Page 150 of The Monster and the Masochist

“And how exactly is your… friend going to acquire evidence like this?”

I shrugged, tossing my hair over my shoulder and feigning disinterest as I examined my nails.

“It’s one of those, ‘the less you know the better,’ kind of things.” I smirked, and Nolan’s smile widened.

“Spicy. Alright. I’m in. What do you need from me?”

“Nothing yet. But when the time comes, and I’m ready to bring whatever I manage to dig up on him to the partners, I’m going to need your support. This can’t look like I’m just trying to sabotage this case because I want to get out of working it with you or some bullshit like that. I want this thing dead in the ground because, honestly, fuck that guy. This has nothing to do with making partner. It’s so far beyond that. At this point, it’s fucking personal for me, and if this plan doesn’t work and they still insist we represent him, I plan on resigning.”

Nolan’s eyebrows rose, and he gaped at me in surprise.

“You’re serious?”

“As the fucking grave.”

“Okay. Wow, shit. Alright. Yeah, for sure, Cass. If you can make a solid case against him, I’ll back it, one hundred percent.”

His instant commitment to helping me loosened something in my chest, and I found myself smiling at him again.

“Thanks, Nolan. I won’t forget this.”

He grinned back, giving me a firm nod.

“Of course. That’s what friends are for.”

My monster barked out a laugh.

‘Look at that. A real friend. How far you’ve come, little killer,’ my monster purred, and I mentally rolled my eyes.

‘I don’t have friends because it usually ends with you wanting to murder them for one reason or another.’

My monster smirked, flicking its tail lazily in amusement.

‘Murdering this one is still an option. I certainly wouldn’t say no if you were offering.’

‘You’re insufferable.’

My monster chuckled as I said goodbye to Nolan and made my way out of his office. I’d already told Alyssa I would be out for the afternoon and to hold my calls.

My next meeting wasn’t something I wanted any sort of digital record of, and when I’d asked Vox for the address to his new place, he’d sent me a pin to a house that was suspiciously close to Cleveland State, which was over an hour’s drive away.

‘Strange that the vampire has purchased a home so close to Gnomes’ college,’ my monster mused, and I scowled.

‘Don’t get me all worked up before we even get there.’ I scowled.

I had enough on my plate as it was. Worrying about Vox’s new obsession with my little sister wasn’t something I had the time or energy to deal with at the moment.

Especially considering I was about to ask for a huge favor from that asshole.

‘It was merely an observation.’

‘Yeah, well… keep your observations to yourself when it comes to Naomi.’

I sniffed irritably, but my monster just let out a low rumbling laugh.

I’d worry about what Vox’s intentions were with my sister after he got me everything I needed to terminate this case against the reverend… and if I played my cards right, I was hoping he would also be able to help me do a deep dive into Theo’s past.

If anyone could find out who had hurt Theodora, it was Vox Moretti, and I was hoping by the time he was done working his magic, I’d have everything I needed to purge the world of not one, but two disgusting predators.