City of Crows Books 1-3 Box Set by Clara Coulson

Author:Clara Coulson [Coulson, Clara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knite and Day Publishing
Published: 2017-07-31T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Fate has this funny way of mocking me through frustrating coincidences—like a flat tire, for instance.

On the way down to the garage, with eighteen people stuffed into an elevator meant for ten, Riker barks out orders left and right. Ramirez and his team, as well as two of the auxiliary teams from the task room, shout a chorus of Yes, sir once my captain finishes dishing out the attack plan. Or, I suppose, the relief plan. We have minutes left on the clock before the Aurora PD arrive at Stein’s Groceries and walk straight into a massacre, and even less time before some bystander records actual werewolves on their phone and uploads a video to YouTube. This is one of those infernos in the making you have to snuff out real quick. Or else.

Riker’s voice is rough in my ear when he leans close and says, “And you—you’re going home. Your truck is where you left it. I had someone stick your keys in the glove compartment earlier. Get in. Turn it on. Warm it up. Drive home. No exceptions. Understand?”

“You sound like you expect me to argue.” I wince when a frantic Harmony Burgess accidentally jabs me in the hip with her half-assembled sniper rifle. “Listen, Captain, I know when I’m beat. Or in this case, thoroughly tenderized to the point where I’d make a lovely steak on some big bad Wolf’s grill.”

Riker runs a hand through his hair, which I notice sports a touch of gray at the roots. “God, do you ever run out of sarcasm?”

“If my funny meter had an empty setting”—I drop my voice to a low tone only he can hear—“I wouldn’t still be here, Captain.”

It takes Riker a second to figure out what I’m implying. He pales. “Fuck, Cal.” His hand gently grazes my shoulder. “You…just don’t worry about this hiccup, okay? We’ll take care of it. It’s not our first exposure scare, and definitely won’t be the last. So don’t concern yourself with it. Please, go home and get some sleep.” He drops his hand to his coat, digs around, and tugs something out. A wad of cash. Which he presses into my open palm. “Your favorite delivery meal is on me.”

“Oh, sir, you don’t have to…”

“I insist.”

I hesitate, then stick the money in my pocket. “Thanks, Captain.”

A faint smile crosses his weary face.

The elevator doors finally creak open, and we all spill out into the lowest level of the office. Ramirez and his team speed down the hall in a group, like a well-oiled machine, and by the time the rest of us make it to the garage, they’re already in their SUV and halfway to the exit. The auxiliary teams aren’t far behind them. My team is the slowest, but only because Amy, Ella, and Desmond all stop to give me soft pats on the back and mutter “Night, Cal” and “Take care of yourself” before they hop into their designated vehicle, Ella at the wheel.

Riker is the last to the SUV, clambering into the front passenger seat.

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