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)
Stefan pulled his arm free, eyeing her uncertainly. “I have to go.” He spared Tobe one last very unhappy look and then scampered.
Naomi looked at her mother, who was dusting her palms together. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”
“Loved it,” said Tia.
“I loved it.” Tobe bowed to the woman. “That was quite a performance. Brav-the-fuck-o.”
“Whose name does he want?” Yuliya asked. “He was so careful with his word choices that I couldn’t understand exactly who or what he was talking about.”
Well of course Stefan had been careful. He wouldn’t want the world to know that he used a ghost artist.
“Just one of my contacts,” Tobe answered vaguely.
Naomi turned to him. “How long was he here?”
“He walked in shortly after you.” He’s getting desperate, Nome, Tobe telepathically added. I’d admire his tenacity if it wasn’t aimed my way.
Do you think he followed you here?
Not sure. “Can we go do some jewelry shopping now? My grandmother has so many brooches it’ll be hard to find her one that she doesn’t already own. It ain’t gonna be a quick process.”
“We can go,” Naomi told him. “Just as soon as you put back whatever merchandise you pocketed.”
He put a hand to his chest. “You think I’d steal from my anchor’s mom?”
“I think you’d steal from your mom, so why not mine? Besides, you do it without even noticing a lot of the time.”
Tia sighed. “It’s like a compulsion with imps. I think many of them are kleptomaniacs, because they don’t even need half the shit they take. Tobe, either hand back what you swiped or lube yourself up to prepare for a thorough body search.”
With a curse, he patted himself down, producing a spell candle, a mini figurine of a saint, a dreamcatcher keyring, and a tarot deck—all of which he seemed to conjure out of thin air.
Yuliya’s jaw dropped. “But you were right in front of me the whole time you were here. How did I not notice you take anything?”
“He’s just that good,” Naomi told her.
Tobe smirked. “Yeah, I’m that good.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Breezing through the doors of Infernal later that evening, Naomi glanced around. Wow.
She’d heard plenty about the gambling den, but she’d never actually been inside before. The rumors were evidently true—it was stylish and striking and inviting.
It also wasn’t lacking in patrons. But then neither were any other gambling venues available for demons. Her kind became addicted to the rushes.
She knew where to find Luka—he’d given her clear directions to the VIP area when they’d telepathically chatted earlier today. Heading that way, she slowly wound through the various machines and tables.
Originally, they’d planned for her to go to his place. But, as it sometimes went, he’d gotten called away. Rather than them reschedule, he’d asked her to instead come to him. She’d agreed.
He’d make it worth her while for sure.
As Naomi approached the manned set of steps that led to the VIP area, she gave the demon there her name and informed him that Luka was waiting for her. He confirmed it with someone through his earpiece and then unclipped the rope, allowing her to pass.
She’d no sooner reached the top step than she came face to face with Ella.
The redhead cast her a bright smile. “Oh, hi. Luka said you were coming. How’re things with you?”
“Great. You?”
“Never better.” Her brows slid together as her gaze dipped down to Naomi’s neck. “What happened?”
“Hmm?”
“Some of your concealer is smudged, and I can make out a small bruise. Did someone hurt you?” Outrage flared in the incantor’s eyes. “Luka’s gonna freak.”
Unlikely. “Luka has already seen it. Belial put it there, along with several other fingerprint brands that look like bruises.”
Amusement chased away the ire in Ella’s gaze. “Oh, I see. Belial’s kind of a law unto itself.”
“Yeah, I got that.” It branded Naomi often, and the marks were never pretty. Welts, bites, stuff like that.
Ella edged forward. “If I wasn’t in a rush, I’d ask you to give me the gossip on you and Luka.”
Naomi felt her brow crease in surprise. “He’s your anchor. Surely he talks to you.”
“He’s tight-lipped when it comes to a lot of things—you included, as it turns out. He won’t even confirm any guesses I make.”
“Sounds like he’s just dicking with you.”
“Hmm, maybe. Well, I have to go, or I’ll be late for the movie; the girls will be waiting for me. I’d invite you to come along, but Luka would kill me if I managed to drag you away. Hey, you should come to our girls’ night next Saturday at the Xpress bar. Originally it was only supposed to be me and Piper. Somehow, it became all her co-workers plus one of Knox’s sentinels, Larkin.”
Naomi pursed her lips. “Should be an interesting evening. I’m up for it.”
Ella beamed at her. “Great! I’ll get Khloë to pass on specifics once we have them.”