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)
Damien shook his head. “Just do me a favor, and do not provoke anyone. Let me do the talking.”
MF nodded, clearly mulling on something. “Boss?”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do about Sky and Willa?”
“I do not know,” he replied.
“Where’re they now?”
“I also do not know.” It had been a few days since he’d seen them for the first time in their new bodies. Neither woman looked the same, but he could recognize their anger anywhere. Once they learned that Cimil had brought them back so that they could both be his partners, they stormed off. Just wait until they find out about Cimil’s new terms.
Or maybe best not to tell them? Damien had no way of getting a hold of either one anyway, though Sky did have a sister and nephew. It was possible that Sky had gone to seek them out.
“It is a good thing they are not here,” he said. “It will allow me time to think with a clear head.”
“Well, you know you can’t work with both of them, right?” MF said. “That would be a disaster—your most recent fling versus your pregnant ex-lover who died at the hand of her abusive husband because you refused to rescue her?”
“Who told you that?” he snapped.
“Cimil mentioned something. Is it true?”
Yes. One hundred percent. You are a bad man, tailor, and so am I. Two peas in a pod.
“Shut the fuck up,” Damien snapped at the beast.
“Jeez. Sorry.” MF held up her hands.
“I was speaking to…never mind. It is not true. Not entirely. So drop it.” The truth was that Willa had been a witch with great ambition, so she married a duke. And yes, Damien had slept with her afterwards. And gotten her pregnant.
Damien hadn’t been opposed to running off together, but she’d had other plans. Mostly, murdering her husband and having Damien pretend to be the duke’s long-lost brother, a brother who stood to inherit all the land and titles.
Damien had wanted no part of it, so they went their separate ways. Her husband had ended up poisoning her after suspecting the baby in her belly did not belong to him. It was a tragedy Damien blamed himself for despite Willa’s role. He should have taken greater measures to protect her.
As for Sky, she’d died because he had been distracted by an annoying sex fairy—Pet—who lodged herself in his nose while he was backing up his SUV. He ran over Sky. Poor, poor woman. Looked like a pancake. I’m a monster. Even worse, they fooled around after she became a ghost. And he liked it.
“Do you still love Willa?” MF asked.
“I love no one,” Damien grumbled.
“Liar. I know you love Sky.”
“If you recall, I ejected Sky from my life the moment I made the deal with Cimil to have Sky brought back to life.”
“Ah, but you did that out of concern, because you still believe anyone you care about dies.”
It’s true, his beast said. We are a wonderful death sentence. MF knows. She’s seen me in action. Maybe someday I’ll get to slit her throat while you watch, brother.
Damien snarled, “You are not touching her.”
“What?” MF asked.
“Nothing.”
“Your beast is talking shit about me, isn’t he?” MF asked. “Well, if you’re listening, creepy parasite, you should know you don’t scare me. You’re just a dark shadow clinging to Damien’s light because you know you’re worthless without him. And that makes you a big fat nothing of a coward.”
I am going to remove your lips and tongue, MF, and sew them to your eyes so you can taste the horror I rain down upon your soul, starting with disembowel—
“Enough, you two. I need to think,” Damien growled.
“Fine, but he started it.” MF folded her arms over her chest.
“Pretend my brother does not exist, as I do, MF. And be thankful you cannot hear him.”
“Doesn’t make him any less of a sick fuck.”
True. And MF would know. She’d recently witnessed his brother’s handiwork at a dinner party. The beast had broken through Damien’s control, only to kill the host’s entire family, the staff, and security. Unfortunately, most of the victims were members of the Russian mob. Also unfortunate, someone had taken photos and mailed them to the shop. No note.
What did they want? Probably money. Damien would have to deal with that later, but it was just one more example of why it was essential to stay in control and keep those he cared for at a distance. His twin was always waiting in the wings, eager for that moment when Damien let his guard down.
“So which woman are you going to pick?” MF asked.
“I do not know. Nor will I have to worry about it if I do not convince this vampire to return to civilization. Cimil has promised to kill them both if I fail.”
“She did what?” MF’s jaw slacked.