Tricking Loki by Marteeka Karland, Shara Azod Page A

did know his nephew had the brain of a thousand-year-old and the powers of his father, all wrapped up in an irresistible little package.
    Simply put, trouble.
    “Aren’t you supposed to be with your parents?” Loki asked without looking to his side. Looking at the child was not wise. In a heartbeat, the kid would have him wrapped around his little finger. He was Loki, damn it, not some child’s servant.
    “I missed you.” Lies. The child spoke lies. And Loki believed him wholeheartedly, even melted a little. “Why are you sitting on the roof staring into that lady’s apartment?”
    Was he? Well, hell, he was. It was the third time this week Loki had found himself in this depressing part of Atlanta, staring into the same apartment window, watching the inhabitant cry every night. Oh, he knew why she cried. She was broke. Bills were piling up, she had no way to pay, she would probably lose her apartment, and yet every morning she got up and started her grueling day. It started cleaning houses for people who treated her like something underneath their shoe.
    Then she moved on to work in a classy restaurant she would never be able to afford to eat at herself. Tips were surprisingly skimpy. Yet Loki had witnessed people eating at mediocre places tipping far, far more than the affluent in the city. Odd people these were. After the sun went down, the woman moved on to waitress some more for a catering company.
    This was perhaps the part of the woman’s day Loki hated the most. Drunkards always tried to corner her lush figure. Men whispered disgusting things into her ear. Things, if he were honest, he would have to admit he wanted to do to her. Somehow she always managed to slip out of these situations, but as the season got jollier, he doubted she would be able to do it much longer.
    Why was he watching her? He should be off trying to find himself someone to lose himself in for a night or two, spread a little Jól cheer. Right now she was about to go out to her last job of the day, and he knew he would probably follow her. And damn it, he didn’t want to. The woman unnerved him.
    “I like to see human misery,” he lied. Of course the child would know better. Perceptive little creature Thorn was.
    “Well, let’s go turn her shower water into ice, or put worms in her hair!” Thorn jumped up and down with glee.
    What the Hel? “NO!” His reaction was visceral. He hadn’t meant to yell. What did he care about some sad little human woman?
    He quickly turned to his nephew, expecting to see tears, or at least sadness on his little face. By Odin, he could not stand it when the little fucker was upset. Because it was irritating. That was why.
    Only Thorn didn’t look upset at all. He looked...something. Loki couldn’t really tell what.
    “Why?” Thorn demanded. Generally, Loki resorted to taking his nephew out to play pranks since Thor was usually occupied . A caveat was it always had to be someone bad that they played a trick on. It was weird the kid would want to play a trick on an innocent. Probably bored. Possibly warped by all that love and affection his parents display all the time.
    “Because I am bored with her.” Man, he was getting bad at lying. So weird.
    “Fine.” The child sighed before a wicked gleam lit his eyes. “I am going to have some fun.”
    Before Loki could stop him, Thorn disappeared. And Loki had a pretty good idea where he could find the little scamp.

Chapter Two
     
    Of all the places Rainey wanted to be, working at yet another catered party for the Comptons was not it. Not only was it right before Christmas, but the Comptons were richer than rich and usually had wandering hands. As did their guests. Given this was a bachelorparty for their eldest, she knew it would be worse than usual.
    Going to her closet, she chose the modest-length black skirt and long-sleeved white blouse, with a red tie at her collar. Black nylons and black pumps with a low heel completed her outfit. Her hair was