They had a brief staring contest and it was the ghoul who looked away, although I had the feeling it was more about maintaining self-control than any sense of intimidation. “I assure you, every effort will be made.”

For now, it would have to do.

Remembering Hel’s warning, I wondered what would happen if he failed.

Chapter Eighteen

Eighteen

Knowing what I did now, I couldn’t help but check out Jerry the bartender as we left the Wheelhouse.

Bracing his hands on the bar, he fixed me with a long, flat stare. “You gonna blow up my kegs again, blondie? Or do you like what you see?”

In fact, I most definitely didn’t like it, because what I saw was La Araña, the spider from my mom’s reading. An intricate tattooed web covered Jerry’s right shoulder and upper arm, the spider squatting amidst it.

Oh, crap.

“Yeah, um . . .” I made myself smile. “Sorry about that.”

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

I opted to keep quiet about this discovery for the time being. I wasn’t sure how much stock Cody put in Mom’s reading, and I was definitely sure Detective Wilkes wouldn’t approve.

It was a relief to escape from the dark confines of the Wheelhouse to the bright sun outdoors in the parking lot. The driver of the Town Car emerged to hover patiently beside it. Ignoring him for the moment, Lurine put her sunglasses back on. “Are you done playing with ghouls for the day, cupcake?”

“For now, yeah. Thanks.” I paused. “Practically your goddaughter, huh?”

“Well.” A mischievous smile curved her lips. “Why not? It worked, didn’t it?” Her smile vanished, and she lowered her sunglasses to give me a serious look. “He’s an old one, that Stefan, and dangerous, and you’re like catnip to these things, Daisy. I wanted to make sure he knows I consider you under my protection. Now he does.”

“Do you know him from . . . before?” I asked.

Lurine shook her head. “No. I’d remember. And believe me, so would he. He was just baiting me.”

“Ah . . .” Detective Wilkes glanced at his notes. “You said he was old. How old are we talking?”

“Aren’t you cute?” Lurine patted him on the cheek, not deigning to answer. “Baby girl, you call me next time, okay?”

“Okay, okay!”

She settled her sunglasses in place. “I know you can take care of yourself under normal circumstances, but it’s just that you don’t have any defenses against this kind of thing.”

My hand went instinctively to my straw satchel, feeling the shape of dauda-dagr nestled inside it. “That’s not entirely true.”