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“You seem to be under the impression that I work for you and you can give me orders. Let me fix that." I hung up.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Oh. "So the best way to fight you is to strip naked and attack?"
His eyes flashed with a wicked light. "Yes. You should try it and see what happens.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“One school of thought says that the best way to handle an issue like this is exposure therapy," Mad Rogan said. "For example, if you're terrified of snakes, repeated handling of them will cure it."
Aha. "I'm not handling your snake.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“I opened a writing app and began typing what I knew about Pierce.
Vain. Terminal fear of T-shirts or any other garment that would cover his pectorals.
Deadly. Doesn't hesitate to kill. Holding him at gunpoint would result in me being barbecued. Whee.
Likes burning things. Now here's an understatement. Good information to have, but not useful for finding him.
Antigovernment. Neither here nor there.
Hmm. So far my best plan would be to build a mountain of gasoline cans and explosives, stick a Property of US Government sign on it, and throw a T-shirt over Pierce's head when he showed up to explode it. Yes, this would totally work.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Speak to me."
"I hate you."
"Okay." Mad Rogan let go of me. "You're fine.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“If you’re really hard up, I can introduce you to my grandmother. She’s a fan.�� Adam blinked. “She doesn’t typically sleep with pretty young things, but she would make an exception in your case. You might even learn a trick or two.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Do you have a girlfriend?�� Grandma Frida asked. I put my hand over my face. “No,�� Mad Rogan said. “A boyfriend?�� Grandma Frida asked. “No.�� “What about . . .�� “No,�� Mom and I said in unison. “But you don’t even know what I wanted to ask!�� “No,�� we said again together. “Party poopers.�� Grandma shrugged.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Had I known you were going to pull a pretty ribbon out of your sleeve like some two-bit magician, tie me up with it, and indulge your mental torture fetish in your basement, I would've shot you. Many times."
"Two-bit magician?"
"Men like you enjoy being flattered.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“And let’s be honest, you weren’t exactly harmed. I even took you home.�� “You dumped me on my doorstep. According to my mother, I looked half dead.�� “Your mother exaggerates. A third dead at most.�� I stared at him. Wow. Just wow.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Can you turn so you’re not pressed against me?��

“I could,�� he said, his voice amused. “But then you would have to lie on top of me.��

My brain said, “NO.�� My body went, “Wheee!”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Now that was a kiss,�� Grandma Frida said from the doorway behind me.

I jumped. “How long have you been there?��

“Long enough. That man means business.��

All my words tried to come out at once. “I don’t . . . what . . . asshole! . . . screw himself for all I care!��

“Aww, young love, so passionate,�� Grandma said. “I’m going to buy you a subscription to Brides magazine. You should start shopping for dresses.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“What are your qualifications for this job?�� she asked. “I’m expendable,�� I said.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“I have a family full of quirky people. Someone has to be sensible so all of you can enjoy being reckless weirdos.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“If you keep wiggling, things might get uncomfortable,�� he said into my ear, his voice like a caress. “I’m doing my best, but thinking about baseball only takes you so far.�� I froze.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“He glanced at me, his eyes dark. "Would you rather talk about your dream?"
"No."
"Considering that I was featured in it, I think I deserve to know the particulars. Were my clothes missing because we were in bed? Was I touching you?" He glanced at me. His voice could've melted the clothes off my body. "Were you touching me?”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Maybe I should drive,�� Troy said. “She knows what she’s doing,�� Mad Rogan said. I sniffed. “What?�� “The fragrance of a genuine compliment from Mad Rogan. So rare and sweet.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Did you send an escort with my family?�� “Yes. They’re a target.�� “How did you know they would be leaving?�� “My people saw them load up, called me, and I told them to follow.�� Duh. “Thank you.�� “You’re welcome. I plan to hold them hostage until you sleep with me.�� I stumbled. He turned and gave me a brilliant, impossibly handsome smile. “Just kidding.�� Damn it.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“You don’t have the touching rights.�� “How do I get those?�� Stop being a self-absorbed spoiled baby. “You get those if I fall in love with you.�� He stopped. “In love. You’re serious?�� “Yes.�� That would shut him up. “What is this, the sixteenth century? Should I write you a sonnet next?�� “Is it going to be a good sonnet?”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Call her out,�� Arabella said.
“Tell her Rogan is yours!�� Grandma Frida pumped her fist.
“Don’t let her take your man!�� Leon declared.
We all looked at him.
“I was feeling left out,�� he said.”
― Ilona Andrews, Wildfire

