Free Make Me by Parker Blue

exclaimed.
    Austin made an abortive movement, like he wanted to grab me but restrained himself. “Val, please, you must help us. She’s right—you and Fang are very good at this sort of thing.”
    Fang nudged me with his nose. HE’S GOT YOU THERE.
    Alejandro gazed at me sternly. “The contract states that you agree to help us reveal ourselves. We won’t be able to do that until the menace is abated. Surely, you see that this is related, an integral part of our agreement.”
    Exactly what I thought he’d say. “That’s open to interpretation. Shall we have our lawyers get together and discuss it?”
    “Val—” Austin began to protest, but I cut him off.
    “Never mind. Tell you what—I’ll make you a deal. If I find this so-called chupacabra for you and kill it, you terminate the contract.”
    OH, GOOD PLAY.
    Alejandro frowned. “I may need your services in the future, too.”
    I shrugged. “And if you ask real nice and don’t treat me like a filthy assassin, I might even say yes.”
    PLUS THE MONEY, Fang said. DON’T FORGET THE MONEY.
    Don’t worry, I won’t.
    Alejandro regarded me gravely for a moment, and I could see Lisette and Austin urging him silently to take the deal. “Very well,” he said reluctantly. “You have my word.”
    “Good.” I turned to Lisette. “And if the chupacabra happens to be one of your people? Do you still want me to kill it?”
    She looked uncertain for the first time since I’d met her. “I am not comfortable with you making that choice. You will take the boys with you—”
    “No way. I work alone or not at all.”
    She bristled, and Austin said, “Maybe a compromise?” When we both turned to face him, he added, “You’ve worked with a partner before, Val, so how about you take me on? You know how well we spar together.”
    He gave me one of those raised eyebrow looks, and I knew he was reminding me that my powers were gone and that I could use someone with his speed and strength. Dang it, he was right, too. But I still hesitated, not wanting to give in too soon.
    “I would consider it a personal favor,” Austin said softly, almost formally.
    Several sharp intakes of breath alerted me to the fact that something significant had just happened. Unfortunately, I had no idea what it was. From the puzzled expression on his face, Jack didn’t seem to have a clue, either.
    I THINK IT MEANS AUSTIN OWES YOU A FAVOR IN RETURN, Fang said.
    Okay, having Austin owe me a favor couldn’t be a bad thing. “All right then, you have a deal. I’ll even throw in tracking down your missing vamps for free.” After all, if it was the last thing I was forced to do for Alejandro, it was worth it.

Chapter Seven
     
    Once I made my promise, Lisette seemed to have no more use for me. We retrieved our luggage from the cars and the Tweedles showed us to our rooms. Alejandro, Austin and Vincent got sumptuous guest suites right below the penthouse, while Jack and I were given adjoining rooms on a lower level apparently reserved for us second-class citizens who didn’t suck blood.
    Fine with me. Though it resembled a bland beige hotel room, it had a bed, bath and desk, which was all I needed. While Fang nosed around, investigating the space, I called Shade.
    He answered, but all I could hear was loud music. “Hold on,” he yelled. Soon, I heard a door close and the noise became muffled. “So, you made it all right?”
    “Just fine. How about you? Find the Underground okay?”
    “Sure. It’s on Sixth Street.”
    My eyebrows rose. No wonder the music was so loud. I’d heard Sixth Street was party central for the college students. “In a bar?”
    “Yeah. It’s called Club Purgatory, too. Kind of like a Demon Underground franchise across Texas, I guess.”
    Weird.
    “Where are you staying?” he asked.
    “I’m not sure. Somewhere downtown. Probably not too far from you.”
    “So, Alejandro have you working hard?”
    “Kind of.” I filled him in on the chupacabra thing.