Earl had me there. I hadn’t just killed monsters since I’d taken this job, though I hadn’t lost much sleep over the members of the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition that had wound up on the wrong end of Abomination. “Lacoco’s served time.”

“I’m aware. He also risked his life to save a town from an army of undead werewolves and had the balls to hit me with a fire ax. You’ll pay him the same amount of respect you would any other Hunter, and I’ll tell him to do the same to you. I won’t tolerate any unnecessary bullshit. Understood?”

“No. I don’t,” I answered. Earl glared at me. He was the boss, and though I’d earned my place in our organization, it would be stupid to argue with him. “Okay fine, understood. Maybe if you’d said more I wouldn’t have got caught by surprise. When are you going to tell us the rest of the story about what happened in Michigan?”

A dark look crossed his face. “Never.” He turned and walked away. “Let’s go.”

Despite the fact that we’d wrecked a chunk of the place only a few hours before, the Last Dragon staff welcomed us back with nervous smiles. Apparently their management had been satisfied enough by Julie’s contract to forget the whole thing ever happened. It’s amazing how fast things are forgiven when absurd sums of money and favors are exchanged. This must be what it is like to be one of those rock stars that destroys hotel rooms and drives cars into pools. Normally I could ask Mosh about that sort of lifestyle, but considering my brother’s current circumstances it would probably only make him angrier.

I really should go see my brother while I’m in town…