The Unleashing
Page 76

Welcome to Hollywood. One day that boy will either crumble from the stress or become a studio head who treats his people worse than he was ever treated. There is no in-between for this crowd.
And Im going to get money out of these people for a charity to help vets?
Erin grinned. Youd be amazed how easy it is to get money out of soulless people.
Easy to get money out of people you call soulless?
Soulless people who want the world to think theyre not. Its like shootin narcissists in a barrel.
Jace had spent a couple of hours trying to track down Brodie, with absolutely no success. The dog was gone.
She stood high on a ridge overlooking one of the nearby beaches. She really hoped that Brodie hadnt gone down there. If the Claws of Ran knew she was Keras dog . . .
No. She wouldnt think like that. The Claws of Ran were assholes but they wouldnt fuck with a dog just because it was a Crows pet. There were lines the Clans didnt cross. No one fucked with the Giant Killers Harleys or the Valkyries horses or Holdes Maids goats. So, Jace reasonably believed, no one was going to harm a Crows pet.
Hey, Jace.
Jace turned at the voice, let out a sigh when she saw it was just Stieg Engstrom. Oh. Its you.
Who did you think it would be?
No one. She again stared down at the beach.
Youre not going down there, are you? The Claws will
I know. I know.
Coffee? he asked, holding out a cup from the nearby Starbucks.
Are you hitting on me?
No. Youre cute but I tend to piss people off and with your rage issues, Im pretty sure youd just kill me. I do like that you dont talk much, though. I enjoy that in a friend.
Jace abruptly faced Stieg. If you were a dog, where would you go?
Did you lose that puppy already?
Just answer the question.
Where would I go if I were a dog? He shrugged massive shoulders. I guess Id go home.
Home. Jace slapped her hands against the sides of her head. Of course! Home! Youd go home! She gave Stieg a quick hug and ran back toward her car, yelling, Thank you! over her shoulder.
Annalisa whistled and the crow flew down and landed on her shoulder.
Have you seen the new girls dog? she asked. The bird stretched out its wings and shook itself all over. A no.
What about the others?
The bird lifted its head and squawked loudly several times. The crows in the trees responded, cawing back atthem. When they were done, the bird on Annalisas shoulder stretched out its wings and shook itself all over. Another no.
Okay. Well, if you see her
Her phone vibrated and Annalisa pulled it from her front jean pocket. The text was from Jace, telling everyone to meet at the Bird House.
Annalisa brushed her head against the crow. Thank you, sweetie.
The bird squawked and took flight, going back to the trees. Annalisa watched until the bird was safely on a branch, then turned to head back to the house. But she stopped and looked down on the mansion of Chloes nemesis. Bettys assistant, Brittany or Tiffany or whatever adorable name she had, walked out of the front door, stumbling a bit on her ridiculous heels. She stopped, got her balance, smoothed out her extremely short business skirt, and walked toward the town car waiting for her.
Annalisa quickly sent a text to Chloe, and she received an immediate answer back.
Shes doing me a favor. Nothing to worry about.
But that didnt explain why the girl was just now leaving, Annalisa pointed out in a second text.
That bitch probably just got home. I told Brianna to wait until she arrived.
Satisfied with the answer, Annalisa ran back to meet with Jace and the others at the Bird House.
Vig was sitting on his porch, using a carving knife to whittle a piece of wood. He wasnt sure yet what he would make, but he was really enjoying the simplicity of what he was doing. He found whittling calming.
Hey, Stieg said as he and Siggy walked up to Vigs house.
Hey, hey.
The Crows lost your girlfriends dog.
Vig watched the two men as they stomped up his stairs, Stieg briefly stopping to place a Starbucks cup beside him.
What?
Yeah. They were all over town trying to track it down. And Jace spoke to me. Not just a word, either. But, like, full sentences. It was kind of weird.
Where the hell is Kera?
Off with that redhead. Im going to play video games.
The redhead has a name, Vig snapped, but if Stieg heard him, he didnt reply.
You going to call Kera? Siggy asked.
And tell her the Crows lost her dog? Im trying to get them together, not pull them apart.
For sex?
Vig gawked at his Raven brother. What?
You said youre trying to get Kera and the Crows together. For sex?
No. Not for sex.
Why not? That could be kind of interesting.
Vig went back to his whittling. Go away.
Okay. But you know Im right.