Raw and unedited, an early peek, just for you!
***Snip Begins***
Turns out, Pillar wasn’t so keen on cake for breakfast. Discovering that fact made her seem less than her usual near perfect self. Because cake.
Or maybe the pedestal Lizzie had placed her upon had simply shrunk slightly. The woman had saved Lizzie’s life, given her the first magic lesson she’d ever had, and in general been a rock of support through the craziness of her life.
Grudgingly, she had to admit that not everyone could handle all that sugar so early in the day. That and her ability to practically consume her own weight in bacon were two of Lizzie’s favorite talents.
“Why are you mumbling about bacon?” Harrington asked from behind his monstrosity of a desk. “Do I need to have a tray sent in?”
While Pillar had been giving Lizzie a firsthand look at her latest assignment, Harrington had finished briefing Kenna on what help IPPC would be offering her mother. Which was why Lizzie was here in his office now: he’d moved on to the next—and in his mind more significant—crisis: bugpocalypse. The man switched from one emergency to another like he was flipping channels on a TV.
He shook his head then retrieved an energy bar from his desk drawer. He did tend to assume an air of exasperation whenever she or Kenna was near. A subtle air, because Harrington was still Harrington, closed-off emotions and all. “Catch,” he said a split second before chucking it at her.
She did, onehanded. Then ripped into the snack like it was the cake she’d been fantasizing about all morning. As she swallowed the last bite, she considered whether she should add improving her diet to her mental to-do list. But the sweet buttery goodness of cake and the crisp savory awesomeness of perfectly fried bacon made that decision impossible.
She blinked. That was a lot of food love, even for her. Maybe she was wee bit stressed. And tired. Unlike Kenna, she hadn’t slept on the plane for more than a few minutes at a time. “Uh, thanks. I might have been a little hungry.” And a lot stressed. “So, what was that you were saying about paying Gwen’s ransom?”
He so hadn’t said that. He’d said exactly the opposite of that.
He steepled his fingers. “Not happening.”
She took a breath, readying herself to make a pitch, but he beat her to the punch. “We don’t have access to most of the assets, and regaining control of them would require more stealth and time than I possess. Those assets now reside in the hands of mundane law enforcement.”
A pinch in her chest made her breath catch. When she could speak, she said, “You can’t let anything happen to Gwen.”
“I’m helping.” His somber gaze met hers. “I said I would, and I am.”
The implication was clear. He stuck by his word. Also, tit for tat; now it was her turn.
“All right. Tell me everything you know, just in case Pilar missed something.” She sent a silent apology out to Pilar. If anything had been missed, it had been because a very sleepy Lizzie had zoned out a few times. Up until they’d enter the freaky room of dead things. Then she’d been completely awake. “And send for coffee. I definitely need coffee.”
***End Snip***
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