“All men are liars. All women are liars, too.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“She who showed weakness to teenagers would be picked on to death. True fact of life.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“I can buy your contract.�� “No, you can’t. Any sale of our mortgage requires my consent, and I won’t consent to it.�� He grinned. “You don’t want to work under me?�� “I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“Should I bring my own chains this time? Or do you have bigger plans, and this is some sort of freaky murder foreplay”—why did the word foreplay just come out of my mouth?—“and I’ll end up cut up into small pieces inside some freezer at the end? I can just spray myself with mace and shoot myself in the head now and save you the trouble.”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“He hung up and glanced at me. "I'm sorry, I have to take care of business. It can't wait, but I'll keep it short."
"Not a problem. I'll busy myself with being seen and tossing my hair. Would you like me to twirl it on my finger while biting my lip?"
"Could you?"
"No, sorry." I grinned at him”
― Ilona Andrews, Burn for Me

“I don’t care,�� Nevada said. “I want blue lilacs.��

And I want to fly away from here, but that wouldn’t happen anytime soon, would it?

“Anyway, I have to get back to the office,�� Nevada said. “Text me if anything.��

“The queen has dismissed us,�� Arabella announced.

I dropped into a deep curtsy. “Your Majesty.��

“I hate you guys.��

“We hate you back,�� Arabella told her.

“We hated you before the wedding.��

“Before it was cool to hate you.��

“Get out!�� Nevada growled.”
― Ilona Andrews, Diamond Fire

“Shit" Bug said, his face sour. "It's that thing again. We've been dealing with it since Pierce. You think you have a lead and then poof" - he made a puffing motion with his fingers - "it melts into nothing and all you have is frustration and the far noise your face makes when you hit you desk with it."

Fart.... what?”
― Ilona Andrews, White Hot

“Now Rogan had to show up.
The word of his previous failure to appear must’ve spread, because the entire family found their way to the kitchen one by one. Bern was reading a textbook in the corner. Grandma Frida sat next to me and attempted to knit something that was probably a scarf but looked like a brilliant attempt at a Gordian knot. My mother rearranged the tea drawer, which she’s never done since we’ve had one. Arabella sat across from me, her gaze glued to her cell phone. Catalina sat on my left, texting furiously. Zeus lounged under the table by my feet, and Cornelius was drinking tea across the table. Even Leon wandered in and leaned against the wall, waiting.

Nobody was talking.

“Just out of curiosity,�� Cornelius said, “if Rogan doesn’t arrive, will all of you skin him alive?��

“Yes,�� everyone except me said at the same time.

I sighed.”
― Ilona Andrews, Wildfire

“You’ll get to watch her die. The last thing you’ll see before all that magic you spent puts you under will be my hands on her throat.��

He was doing to Rogan exactly what he’d tried to do to Cornelius. No. You don’t.

“I’ll break her. You’ll hear her bones snapping.��

My teeth clicked from the cold. “Hurry up. We don’t have all day.��

David’s eyes gleamed. “Ready to die?��

“Matilda got your email,�� I told him. “You sent a death threat to a little girl. You’re a piece of shit. Look at me. Look at my eyes. Do I look scared?��

David blinked.

“You’re a wart,�� I told him. “You need to be removed. I’ll do it and three months from now nobody will remember your name.”
― Ilona Andrews, White Hot

“[Rynda] fell silent, then glanced at Bug. “Could you get me some coffee?��

“No,�� Bug said.

She blinked.

“I’m a surveillance specialist, not a waiter,�� Bug said, his diction perfect, his voice flat. “The coffee is on the kitchen counter over there. Help yourself.��

She opened her mouth and closed it.

“Nevada?�� Bug said.

Don’t do it, don’t do it . . .

“Would you like some coffee?��

“No, thanks.�� Ass.

“Because I’ll totally get it for you.��

Rynda got up and walked to the kitchen counter, glancing in Rogan’s direction for a moment.

“You’re being cruel,�� I murmured.

“Sue me,�� Bug whispered back.”
― Ilona Andrews, Wildfire

“You’re wasting my time,�� I said. “Just say everyone I know and love is dead. It’s more efficient.��

He laughed quietly. “You’re mouthy.��
“And you’re a psychopath.��

“You say it like it’s a bad thing. It’s practically a requirement for people in our position.��

“Yes, well, David Howling did it better.��

“Rogan won’t always be there to do your dirty work.��

“Rogan didn’t kill David. I did. He fought me for his life and lost. The next time we meet I’ll pull every dirty secret out of your mind and lay them out in the open. When I’m done, you’ll curl into a ball and weep, just like all the others. That’s how you threaten, Vincent.”
― Ilona Andrews, Wildfire