Chapter 14
First thing I did was reply to Owen saying that we could absolutely have a meeting, but I needed to handle some things first. Also, given what I was pretty sure he specifically wanted, he should talk to Joshua and get some details.
Evan with Elijah because I thought he could fit in with a few of Elijah’s ideas. But yes, absolutely, we could all talk.
Then I texted Kyle admitting I got buried in messages and accomplished nothing but pretty nails. So if he could please send some people in to gossip and listen up like dancers did but without specifically telling them what to look for so we didn’t spook the killer.
Basically, he knew what to do to get us info that would help besides whatever security footage his guys were probably already all over. From the salon or surrounding areas. They would now be all over getting what they could for the day Steven Scalf used his card there.
The nice text that came in was from Ricco, thanking me for getting involved and saving the day. He said he knew there was more to come and things to hammer out, but the fact I personally did that for two of his people and cared said a lot about the person I was and that he was in my debt.
Nothing probably surprised him more than my asking to cash that in right away.
The ask was actually fairly simple. I wanted a meeting with any ancient leaders he was tight with around the world. The ones the councils wouldn’t touch, didn’t acknowledge, and were in the same spot Ricco was.
But only if he trusted them or at least would deal with them. Friendly enough that he would want nice things for them or wouldn’t worry they’d immediately kill him.
Yes, it was a low bar, but the world was dangerous and… Yeah, life just sucked most days.
What else was new?
He was full of questions and demanded to know why and what the agenda was. I didn’t even blame him, but I wouldn’t tell him.
Mostly because there wasn’t really an agenda.
I just wanted the meeting. Finally, I sighed and went with the goal.
“I want to give them information. Like I did you with the club. I want to show them what they don’t know.
That’s it. No pitch. No—I will feed them and give them information.
You guys live in the shadows, and that leaves you too in the dark. I swear on everything that’s it.”
He was quiet several long moments. “You have more goals than that, Jasmine. I am not the fool you—”
“I do not think you a fool at all,” I said firmly.
“I don’t. You don’t get to be the leader of a place like Rome and be a fool, Ricco.
I wouldn’t fucking trust you with shit if I thought you were an idiot.
I wouldn’t trust you with something this important.
” I sighed again when that didn’t seem to be enough.
“I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m trying something new. ”
“What?” he growled.
“The truth. I’m giving people the truth and seeing what can grow from there like we have. We know I shouldn’t be involved in any of that anyways as the baby. Please, just get who you can there. With your word it’s safe, they will learn much, and—”
“That is not enough for people who live in the darkness, Jasmine,” he grumbled. “I would not even on the word of them. That’s not enough value for those of us who have lived so long to know anything too benign is normally a trap.”
I blew out a harsh breath. “You guys don’t hurt for money or...” I trailed off when he snorted. “You do? You’re ancient.”
“Yes, and it costs a lot to hide, young one,” he drawled. “Most of us did not come from generational wealth and witnessed it all get taken by humans or—money incentivizes a lot.”
“Fine, this is the information stage of who we can trust, but the answer then is money. Tell them there is a chance for a lot of fucking money,” I said firmly.
“Possibly papers like we’re talking with you and fucking money.
If they make it to the second meeting of real talks of a better future after they see the truth of a lot—you will see more truth than you have already, I will show them the money. ”
That worked, also that it wasn’t on anyone’s turf and not ours at corporate even, so it was “neutral.”
Except it really wasn’t since we were the German government, but… Let them think it was if it helped us. Duh.
Once I started getting confirmations from Ricco of who was in, I looped in the other senior VPs I was up to something, and to say I was in trouble was an understatement. The second part of it all—or really, maybe like the seventh part at this point—I went to see Mason and asked for a favor.
To say he was shocked was an understatement.
But his reaction would make me laugh for years. Like he dropped his drink and slowly pulled off his glasses and studied me as if trying to see if I was someone else glamoured as me.
Or maybe if aliens had overtaken me? I wasn’t sure, but I convinced him it was really me and I was serious. After that, he was in.
