Free Anita Blake 15 - The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton Page B

tough in a normal-world sort of way, but we all live in a world where guns, and sex, and violence of all kinds can happen and do. We need someone who doesn't make us all feel like we're corrupting children."
    We both looked at Nathaniel.
    "What?" he said.
    "Is that how you really felt about all of them, even Justin?" I asked.
    "Yes," he said. "Justin's idea of violence is the kind that has referees, and limits. The fact that he's Joseph's enforcer is scary for them."
    "Joseph's better in a fight," Lisandro said.
    "But neither of them is as good as Richard, or Rafael."
    "Or your Micah?" Lisandro asked.
    "I think Micah would do anything it took to keep his people safe."
    "I heard that about him," Lisandro said.
    Since we were talking about one of my other live-in sweeties, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Micah and I were both very practical people. Sometimes
practical
and
ruthless
were just different words for the same thing.
    "You're both saying that you don't think Joseph would do whatever it took."
    "The only thing that's kept his pride safe is the fact that there just aren't a lot of werelions in this country. Cat-based lycanthropy is usually harder to catch than other kinds," Lisandro said.
    "Reptile-based is harder to catch," Nathaniel said.
    Lisandro nodded. "True, but there aren't a lot of lions in this country. The closest is Chicago."
    "They won't be trying a takeover. Jean-Claude and I made sure of that," I said.
    "But don't you see, Anita, you and Jean-Claude made sure of it, not Joseph. That makes his threat weak," Lisandro said.
    "Nobody from Chicago will mess with them now," I said.
    "Yeah, but if Chicago noticed they're this weak, then so will someone else."
    "I didn't know we had any big prides other than these two."
    "One on the West Coast, one on the East," Lisandro said.
    "Is that where Joseph got his last candidate?" I asked.
    "East Coast pride, yeah. But you turned him down, just like all the others."
    "I can't give your leader permission to shop for lions, Lisandro. It's against the rules to interfere that much over cross-species lines."
    "Not for you," Lisandro said. "Remember, Joseph asked you not to keep Haven. The moment he asked you to protect him and his pride, he asked you to interfere. You're the leopards' Nimir-Ra, and the wolves' lupa; you were nothing to the lions. Once he asked for your help, he gave you permission to mess with his lions."
    "I don't think Joseph saw it that way," I said.
    Lisandro shrugged. "Doesn't matter how he saw it, it's still the truth."
    I don't know what I would have said to that, because there was a knock on the door. Lisandro went all bodyguardy on us. His hand went behind his back, and I knew for sure the gun was there. "Who is it?"
    "Requiem. Jean-Claude requested my presence."
    Lisandro glanced at me. I realized he was asking my permission. I liked him better for that. I didn't really want to see Requiem tonight. I was still embarrassed that I'd added him to my list of food. But he'd been in England, so he'd seen the Harlequin in person, and recently. He'd be helpful. Or that's what I told myself as I nodded for Lisandro to let him in.

Chapter Seven

     
    REQUIEM GLIDED IN wearing a long, hooded cloak as black as his hair. He was the only vamp I'd ever met who wore a cloak like that.
    Byron came behind him, carrying a towel that seemed to be full of something. He was still wearing nothing but his G-string. There was still money stuffed in it. He grinned at me. "Hi, duckie."
    "Hey, Byron."
    He always talked like he had just stepped out of an old British movie: lots of
loves
and
duckies
. He talked that way to everyone, so I didn't take it personally. He up-ended the towel on the couch beside me. It was suddenly raining money.
    "Good night," Nathaniel said.
    Byron nodded and started taking the money out of his G-string. "Jean-Claude used that sweet, sweet voice of his during my act. The pigeons always give it up for him." He slipped off the G-string, letting some