Page 7 of Wicked Little Tricks

I lifted my head to look at him. “She’s not dead. My mother is far too cunning to be dead.”No, I thought.She knew I was looking for her. She probably even knew I was paying Monroe. She was just staying one step ahead of him.

I had sensed her one time in the city. I caught only a glimpse of her, but I knew with deep surety that the woman disappearing around the street corner had been her. I’d felt it in my chest. She hadn’t stayed around toteach me much about my magic, but I’d understood something new about myself in that moment. If my mother was near, I’d be able to tell.

And she hadn’t come near again. I needed someone to help me find her. At least to point me in the right direction.

I had hoped an investigator could learn things I couldn’t, but thus far, I’d been wrong.

Monroe smoothed his knobby fingers across the desk. “Same time next month?”

I nodded, then stood. It was always the same. I knew paying Monroe was probably worthless, but he wasn’t the only one on the case. He was just the one that had been on the case the longest. One day, one of them would come through. Then I would get what my mother owed me.

“You should let it go.”

I looked down at him, giving him a bitter smile. “A girl needs her mother, Monroe.“

It wasn’t true, and he knew it. Motherly love was the last thing I was after. That was a dream I had given up on a very long time ago.

I rolledmy stiff shoulders as I stepped out onto the street. The smell of coffee and the bustle of traffic enveloped me. It was chaotic, but the good kind of chaotic. Warm and familiar.

Sensing someone standing too close, I turned, then bit back a curse. “You’re still following me? Don’t you have better things to do?”

The devil smiled. People stepped around us, but only really seemed to look at me, as if something forced their eyes away from his handsome face. It was like I was the only one who knew there was a six foot tall devil standing in the middle of the sidewalk. Maybe I was.

“You know, I can find whoever you’re looking for.“

I glared at him. “How do you know I’m looking for someone?“

He glanced over his shoulder at the rickety sign overhead.David Monroe, PI.

“Maybe I’m just keeping an eye on a cheating ex.”

He gave me a lascivious look. “Someone would cheat onyou? Perish the thought.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. Or was it just a hint of fire?

“It’s none of your business.”

He crossed his arms casually. “You’re wasting your money on these foolish mortals. I could find your quarry in the blink of an eye.“ He spoke casually, but he was looking at me a little too intensely.

“Let me guess, all I have to do in return is give you my soul?”

“No, all you have to do is collect my debt. It’s a simple task, and you can have exactly what you want.”

I almost considered it. He was offering me something much more valuable than cash. ButI knew better. With devils, things were never what they seemed. There was some trick in his words I wasn’t catching on to.

“Collect it yourself.” I turned and walked away.

My shoulder blades itched with the feel of his eyes on me as I forced myself to keep an even pace through the crosswalk. I dared a glance back once I was on the other side, but he was nowhere to be seen.

He would have needed to run to get out of sight so quickly, or maybe he just disappeared into thin air. Or maybe it had all been a horrible fever dream. It felt surreal enough for that to be the case. There was no reason for a devil to be haunting my steps.

At least, no reason I was aware of.

4

I walked homewith bags of takeout dangling from both of my hands. The smell of hot noodles and tangy sauce had my mouth watering, though only about a quarter of the food was for me. Sometimes having a werewolf roommate was expensive, but you couldn’t beat the bodyguard factor.

Braxton was higher up in his pack. Few people messed with him, and those who did usually regretted it.

I stopped abruptly with my apartment in view. The sun was beginning to set, but the white wings of the two angelics were clear. They weren’t keeping them hidden this time, maybe because they enjoyed how people moved to the other side of the street to pass them.