Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Chronically broody, Dagon was a skilled liar and manipulator. The ever-narcissistic Abraxas was preoccupied with beauty and sought to charm women. Belial was probably a little insane, really—the only joy the mercurial sadist found in life came from hurting, degrading, and shaming others.
And currently, they were all focused on the woman in front of them.
It was a typical scenario around Little Miss Naomi Chamberlain—he’d learned her name from the background check he’d done on her. It had revealed nothing of note. She lived a simple, quiet life. She spent most of her free time alone at home, only venturing out when going to work, shopping, visiting her parents, or meeting up with her psi-mate.
If Luka didn’t know any better, he’d think it all bullshit. The picture the dossier painted was just a little too pretty for a demon—especially one who’d grown up around imps.
“The place is as busy as ever,” he observed aloud.
She glanced at him over her shoulder before pushing open a door. “It’s fast become a staple in this area of Vegas. Not a shocker. As I told you once before, you won’t find better pizza elsewhere.”
She had told him that, Luka recalled as he followed her through the door and along a hallway. ‘That’s a bold claim,’ he’d replied back then, to which she’d said, ‘And a fact. I’ll be surprised if you don’t become a return customer. It’s rare that people don’t come again.’
He’d returned twice, but it wasn’t merely for the good food. It was for her. He would have made a move on first meeting her, but he’d not long ago walked away from a fling. He liked to leave a short period between such arrangements. So he’d waited. Watched her. Bided his time.
Arriving at another door, she paused. “Here we are.”
Reaching out to the twins on their telepathic channel, Luka said, Wait here. They only nodded in response.
He didn’t anticipate any issues cropping up. Jolene Wallis was unpredictable with a splash of crazy, but they had a tentative alliance—one they’d formed when his anchor and her daughter began spending time with several of Jolene’s imps, including the woman’s granddaughters.
He followed Naomi into the private dining room. It was cozy and stylish, featuring only a table and six chairs.
Decked out in a simple blouse, pencil skirt, and high heels, Jolene rose from the table, a smile on her face that somehow seemed both welcoming and shrewd. “Luka, always a pleasure.”
“Jolene,” he greeted smoothly as Dagon observed her intently, always recognizing a fellow master manipulator.
Jolene waved Luka into the chair opposite her own as she lowered herself back into it.
“Your waitress will be with you in a few moments to take your orders,” Naomi announced, laying the two menus in the center of the table.
Jolene cast her a smile. “Thank you, Naomi.”
“Enjoy your meal,” Naomi said before breezing out of the room.
Luka’s entities all grumbled their annoyance, only placated by the knowledge that he would speak to her again before he left the pizzeria.
His skin still tingled slightly from how the notes of her song had played over him, searching and exploring; looking for some weakness to exploit so it could drag him under its spell. It had failed, but that wasn’t to say he didn’t still intend to have her in his bed.
He skimmed his gaze around the room. “Just how many hidden bugs and cameras are in here?”
“Maybe none. Maybe many.” Jolene waved away his concern and nabbed a menu. “I don’t plan on asking personal questions. I only hope for us to come to an agreement about something.”
Luka felt his eyes narrow. “If you’re intending to request that I grant your lair admittance to Infernal, my answer will be a resounding no.” Imps as a species were barred from his illegal gambling club due to their habit of cheating and stealing.
“Nothing like that,” she assured him. “I seek only your cooperation.”
He grabbed the other menu. “Cooperation on what, exactly?”
At that moment, a young waitress entered the room. Luka and Jolene gave their orders for drinks and food, and the girl left.
He snapped his menu shut and lowered it to the table. “So?” he prompted, ignoring Abraxas’ put-out sigh—it didn’t want to talk to Jolene, it wanted to track down the pretty siren.
“Iain Forrester,” Jolene threw out. “He’s one of your demons, correct?”
It hadn’t really been a question. “You know he is.”
“He’s also being a major pain in the ass. It can’t be allowed to continue.”
Luka fought a frown. “Expand on that.”
“He dated one of my demons. They were together a little over four weeks—nothing serious, just light and fun. Although it’s been three months since they parted ways, he won’t let it go. Won’t let her go. He bombards her with texts, turns up at her house, and sends her gifts.”
Luka couldn’t wrestle back a frown this time, because that didn’t sound like Iain.