Awesome.
Elijah, Rita, and Arthur were pissed when they showed up to meet the next morning, something Ricco immediately caught on to.
“You didn’t tell them you were starting trouble?” he accused.
I shrugged. “Cutting through the bullshit is my greatest ability most days.” I handed him over a bracelet.
“I’m going to need these back. Nonnegotiable.
The magic has to be absorbed back into the warlock who made it or…
I don’t understand magic, but people agree now or I break them for being assholes. ”
And everyone understood me since I was already wearing one. Yeah, Mason came up with providing bracelets with translator magic for this meeting all on his own to help. It was so cool to watch after I sent people to get the supplies he needed.
Honestly, my lover was seriously impressive.
And ridiculously sexy when focused on doing magic.
Everyone besides Ricco and the demons seemed to hesitate, but then one shifter snorted and rolled his eyes, coming closer and rattling off under his breath too softly for the magic to pick up. He almost reached me when his energy hit me and I took a step back, cursing under my breath.
“Wolves did much damage to her and she still recovers,” Ricco explained quickly. “And yet she was honorable enough to not exclude your people.” He gave me an apologetic look. “I forgot. In my own—”
“My piles of issues aren’t for you to remember, Ricco,” I told him easily, offering the bracelet to the ancient wolf. “It’s also that you’re powerful and annoyed and it’s like bugs over the skin since I’m young.”
He gave a sharp nod and took the bracelet, slipping it on.
“I said there’s no point in hesitating when we need your people to take us back through the portals.
We’re stranded or have headaches otherwise.
I am impressed you are running this meeting—even so young—and thought to make sure we could all communicate.
It bodes well for my busy time spent here. ”
That pushed the others to accept and I was glad, especially when the others nodded that their promises to give back the bracelets were real.
“Look, I’m not ancient, and I can’t lecture you guys on anything or how you’ve done things,” I said to them all—my friends as well.
“But I do cut through the shit because we’re all busy and my doing that last time worked with Ricco and the leaders in Rome and now we have a chance at better. They learned the truth about a lot.”
“And he said this is our next lesson?” one I recognized hedged, not sounding like he liked to hear that. “We accepted your party at your club. We were wrong. It was not a whorehouse like old. It was—I apologize for my assumptions. Your business is good business.”
I nodded, accepting the compliment. “But we’re not just our business. That’s what I want to show you today.” I ignored when the demons froze and waved everyone to follow.
And shocked the shit out of them when we went to a large, popular coffee shop. I realized a mistake when all of the supes working froze at our party and were on edge. I hurried to tell them in German that it was fine and to please act like normal and they were friends.
“They are all supes working here,” one of the leaders whispered. “Openly?”
“Yes,” I confirmed as I moved us off to the side.
They weren’t happy when we didn’t get in line.
“Watch how fast the queue moves. You’ve never been here and need a moment to figure out what to get.
The menu is extensive and good.” I cleared my throat and tried not to push too hard.
“All made by the shifters who own this chain.”
“Openly?” that same leader asked.
“Yes,” Elijah, Rita, Arthur, and I answered together, Elijah continuing. “Germany has no difference in citizens. It’s against the law.” A few snorted and he accepted that. “And actually enforced. Nothing is perfect, but it’s enforced.”
“The proof is in the pudding,” I added, gesturing to the incredibly busy and very large shop. I glanced at Arthur. “How many places do they have?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I just know they’re my favorite.”
One of the baristas moving faster than most could keep up with cleared her throat and shot me a glance. “They just opened their twentieth location in Germany. It was a huge milestone.” She nodded to my right. “It’s why the promotion.”
“Thank you,” I replied, not upset she was eavesdropping.
We were talking in public.
“The humans accept this,” someone whispered in awe as they watched person after person line up and order, quickly getting their drinks and food. It was so normal that all they cared about was that it was fast and good.
I nodded and faced the group. “Nothing is perfect. Nothing. There is racism, sexism, and problems with species always. Even among supes, but—I will show you. This is not a fluke, but the norm in Germany.”