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)
“Your secrets are by no means small, but that doesn’t mean he won’t accept them,” Tia added.
Naomi swallowed hard. “What if he can’t, though? What if he found out and then couldn’t look at me the same way?”
“Then we set him on fire. What else?”
A snicker popped out of her. “Yeah, what else. Now, if you’re finished, I have shopping to do with Tobe. Get your shit so we can go.”
“Only if you promise to think on all I’ve said.”
“I’ll think on all you’ve said.” It would be hard not to.
Once her mom had grabbed her purse, Naomi switched off the lamp and then moved the curtain aside so they could both exit the room.
“Will it help if I say it in a different language?” she heard Tobe ask, his tone clipped.
Looking at the cashier desk, she noted he was having some sort of confrontation with a thin guy with a ponytail who wore rather flamboyant clothing.
“Will that make the words finally penetrate?” Tobe went on.
“You’re being unreasonable,” the stranger replied. “I’m only asking for a fucking name!”
“And I’ve told you too many times to count that you’re never going to get it,” Tobe pretty much growled. “If you’d just respected their wishes, they wouldn’t have gotten annoyed by your persistence and then dropped you. This situation is of your own making.”
Her scalp prickling in suspicion, Naomi telepathed her psi-mate. Oh my God, is that Stefan?
Tobe’s mind bumped hers. Yes.
Naomi stilled. “Unreal,” she hissed low.
Tia frowned. “What is it?” Her voice was equally quiet.
Naomi leaned into her and whispered, “See that guy Tobe is talking to? That’s Stefan Brandt, the demon who hired a PI to ID me.”
Tia’s eyes widened a little. “Do you think he followed Tobe here?”
“Maybe. Either that or he spotted him when passing by and decided to take the opportunity to come talk to him.” She and Tia headed down the hall toward the desk.
“I passed on my apologies through you,” Stefan was saying.
“Only after threatening me didn’t work,” Tobe reminded him. “Then you had a damn PI bug my anchor. Do you really think I’m inclined to do anything for you at this point?”
“I called Phillips off,” Stefan claimed.
“Bullshit. He quit after Luka Belinsky threatened him.”
Stefan’s eyes flickered. Yeah, the PI had quit all right.
The pair stopped arguing as Tia and Naomi neared them. Stefan’s exasperation-filled gaze shifted to them but just as quickly returned to Tobe. He opened his mouth to speak . . . but didn’t get the chance.
Tia got right up into his space. “Well, hello there, I’m Madam Tia. You’re here for a reading, I’m guessing.”
Stefan’s brow furrowed. “Uh . . .”
“Unfortunately, the shop is about to close. But I suppose I can give you a free mini reading.” She took his hand and turned it over. Running her finger along a line on his palm, she hummed. “You’ve had many relationships. Nothing lasting or serious. That will change, though. I can’t see when she comes into your life, I just know that she will.”
He tried stifling a smile that revealed he was a pure skeptic—something that Tia wouldn’t fail to notice.
She tapped his palm. “See the way this line is curved and sloped? That tells me you are creative.” Her eyes fogged over. “I see brushes in your hand. Paintbrushes. A studio with a window that has beautiful stained glass.”
He double-blinked, his lips parting.
Naomi almost grinned. Tia was good at making people mentally reveal things. All she’d do was throw out a comment that would make them conjure up memories or scenes or images in their mind. Like now, when she’d told Stefan she saw him holding paintbrushes. He had unconsciously pictured his studio. According to Tobe, the guy did paint, he just wasn’t all that great at it.
Tia hummed again thoughtfully. “You can be stubborn. Perhaps a little materialistic, though you can certainly afford to indulge that side of yourself.” Her brow creased in concern. “I see a change there, though. You’ve lost . . . something. I don’t know what, but it’s impacting your career. The money well may dry up if you’re not careful.”
His jaw tightened, and Naomi fought the urge to laugh. A quick look at Tobe confirmed he was experiencing that same urge.
“And here we have your life line. I—” Tia gasped abruptly, her expression turning horrified.
He glanced down at where she held his hand. “Uh, ow.”
She loosened her grip. “I’m sorry, it’s . . . You need to get off the path you’re on.”
He went rigid. “Excuse me?”
“You’re seeking something. An answer. A person, maybe?” She grabbed his upper arm, a sense of urgency plastered over her face. “You must stop. If you do not, death will find you.”
Honest to God, she sounded so convincing that even Naomi got the chills. Her inner demon thought the whole thing was hilarious.