Free Free Agent by J. C. Nelson Page B

busy, he’s busy. He’d be upstairs, and I couldn’t wait to share our haul. Oh, the regular kids were great, and you could bet most of them would be returned for a reward—cash from the normal folks, Glitter from Kingdom kind—but Grimm wasn’t stupid.
    If the family couldn’t pay up he’d still return the kid. You never know when you’re going to need the services of a plumber or funeral director in the middle of the night. Also, if he kept the kid he’d have to feed, house, and clothe it. The real haul was the fae child. I had no idea what the fae would give to get one of their kids back, but it had to be good.
    I slapped the front desk as I walked in. Rosa saw me, and her face went flush.
    â€œHit the mother lode, Rosa. You won’t believe what we rescued,” I said as I buzzed myself in. In the lobby a group of kobolds sat in matching bright green uniforms. They came every week and the answer was always the same—Grimm wasn’t going to help them form a professional soccer team. As I walked back toward Grimm’s office I heard yelling through the door, and Evangeline answering.
    I barged into his office without bothering to knock. “You’re gonna want to kiss me, Grimm.” I took a lot of comfort in the knowledge that he couldn’t.
    â€œYou!” he shouted, so loud a crack appeared along the edge of the mirror. “How in Kingdom did this happen?”
    â€œLook, I don’t care what Billy told you, I wasn’t going to leave them. And I don’t know really. I think the wolves snatched him like normal, but how’d they get ahold of a fae child in the first place?”
    Evangeline looked at me and shook her head, trying to warn me of something while Grimm disappeared. When he returned, he looked confused. It’s not a look I’d often seen on him. He set his face like stone. “Tell me how this happened.”
    â€œThe wolves didn’t want to bargain, and I couldn’t just—” I stopped.
    Grimm’s jaw was set and he glared at me, while Evangeline kept her eyes on the floor. He wasn’t talking about the wolves. “Grimm, what’s going on?”
    When he spoke his voice was cold and calm. It was the same tone he used to order a nest of poodles destroyed. “Marissa, I’m afraid you are the only one with the answers, but I promise you won’t leave my office until I have them as well. Do you know who I got a call from today?”
    An idea lit up my heart for a moment. Had Liam been so sad and desperate to find me that he’d managed to call the Fairy Godfather? “I didn’t give Liam our number. The only number he has doesn’t work anymore.” It didn’t as long as I kept the phone off.
    Grimm’s face remained unchanged, like a statue. “I got a call from the prince’s family. They are old royalty, my dear, and they understand the practical matters of my Agency.”
    Translation—they knew damn well how we worked, and still let us get the job done. Grimm had probably gotten their permission before attempting the setup.
    â€œHe’ll give up on me, I’m sure,” I said, but secretly a hope had woken inside me that he hadn’t. Maybe he had refused Ari, pining for me. The hair on my neck stood up as I wondered what exactly Grimm would do if that happened.
    â€œI don’t think we’re going to have a problem in that department,” said Grimm, his voice getting louder again. At this point they could probably hear him in the front office. Grimm shouted, “Seeing as how he’s never even met you.” Another crack ran sideways down the mirror, splitting him in two.
    My head spun for a moment while I tried to work it out. “He what?”
    â€œIt seems he’s not upset you broke his heart. He’s not swept off his feet by your charms. He had a lovely stroll on the pier and bought two paintings and was back at