Page 22 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal (Kennedy Rain #4)

By the time I made it to The Rain’s parking lot, I was ten times as pissed.

I still felt the warmth of his breath on my neck.

My skin still felt the shiver his words sent through me.

He’d known what he was doing. I knew what he was doing, but my body reacted despite all the logic and sense I threw at it.

The only thing more annoying was the squeak of the windshield wipers and the screwdriver sticking into a hole in the side of the steering wheel mount.

Easing my foot off the gas pedal, I scanned the parking lot and let the truck creep forward.

Vehicles were scarce since our small number of guests had left last week.

I’d allowed the werewolves who had signed my tent list to stay at The Rain.

I’d booted the others from the makeshift camp they’d set.

That had been the first time guests had stayed since my parents’ murders, and it had been my first attempt to wrestle control away from Lehr and Arcuro.

I scrutinized the shadows and the spaces between the vehicles. Despite Blake’s advice to park inside the Null, I wasn’t doing it, especially with this rain. Knowing my luck, the truck would have dug ruts into the grass and gotten stuck, becoming a permanent fixture on our front lawn.

I should be totally fine for a short sprint from the parking lot to the front porch, but I couldn’t quite shake off the paranoia warning me that Canyon could pop out of any shadow.

It didn’t hurt to be extra vigilant anyway, so I unfastened my seat belt and opened my door, prepared to jump out before the truck came to a full stop.

As soon as it did, I shifted into park, yanked the key from the ignition, then ran, all the while scanning my surroundings for potential hiding spots or ambushes.

Maybe that was why I didn’t notice anything off about The Rain. I was too focused on what might happen outside The Rain’s walls to notice what was missing within them.

It wasn’t until after I shouldered open the tall oak door, slipped inside, and closed it behind me that I realized just how damn dark the lobby was.

Alarm tickled the hair on the back of my neck, then scurried down my spine. Slowly, cautiously, I turned away from the door to take in the room.

The storm made it as dark as night in here.

I might not have been able to see anything if candlelight didn’t flicker from the wraparound bar to my right.

The lobby itself appeared empty, but four people were in the restaurant, one standing behind the bar and three sitting in front of it on stools.

Sullens occupied the nearest stool, and the way he rotated toward me said this situation was one hundred percent my fault.

My mind rewound through the past few days, trying to recall what I’d screwed up when it eventually landed on the past due notice that had arrived last week.

“Ms. Rain,” Sullens said.

I strode toward him. “I had sixty days!”

“From the first notice.” He slid a file toward me when I reached the bar.

I focused on Garion first, meeting and holding his gaze for several seconds. His face hovered between grim silence and his normal, reserved expression. I gave him the briefest smile to indicate everything was okay, something he probably didn’t believe, then I turned my attention to the folder.

I flipped it open. It contained all the recent bills, but the electric bill, stamped Past Due in bright red ink, sat on top. I scanned it, found what I was looking for, then jabbed my fingers at the bolded letters that said 60 Days. “See?”

Sullens sighed. He took my hand and moved it down the page so that I was now pointing at the next line. It read from the date of the first notice, which was now over sixty days ago.

“That’s deliberately misleading,” I said.

Sullens released my hand. “You’ve had four notices.”

And multiple crises and near-death experiences. This was so frustrating. “I’ve been doing my best to figure all this out, and look. It’s addressed to my parents still. Shouldn’t I get some kind of bereavement extension?”

Sullens’s expression didn’t change. “They require a cashier’s check for the total past due amount plus interest. You are to deliver payment in person to their billing department.”

Past due plus interest? The rest of the income from Nora’s wedding had gone to automatic payments and supply orders.

I’d just thought the important things were taken care of.

Maybe if my life hadn’t been so chaotic, I would have focused more on the finances, but I’d honestly thought the past due notice would take care of itself when I deposited Nora’s briefcase of cash.

How was I supposed to know the electricity bill wasn’t autopaid like the rest?

I slid onto a stool and then dropped my forehead to the bar. I’d thought I was starting to gain control or at least an understanding of the business side of running The Rain. Apparently I was freaking wrong.

Damn it, how soon could I get guests in the front door?

I was requiring them to pay me directly instead of giving the “tributes” to Lehr and Arcuro.

