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I couldn’t imagine what profit there would be in anything I had to do, but if thinking there might be some got Mulan on board with my plans... so be it. “If there is profit, we will split it four ways.”

Mulan shook her head firmly. “Rasmus only get victim share of ten percent—no more.”

I badly wanted to laugh again but didn’t dare. The Wu Shaman took money too seriously. “Fine. Rasmus only gets a victim share. We will split the other ninety percent between the remaining three of us.”

Mulan sent her dark hair swinging as she shook her head. “No, I should get fifty percent of ninety because high demon is my client and you come to me for help. I am most valuable person in our temporary partnership.”

I crossed my arms, fought my mouth twitching in amusement, and glared back at her. “Do I look like I just got off the fecking boat from Ireland yesterday? Ya’ll not be getting me to give ya a fifty percent share, Mulan. Ya’ll take yer thirty percent of the remaining ninety and that’s final.”

Mulan held up her hands. “Fine, witch. You win this one. We will split our profit in thirds.”

“UnlessI have to recruit other magickals to help me,” I added just to annoy her.

“Do not twist your panties. I will be all help you need,” she assured me, and stuck out her hand.

I smiled back and nodded as I shook with her.

Mulan thought I was smiling was over the deal we’d just cut. What I was really smiling about was that I’d spent ten minutes standing on the street bargaining with a money-grubbing Wu Shaman over some imaginary profit that didn’t exist.

“This needs to get done right away. Can ya help me today?” I asked at the end of our handshake.

“After last client—maybe mid-afternoon I help.”

“That would fine. I have to go prepare, which takes several hours. We plan to follow some leads early this evening. Conn and I typically find it best to deal with demons in the early evening. Like us, they all have day jobs. Ya have to catch them after work.”

She motioned me to follow her back inside and got me a card from beneath the welcome counter. She wrote a number on the back. “Text me address of where to meet you.”

“Thanks. Conn or I will be in touch.”

ChapterTwenty-One

Icouldn’t stop staring. Neither could Rasmus or Conn. Mulan’s appearance had rendered all of us mute.

Her dark hair gleamed and her makeup cleverly kept yer attention focused on her red lips and lined eyes. The short red dress she wore ended several inches up her slender thighs and had cutouts in several other clever places, all of which indicated she wore nothing at all beneath the dress because there wasn’t room for more clothing.

I looked absolutely ragged standing next to her in my snug jeans, white blouse, and denim jacket. The heeled boots Fiona gave me were my one saving grace. I wore no makeup at all because I had yet to purchase any. And worst of all, I’d pinned my mostly gray hair behind my head with a simple clip because I was too lazy to fix it. After frowning at it, Mulan never spared my hair or me another glance.

Every time Mulan smiled tonight, she aimed the full brilliance of her red lips and white teeth only in Conn’s direction. Her efforts to hold his attention exceeded all my expectations. Conn couldn’t look away from her.

We were all standing on the street waiting for him to tell us which way to go. I think Conn was still too stunned by Mulan to speak.

When she got tired of waiting on him, Mulan turned and narrowed her eyes. “This way,” she said, heading off in that direction.

Conn followed her swinging hips without uttering a single word of protest.

I rolled my eyes at his weakness and glanced at Rasmus who was rubbing his mid-section. A memory of his abs rolled through my mind, but I pushed it away. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Her presence makes my stomach hurt. It also makes me want to run away.”

I smiled and took his arm to make him walk with me. I didn’t want to lose sight of Mulan and Conn. “I think Conn has a similar reaction to Mulan.”

“Yeah, but he chased right after her.”

I smirked. “I thought all men loved the thrill of the chase.”

“No man in his right mind would chase that woman. The Wu Shaman is dangerous.”

“So am I,” I reminded him.