da attacks. I’m sure more than a few would welcome da chance to see each other again.”
Natalia finished her tea and started for the door with a determined expression. “Come on, Mister Bordelon. I’m ready to get back to work, and the sooner I get this shooting stuff figured out, the sooner we can do that.”
Matt followed her to the range behind his workshop and intently watched as she shoved a loaded magazine from the case on her belt into the gun. She eyed the target over the top of the gun and squeezed the trigger. The weapon fired, and a neat hole appeared in the center of the head.
Natalia nodded once, then rapidly fired the remaining twelve rounds into the cardboard silhouette. She safetied the gun and turned to Matt. “I think I figured it out.”
Matt whooped with glee when he saw the large hole she’d made in the center of the target.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Garden District, New Orleans
Geoffrey drove the rental down an oak-lined street between majestic homes in many architectural designs. The houses were as eclectic as everything else he’d seen since the crew arrived in New Orleans earlier in the day.
He slowed as they approached a two-story brick home with a wraparound porch on a corner. Geoffrey glanced at the note Winston had supplied him with at their last meeting and confirmed the number painted on the curb.
“That’s the place?”
“Big fucker,” Halaeg observed as he craned his neck from the passenger’s side to take it all in.
“Why do humans think they need so much room? A tribe of gnomes could live in any of these places with room to spare,” Gimbly grumped from the back seat.
“Because they ain’t little squirts like you gnomes.” Halaeg grinned, trying to get a rise from their diminutive partner.
“Like you damned dwarves are so big. Well, I suppose you do need more room for your fat asses though,” Gimbly snarked.
“Would you two focus, dammit? We need to figure out how to get inside that place, not compare the shortcomings of your races,” Geoffrey snapped as he surveyed the layers of protective wards surrounding the house and yard.
“What's crawled up your ass? We were only having a bit of fun before this wizard shit you’ve got us into,” Halaeg grumped.
“This wizard shit as you call it put a substantial amount of money into both your accounts. The least you can do is your damn jobs,” Geoffrey muttered as he continued to spot new and more deadly traps scattered around the house.
“From what I can see, we aren’t going in through the yard. Stepping off the sidewalk alone will trigger multiple wards and alert the bounty hunter. We won’t make it halfway across the yard before the defensive wards trigger. Beyond those, things will get really bad real fast.”
“What ya mean?” Halaeg strained to spot the wards with no luck.
“This guy is either the most paranoid person in the world or has some nasty people gunning for him. I see no less than six lethal wards set to trigger at the steps and don’t even get me started on what’s on the doors and windows. Anyone who tries to get inside uninvited would be dead before they knew what hit them. I’ve seen some tough wards in the past, but this place is a fucking nuclear bomb waiting to go off.”
“Can’t you disable them? You’re supposed to be this all-powerful wizard from what you keep telling us,” Gimbly snarked.
Geoffrey shook his head. “I’d be hit by more stuff than I can count if I even tried to take down the alarms at the perimeter. I tell you, this guy is seriously paranoid. He has wards set for beings I don’t think live in this world. Fuck, I can see three for dragons and over a dozen I can’t tell anything about except they are there.”
“Well, if the wards are that tough, how are we supposed to grab the target? Wait a minute, whose house is that?” Halaeg questioned.
“Some kind of bounty hunter or something. Doesn’t matter. If he interferes, we kill him and move on.”
“Did Winston give you this hunter’s name?” Halaeg asked. He suspected Geoff was intentionally holding back information but decided to give his partner the benefit of the doubt before he said more.
“Some guy named Bordello or something like that,” Geoff answered glibly.
“Bordelon, maybe?” Halaeg pressed.
“Yeah, I think that’s what Winston said. Again, his name is dead man if he causes a problem. Winston only wants the target snatched. He doesn’t care who we kill doing it.”
“Are you out of your feeble mind?” Halaeg exploded. “You want us to snatch someone from Matt Bordelon? The same man who was a top troubleshooter when he was a Silver Griffin and is rumored to have helped over a hundred escape the dark families’ purge? The grandson of the most vicious bitch to ever lead a Silver Griffins strike team that mothers told stories about for years to keep their kids in line? That Matt Bordelon?”
“How do you know so much about this guy?” Geoffrey asked testily.
“Because I know you. When you told me we were coming here, I did some digging on the dark web to see what was what here. His name came up in the search with a warning to kill him for a huge reward if you thought you had the juice or avoid him if you didn’t. From what I gathered he rates right up there with that Laveau witch for people you don’t want to fuck with.
“When I saw the name, I remembered things I had heard over the years about another Bordelon. That’s when I found out she was his kin.”
“He’s not the target, and if we handle this right, we won’t have anything to do with him. The target is a girl who is hiding from her family. They want her back, and Winston agreed to help as the head of the families.”
“Dammit, Geoff, are you shitting me or are you that out of touch?”
“What?” Geoffrey snarled, equally offended by the use of his abbreviated name and the implication that he wasn’t prepared for the job.
“Let me guess. This girl you’re talking about is a full-grown witch named Natalia Greymont.”
“What if it is?”
“You really are a clueless bugger, aren’t you.” Halaeg made it a statement of fact instead of a question.
“Look, I won’t put up with you insulting me much more, Halaeg Muddigger.” Geoffrey made to reach for his wand and froze when he felt a sharp prick on the nape of his neck.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Geoff,” Gimbly whispered in his ear. “Now take your hand away from that wand and come clean about this operation. We both know you’re either full of shite or completely clueless about what you got us into. I vote shite, but Halaeg is leaning toward incompetence. Which is it?”
