Free A Cougar's Claim (Charmed in Vegas Book 7) by Jennifer James, Michelle Fox

fight with another woman armed with fabric shears. Or big ass claws.
    “Depends. Could be a few hours, could be all night. If the cops are really busy it takes longer. Also depends if they’re feeling like being dicks to you,” the brunette pursed her lips and slouched. Long, lean legs crossed at the ankle. Her battered black combat boots had a thin sliver wire wrapped into the laces. “This your first time here?”
    “Yeah.” Rhiannon straightened, pride surging in her veins. Hell yeah, she’d put a shifter on his ass. Booyah baby. “Nice boots.”
    “Thanks.” The woman held out her henna tattooed right hand. “Lilith Veracruz.”
    “Rhiannon Delamatre. Nice to meet you.” A tiny spark of static electricity jumped from Lilith’s palm to hers. “Uh—”
    Lilith leaned in close, and squeezed her fingers once, not enough to hurt, but to warn. “So, I’ve seen you dance. At The Howler. Really sexy. You still dating that shifter?”
    “No. God I’m so done with shifters. They eat everything and they drop you the second they smell someone who they think is their destined mate.” Rhiannon extricated her hand and tucked her fingers under her arm. “Even if they’re naked in bed with you, in the middle of...”
    A blush burned her cheeks. Wow, had she really been about to spill that? She scooted a few inches away from maybe-not-a-human-Lilith and eyeballed her.
    “Any idea where Jase is?” Lilith traced her index finger over Rhiannon’s wrist.
    She jerked away and moved to stand. Lilith grabbed her forearm and Rhiannon found she couldn’t move away. Something kept her trapped on the bench.
    Magic. Had to be.
    “No, I don’t know where Jase is. I was looking for him this morning. It’s how I ended up in here. Sorta.” Rhiannon licked her left forearm, and got a mouthful of salt. A humming white noise she hadn’t noticed before cleared from her consciousness. She grimaced and yanked on her arm again. This time it came free. Not a human woman sitting next to her. Fuck a hairy duck. “You’re pretty damn powerful, seeing as I’m covered head to toe in salt.”
    Lilith shrugged, unabashed. “A woman uses the tools she has. You really have no idea where Jase is?”
    “No, I don’t.” She stood and paced a few steps away. “Don’t even think about touching me again. You could have just asked me if I knew where he was.”
    “How did I know you’d tell me the truth?” Lilith drew her legs in and balanced her elbows on her knees.
    “Why do you want him? If you know who I am, I’m betting you know why I do.” Rhiannon scratched under her waistband, bits of salt getting crammed under her fingernails.
    Lilith lit a cigarette, her huge, white blue irises ghostly and creepy in her heart shaped face. “Jase has a price on his head. I’m hoping to collect.”
    “How do you have a cigarette in here?”
    Lilith licked her lower lip. “You sure you want to know?”
    No, nope, nopity nope nope. She didn’t.
    Dread crept up her spine. “Shit.” She paced a small circle, palms pressed over her eyes. Fucking mob boss asshole Mancini. “I don’t stand a chance. He’s got me right where he wants me.”
    There had to be a way to get out of this mess without borrowing money from Inila to pay Mancini off. No smart person made a financial deal with a dragon, even if the dragon claimed to be their friend. Dragons loved money more than anything in the world. They didn’t make fair deals. They made deals that increased their fortune, and if that meant you and your entire family lineage ended up indentured to them for the dragon’s entire lifespan, the dragon was happier for it.
    She couldn’t find fault with Inila. Dragons were the way they were. In every other aspect, Inila was the perfect friend.
    “Mancini? He had you by the bra straps from day one, sweetie.” Disgust and judgment dripped off the statement. Lilith took a drag of her cigarette. “I sure hope you didn’t spend the money on something