“Adam, I suggest you grab a bottle of champagne.”

Adam frowned, glancing down at the phone on speaker as the oh-so-lovely elf worked on him beneath his desk. “Excuse me?”

Jones laughed. “Your book, or at least where it ended up was found.”

Adam sat up, and leaned forward, waving away the elf. She pouted, but stood, and left after adjusting her dress. He watched her backside and promised to himself, he’d continue where he left off, but he had more important things right now, and he was well-fed. “Are you certain?”

“Yeah, and you’re not gonna believe it, but it was all because of a mixup with some number on the address. That's it, just some mundane error. It went to the apartment next door.”

“Tell me you’ve sent people there?”

“Of course, I have. I did the moment I figured it out, but Adam, it's not just me. A few of my people… You know I like to keep them even if they work for others, just to make sure I can feed them what I want the others to know.”

“Shit, you saying…?”

“The entire cities going to know soon, and I’m pretty sure the prick who let it out so quickly was one of Ray’s.” Jones said. “Mind you, no one lives at the address anymore, but I bet the poor fool who did is gonna find himself in a mess. Especially since he became a fresh para the same week the book was meant to have been delivered to the right address.”

“You think he used the object?”

“Maybe. Richard Halls. The poor fucker is dead meat either way..”

Adam let out a breath, annoyed, but also happy. He’d been hoping to get an extra reward if he was the one to find the book. Then again, it hadn't been found yet. There was still a chance he could. “Jones, I’ll split whatever extra I get for this if you find it.”

There was silence for a long moment. “For real?”

“I swear on my soul.”

Jones whistled. “Fine, I'm on it. But, honestly, I don't think I’ve got a chance to get the kid. Vix put out an open contract on him minutes after the leak happened. She’s offering an eight-figure reward to whoever can bring her the kid or the object.”

“Of course, she would.” Adam sneered. “Her first move is always to throw money at the problem, get someone else to solve it.”

“Like you do with me?”

“Goodbye, Jones,” Adam said, ignoring the comment. “Find it, and you’ll be a hell of a lot richer. And since when has Ray worked so closely with Vix?”

“Oh…” Jones was silent for a long while, and it seemed nervous to Adam. “No one wanted to tell you, but they’ve been working together for some time now. It only came out a few weeks back, but even before then, it was well known some fae was hiring Ray for quite a bit.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“And no one thought to tell me?”

“Your men were probably to scared, and it's not like it ever matter. She only ever hired him as muscle, and never for any work around you.”

“Neverthless, next time, I expect to be informed.”

“I’ll make sure you are,” Jones said placatingly. “But just think, we can use this. I’ve never been able to get one of mine near Vix, but maybe If I move through Ray first… Who knows. Afterall, he and his men are certainly as dumb as dogs, maybe even dumber.”

“Maybe,” Adam said. “But focus on the task at hand for now.” He hung up the call, and calmed himself down by thinking of all the money coming his way. A smile crept up his face at the thought and he stood, and stretched. The elf was still around, and it was a win-win scenario. If someone else found it, he’d still get paid, and if Jones found it, he’d get paid even more. He couldn't lose. Sure, Jones could betray him, but not if he still wanted to find work in this city afterward and not make an enemy of Adam.

****

Nathan’s phone buzzed and he scowled, placing his cup of coffee down. It was a dark crimson, filled with more blood than coffee. He pulled his phone out and frowned. It was one of his underground CIs. “Micky, this better be something of worth?”

“Oh, it is, Nate. Everybody’s in a tizzy downtown.” The vampire sounded excited.

“I’m aware,” Nate said. “It's been like that for days now.”

“I know, but now it’s something else,” Micky said, chuckling. “Vix put out an open contract on a guy for ten million.”

“What! Who?”

“Richard Halls. Some sorcerer.”

Nate froze, his mind going back to the minor sorcerer from the orc bombing incident. It couldn't be the same person, but he didn't know anyone else with that name in the city. “Why?”

“No clue, but everyone's looking for ‘im. If he ain't dead already, then he's probably already at Vix’s club.”

“Shit.” A few people nearby glanced at him, and Nate lowered his voice. “I’ve gotta go, Micky. Thanks for the info.”

“No worries, just don't forget this the next that you see me.”

Nate snorted. “I won’t” He pocketed his phone, downed his coffee in one long gulp, and put on his jacket. He did a quick check and found the last known location of Richard Halls had been a hotel a few miles from Downtown. That had been a week ago. He quickly typed an email and sent it off. He couldn't wait and tell the chief now. He needed to get to the sorcerer before anyone else did, or if not that, begin looking for who took him.

As he left the building he passed Sivelle. “We’re you going?”

She glanced at him, before walking on as though he didn't exist. He shook his head, not bothering with her. If she was gonna ignore him, then he wasn’t gonna give her the time of day. He’d tried to play nice, but she’d been an emotionless weirdo the entire time they’d been working together. He’d met winter fae before, but Sivelle took cold to a new level.