Women of the Otherworld 10.5 - Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong Page A
Authors: Kelley Armstrong
Ads: Link
took, and didn’t want him wasting his time on it.”
“Nice brother,” Savannah muttered.
“How did Ethan stop him?” I asked.
Nichols shrugged. “Just talked him out of it, I guess. Convinced him he didn’t have what it took. I don’t know the whole story. That’s just the rumor. Anyway, I’m sure Ethan thought it was best for Tommy. Few years later, they opened the club together, and I think that was Ethan’s way of making it up to his brother. Tommy sure as hell doesn’t bear him any ill will. Those two are as close as ever. Still live in the same house where they grew up.”
“Okay,” Savannah said. “So obviously with Tommy’s rep, getting a fight against him would be a sweet start to my pro career. But if the club is badly managed…”
“Hell, no, it’s one of the best around. The ref missed a call. It happens. Even I didn’t see Leo cast that knockback or whatever he did. I’ll talk to Ethan and, sure, I’ll give him shit for it, but that’s just me, watching out for my boys, like I always do. Just last year, one of them…”
He launched into an anecdote to prove to Savannah he’d make a good manager. I kept her from interrupting, but as soon as he finished, she said, “So the Gallantes are good? Fair? That’s what I’ve heard, but you never know.”
“I run my boys all up and down the fight clubs in this state. Even over to Texas when the money’s right. But all other things being equal, you’ll find them fighting for Ethan and Tommy. That’s my choice and it’s theirs, too. Now, some folks will say the Gallantes are too clean to run a fight club. I say bullshit. Those boys have carved out a nice little niche in the market for those who prefer a fair fight to a bloodbath.”
“But there’s a point where you can be too fair, overly cautious,” Savannah said. “Like not wanting to call out a cheater in case you’re wrong.”
“Uh-uh. Believe me, with the Gallantes , fair means no cheating. They catch you, you’re banned for life. Lost one of my own boys that way. He was in a slump, started taking some junk, they caught him, and he was out. Out of my stable, too.”
“Sure, but what about throwing games? I heard there was an incident just a few months ago, with another teleporting half-demon. They suspect she threw the fight so her friend could cash in. If the Gallantes knew it and they let them go…”
Nichols laughed. “Oh, they didn’t let them go. Sure, the girl got away, but she left her friend stranded. And when that boy finally did leave, Tommy followed.”
The Art of Blackmail
“Man, that Ethan’s a piece of work,” Savannah said when we got into the car. “Can you believe what he did to his brother? Deciding he’s not good enough to turn pro? Tommy should have taken him into the ring years ago.”
I gazed out the window and said nothing. There’d been a time when Savannah had wanted a career as an artist, and while I’d never have denied her the chance to go to art school, part of me had wondered if encouraging her wholeheartedly had been the right thing to do.
Savannah had talent, but no more than thousands of other kids who dreamed of their first gallery opening. We’d subtly tried to steer her toward graphic design or another use for her skills so she could make a living while pursuing art on the side. She hadn’t been interested in that. She wanted to be an artist.
In the end, it was Savannah herself who changed her mind. As high school had progressed, her interest in art had waned. These days, it was only a hobby. She’d found her passion in her job. Well, not her actual job as admin assistant. What she loved were these forays into the field that she hoped would get her out of the receptionist’s chair for good. And they would, as soon as she’d matured a little more.
If Savannah had been hell-bent on art school, would I have found a way to convince her not to go? No. I
“Nice brother,” Savannah muttered.
“How did Ethan stop him?” I asked.
Nichols shrugged. “Just talked him out of it, I guess. Convinced him he didn’t have what it took. I don’t know the whole story. That’s just the rumor. Anyway, I’m sure Ethan thought it was best for Tommy. Few years later, they opened the club together, and I think that was Ethan’s way of making it up to his brother. Tommy sure as hell doesn’t bear him any ill will. Those two are as close as ever. Still live in the same house where they grew up.”
“Okay,” Savannah said. “So obviously with Tommy’s rep, getting a fight against him would be a sweet start to my pro career. But if the club is badly managed…”
“Hell, no, it’s one of the best around. The ref missed a call. It happens. Even I didn’t see Leo cast that knockback or whatever he did. I’ll talk to Ethan and, sure, I’ll give him shit for it, but that’s just me, watching out for my boys, like I always do. Just last year, one of them…”
He launched into an anecdote to prove to Savannah he’d make a good manager. I kept her from interrupting, but as soon as he finished, she said, “So the Gallantes are good? Fair? That’s what I’ve heard, but you never know.”
“I run my boys all up and down the fight clubs in this state. Even over to Texas when the money’s right. But all other things being equal, you’ll find them fighting for Ethan and Tommy. That’s my choice and it’s theirs, too. Now, some folks will say the Gallantes are too clean to run a fight club. I say bullshit. Those boys have carved out a nice little niche in the market for those who prefer a fair fight to a bloodbath.”
“But there’s a point where you can be too fair, overly cautious,” Savannah said. “Like not wanting to call out a cheater in case you’re wrong.”
“Uh-uh. Believe me, with the Gallantes , fair means no cheating. They catch you, you’re banned for life. Lost one of my own boys that way. He was in a slump, started taking some junk, they caught him, and he was out. Out of my stable, too.”
“Sure, but what about throwing games? I heard there was an incident just a few months ago, with another teleporting half-demon. They suspect she threw the fight so her friend could cash in. If the Gallantes knew it and they let them go…”
Nichols laughed. “Oh, they didn’t let them go. Sure, the girl got away, but she left her friend stranded. And when that boy finally did leave, Tommy followed.”
The Art of Blackmail
“Man, that Ethan’s a piece of work,” Savannah said when we got into the car. “Can you believe what he did to his brother? Deciding he’s not good enough to turn pro? Tommy should have taken him into the ring years ago.”
I gazed out the window and said nothing. There’d been a time when Savannah had wanted a career as an artist, and while I’d never have denied her the chance to go to art school, part of me had wondered if encouraging her wholeheartedly had been the right thing to do.
Savannah had talent, but no more than thousands of other kids who dreamed of their first gallery opening. We’d subtly tried to steer her toward graphic design or another use for her skills so she could make a living while pursuing art on the side. She hadn’t been interested in that. She wanted to be an artist.
In the end, it was Savannah herself who changed her mind. As high school had progressed, her interest in art had waned. These days, it was only a hobby. She’d found her passion in her job. Well, not her actual job as admin assistant. What she loved were these forays into the field that she hoped would get her out of the receptionist’s chair for good. And they would, as soon as she’d matured a little more.
If Savannah had been hell-bent on art school, would I have found a way to convince her not to go? No. I
Similar Books
