Iced
Page 63
I feel naked without my sword.
I feel exposed. Its throwing me all kinds of off balance like I dont even know who I am anymore without it.
When I blast into Ryodans office, Im going a million miles a minute, feet and mouth. Every one of his dudes scowls at me on the way in, even Lor, and I have no idea why. Guess Ryodan told them to be pissy to me or something. You never know whats coming next with him.
I blurt out what happened with the frozen car and Jayne and tell him how we have to go get my sword back like right now, like this very instant.
Drop down, kid, he says without raising his head from his stupid paperwork. Youre messing up my office. Papers are flying around his head.
I drop down from hypermode and he looks up. Hes looking at me weird. Takes me a sec to figure it out. Its like hes looking at a stranger. One he doesnt like and is thinking about killing. Why the feck is he mad at me?
You reek of Highlander. The whole club can smell him on you. Youre wearing his clothes.
I dont think Ive ever heard him talk so soft. Dude, who cares? Didnt you hear anything I said? Inspector Jayne took my sword!
Explain why youre wearing his clothes.
Softer still. If I wasnt so hot with temper Id get a chill. I dont understand him. What does what Im wearing have to do with anything thats actually, like, relevant? How could it possibly matter? I dont even understand why it registers! But I can tell by the look on his face hes not budging until I explain, and if I dont get my sword back soon, Im going to go crazy. I also know if I tell him Christian killed some woman and I was next, he wont pay any attention to the problem of my sword, hell go after Christian, when I need him to go after Jayne. Im not sure he can take Christian. Not with what hes turning into. But with my sword, I know I can.
The explosion cut up my clothes. He gave me some of his.
You were together at the explosion.
He found me after.
And you changed in the street.
Huh? Stymied is me. This isnt where I expect the conversation to go at all.
Elucidate upon where you changed.
What the feck does that have to do with anything?
Answer me.
I ducked into a convenience store. Thats why they call them that. So they can be, like, convenient.
His gaze shivers up and down me. If ice splinters tore up your clothes so badly that you needed to change, Id think your injuries would be greater.
I gape at him, baffled. Somebody took my sword and he wants to talk about what Im wearing and where I got dressed, and that he doesnt think I look hurt bad enough!
He healedme. I was bleeding a lot. Holy hurrying hurricane, howd you get next to me so fast? Ryodan isnt behind his desk anymore. Hes standing practically on my toes. I didnt even see him move. Or feel a breeze or anything! Give me some personal space!
He drops his head forward and smells me. Healed you how?
What is the deal with everyone sniffing me? If Dancer starts doing it, too, Im so out of here. I drank his blood. Got a problem with that?
Three.
Huh?
I have three problems with that.
That was a rhetorical question. Maybe you cant hear me talking or something so Ill say it again: Jayne has my fecking sword. Im in deep shit without it and need it back. You going to do something or not?
Just like that hes back behind his desk, head bent over his paperwork, all but ignoring me. No.
Im incredulous. What? Why? You know Ill go after it myself! Is that what you want?
Jayne stopped by a few hours ago.
That took a fecking lot of nerve! He left me for dead. In the middle of a street. Wouldnt even give me a fecking candy bar. Did he tell you how bad off I was? Why didnt you come help me?
You look fine to me.
Whose side are you on?
He told me why he took the sword, and agreed not to kill any Fae within five blocks of my club. Thats more than you do.
Why would he agree to that? Jayne hates all the Fae!
He knew youd come to me and ask me to help you get it back.
And youre on his side? How dare Jayne predict my moves and avert them while Im busy dying and then being chased by a homicidal maniac! All of which was his fault to begin with!
Truth is, kid, I prefer you without it.
Why?
You cant kill my patrons. And now maybe youll start exercising caution. Or at least learn how to spell it.
I glare at his bent head. Im asking for your help here, boss. You keep telling me to, and Im asking.
I also said how you treat me is how Ill treat you.
What am I doing wrong?
The answer is no.
Youve got to be kidding me! I tap my foot hyperfast, hoping maybe Ill crack his stupid floor.
He doesnt say anything. Just keeps working on whatever it is he works on.
You know what, dude? If you dont help me get my sword back, you and me are through! You solve the ice mystery yourself, I bluff, not about to give it up. Im not working for you. You dont help me, I dont help you.
