Misfortune Cookie by Casey Wyatt Read Free Book Online Page B

smile. “If you do well, and can handle the lower risk souls, you could be advanced to Savior status. You’d have more autonomy, access to the archives, more time off.”
    “That sounds promising.” I eyed the pancakes. Perfect golden centers, slightly browned edges, and, like Luca, they were hard to resist. My stomach agreed and released a low, hungry rumble that had me reaching toward the stack.
    Luca stopped his fork midway to his mouth and said to me, “It also means more risk. More dangerous cases. There is more out there than just escaped souls.”
    The harridan stood, breakfast plate untouched. “Get her up to speed, Luca.” The— or else , hung in the air between us.
    I followed her to the door. “Can you at least tell me which relative made the bargain?”
    She twisted the doorknob and glared over her shoulder. “That’s ‘need to know’ information. And I suggest you worry more about staying alive. Trust me. You won’t like who inherits the job next.”
    She closed the door in my face. My own door! Rude bitch.
    “I’m guessing I don’t need to know that either!” I kicked the solid oak door and returned to the kitchen.
    Julian stood by the sink, arms crossed over his chest.
    “Don’t worry, Julian, I don’t like her much either.”
    Julian stared at his shoes.
    An alarm bell rang in my head.
    I rounded back on him. “Wait a minute. Do you already know her?” I snapped my fingers. “I knew it! She can see you, can’t she?”
    “Yes. I do not like to reveal my existence to more people that I need to.”
    I motioned for him to elaborate. “Because?”
    “It’s better for the Hereafter to remain ignorant of my continued existence.”
    When I thought about it logically that did make sense. They’d want to capture him or at least send him away. I couldn’t allow that to happen. Even though he’d kept me in the dark about the legacy, he was my friend.
    Luca snorted at Julian’s comment, but kept on eating. I joined him at the table, hunger supplanting my desire to quiz the ghost. Brody swished between my legs, howling for a handout. I reached under the table and stroked his tiger-striped fur. Julian materialized in the chair Joanna had occupied.
    “Well aren’t we a cozy bunch,” I said, forking a stack on pancakes onto my plate. It didn’t take long to eat three of them. “Luca, these are heavenly. How did you get them so light and tender?”
    He shrugged. “I followed the directions on the box.”
    “Radiance loves pancakes,” Julian said with a proprietary tone. “With real butter and maple syrup.” I half-expected to hear him brag, I know more than you do. So there .
    Luca continued chewing, not taking the bait.
    Pouring syrup, I shot Julian a cut-the-shit look. He shrugged. The innocent act wasn’t fooling me. I’d have to keep an eye on him. Honestly, I’d never seen Julian act so . . . possessive like a child who didn’t want to share his toys with a new baby brother.
    The doorbell chimed. Luca’s posture went rigid, muscles ready for action. He pushed his chair back.
    I was faster. “I got this.”
    Luca’s hand shot out, clutching my wrist. “Let me.”
    “It’s my house.”
    Julian threw out an assist. “Spirits are weakest in daylight. Present company excepted, of course.”
    “Not all enemies are incorporeal,” Luca growled.
    “See. I’ll be fine.” I shook off his grip, only because he let go. I’m sure if he wanted to restrain me he could have. The bell rang again. To demonstrate I wasn’t completely dumb, I checked the peephole first. The local brown-shirted deliveryman stood on the covered porch.
    “Hi, Ryan. What do you have for me today?”
    “The usual haul. And one package I need you to sign for.”
    After I signed, he handed me a stack of cardboard boxes and a padded envelope. I bumped into Luca when I backed up to close the door. Irritated, I set the boxes on the sideboard in my dining room. Galleys for my latest book could wait. Instead, I