“Leave him be,” Poe interrupted. “He’s telling the truth.”

As a mentalist whose power few humans could match, Poe knew I wasn’t lying. Though he wasn’t able to read my mind, my devilish genetics distorting his readings, he could still pull off a surface scan, which told him all he needed to know. It worked better than any lie detector I’d ever seen.

Marcus growled like a dog who didn’t want to relinquish a bone. I could almost see the rusty wheels in his head spinning as he mulled over his options. None of them were good for me.

Poe’s icy eyes narrowed. “We’re done here, Mr. D’anatello.” He laid a narrow hand on Marcus’s shaking arm when the big man didn’t respond. “Now is not the time for your personal vendetta.” There was a finality in his voice, which was hard to ignore. Marcus huffed and lowered his fist with reluctance. He glared at me, straightening his tie unconsciously. It looked more like he was strangling it.

“You’ll be seeing me again, Trigg.”

“Always a pleasure.” I tried to give him a welcoming smile, but judging from the look on his face

I missed my mark. I probably should have kept my tongue in my mouth.

He backed up about ten feet, his cold eyes on me the whole time, then turned and stormed out of the alley. Poe cast one last piercing glance in my direction before he strolled off after Marcus. Once they were gone, I pulled myself to my feet, grunting. My head still throbbed on both sides. I ran my hand across the back of my shaved scalp and felt a small cut dribbling with blood, but nothing major. I touched the knot on my forehead and hissed. That was a good one. The bastard hit like a freight train. The things I do for people.