Bite Me
Page 10
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What about it? Vic asked her.
That doesnt annoy you?
Not as much as its obviously annoying you. Vic raised his hands, then lowered them. Did you hear anything I just told you?
Before Dee-Ann could answer, Cella Malone suddenly slid into the doorway, her shoulder hitting the defenseless wood there.
Sorry Im late, Cella said, smiling at Vic and Shen. What are we talking about?
Was wondering if that bamboo eatin gets on ol Vics nerves.
Vics mouth dropped open at Dees words. That was her main concern?
Cella, now standing beside Dee on the other side of the desk, placed her hands on her hips and stared down at Shen. I think I could get used to it. Besides, as a male, there are definitely worse things he could be doing.
Dee grunted. You have a point.
And lets face it, you canines have a very low tolerance for sounds.
All shifters are sensitive to sound.
We are, but you guys get weirded out by the most minor noises. And when Im traveling with the team and we all hear a siren, only the canines start all that goddamn howling.
Aint nothin wrong with a good howl, feline. Better than hissin like a slowly deflating air bag.
Im getting cranky, Vic announced and he watched the two females slowly turn their attention directly on him. Cranky, he growled out between clenched teeth.
Problem? Dee-Ann asked him.
Why did I come all this way if it was a waste of time?
Dont worry. Youll get paid for your information.
Out of the corner of his eye, Vic saw Shen wince. And with good reason. He wasnt some rat like Bohdan, running around, passing out info for coins or to get out of trouble. And it annoyed him when people acted like he was.
Vic stood and stepped around Shens legs.
Hold up, hoss.
Were done, Dee-Ann.
Wait.
Vic stopped.
Close the door, hoss.
Vic glanced back at Dee-Ann. After a moment, he stepped back and closed the door.
Dee-Ann moved from the chair to her desk, resting her ass against the metal. She motioned to Cella and the She-tiger leaned in. They whispered back and forth to each other for nearly a minute before they focused on him again.
Finally, Vic couldnt take it anymore. Whats going on?
Management, Cella said, has been backing off finding Whitlan.
How long has this been going on?
Few months.
Why?
Were notsure. But theyre definitely not putting the resources to it that they had been.
But we aint giving up, Dee-Ann said flatly.
Weve been given different assignments, but we just cant let this go, Cella explained.
You cant work on it openly, though, Vic guessed.
We have other assignments. But if you have some free time . . .
You want me to do what three major organizations havent been able to do in more than two years.
Dee-Ann grinned. Yup.
Hi, Livy!
Livy, working hard not to sigh, swiveled her desk chair around and gazed at the wolfdog standing in her doorway. How painful is this particular conversation going to be? Most days she could easily tolerate Blayne Thorpe. It was fun to torment the long-legged wolfdog. Cruel, but fun.
But today . . . today was not a good day.
Whats up, Blayne?
You busy?
No, but she lied. A little.
Ill keep it really short then, she promised as she moved into the office.
Okay.
Once Blayne was in, she immediately held up her hands and said, First off, Im so sorry to hear about your father. She put her hands on her chest. My heart just broke for you.
Thank you.
Are you okay?
Livy knew that saying she was fine would just lead to Blayne making it her mission in life to prove how far from fine Livy was, so she said instead, As well as can be expected.
I understand. And I promise not to keep you. I just desperately need your help.
With what?
Well, you know my and Gwens wedding is coming up.
Im sure you two will be really happy together.
Blayne frowned, head tilting to the side like a confused Labrador. Then her eyes grew wide and she laughed. No, no! Were having a double wedding. Im marrying Bo and Gwens marrying Lock.
Uh-huh.
And I let Gwen handle a few things, which initially was working really well. But she had a little fight with one of our vendors and did that thing she does with her neck.
Livy frowned. What thing she does with her neck?
Trust me . . . if you ever see it . . . youll know what I mean. Anyway, were kind of in a bad way and Im hoping you can help us out.
I dont understand.
Well, I was wondering if youd be our photographer! She grinned that big Blayne grin, but Livy couldnt even really see it.
