Page 60 of Love & Heart Braking

“He didn’t tell me his name in return, but I can only think of one reason why.” I inhaled, pain curling around my heart. “He must be the daemon that drained and killed my father.”

Devereaux’s harsh curse about summed it up. “Shit, Cerys.” He took my hand.

Yep.

“What will you do?” he asked.

A great question.

Did I try to save the descendant who killed my parents? Because my gut reaction was hell fucking no.

13

I ripped Pick Up’s signage off the front windows, wrinkling my nose at the events marketing sex, sex, sex, and more sex.

I better not catch a disease off this shit. The paper wasn’t even that great, not shiny at all. Lucky for us the person who’d replaced Fenton had been terrible at her job—she didn’t plan any events that we’d need to honor. Which was good because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stomach them.

Soleil was speaking with the builders. As I shoved the last of the posters and signs into a large rubbish bag, she walked over.

“Have you got time before seeing Vera to discuss a few things?” she asked in a clipped voice.

“Sure do.” I wasn’t sure what transpired between her and Bain recently, but she’d been in a foul mood since. A sleepless night and Devereaux’s current whereabouts had put me in a foul mood too. Plus, with each passing second, I expected to receive a message from Vera canceling our meeting.

Soleil clasped a folder to her side, looking relaxed but classy in her jeans, white T-shirt, and blazer. “We need to decide who to promote out of our current cupids to run the show here.”

We’d retain the current cupids employed at Pick Up on a trial basis. They had three months to show they could make the switch from sex to the real stuff—which I assumed wouldn’t be an issue considering their type. “Promote Rolli.”

Soleil’s gaze found mine. “Oh?”

“He’s got the most natural talent.”

“Enzo has the most experience.”

“There’s enough experience amongst the Pick Up cupids to run the show. What we need is the authenticity to go with the experience. Rolli exudes that without trying.”

Because he was more powerful.

Soleil folded her arms. “Okay, Rolli it is. We need to hire someone to help me too.”

Between two branches—and one of them new—she’d be stretched thin. “No one promising from the applicants?”

“Nope.”

“We need another Austin. Just one that isn’t double-crossing us.”

“He really was almost competent at his job,” she said sourly.

I lifted a shoulder. “Why not hire him to bridge the gap then?” Still living in Soleil’s apartment, the phoenix was occupying himself by poring through law books and every inch of his betrothal contract to Smolder—with Bain and Devereaux’s help.

“You must be kidding.”

“Not really. He’s in our... club. And he knows everything too. Not like he can do more damage.”

Soleil’s gaze narrowed, but she pursed her lips. I’d been half-kidding about rehiring him, but she seemed to consider my words.

“Sign’s all done,” a boggart in a dusty cap squeaked up at us.

We walked out of the new premises and perused her work.

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