Southwest Nights (Semiautomatic Sorceress Book 1) by Kal Aaron (large ebook reader txt) 📕

the ability to hire them was a way of keeping the Illuminated independent while letting Shadows feel like they had some control over sorcery.

Neither woman was there to take down the Lone Five Stars, and they didn’t care about the organization outside of the shard-smuggling. Once they solved that problem, the criminals could go back to being the concern of the FBI and the police. However, Lyssa would enjoy weakening them along the way.

Aisha and Lyssa downed some healing herbs before setting out. The effects were far from instantaneous, but between the painkiller and the healing herbs, they were both ready for another battle. Operating at reduced capability wouldn’t hurt them as much when there were two of them working together.

Lyssa had never thought she’d end up with Aisha as a partner on a job. She had to applaud the universe’s sense of humor.

An earlier sweep by Chad’s place in wraith form had netted intel at the cost of irritation. Unlike the sprawling Alvarez estate, Sellers lived in a wide, modest ranch house that didn’t look like it could hold an entire army. The man hadn’t bothered putting a fence in the front yard.

The lack of exterior security would have played to Lyssa’s strengths on most nights, but the lights were on and men were gathered at the house, drinking beer and chatting. They were visible through the half-raised curtains. She didn’t spot any weapons, but she had no doubt they were there.

Lyssa related all this to Aisha. “We’re on the clock on this, so we might have to be more aggressive than I’d like.”

“They could have shards,” Jofi said. “Exercise caution.”

Aisha eyed Lyssa with more than her usual distrust. “I don’t dislike a direct approach, but what brought on this sudden courage?”

“You put out the fires, but we left obvious signs of a fight in the warehouse,” Lyssa said. “You were right about why we couldn’t leave the shard, and the guard’s going to wake up eventually, too. Even if he decides there was a good reason he fell asleep when he goes into the back, he won’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out something happened, and it involves sorcery. And that’s assuming the next shift doesn’t show up and find him.” She gestured at the house. “We have a narrow window to accomplish what we need to do.”

“You do have a small point.” Aisha sounded disappointed, but a cruel smile followed. “Then we don’t bother with tricks. We make them surrender.” She conjured a dancing flame in her palm. “We cow them with force.”

“Yeah, that’s the idea. If not, we beat them down until Sellers is the only one left conscious.” Lyssa patted one of her holsters. “This is a time when subtlety is for suckers. I think if we strike hard and fast, we can find Sellers and get him to spill what he knows. The only problem is, I don’t want to get tangled up with the local cops.” She grinned. “But I’ve got an idea about that.”

“Is it a decent one?” Aisha raised an eyebrow in question.

“It’s an idea.” Lyssa pulled the doll out of her pocket. “Didn’t you notice along the way, Little Miss Great Ears?”

Aisha stared at the door, then looked around, her eyes darting in all directions. “Ah. It’s still working.”

“Exactly.” Lyssa grinned. “Let me sneak up to the front door and slip our little buddy in. Then, we’ll go around the back and make ourselves heard. If it can cover that entire warehouse floor, it can cover this house.”

“What if they run?” Aisha asked.

“They won’t. We’re going to trick them.” Lyssa grinned. “We’re going to yell that we’re bounty hunters, and they’ll get cocky and come for us. By the time they realize what’s going on, it’ll be too late.”

“I like this plan.” Aisha rubbed her hands together.

“Good. Let’s talk about signals and get into position.”

Cloaked, Lyssa hurried up the cement steps to the porch. She cast an occasional glance at the front windows. Sellers downed the rest of a bottle of beer before gesturing around with the empty bottle. His men laughed at an unheard joke, no one noticing anything going on outside.

There had to be a border to the doll’s silencing effect, but Lyssa had gotten lucky, and it wasn’t revealed to the men inside. She approached the front door and set the doll in a corner.

Between the obvious internet-enabled doorbell and camera, she was being recorded, but she doubted if anyone was watching the live feed. Taking on criminals was part of the contract. Any complaining police could be redirected to take it up with the EAA and explain why they were allowing a major criminal gang to operate in their jurisdiction.

Lyssa took a deep breath and moved her hand away from the doll. She waited and counted to five in her head for any reaction.

Nothing happened. Step one was complete.

She wasn’t used to working with anyone other than Jofi. Aisha’s willingness to go along with her plan without trying to take over had surprised Lyssa a little.

Lyssa stood and jogged off the porch and around the corner, dropping her cloak as she approached the backyard. There might be no fence in front, but Sellers had a high stucco-covered cinder block privacy fence protecting his backyard and pool from attention.

She couldn’t have gotten away with that at her house. Maybe his HOA was afraid of him. She chuckled and realized she was getting used to life in Scottsdale.

Such thoughts could wait. She was in position for stage two.

Lyssa gave her best owl hoot impression, then winced. The noise came out more like a vuvuzela than the bird. After all the hoots she’d heard that night, it was an embarrassing effort.

Accuracy aside, the call did its work. A flash came from behind the fence before Aisha flew over it and landed in the soft grass. She hurried toward Lyssa, and the women took up positions on either side of the door. Aisha moved well, considering