Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“I can give you until midnight tomorrow. Any more than that, we risk some of the people on that list croaking. Tractor deaths are on the rise.”
He was unsure what a tractor was, but all right. “I will give you my reply tomorrow.”
She handed him the piece of paper. “You might want to give this a read while you’re chewing on my proposal.”
He placed the paper in his pocket.
She added, “Oh, and you are to tell no one of my offer, vampire. I mean it. If you do, it’s off.”
He nodded and left the horrible room to find Damien waiting upstairs.
“Well?” Damien asked eagerly. “How did it go?”
“I am unsure.”
“Did Cimil agree to let both women live?”
What part of he was unsure sounded confusing? “I did my part and asked. I suggest you discuss the goddess’s answer with her yourself. I will wait outside. This place makes me uneasy.” Too many colors.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Damien was officially in panic mode. Cimil had refused to change her mind. Why was she so set on inflicting suffering?
And then she has the gall to offer up advice as if she were my friend? Her exact words were, “I suggest instead of thinking with your long hard one, you think long and hard about what you’re getting on the inside. You have until the end of the day tomorrow to make your choice. Sky, the woman who lights up your heart? Or Willa, the woman who broke it?”
For fuck’s sake. If it came down to his heart, of course he’d choose Sky. She was a good woman who always wanted to do right. She inspired him to be a better man. No, that was wrong. Also, a cliché.
She inspires me to be less of a deadly selfish bastard.
Willa was the opposite, though that didn’t negate the fact he still felt deeply for her. They had history. Long ago, he loved her. She once carried his child. How could he let her die?
Damien entered his house, which he’d obtained as payment during his time as a fixer. One of his clients, a vampire before the Great Explosion, had been filmed drinking five women. It had taken several weeks and thousands in bribes to clean up the mess, and this house had been given as payment. Five bedrooms, infinity pool, outdoor bar, rooftop lounging area, spacious garage, and a five-hundred-square-foot closet just for his suits. All overlooking Sunset.
“I’m ready for a night of greasy chow mein, fine scotch, and a hot shower,” Damien grumbled, placing his delivery order on the app as they entered the living room. He’d barely had time to clean up or eat after arriving home this afternoon. “Maxton, there is a basement that belonged to the prior owner—his vampire sex dungeon. It’s now a wine cellar, but…” Damien looked up to see the entire gang assembled. “What the hell are you all doing here?”
“I thought you might want company,” said Bonbon, sitting on Damien’s white sofa next to Gorgonzolina and Pet with a giant bowl of popcorn. A movie with talking dogs played on the TV.
Not again. The last time they’d had movie night, they left grease stains and fur all over the fabric. Took him three days to clean it.
Damien exhaled slowly with contempt. “I just spent…an entire week…in the jungle…with you imbeciles. And I distinctly recall dropping you all off at the shop earlier and telling you to make yourselves scarce.” He needed to rest. “Leave.”
“Okay, we’ll stay and keep you and Maxton company.” Pet looked at Maxton. “I can help you shower if you like. I’m very handy with a loofa. Also, handies.” She winked.
Damien winced. “I do not advise letting her anywhere near your genitals, Maxton. She has very sharp teeth.”
Maxton gave Damien a look.
“I did not mean she has bitten my penis during a sex act. I am not into fairies or their kink. I merely meant she is not to be trusted.”
“You are a mean man, Damien Greystone. Oh look! Your favorite scotch.” She flew straight for the bottle and began gyrating on the neck.
“There, you see,” said Damien to Maxton. “She has sworn a thousand times to stop molesting my liquor.”
“This is all very interesting,” Maxton said drably, “but I think I will take up your offer of the downstairs wine cave.”
“But I thought, maybe, we could go out?” MF interjected, appearing in the doorway wearing tight jeans, suede Victorian boots, and a shiny pleather corset. Lots of cleavage. Her long auburn hair was curled, flowing over her shoulders. “We can hit the mall—it’s open for another hour, and there are five different suit stores there.”
“Did you say suits?” Maxton arched a dark brow, his eyes flickering down at MF’s goods.
Damien didn’t care if he was or wasn’t into MF, but there was one problem. “I cannot—”
“And after that,” MF said to Maxton, “we can try the roller coaster at the amusement park. It’s best at night. Much scarier.”