He emphasized the last by applying pressure on the dagger tip at the base of Geoffrey’s skull.
“Now, let’s be reasonable guys. We’ve been a team long enough we don’t need this between us.” Geoffrey whimpered as the gnome shifted the point of the blade.
“The only thing that’s gonna come between anything is eight inches of gnomish steel and your spine if you don’t start talking,” Gimbly hissed.
“Winston only told me the girl’s name and nothing else. He said she was supposed to marry some heir and ran out on the agreement. He wanted us to coordinate a snatch with something else he’s planning once we figure out a way into the house.”
Halaeg reached across the seat and plucked Geoffrey’s wand from its pocket before he motioned Gimbly back. “Told you Winston was duping him. That rotten prick is famous for leaving his minions hanging when it comes to information.”
Gimbly grunted but removed the blade from Geoffrey’s neck. “I say we tell Blackwell to bugger off and find someone else for this job. Not that I don’t think we can do it, but it’s the principle of it that matters.”
Geoffrey absently rubbed his nape and stiffened when he pulled his hand around and saw the spot of blood on his fingers. “You cut me!”
“Aye, and yer damn lucky he didn’t cut off your ignorant head. Get over it and drive. We have things to discuss,” Halaeg growled as he pointed one stubby finger down the street.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Angels and Demons Bar, French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Steven stepped through the door and recoiled as the music from the live band assailed his ears. He’d watched the bar for thirty minutes and observed a steady stream of magical beings and humans enter and leave. One of the many wards layering the front of the establishment had muted the sounds from inside, so he hadn’t expected the noise level.
He took a moment to get his bearings and moved through the crowd to a dark wooden bar against the back wall. After snagging a seat, he studied the selections offered on a chalkboard above the impressive collection of Earth and Oriceran brews lining the shelves.
“What’ll ya have?” a harried Atlantean bartender asked.
“Whatever local beer is good.”
The bartender pulled a chilled bottle from below the bar and set it on a coaster that appeared under it as it touched down.
“Five bucks. The next one’s free if you want it within ten minutes.”
Steven arched a brow, and the bartender explained, “It's happy hour for another ten minutes. After that, they’re five bucks each.”
Steven nodded and took a pull from the bottle. He savored the slightly fruity flavor with a hint of bitterness from the hops as he thought of his mother’s reaction if she saw him. Her disdain for something as plebeian as beer was second only to her opinion of the people who drank it.
He spun his chair around and looked over the crowd. A petite blonde human dancing with a light elf caused him to pause until he noticed several mixed couples gyrating to the music. He shook his head at the sight he’d never imagined seeing, although the information about the bar lauded it as a place where humans and magicals could party without fear.
As he scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar face, he started as someone jostled him when they pushed into the tight space between his chair and the next. He turned, prepared to tell them to back off, but stopped when he saw the woman smiling sheepishly at him.
Her vibrant red hair tumbled in waves around her bare shoulders. Her eyes were a fusion of cerulean and emerald that mesmerized him as they shimmered in the light. Her red lips highlighted the flawless canvas of her porcelain skin, making her the most striking woman he’d ever seen.
“Sorry, this place is so packed I couldn’t get a beer.” Her smile grew more prominent when she saw the beer in his hand. “Is that any good?”
Steven swallowed hard and nodded as he struggled to stop cataloging everything he saw and focus on her words.
“Uh, yes, it’s what the bartender recommended,” he stammered. “I have another already paid for if you’ll allow me to buy you a drink,” he managed before she turned away.
She nodded and ducked her head to peer up at him through the hair that fell over her eyes. “That would be awesome.”
Steven motioned at the bartender with his bottle. The man nodded, placed another before him, and moved away to serve another customer. Steven smiled at the girl and offered his name.
“Thanks, I needed that,” she murmured after taking a sip.
Steven nodded, trying to think of something to say to keep the enchanting beauty from leaving when she surprised him by taking the initiative. “I see a table over there. Care to join me?”
Nodding dumbly and unable to contain a grin, Steven stood and motioned her to lead. Once they sat, she frowned and pulled a wand from a concealed pocket of the jeans he would have sworn were too tight to hide a toothpick.
With a wave of the wand, the thumping music muted to a bearable background, and she stuck out her bottom lip and blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. “That’s better.” She turned her attention to the gobsmacked wizard.
“Um, are you from around here?” Steven mentally kicked himself for sounding lame.
Olyesa stifled the smile that threatened at the pronounced effect she had on the young wizard. She’d left the hotel earlier and gone to a meeting. It only took her a moment after leaving her second engagement to decide on the current course of action.
Her original plan called for her to follow the wizard under a concealment spell and see who he met at the bar. After speaking to the one person in the world she respected immensely and truth be told feared more than a little, Olyesa decided to explore why the man intrigued her.
She had opened a portal into the room on the opposite side of the hotel she’d rented under a false name the day before and spent over an hour perfecting her makeup and deciding what to wear.
As she inspected herself in the mirror, she had to admit the Dolce and Gabbana lace cami and the custom-tailored Bottega Veneta jeans accented her body in all the right places. She finished the outfit with boots that allowed her to maneuver better than the heels she usually wore when working a mark.
She’d waited until the ward she had placed on Steven’s room alerted her he had left and followed him to the bar. Now that she sat across from him, she was at a loss for how to proceed.
She answered with one of her numerous covers. “Chicago. You?”
“Lexington. Olyesa, is that Russian?” Steven struggled to move the conversation along.
“Yes. I was born in a small town outside of Saint Petersburg but moved to Chicago when my father got a job teaching at the university. Are you vacationing or here on business?”