I feel exposed. Its throwing me all kinds of off balance like I dont even know who I am anymore without it.
When I blast into Ryodans office, Im going a million miles a minute, feet and mouth. Every one of his dudes scowls at me on the way in, even Lor, and I have no idea why. Guess Ryodan told them to be pissy to me or something. You never know whats coming next with him.
I blurt out what happened with the frozen car and Jayne and tell him how we have to go get my sword back like right now, like this very instant.
Drop down, kid, he says without raising his head from his stupid paperwork. Youre messing up my office. Papers are flying around his head.
I drop down from hypermode and he looks up. Hes looking at me weird. Takes me a sec to figure it out. Its like hes looking at a stranger. One he doesnt like and is thinking about killing. Why the feck is he mad at me?
You reek of Highlander. The whole club can smell him on you. Youre wearing his clothes.
I dont think Ive ever heard him talk so soft. Dude, who cares? Didnt you hear anything I said? Inspector Jayne took my sword!
Explain why youre wearing his clothes.
Softer still. If I wasnt so hot with temper Id get a chill. I dont understand him. What does what Im wearing have to do with anything thats actually, like, relevant? How could it possibly matter? I dont even understand why it registers! But I can tell by the look on his face hes not budging until I explain, and if I dont get my sword back soon, Im going to go crazy. I also know if I tell him Christian killed some woman and I was next, he wont pay any attention to the problem of my sword, hell go after Christian, when I need him to go after Jayne. Im not sure he can take Christian. Not with what hes turning into. But with my sword, I know I can.
The explosion cut up my clothes. He gave me some of his.
You were together at the explosion.
He found me after.
And you changed in the street.
Huh? Stymied is me. This isnt where I expect the conversation to go at all.
Elucidate upon where you changed.
What the feck does that have to do with anything?
Answer me.
I ducked into a convenience store. Thats why they call them that. So they can be, like, convenient.
His gaze shivers up and down me. If ice splinters tore up your clothes so badly that you needed to change, Id think your injuries would be greater.
I gape at him, baffled. Somebody took my sword and he wants to talk about what Im wearing and where I got dressed, and that he doesnt think I look hurt bad enough!
He healedme. I was bleeding a lot. Holy hurrying hurricane, howd you get next to me so fast? Ryodan isnt behind his desk anymore. Hes standing practically on my toes. I didnt even see him move. Or feel a breeze or anything! Give me some personal space!
He drops his head forward and smells me. Healed you how?
What is the deal with everyone sniffing me? If Dancer starts doing it, too, Im so out of here. I drank his blood. Got a problem with that?
Three.
Huh?
I have three problems with that.
That was a rhetorical question. Maybe you cant hear me talking or something so Ill say it again: Jayne has my fecking sword. Im in deep shit without it and need it back. You going to do something or not?
Just like that hes back behind his desk, head bent over his paperwork, all but ignoring me. No.
Im incredulous. What? Why? You know Ill go after it myself! Is that what you want?
Jayne stopped by a few hours ago.
That took a fecking lot of nerve! He left me for dead. In the middle of a street. Wouldnt even give me a fecking candy bar. Did he tell you how bad off I was? Why didnt you come help me?
You look fine to me.
Whose side are you on?
He told me why he took the sword, and agreed not to kill any Fae within five blocks of my club. Thats more than you do.
Why would he agree to that? Jayne hates all the Fae!
He knew youd come to me and ask me to help you get it back.
And youre on his side? How dare Jayne predict my moves and avert them while Im busy dying and then being chased by a homicidal maniac! All of which was his fault to begin with!
Truth is, kid, I prefer you without it.
Why?
You cant kill my patrons. And now maybe youll start exercising caution. Or at least learn how to spell it.
I glare at his bent head. Im asking for your help here, boss. You keep telling me to, and Im asking.
I also said how you treat me is how Ill treat you.
What am I doing wrong?
The answer is no.
Youve got to be kidding me! I tap my foot hyperfast, hoping maybe Ill crack his stupid floor.
He doesnt say anything. Just keeps working on whatever it is he works on.
You know what, dude? If you dont help me get my sword back, you and me are through! You solve the ice mystery yourself, I bluff, not about to give it up. Im not working for you. You dont help me, I dont help you.
