Tales of the Otherworld Read Online Free PDF

are in Los Angeles, as I’m sure you know. If I could persuade you to relocate there temporarily, that would be ideal. It’s not required, though. I have monthly meetings at our office here. We could schedule our lessons then. I’ll ask, though, that wemeet in a hotel. If we are seen, it’ll be presumed I’m having an affair, which no one will question.”
    My gaze dropped to his hand.
    “I’m not married,” he said. “Nor am I in a relationship. I meant affair in the broadest definition of the word. Now, if that is acceptable, we should discuss terms.”
    I shook my head and stood. “Not interested. Sorry. I appreciate that you considered me. I’m grateful for the offer. Blah-blah-blah. But no.”
    “And your objection is?”
    “Everything.”
    I headed for the door. When he didn’t follow, I went back to see him looking out the window as he tucked his pager back into his pocket, having presumably called for his car.
    “Yes, the view sucks,” I said. “If you’re going to point out that my apartment is a shitty hole, I already know that. If you’re going to suggest that I could afford better with your offer, don’t bother. I like where I am and I don’t want an upgrade—not in apartments, not in clientele. I already tried that, and I learned my lesson.”
    “I’m not Terrance Foley, Ms. Levine.”
    “No, you’re a whole other level of scary. Now, if you’ll excuse me …”
    “Will you walk me down?”
    “Elevator on the left. Door straight down the hall.”
    He turned that icy gaze on me and, to my shame, I felt my gut chill under it. As much as I wanted to tell him to go to hell, I didn’t dare.
    “Fine,” I said. “I’ll walk you out.”
    When we stepped from the building, there was indeed a car waiting. For me, not him. Foley’s goons sat in their idling Lincoln.
    I stopped dead, then backed up into the shadows of the doorway.
    “You son of a bitch,” I said.
    His brows lifted. He didn’t hear that one a lot, I suppose. Not to his face anyway.
    “Is this a threat?” I said.
    “Of course not. I merely asked you to walk me down—”
    “Because you saw them waiting. You’re telling me I’d better agree toyour terms or they won’t be the worst of my problems. Or maybe they will. Turn you down and you’ll turn me over.” I glowered up at him. “I dealt with you fairly. You brought me an offer. I refused it politely and respectfully.”
    “You did. And I’m asking you to reconsider.”
    “Go to hell, Nast. I—”
    “I’m not threatening you, Ms. Levine. I’m simply pointing out that this isn’t a one-way deal. Yes, you can help me, but I believe I can help you as well.” He glanced at the goons, who’d turned to gape at us through the tinted glass. “Would you like me to take care of this problem for you?”
    “No.”
    Another brow arch. “I think you would. In fact, I think you’d like it very much.”
    “And, in return, I’d owe you. I may be young, but I’m not an idiot. I’m not about to get into anyone’s debt, especially yours.”
    I walked back into the building.
    I packed my bags and moved out that night. In this life, you learn to rent only furnished apartments. And you learn to budget for the occasional forfeit of that “last month’s rent” paid in advance.
    I checked into a hotel. A decent Holiday Inn. I’d earned enough from my deal with Foley to afford it, even if he hadn’t paid full price. A bigger move—straight out of the state—was a definite possibility, but a last resort. I still had a few irons in the fire in Chicago, not to mention that very sweet teaching gig with the suburban witchlings.
    I woke up at eight to my pager beeping. Two calls. One was from the Coven leader, Ruth Winterbourne. The other was John Weiss, a necromancer I’d done a job with a few weeks ago. I walked a block to a pay phone before calling Weiss back.
    “Eve. I got you. Good.” He sounded out of breath.
    “What’s up?”
    “I owe you