Private Dicks Read Online Free Page B

training, but I'm pretty sure he'll honor the bid," I continue. "They haven't told me much, but as far as I can gather, they have most of the gangs on the East Coast under their thumb running their spice trade. They take about seventy percent profit from the gangs." I shrug. "Besides that, I know they run protection services, but most of that's bullshit, of course."
    "How do the gangs feel about this?"
    I snort. "Most of them are pretty happy with the arrangement, but you get the odd couple of people who want to steal from us, and that's taken care of pretty quickly." I shrug again. "Donovan runs a tight ship. No corruption, no unfair treatment. You step of line and you die, but it's a pretty wide line."
    "Do you like working for him?" The dragon's voice is soft, and I glare at him.
    "That has no bearing on the job," I say flatly. "He's a competent and well-liked alpha, and he's respected within the community. You already know all of this."
    "Easy," he says, his tone mocking. "I was just asking." His eyes glitter green for a second, and I drop my gaze.
    "I can't tell you much else besides structure, but it's all typical. I haven't met the beta yet, but I've met most of the top-tier enforcers."
    "Is the pack happy? Content? Does Donovan have any major rivals?" The dragon's tone is business-like again, and I let out a small sigh.
    "The pack is happy and content. They love Donovan, and as far as I can tell, he has no major rivals." I take a too-large sip of my coffee and grimace. "The pack's stable."
    "Anything unusual that you've noticed?"
    "That they're all stupidly happy?" I growl. "I don't know." I grip the mug tighter. "They have a lot of enforcers. I mean, a lot, at least thirty percent of the pack. They shouldn't need so many, especially since the lower echelons of the business are human, and I get the feeling the alpha's keeping more out of sight for whatever reason. It's excessive." I stare into my coffee and grit my teeth. I have to tell the dragon these things, it's my job.
    "And what could they be doing with all these enforcers, I wonder." There's a deliberate note of mocking inquisition in the dragon's voice and I grip the mug tighter.
    "Usually, a pack swells its ranks in preparation for a territory war," I say. "After, if the new territory isn't bordering, or if it's large, the new ranks will be relocated to bring that territory to heel."
    "Is that what you think is going on here?"
    I contemplate my coffee for a long couple of seconds. I haven't been drinking a lot of coffee lately. As a shifter PI, I don't exactly get a lot of business, and most of my money is spent on necessities. With Deepine, though, maybe I can take up the habit again.
    What, so you can drop it again when you leave?
    "No. Something else is going on," I say quietly. "I don't know what, exactly, and I don't have any evidence. It's just a feeling."
    "Alright, then. Thank you for your time, Reese." He stands, and I do, too. "Is there anywhere you'd like us to take you since your motorcycle was, ah, broken?"
    "To my shop," I say, even as I decide to go home, my real home. Not that I can let this nosy dragon know that. "I need to wash your scent off me."
    He grins. "Sure thing."
    *~*~*
    I slink into the mansion through the kitchen, ears flat, a low whine building in the back of my throat, and isn't this just pathetic?
    The kitchen's empty, thank God. I don't think I could deal with the others when I'm already exhausted from walking here from my shop. I snag a loaf of bread before tip-toeing down the servant hallway, hardly breathing, moving at a glacier speed. Please don't see me, please don't see me, please—
    "Reese?"
    Damn. Double damn. Of all the people—
    "Reese, get your butt in here! I can smell the blood clean on the other side of the mansion, you fool!"
    "Coming," I say flatly, trying to keep the growl out of my voice. No sense is digging my grave any deeper.
    Coriander's waiting for me in the back foyer, hands perched on her hips, fiery