I jumped down from the delivery truck, head still bobbing to the bass coming from the speakers. As we started pulling pallets of supplies from the truck, my partner wasted no time cat-calling the group of ladies giggling their way into the store. I smiled and shook my head when they yelled back at him.

“Do you never get tired of being rejected, Marcus?” I asked, struggling with a few fallen packages.

“It’s not rejection. Mrs. Right just hasn’t heard my call just yet,” he replied, scratching his belly. Marcus was a burly fellow, stomach hanging way over his belt buckle. “When she does, she’s going to come running. But what about you, Mario? I’ve been delivering with you for three years and not once seen you make a move on anybody, and I see how you look at the ladies. They even wink and flirt with you.”

“Just help me get these inside,” I replied, side stepping the question.

It wasn’t that I COULDN’T have any woman that I wanted. It was quite the opposite. I could have made a single noise that would have turned the entire group of ladies attention over to me. The problem wasn’t getting her attention. If she were to get too close, she might learn what I really am and that could be very dangerous for me.

“Hey Mario, you need a signature from me?” Chloe asked, overly emphasizing her heavy chest and playing with her hair.

“Yes Ma’am, Ms. Chloe,” I replied, handing her the digital tablet for the signature. I noticed her obvious pout when I made sure she knew I wasn’t looking.

“Seriously, Mario?!” Marcus slapped me on the back and then cut his eyes from Chloe back to me.

“We have a job to do...”

“I bet you $100, you couldn’t get one of those ladies to look in your direction,” he pointed to the ladies he’d cat-called earlier.

I frowned. It would be easy money, and after a quick scan of the crowd for Hunters seeing none, I smiled. Little mischief wouldn’t hurt.

I rubbed my ear inconspicuously to shield my mouth a little and whispered “come to me.” Every woman’s eye turned to me immediately. The room suddenly felt sensual as each woman turned on their personal flirtatious lip pouts, hair flips, body sway in my direction. Every woman, but one who looked directly at me, brows furrowed.

I quickly spoke the release chant and grabbed a stunned Marcus by the elbow, dragging him towards the door.

“We gotta go, now,” I barked, not waiting for an answer.

“Did you see how they were looking at you? How did you NOT take one home after that?”

“Get in the truck,” I shouted, pulling out the keys.

A firm hand grabbed my arm and swung my back against the side of my truck, knocking the wind out of me. I knew I had worse problems, but I really worried I’d lose my job over this dent.

“Siren,” she spat, coarse brown eyes bore into me, knife at my throat.

“Hunter,” I replied, coolly. I couldn’t stop tracing her body with my eyes.

“Thought Sirens were supposed to be pale and female,” she said, distastefully.

“I can assure you I am black and all male, Hunter.”

“Careless,” she rolled her eyes. “I almost missed you until you made the Call.”

I was unsure if she was chastising herself or me when I noticed the incomplete insignia tattooing her skin.

“Trainee,” I corrected. She pulled the coils of her hair to cover it up. Her cheeks warmed. “Can I just pay you to let me go?”

“The bounty from the Guild is worth way more than you can afford.”

“Can I cut a deal with you then?” I asked. She narrowed her eyes again. “You’ve broken Guild Law by revealing me in front of a regular mortal. Least you can do is let me erase him,” I nodded to Marcus who stared at the two of us, slack jaw.

“How long will it take?”

“One week.”

“Lie.”

“Fine. We will see if you get true Hunter status after he tells the world about Underground.”

“Deal.”

“Since this will take so long,” I pressed. “If I pay you, will you please pretend to be my friend, just this week.”

“I’d rather slit your throat myself,” she said, pocketing her blade.

“Fair point.”

“WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” Asked Marcus.

We both stared at him in silence.