Chapter 17 · Grind, Loot, Survive - Chapter 17: Uninvited Guest

"Milo Kade, Glitch host. Stop hiding."

The Cleaner didn't knock. He kicked the back door off its hinges and it hit the wall with a crack that shook dust off the ceiling.

Red light flooded the room. That lockdown whine started screaming.

"Wrong guy," I said. My hands were already up. "Seriously. Common name. You want the other Milo Kade."

The guy in the doorway didn't blink. Grey coat, grey face, like someone turned the saturation down. And next to him — that thing. Not a dog. Too long. Too many teeth. Its nose twitched and it stared right at my left wrist where my sigil was trying to burn through my sleeve.

"Down," the Cleaner said to it. Not to me.

"Who the hell are you?" Selene snapped. She stepped in front of me. One step. Shoulder to my chest, blade already half out. "This is a private residence. You don't have a warrant."

"Council Cleaner. Tier Four." He showed a black badge for like half a second. "You are harboring an unregistered anomaly. Move, Huntress. This isn't your problem."

"She's not harboring anything," Bram said from the corner. Hands up too, but his voice was smooth. Salesman smooth.