Free Misfortune Cookie by Casey Wyatt Page B

hall, cooler air smacked me in the face and I shivered at the temperature change. The large rips and tears in my clothing didn’t help. I was pretty sure part of my ass was hanging out. “Then what will it do? Hang around outside the gate waiting for a shot at me?”
    “No,” he set the cat down, then picked a stray piece of glass out of my hair. “It will disappear at dawn. They only answer one call per lunar cycle. The bigger concern is that it knew about you at all. And it was summoned by someone who could control it.”
    “So will it be back next full moon?”
    “I doubt it. The draugr exact a high spiritual price for their services. I will alert Joanna to set extra security.”
    I nodded my head, as if reassured, but really I wasn’t. “Thanks.” We reached my bedroom. After I bid Luca goodbye, I landed in the nearest chair, body and mind spent.
    Great. I already had enemies. And I thought being back in the press spotlight would be an issue. Just goes to prove there are so many ways to wreck a day.
    “No. For the fifteenth time, I don’t need anyone to set my clothes out for me.” I closed the door in Mr. Meadows’ face. Honestly, the guy must have had cotton in his ears. Then again, maybe he was hearing impaired. He’d been serving Sebastian since he was a young man.
    “Shouldn’t that guy be retired by now?” I groused to Julian, who’d parked his ass in front of the suite’s large-panel television. Every day he faithfully watched the evening news and tonight was no exception.
    “There’s been another murder.”
    “I hate to say it, but murders happen every day.” I cinched the belt on my robe and sat on the bed. A long hot shower cured most of my aching muscles and I’d managed to extract all the glass and debris from my hair. Once Julian’s appetite for news had been satisfied, I planned to boot him out so I could sleep.
    “Not like this one. Another grisly slaughter has occurred.” Julian pursed his lips. “The press is having a field day speculating on the motives.”
    “Another one Sebastian’s cronies?”
    “No. But it is another wealthy businessman. He was found butchered amongst a pile of Chinese food take-out containers.”
    There was a soft knock at the door. I tensed. If it was that butler again . . .
    “You really should be nicer to the staff. They are trained professionals.” Julian frowned as the door opened.
    “Yeah, fine,” I sighed. The idea of people waiting on me hand and foot was a total turnoff. It reminded me too much of my childhood and times I’d rather forget.
    Luca entered the room with a tray, Brody trailing hot on his heels. Tea and fresh-baked double chocolate chip cookies.
    He set the tray on a low coffee table and offered me a cup. He settled in the armchair near the bed. “We need to talk.”
    I groaned internally. To stall I nibbled on a cookie and sipped the tea. I savored the sweet, citrusy tang on my tongue and enjoyed the energy coursing through my veins. “Whatever’s in this tea can’t be legal. I mean, this is the second time you’ve fed me this stuff. Where do you get it? Do you have a secret stash? And these cookies are delish. Would you like one?”
    “Do you know you chatter when you’re avoiding unpleasant topics?” Luca gave me a tense smile then took the cup and saucer, replacing it on the tray.
    “Do not. Are you going to tell me what a draugr is?” I patted the bed. Brody jumped up, settled on my lap then promptly fell asleep. I envied his life of obliviousness.
    “That is one of the topics we must discuss.” Luca had changed into, what I assumed was casual for him, khaki pants and a loose cotton shirt. I liked the jeans and T-shirt better. I doubted the man owned a pair of sweat pants or anything remotely comfy. He’d showered, too, his hair damp and slicked back. My mind delighted at the image of his body, all sudsy under hot, steaming water.
    He arched an eyebrow at me, a smug smile on his face. “If you’re done