Detective.” Iliona chimed in. “And not all of them are comfortable giving their full names if, indeed, they have more than one.”
“They’d have to have a surname if they went through the education system, or if you’re employing them.” Confusion flowed over Hammond’s features as he did that little trouser hitch the experienced suit-wearer adopted to stop their pants creasing and sat down. Baron slumped into the chair next to Duke, not caring if his well-worn jeans got creased or not.
Boss-lady smiled from the other side of the desk, her hands folded over the file in front of her. The expression didn’t reach her eyes, and the scent rolling from her betrayed her irritation with the male. Not that he’d be able to pick that up with his dull senses.
“That would be true,” she replied. “If we paid them in money.”
Hammond blinked, looking between her and the two brothers. “No money? What do you pay them with then?”
“Cows.” Baron’s voice rang with relish as he picked up on the cue. “Live ones for us to roast. They taste better that way.”
“Oh…right.” Hammond’s skin had turned a strange shade of purple-green. Baron wasn’t sure if he was about to be sick or explode in rage. “Uhm, as long as you slaughter them humanely in accordance with city laws.”
“Of course.” Baron’s nodding was echoed by his brother, the movement visible in the corner of his eye. “All by the book.”
Yeah, right. If Hammond was dumb enough to believe that, he’d believe anything. Ignoring the human, Baron transferred his attention back to Iliona.
“You wanted to see us about something, boss-lady?”
“Indeed.” She flipped open the file in front of her. “I have a job for you. If you’re interested.”
Both brothers were all attention. Until now they’d worked in a team with others, so for Iliona to call them in on their own was a big thing, especially considering Duke’s choice in snacks.
“Yeah, we’re interested.” Duke ground out, surprising Baron. His brother didn’t like to speak, leaving all the talking to his brother instead, so for him to say something showed just how eager he was for the two of them to get their own gig. Not that they didn’t like working in a team with the rest of the guys. They couldn’t wish for a better team leader than Zane. A were himself, he was more than aware of the pros and cons of their nature. Even if he was a wolf rather than a dragon, he was good people as far as the brothers were concerned. At the very least, Duke hadn’t tried to rip Zane’s head off yet, which was a positive declaration of ever-lasting friendship as far as the grumpy dragon was concerned.
“Excellent.” Iliona didn’t bat an eyelid at Duke speaking. “It’s a protection detail, but with a twist….”
Baron sank down in his chair at that. Close protection could be fun, but it could also be an utter pain in the ass if the primary was a fucking idiot. Most were. Man or woman, he didn’t care which, both genders were just as bad for diva-ish behavior.
She slid a photo across the table to them. Duke picked it up first, whistling in the back of his throat in appreciation, the high note one only Baron could hear, before handing it across. He took it from his brother and looked, his eyes widening. The image was covert surveillance, somewhat grainy but the subject was clear. A brunette in a wrap dress just getting out of a limo. The photographer had caught her mid-movement, the pose highlighting the length of one curvy leg as her skirt rode high on her thigh, and the bodice of the dress pulled across a rack to make any guy’s mouth water. Large Jackie-O style sunglasses covered her face, concealing her age, but poise and sophistication wrapped around her like a second skin. The sort of confidence a woman didn’t attain until she was at least thirty. He huffed. Socialite born and bred. Probably a diva to boot.
“So what’s the catch?” He handed the photo back to
“They’d have to have a surname if they went through the education system, or if you’re employing them.” Confusion flowed over Hammond’s features as he did that little trouser hitch the experienced suit-wearer adopted to stop their pants creasing and sat down. Baron slumped into the chair next to Duke, not caring if his well-worn jeans got creased or not.
Boss-lady smiled from the other side of the desk, her hands folded over the file in front of her. The expression didn’t reach her eyes, and the scent rolling from her betrayed her irritation with the male. Not that he’d be able to pick that up with his dull senses.
“That would be true,” she replied. “If we paid them in money.”
Hammond blinked, looking between her and the two brothers. “No money? What do you pay them with then?”
“Cows.” Baron’s voice rang with relish as he picked up on the cue. “Live ones for us to roast. They taste better that way.”
“Oh…right.” Hammond’s skin had turned a strange shade of purple-green. Baron wasn’t sure if he was about to be sick or explode in rage. “Uhm, as long as you slaughter them humanely in accordance with city laws.”
“Of course.” Baron’s nodding was echoed by his brother, the movement visible in the corner of his eye. “All by the book.”
Yeah, right. If Hammond was dumb enough to believe that, he’d believe anything. Ignoring the human, Baron transferred his attention back to Iliona.
“You wanted to see us about something, boss-lady?”
“Indeed.” She flipped open the file in front of her. “I have a job for you. If you’re interested.”
Both brothers were all attention. Until now they’d worked in a team with others, so for Iliona to call them in on their own was a big thing, especially considering Duke’s choice in snacks.
“Yeah, we’re interested.” Duke ground out, surprising Baron. His brother didn’t like to speak, leaving all the talking to his brother instead, so for him to say something showed just how eager he was for the two of them to get their own gig. Not that they didn’t like working in a team with the rest of the guys. They couldn’t wish for a better team leader than Zane. A were himself, he was more than aware of the pros and cons of their nature. Even if he was a wolf rather than a dragon, he was good people as far as the brothers were concerned. At the very least, Duke hadn’t tried to rip Zane’s head off yet, which was a positive declaration of ever-lasting friendship as far as the grumpy dragon was concerned.
“Excellent.” Iliona didn’t bat an eyelid at Duke speaking. “It’s a protection detail, but with a twist….”
Baron sank down in his chair at that. Close protection could be fun, but it could also be an utter pain in the ass if the primary was a fucking idiot. Most were. Man or woman, he didn’t care which, both genders were just as bad for diva-ish behavior.
She slid a photo across the table to them. Duke picked it up first, whistling in the back of his throat in appreciation, the high note one only Baron could hear, before handing it across. He took it from his brother and looked, his eyes widening. The image was covert surveillance, somewhat grainy but the subject was clear. A brunette in a wrap dress just getting out of a limo. The photographer had caught her mid-movement, the pose highlighting the length of one curvy leg as her skirt rode high on her thigh, and the bodice of the dress pulled across a rack to make any guy’s mouth water. Large Jackie-O style sunglasses covered her face, concealing her age, but poise and sophistication wrapped around her like a second skin. The sort of confidence a woman didn’t attain until she was at least thirty. He huffed. Socialite born and bred. Probably a diva to boot.
“So what’s the catch?” He handed the photo back to
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