Read Online Never Again by Michele Bardsley - Free Book Online

to sputter, her arms waving. “You can’t! You’ll ruin me! I demand a lawyer!”
    “If you do not wish to abide by Dragon law,” said Gray evenly, “then do not live in a Dragon town.” He turned to the patrons still sitting at their seats and staring at him. “The café is closed. Leave. ” Everyone knew a Guardian command when they heard it. They scrambled from their seats, nearly trampling one another to get out of the café.
    “Wait!” screamed Cathleen. “Y’all still gotta pay! Wait! ”
    No one paid attention to the screeching purple-faced woman. Her fury hit Gray’s shields like hot grease, sizzling and popping. Gray was too strong a wizard and Cathleen too much a mundane for her emotions to affect him magically, but he was still amazed by the strength of her hatred. It almost had its own heartbeat.
    Soon, everyone was gone, except the overworked short-order cook. Josie Gomez ambled out of the kitchen holding her big red purse under her arm. Gray had gone to school with her. She’d been a sophomore when he was a senior, worked hard not only in her classes but on her family farm. She was one of three girls, with two much younger sisters, and she was also one of the few kids who never talked about getting out of Nevermore. She liked her family, the town, and her life, in general. She was short and curvy, her caramel skin radiant, even though she’d just spent hours in a hot kitchen. Her black hair was twisted into a long braid.
    “Gray,” she said. “It’s good to see you.”
    “Don’t you talk to him,” screeched Cathleen. “He’s shut down my business. And I ain’t paying you, neither. You don’t work, you don’t get paid. I don’t care how sick your daddy is.”
    Fire erupted from Gray’s fingertips. Josie’s eyebrows went up. “I understand the feeling,” she said. “But she’s not worth it.”
    It was an effort to put out the flames. His anger was almost tangible.
    Josie turned to Cathleen. “I’ve put up with a year’s worth of bullshit from you. You’re a bitter, mean woman with a shriveled soul. You’re going to die alone, Cathleen. And no one will ever mourn you.”
    Cathleen sucked in a shocked breath, her chubby little body quivering with fury. “How dare you!”
    “How dare you !” said Josie. “I quit.”
    Cathleen huffed in outrage and crossed her arms, apparently thinking about what kind of meanness she could do next. Or maybe she was grappling with the idea of losing the only cook willing to work for her sorry ass.
    Gray touched Josie’s shoulder. “Angel’s sick?”
    “Cancer. He’s getting treatments. We have hope.” She gave him a quick hug. “Drop by if you can. He’d love to see you.”
    Gray felt another pang of guilt. He sucked as Guardian. Big-time. He nodded to Josie, and then watched her leave. Fury boiling, he turned toward Cathleen. She was still reeling from Josie’s exit speech, but he didn’t give a ripe shit.
    “I’ll return in forty-eight hours to complete the inspection,” he said. “If even the teeniest tiniest thing is out of place, if you’re within a hair’s violation of any city code or Dragon law, I’ll close the café permanently.”
    “You wouldn’t,” she sneered. “This is the only place in town to eat. It’s been here since the beginning. People’ll get mad if you do something stupid, Guardian.”
    Gray leaned over the counter and captured her gaze. “I will close the café,” he repeated, “and then I will ban you.”
    Something like fear slithered across her expression, but Gray got the odd feeling it wasn’t because of him.
    “Fine,” she spit out.
    He left the items he’d purchased on the counter. Thinking about eating anything made in this joint turned his stomach. As he turned to go, Cathleen hissed, “Now that you’re done botherin’ decent folks, you gonna do something about that Rackmore bitch?”
    “I am the Guardian,” he said in low, steely voice. “I suggest you remember that I am