Page 67 of Demitri

All of them are looking defeated, when Aunt Linda adds in the pièce de résistance. “Waffles are on me at Sandy’s in the morning.”

The collective gasp from my friends makes her smile. She knows she’s got us.

“I don’t think I like you very much,” Grace calmly tells her. “You don’t play fair.”

“Never have, never will. And I can teach you my ways. At my place. Go tell Brodie you’re leaving. Bring the chips and salsa.”

I hang my head and turn to the window. How does she do this? How does she always get her way? And, really, how the fuck does she know so much? I hear Demitri’s voice in my head saying, ‘Aunt Linda knows all’.

Guess we’re having a sleepover. In Briar Mountain.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DEMITRI

“Sorry we didn’t geta formal greeting before all that, but I’m James Covey.” The tall man sticks out his hand, and I shake it.

“John Smith.”

“Or Demitri Pavlov.” He grins. “I’m the lawyer who processed your name change for Aunt Linda.”

“Oh. Well, nice to meet you. Did you say Covey?”

“Yes.”

“You know Grace?”

“My paralegal.”

The possessiveness in his voice with those two words catches me off guard.

“She’s nice.”

“Yes, she is. And she’s off limits.”

“Let you in on a little secret,” I tell him, leaning in. “All my limits start and end with Mia. Your Grace is just a friend.”

He straightens up, and I swear if he were wearing a tie, he’d adjust it. “She’s not ‘my’ Grace.”

“Oh, my bad. Anyway, thanks for your help with Luka tonight.”

“It’s what I do.”

Without another word, he turns away from me and speaks in hushed tones to Grady before leaving.

“What did you say to him?” Grady asks after we watch the other man leave.

“I just asked if he’s who Grace works for. Man straight up looked like he wanted to kill me for even knowing she exists.”

Grady laughs. “He’s, umm, protective of his paralegal.”

“You could say that again. Thanks for your help with Luka. Glad you didn’t have to kill him.”

“I don’t kill them.” He gives me a scary as fuck grin. Seriously, I think he’s been taking notes from Joker. That guy’s terrifying. “Just maim them every once in a while.”

“What’s going to happen to the other guy?”

“He was dropped off at the police department. His full confession taped and delivered.”

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