"No," Wrath said. "Provided the business stays under the radar, you can do what you want. What kind of commerce are you in. "
"Retail. "
"Of what?"
"Does it matter. "
"If you're not answering, I'm going to assume drugs or women. " Wrath frowned when there was no reply. "So which one is it. "
"Women are too much trouble. "
"That drug shit is tough to keep under the radar. "
"Not the way I take care of things. "
V piped up. "So you're the reason middlemen have been capping themselves in alleys. "
"No comment. "
Wrath frowned again. "Why bring this up now?"
"Let's just say I've run into one too many interested parties. "
"Be more specific. "
"Well, one of them's about six feet tall. Brush-cut dark hair. Name rhymes with sex, and her body's built for it. "
Oh, no, you didn't, Tohr thought -
The hiss that came out of John brought everyone's head around. And what do you know, the guy's eyes were trained on Assail as if, at least in his mind, he was already ripping the male's throat out.
"I beg your pardon," Assail drawled. "I didn't know you were acquainted with her in some manner. "
Tohr growled on behalf of his son - even though they were estranged. "He's a fuck of a lot more than just acquainted. So you can blow that speculation out your ass - and while you're at it, stay away from her. "
"She was the one who came to me. "
Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeat. That went over like a lead balloon -
Before shit got out of hand, Wrath held up his palm. "I don't give a fuck what you do with humans - provided you clean up any messes. But if you get tagged, you're on your own. "
"What about our species interfering with my commerce. "
Wrath smiled a little, his cruel face showing absolutely no humor. "Having trouble defending your territory already? Guess what. You can't have what you can't keep. "
Assail inclined his head. "Fair enough - "
The shattering of glass sounded out behind them all, cutting through everything, crushing time down to a crawl: gunfire.
With a mighty lunge, Tohr went airborne, his massive body flying over the Spanish tile, his target: Wrath.
As a rat-tat-tat-tat-tat spray of bullets hit the back of the house, he tackled the king to the floor, covering his brother with as much of his body as possible. Everyone else, including Assail, likewise hit the ground and shuffled for cover against various walls.
"My lord, are you hit?" Tohr hissed in Wrath's ear as he hit send on the text alarm.
"Maybe the neck," came a groaned response.
"Lie still. "