Page 42 of Demons & Damnation

Sam snorted. “If Dylan wanted to take you on, he certainly wouldn't make a point of making himself memorable to you. Besides, you wouldn’t even know he was there. You’d be dead before you knew it.”

Adam smirked. “Is that so?”

“He’s a private contractor for the military,” Sam continued. “Whatever they don’t want their lads to do, he does, off the books.”

“I see,” he replied, nodding. “I’d better sleep with one eye open then.”

Ben shot his brother a glare of ‘shut the fuck up’ before clearing his throat and changing the topic. “I hope you both managed to sleep last night?” He turned to Kyla and asked, “Have you done anything about your car yet?”

She shook her head. “It’s Sunday. My insurance company is closed. It’ll be my first job tomorrow before I go to work.”

“At that pub, right?” Adam asked. “That’s where you work?”

Kyla nodded.

“Full time?”

“Yes. Why?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders, a speck of glee lighting up in his eyes. “Just asking. Making conversation. Nothing more.”

Kyla narrowed her eyes at him. “Before you get all judgemental that I ‘only work in a pub’ just remember that I have bills to pay like any other person around here. Me working in a pub is no different to people working in McDonald’s or a supermarket. It all helps the world go round.”

Adam quirked an eyebrow up. “I never said a word.”

“You didn’t need to. Your face said it all.”

Miranda reappeared then, asking Adam and Ben if they were ready to order. They both ordered a full English with black coffee.

Just as Miranda walked away, Kyla’s phone rang. When she saw Keith flash up on the screen, she let out a groan of frustration.

“Everything ok?” Sam asked.

Kyla showed her who was calling. “He’s going to want me to go in. I want a weekend off. Just one whole weekend. Is that too much to ask?”

Sam giggled. “He can’t bear to not see you for more than twenty-four hours.”

Kyla flipped the bird at her unsupportive friend before pressing the green answer button on her phone.

“Hello? Kyla?” Keith said.

“Yes, Keith. Hello.”

“Um, I’m terribly sorry to intrude on your weekend but is there any chance you could cover Amy’s shift today? The poor dear was in that club last night when it collapsed and she’s terribly distraught. Such a near death experience has shaken the poor little lamb up.”

Kyla rolled her eyes. “I was in the club when it happened, too, Keith.”

“Oh, oh my goodness. How awfully frightening that must have been. Are you ok?”

“I’m alive, Keith, yes.”

“Well, you have always been such a strong girl, never one to be beaten by anything, hey?” He let out a nervous laugh, all but barking into Kyla’s ear. “Do you think you can be here in the next half an hour?”

Kyla let out a sigh. She didn’t want to go in. Sunday’s were the worst day. The pub was always overflowing with people, people who were delusional enough to think that Keith’s cooking was the bees knees and his carveries were the best for miles around. That meant a sweaty, stressed Keith who would have a pub full until close. However, extra shifts meant extra cash and she definitely needed more of that.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Wonderful, Kyla. Thank you so much, dear. I’ll see you soon.”

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