Bennett grabbed the woman’s wrist and bent it in a direction God had not intended. Before she had a chance to squeal out in pain, Bennett had her other hand around the woman’s throat and leaned in close. “What I just damaged will heal in an hour, but if you ever lay a hand on me again, the next thing I damage won’t heal,” Bennett snarled, running her finger down the woman’s neck. “Nod if I’ve made myself clear.”

The woman bobbed her head like a dashboard ornament, and as soon as she was free from Bennett’s clutches, she scurried away like a tiny mouse, her breasts bouncing every step of the way.

“What do you want, Archer?”

Bennett raised her eyes as she turned toward the voice she knew, and if she’d never met Ivan before, she very well may have recoiled. The man was simply not blessed with any redeeming feature other than possibly his hair. The tiny tight curls atop his head, his bushy beard, and his equally bushy eyebrows were all golden brown, and they reflected the light in the room much like the mineral itself. Sadly, the rest of Ivan’s appearance tarnished that gold. His nose was large and bulbous, centered between cheeks pockmarked and oily, and his ears protruded like car doors not yet closed. His teeth were stained, and his eyes drooped like they were too heavy for their sockets, and the bags under them continued the trend.

“I want to speak with Napoleon,” Bennett said, scanning the room. “Where is he?”

“He’s busy.”

“Yes, I’ve heard. It’s taco Tuesday, and I do hate to interrupt him. Perhaps you’d like me to come back tomorrow morning, say…when the sun is up?”

Ivan pursed his thick lips. He had over a hundred pounds on her and a six-inch height advantage. He was also surrounded by Napoleon’s followers, and clothed or naked, they were a force to be reckoned with. They were swift, and they were deadly. Ivan also knew to reduce their number would be unwise, and Bennett would reduce their number. He’d seen her in battle before, and if she’d fed recently, there would be no stopping her. Ivan chose wisely.

“He’s in his office,” Ivan grunted out. “I think you know where it is.”

“Yes, I do. Thank you, Ivan,” Bennett said, walking past. “As always, it was a pleasure.”