Page 6 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter (Quirk of Fate #5)

“My crew knows the rules. They do know better than to hang around here.” Grok shrugged. “Mistakes happen. It’s not easy getting good help these days.”

Malik waited him out. It’s not like he wanted to have a conversation with the man. Grok wasn’t good with silences.

“My boys said they’d tracked that guy for six blocks. It was just an unfortunate coincidence he ended up here.”

Malik glared, his anger growing as his rhino rumbled.

He did not like the idea of Tynan being hunted.

“I didn’t know the victim, but I’d hazard a guess he ended up here because I’m the only one who leaves a light on at night.

You know, if there were working streetlights, he wouldn’t have had that problem. ”

“A lot of my men are shy. They like the shadows when they’re working at night.”

“Your guys were told to keep their work activities away from my territory.” Malik stepped into Grok’s personal space.

“I don’t tell you what to do or how to run your men or anything else.

It’s none of my business, and I prefer it that way.

Provided you keep your business away from my doors, then I’ve got no beef with you.

But I have got camera footage of your men deliberately attacking an innocent guy. ”

“He can’t have been innocent if he was walking around here.” Grok laughed nervously.

“Yeah. About that.” Malik’s voice dropped into a warning growl. “Funny how he ended up here because of a note, handed to him in a bar, telling him to come here. A note poorly scribbled and signed with a G. Would you happen to know anything about that, Grok?”

Grok looked up as Malik loomed over him, his Adam’s apple bouncing as he swallowed hard. “I can’t think what or who that might have been,” he said.

Malik sneered as the scent of Grok’s lies hit his nose.

“Okay, you know, sometimes people who ask too many questions need to be put in their place. Surely you can understand that.”

“Actually, no,” Malik said. “If somebody asks questions and you don’t want to answer them, particularly if it’s got nothing to do with you, then you just don’t say anything at all. He was lured here so your men could attack him. Why? Did you think he had a lot of money?”

Grok shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “It’s not like that.” He couldn’t meet Malik’s eyes, glancing up and down the busy street. “It was a joke. I was just messing with the guy. I didn’t know he was actually going to turn up.”

Bullshit. “It didn’t stop you from having your guys track him down like a damn animal and attack him. He told me he was working on a case. He’s trying to find a missing person. Did you have the information he was looking for?”

“No, damn it!” Grok kicked at a stone. “I don’t have anything to do with missing people, I’m not a poxy trafficker. You know that about me.”

Grok was telling the truth. He did a lot of things, but trafficking people was not his usual MO.

“I meant what I said. I was just messing with the guy. I was in a bar the night before last. He comes in, looking so buttoned up and out of place, wandering around in a long black coat like a private eye from those noir movies back in the fifties and sixties. I just wanted to shake him up a bit. He was pushy, being too cocky. It was clear someone was going to take a swipe at him at some point.”

“Cocky?” Malik sighed. Socially awkward maybe, but Malik could never imagine Tynan being cocky about anything… And no, that word isn’t an invitation. Malik resisted the urge to adjust his dick. “We had an agreement,” he said, holding out his hand. “Pay up.”

“This is an awful lot of fuss over someone you don’t know.”

“It’s about territory, Grok. You can respect that, can’t you?” Malik kept his hand outstretched, palm up.

After a long moment, Grok reached inside his jacket and slapped a bulky envelope on Malik’s palm. “I didn’t think you’d insist that I pay up.”

“If I started messing around with your business, you’d be the first one standing here demanding shit from me. Am I right?”

“Meh. Maybe.” Grok chuckled, his cheeks reddening. “I’ll go on record and say I’ve never met a hard ass like you before. You know, if you ever wanted to join up, we’d more than be happy to have you.”

“I’d rather cut my own heart out and eat it in front of you,” Malik said. “I’m just a mechanic doing my business with my clients in peace and quiet. I really don’t appreciate having my sleep disturbed by your assholes, or anyone else for that matter. Understood?”

“Yeah, we’re all good, man.” Grott nodded and strode down the pavement toward his car. “Hey, I think my engine’s got a knock in it. Did you want to look at it?” he yelled, opening the driver’s door.

“It’s also got a computer in it,” Malik said. “Find yourself another mechanic.” Waiting until Grok had driven off, Malik went back into the workshop, shaking his head at Ian, who was still in the office, doing a really bad job of not listening.

“There was stuff that went on here last night.” Ian’s eyes were wide. “How did the glitter get involved?”

“You don’t need details,” Malik said. “I said I don’t want shit around my business, and I don’t.

In the meantime…” He handed the cash-filled envelope to Ian.

Malik had no idea how much was in it, but as he didn’t want it, it didn’t matter.

“Give that to your mam. Tell her it’s a donation for the food pantry she works with.

Hopefully, it might help a couple of families get some groceries this week, eh? ”

Ian pulled out a wad of cash from the envelope, flicking over it with his thumb before hurriedly stuffing it back in and shoving the envelope in his front pocket.

“Yeah, that’s going to help a lot. She’s going to be thrilled.

But yeah, will you mind if I get a cab home tonight?

I don’t want to be mugged by the same people who gave this to you. ”

“You can knock off for the day now if you like. Call a cab, put it on my tab, and get yourself home. I’m sure your mam’s got chores you can do this afternoon.”

“I know she wants me digging over the back garden.” Ian was up out of his seat and cleaning up the empty take-out wrappers. “Are you sure you don’t need me this afternoon? We can put this in the till in the meantime.”

“No, I’ve got things handled. There’ll be plenty for you to do when you come in tomorrow.” Malik was happy for Ian to leave early. He had things Ian could be doing, but frankly, Malik wanted to be able to work in peace, daydreaming about his intriguing fae.

I’m gonna have to start tracking him down, he decided, as he arranged for a cab to get Ian home.

I’ll boot up the computer when I’ve finished work for the day and see what I can find under listings for PIs in town.

At least thinking that put his rhino in a better mood – something Malik was thankful for.

It could get damn tiring fighting the urge to shift all day.