That doesnt annoy you?
Not as much as its obviously annoying you. Vic raised his hands, then lowered them. Did you hear anything I just told you?
Before Dee-Ann could answer, Cella Malone suddenly slid into the doorway, her shoulder hitting the defenseless wood there.
Sorry Im late, Cella said, smiling at Vic and Shen. What are we talking about?
Was wondering if that bamboo eatin gets on ol Vics nerves.
Vics mouth dropped open at Dees words. That was her main concern?
Cella, now standing beside Dee on the other side of the desk, placed her hands on her hips and stared down at Shen. I think I could get used to it. Besides, as a male, there are definitely worse things he could be doing.
Dee grunted. You have a point.
And lets face it, you canines have a very low tolerance for sounds.
All shifters are sensitive to sound.
We are, but you guys get weirded out by the most minor noises. And when Im traveling with the team and we all hear a siren, only the canines start all that goddamn howling.
Aint nothin wrong with a good howl, feline. Better than hissin like a slowly deflating air bag.
Im getting cranky, Vic announced and he watched the two females slowly turn their attention directly on him. Cranky, he growled out between clenched teeth.
Problem? Dee-Ann asked him.
Why did I come all this way if it was a waste of time?
Dont worry. Youll get paid for your information.
Out of the corner of his eye, Vic saw Shen wince. And with good reason. He wasnt some rat like Bohdan, running around, passing out info for coins or to get out of trouble. And it annoyed him when people acted like he was.
Vic stood and stepped around Shens legs.
Hold up, hoss.
Were done, Dee-Ann.
Wait.
Vic stopped.
Close the door, hoss.
Vic glanced back at Dee-Ann. After a moment, he stepped back and closed the door.
Dee-Ann moved from the chair to her desk, resting her ass against the metal. She motioned to Cella and the She-tiger leaned in. They whispered back and forth to each other for nearly a minute before they focused on him again.
Finally, Vic couldnt take it anymore. Whats going on?
Management, Cella said, has been backing off finding Whitlan.
How long has this been going on?
Few months.
Why?
Were notsure. But theyre definitely not putting the resources to it that they had been.
But we aint giving up, Dee-Ann said flatly.
Weve been given different assignments, but we just cant let this go, Cella explained.
You cant work on it openly, though, Vic guessed.
We have other assignments. But if you have some free time . . .
You want me to do what three major organizations havent been able to do in more than two years.
Dee-Ann grinned. Yup.
Hi, Livy!
Livy, working hard not to sigh, swiveled her desk chair around and gazed at the wolfdog standing in her doorway. How painful is this particular conversation going to be? Most days she could easily tolerate Blayne Thorpe. It was fun to torment the long-legged wolfdog. Cruel, but fun.
But today . . . today was not a good day.
Whats up, Blayne?
You busy?
No, but she lied. A little.
Ill keep it really short then, she promised as she moved into the office.
Okay.
Once Blayne was in, she immediately held up her hands and said, First off, Im so sorry to hear about your father. She put her hands on her chest. My heart just broke for you.
Thank you.
Are you okay?
Livy knew that saying she was fine would just lead to Blayne making it her mission in life to prove how far from fine Livy was, so she said instead, As well as can be expected.
I understand. And I promise not to keep you. I just desperately need your help.
With what?
Well, you know my and Gwens wedding is coming up.
Im sure you two will be really happy together.
Blayne frowned, head tilting to the side like a confused Labrador. Then her eyes grew wide and she laughed. No, no! Were having a double wedding. Im marrying Bo and Gwens marrying Lock.
Uh-huh.
And I let Gwen handle a few things, which initially was working really well. But she had a little fight with one of our vendors and did that thing she does with her neck.
Livy frowned. What thing she does with her neck?
Trust me . . . if you ever see it . . . youll know what I mean. Anyway, were kind of in a bad way and Im hoping you can help us out.
I dont understand.
Well, I was wondering if youd be our photographer! She grinned that big Blayne grin, but Livy couldnt even really see it.
