“Plenty of innocent people get caught up in fae business and need saving. You say this friend of yours told you where to find me because you need my help getting rid of your mark. Fine. I’ll help however I can. But I could use some help in return.”
“Hang
on,” Nathan tried to interrupt.
“Please,”
Sasha implored them. “I didn’t tell you about the hunt I’m on
for conversation. The next victim is supposed to die tomorrow night.
I can’t work with other seals. Most of them don’t agree with my
methods. And I can’t count on the police. You’re...pretty much
all I got for backup right now.” His eyes were down-turned like
Jim’s same pleading look that Nathan always had trouble resisting,
just in a slightly different shade of blue. “You’re obviously
armed and you know how to handle yourselves. I’m not trying to
blackmail you, I just...need you. And if you need me, why not help
each other?”
“That…sounds
like a sensible argument,” Jim said, glancing sideways at Nathan
for corroboration.
Nathan
resisted glaring at his brother in reply. “Maybe you are what you
say,” he said to Sasha, “but we’re not trained for this kind of
thing. We know how to defend ourselves, sure, but we’ve never
actively hunted anything before. That’s why we came to you for
help.”
The
smile that widened on Sasha’s face was playful, like it had been
when he first introduced himself at the apartment. “Then it’s a
good thing you’ll be working with a professional,” he said. “I
won’t refuse to help you if you say no, but I have to finish this
case. So either you help me,” he crossed his arms, entirely casual
despite the weight of his words, “or you might have a long way to
wait. Any questions?”
Nathan
considered that, but since they had few options, he decided on a
smirk. “Just one. Where did you find the box that stuff came in,
anyway?” he asked, indicating Sasha’s red hair. “Your head
looks like a frickin’ fire engine.”
Even
Jim snorted at the comment.
Sasha
didn’t laugh, but his grin was wide. “What box? This is my
natural color.”
Nathan
and Jim both chuckled.
“Nice
trick with the eyebrows, man, but you’re not fooling anyone,”
Nathan said.
“Oh
really?”
There
was something predatory in Sasha’s eyes as he stood and leaned over
the table, but since Nathan didn’t really know Sasha yet, he wasn’t
sure whether or not to take it seriously.
“Well,
Mr. Grier, I could prove it to you,” Sasha said, giving Nathan a
playful once over, “but I don’t think that would be appropriate
in public.” He finished with a wink before turning toward the bar.
“I’ll go get us another round.”
As
soon as Sasha was gone, Jim busted out laughing.
“Oh
shut up,” Nathan grumbled.
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