Read Online A Barrel of Whiskey - (An Urban Fantasy Whiskey Witches Novel) by SM Blooding - Free Book Online Page A

Gate is here.” She pointed at her chest.
    He leaned in closer. “Pay is doubled. Insurance is covered. And you get a car. Interested?”
    Dexx leaned in. “I am.”
    “We’ll discuss your pay later.”
    “Do I still get insurance?”
    “Yes.”
    “Car?”
    “No.”
    Dexx made a face. “Fine. I like mine better anyway.”
    Paige regarded Henry’s nose because she couldn’t look him in the eye this close. She didn’t need to be distracted. But they did need her help. “I’ll think about it. And in the meantime, we’ll review cases. See what information I can impart.”
    Henry paused, then stepped back and pointed to the group. “No more secrets. You hear me?” He left the room.
    Everyone stared at each other in awkward silence.
    Well. Time to meet the team. “Kick-Ass,” Paige called. “Name. Reason you’re here.”
    A frown flickered between Gomez’s dark brows as she glanced around to see who else Paige had referred to. “Michelle Gomez. Dryad, as you now know. Joined this unit because I’m trying to track down the djinn who are hunting my grove.”
    “What kind of grove?”
    “Ash.”
    “Whew.” Paige’s eyebrows shot up. “Ash, you say.” Ash was a wood her family used in certain spells to add power and additional clarity.
    Gomez raised her chin, her shoulders squared. “Yes.”
    “More’n just djinn would like to find you.”
    “You just said she was hunted by everyone,” Blondie said.
    “I was lying.” Paige perched against the edge of the nearest desk. “I wanted to give Henry a reason not to fire her. She’s the first dryad I’ve met, so I really don’t know much about her.”
    “We keep our presence low.” Gomez ducked her head embarrassed. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my grove.”
    There was no way Paige was getting between this fiercely faced woman-tree and her people. Nuh-uh. She held up her hands in surrender. “Blondie. You’re up.”
    “Blondie? Really? That’s so original.”
    “I didn’t say I was the most original. I said I’m a witch who could kill you instead of listening to you bitch, moan, whine, and complain.”
    Blondie ran her tongue along her teeth. “Andie King.” She glanced at Dexx. “I’m here because my sister was bitten by a shifter and turned. I haven’t seen her since, but she calls sometimes to tell me she’s doing okay.”
    “Was she bitten around here?” Dexx asked.
    King nodded, biting her lip.
    He shrugged. “We have to meet with them anyway,” he said in almost a whisper. “We could ask.”
    Paige nodded. “We should see if they’re going to let us live first,” she whispered back. She cleared her throat and said louder, “It’s likely she is doing fine.”
    “Being held against her will? Like in a cult?”
    “Don’t let your imagination get the better of you, Detective King. Shifters have to stay reclusive for a reason. It takes a while for them to gain control of their shift.”
    Dexx shifted beside her.
    She touched his arm lightly. “And it’s nice to be around people who aren’t going to judge you when you shift into an animal and then shift into a naked human being.”
    “Naked?” Gomez asked, her tone light, a slight smile on her lips as she looked at Dexx.
    “Quite,” he said, clasping his hands in front of him.
    Paige smiled at his discomfort. “Light Eyes. Go.”
    His shoulders twitched, but he stood up straight. “Detective Gary Parris. I, um, just—I saw something I couldn’t explain. A man murdered a woman. He was holding up a gas station. Didn’t know I was a cop. I drew on him. He shot her, then ran off. I chased him and then…he became a shadow and disappeared.”
    Shadow man. That was a new one. “Hmm. Interesting. And you?” She didn’t want to tell him what she’d called him in her mind. Mr. Frumpy wasn’t classy and it wasn’t a confidence booster. “Name and story.”
    “Paul Wrick. Detective Paul Wrick. Anyway, um, my girlfriend and I had been dating for a few