Historically, the two paranorms would forward the cash to my parents, after taking their huge cuts, of course.

My new procedure meant I’d get all the booking fees as soon as I could get guests in the door.

If I didn’t get things rolling soon though, I’d have to take out a loan to survive the next few months, and I was pretty certain I wouldn’t qualify.

Again, Sullens sighed. “Call the company. Tell them about your parents’ deaths and that you’ve recently taken ownership. Perhaps they’ll give you more time.”

Forehead still pressed against the bar, I nodded.

“The staff is on the terrace cooking the perishables,” he continued. “We’ve kept the freezers shut to maintain temperature as long as possible, but they’re old. Everything will likely be defrosted by morning.”

I nodded again.

“You are doing better than when you first arrived.”

That wasn’t saying much at all, but I did appreciate the attempt at encouragement.

I heard him slide off his barstool along with the other two staff members. Their footsteps indicated they were leaving, probably going outside to eat something before I starved everyone. I was such a shitty business owner.

I made myself draw in a deep breath, then I lifted my head and swiveled toward the departing paranorms.

“Sullens,” I called. He was only a few paces away.

He stopped and turned, his eyebrows lifting in a Yes?

“I need…” I stopped, grabbed the folder, then hopped off the barstool to walk to him.

“Would you take over billing and finance? Most of it at least? You know how to run The Rain better than I do, and you’re organized.

I keep thinking I’m getting a handle on things, but I’m…

a mess, and I can’t afford to continue screwing things up. ”

“You’ve had a difficult time,” he said after a moment. “Of course I will help.”

He took the folder from my hand. “I meant what I said. You are doing better.”

I gave him a weak smile.

After he left, I returned to the bar. To Garion. He stood on the other side of the lit candle. The small flame flickered shadows across his face.

“Everything’s fine,” I said.

“Did you meet him?” he asked.

“No. I left because there was a problem at the compound. That’s fine now too.”

His head tilted slightly. “Your definition of fine doesn’t match anyone else’s, paranorm or no.”

I made a sour face. “Then let’s say there are no impending disasters. At least for the next five minutes.”

He smiled. “Sounds more accurate. Drink?”

“Yes, please.”

He nodded, then grabbed a glass and a couple of bottles.

I watched him make his concoction. “We might have some options.”

He grunted.

“Jared is set on killing him, of course,” I continued.

“He thinks that’s the only way to resolve this.

I think it’s a good way to make more enemies.

” I waited for a response. He gave none.

“I thought of something else that might work.” I lowered my voice despite having the restaurant to ourselves now.

“Astrid has been studying the treaty. The spell that created the Null is woven into it.” Garion’s gaze shot my direction.

“She might be able to replicate it on a small scale. If she can, she could use it on the token.”

I let him think about that, about the risks and the possibilities. It was his life on the line, his choice to make. If he wanted to try it, I’d support him. If he didn’t want to? Then I would figure something else out.

Brows lowered, he finished making my drink in silence, then set it on the bar in front of me. “You mentioned this to Jared?”

“Christian’s talking to him now.” I needed to grab my phone from my living room. He might have already called with an update.

“I doubt it will work,” he said.

“It probably won’t.” I took a sip of my drink, a subtly sweet mix of berries, seltzer, and alcohol. “But there is a chance.”

I didn’t think he was going to go for it.

Was it wrong that I felt slightly relieved when the only other option was to let Jared kill Canyon?

What I wished I could do was to talk to Canyon, either make a new bargain or figure out why he wanted a djinn in the first place.

And, assuming Garion wasn’t the only djinn living in secret, why Canyon wanted him specifically.

I frowned. I especially wanted to learn the latter because Garion said his magic was cursed. Did Canyon not know that?

“Canyon knew who and what you are,” I said. “Would he know your magic is cursed?”

His brow furrowed. “He also knew where to find me. I would assume he’d know the consequences of using my token.”

“Are you sure you’re cursed?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe you were but you aren’t anymore? The Null could have… nulled it.”

He shook his head. “Sara and Derrick are dead because of it.”

“You said they wanted me to be free from The Rain. Since I’m not, maybe your magic just doesn’t work at all now.”

“I feel the imbalance.”