Page 73 of A Touch of Treachery (Section 47 #3)
GAbrIEL
I ’d been leaning my shoulder against the alley wall, waiting outside in the cold and snow for hours, but I didn’t mind. Sometimes I thought that’s all life really was—waiting for stuff to happen so you could finally react to it and move forward.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
Joan was a good six inches shorter than me, but I still had to lengthen my steps to keep up with her quick, angry strides.
“Charlotte texted me about everything that happened today. Just wanted to make sure the deed was done and there was no blowback on her.”
Joan snorted. “For taking down Jethro Percy? The head of the board of directors? Please. We both know there’s going to be some serious blowback.
Especially since Evelyn had to out herself as Maestro, step in, and take charge.
Your friend Charlotte just put a giant target on all our backs, including yours, Mr. Chase. ”
“I’m not a cleaner anymore.”
Joan glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. “And yet you keep inserting yourself into Section business. Seems to me you just can’t quit meddling in things that aren’t supposed to concern you anymore.”
“Says the woman who calls herself Nemesis,” I countered. “Seems like someone else is a meddler too.”
Joan rolled her eyes, but she finally stopped walking and faced me. The snow was falling all around us now, and several flakes landed in her long black hair, making her look like an ice queen come to life.
“Is that what this is about?” she asked. “My being Nemesis?”
I slid my hands into my jacket pockets and shrugged. “You hid your tracks well, but I warned you Charlotte would figure it out. She always does. I’m just wondering why you picked me for your scheme.”
She shrugged right back at me. “Because you were already in Germany, and you’re Charlotte’s friend. I knew you wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to help her.”
“Just like you wouldn’t pass up a chance to get your revenge on Henrika? I know all about you and Graham Walker. The two of you weren’t nearly as discreet as you thought. All it took was a few phone calls to my old cleaner buddies, and I found out exactly how close the two of you were.”
Joan shrugged again, but the motion was sharper and quicker than before, as though she was annoyed that I’d discovered one of her secrets for a change. “So Graham and I were involved. So what? So are lots of cleaners and liaisons.”
“So why not reveal exactly who you were when you sent me to Tannenbaum Castle?”
“Because you didn’t need to know, and I didn’t feel like explaining myself to you,” she snapped. “Now, if there’s nothing else, it’s late, and I’m tired.”
“One more thing. You owe me a favor.”
Joan blinked at the sudden change in topic, and a couple of snowflakes clung to her long, dark lashes. “Excuse me?”
I stepped forward, towering over her, but she didn’t back away.
Then again, with her transmuter power, all she had to do was touch me, and she could freeze my entire body and turn me into the world’s biggest icicle.
Which I found far more appealing than I should have.
Then again, Section cleaners, even former ones, weren’t known for shying away from danger—they were more likely to run straight toward it.
“You summoned me to Germany, and I helped Charlotte and Desmond when you couldn’t, so now you owe me a favor in return.”
Joan rolled her eyes again. “Let me guess. You’re calling in your supposed favor right now?”
“Well, I do have some ideas for how you could make it up to me.”
My voice came out lower and huskier than I’d intended. Joan’s gaze snapped up to mine, and a rush of pink flooded her cheeks that had nothing to do with the cold. To my surprise, an answering spark of interest zinged through my own body.
Smart, strong, clever, capable, and utterly unattainable. Charlotte had been right back at the Glittertop Resort. Joan Samson was exactly the kind of woman I was attracted to, but something about her intrigued me more than most.
Joan’s pale blue gaze traced over my shoulders and down my chest. The pink in her cheeks intensified, sending more sparks through me. The liaison wasn’t nearly as disinterested as she pretended to be.
“You know I’m right,” I said. “And aren’t you all about doing the right thing?”
Joan let out an aggravated huff. “Fine. You win, Mr. Chase. You helped Charlotte and Desmond in Germany, so yes, I suppose I do owe you a favor in return. What do you want?”
“You.”
Her eyes widened in shock, although she quickly schooled her face into a neutral expression. “For what?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” I leaned down so my mouth was close to her ear. “But when I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
She shivered, and I found myself wanting to lean into her warmth. But I knew better than to get involved with anyone at Section 47. I’d made that mistake once, and I wasn’t about to make it again, so I forced myself to straighten up and step back.
I winked at her. “I’ll be in touch, Ms. Samson.”
“I will await your call with bated breath,” she drawled.
I tipped an imaginary hat to her, then spun around on my heel and strolled away, whistling all the while. I was going to call in the favor Joan Samson owed me sooner than she might think—and I was going to enjoy every single minute of it.