Page 49 of Graveyards & Greed

Staring back at her blankly, my mind raced with visions of pierced nipples and leather floggers. Unfortunately, the black widow sitting in front of me probably still had a couple of husbands left to bury, but I decided this would be the last time the Palm Desert Oasis Mortuary assisted her with a funeral. I didn’t want her bad Karma or vicious gossip anywhere near me.

“Can you get me a list of your speakers and any music or hymns for the program?”

She looked disappointed she hadn’t drawn a response. “I’ll email it over. I still have your email from the last time. Las Vegas is such a small town in many ways.” Her eyes glinted with malicious mischief. “Everyone seems to know everyone else’s business.”

“Apparently,” I murmured.

I didn’t care what she said, but I did care about Drakos whipping some woman’s breasts and pussy, then fucking her in the ass with his long, thick cock. The scent of lemon polish mingled oddly with Julia's overpowering lavender perfume, and I felt sick to my stomach.

The headache I had been trying to fight off all day hit me full force as I finished prepping a body that afternoon. Along with my pounding temples, my heart sank as I thought about what Julia Schatzman had told me. After cleaning up, I pulled a can of coconut water out of my small fridge and downed it with two ibuprofen.

When I finally collapsed into my office chair early that evening, I knew what I had to do. Hunching over my phone, I agonized about what to text Drakos as the glow of the screen cast an eerie light. Dusk came early in the winter months here. My thumbs hovered as images of Drakos surrounded by those two women swam through my mind. Then I wondered if he’d fucked them at The Emporium, and if one of them had been the woman he’d shared with Roman.

My heart squeezed painfully as I flashed through the past week. It had been so… wonderful. I thought of the evenings spent on his rooftop garden, our late-night conversations, and his expert hands and mouth working over my body. Then I thought of those same hands on other women.

I needed to be realistic and protect my heart. Biting down on my lip, I typed out a message that would put some space between us.

Sylvie: My cousins and I can handle OutKast. Let’s call it a day and not make this complicated

The words loomed on my screen, and I sucked in a breath, hit send, then stuffed my phone in my bag and went out to talk with Milo.

“There’s been a change of plans. Look, I appreciate you watching out for me, but Fenn and Kilian have people for this kind of thing. Thank you—and tell Drakos thanks. But seriously, go home.” I patted his forearm awkwardly.

He scrutinized me. “Drakos said that you’d be going to his loft this evening, and he asked me to make sure you got there safely.”

I exhaled. “I’m not going anywhere else tonight. Thanks again, and have a good night.”

When I unlocked my door and entered, only the dark, quiet apartment welcomed me. Drakos never responded to my text, and over the next two days, I maintained the same routine. Milo came back and watched the mortuary during the day and then accompanied me to my apartment in the evening. I didn’t have the heart to run him off, and I’d started to get used to his bland, quiet company.

Fenn and I also bounced ideas around regarding dealing with OutKast, but we hadn’t come to a consensus yet. Fenn wanted death and destruction, and I wanted to avoid prison time.

On the third evening, Carl met me at the door. “Hello, little man. Are you hungry?” I picked him up and gave him cuddles he didn’t want. As I changed my clothes, a text came in on my phone. My heart jumped—like it had every time I got a text. I tried to deny my disappointment as I saw Luna’s name on my screen.

Luna: Come over for dinner tonight. I haven’t seen you in forever, and I need someone to help me annoy Roman

I didn’t want to be here alone, wallowing in my thoughts and missing Drakos, so I decided to go.

Sylvie: Sounds good

Luna: You can bring Drakos

Well, fuck. In all the drama, I’d forgotten about Roman’s threat to tell Luna. I ignored her last text.

Sylvie: What time, and what can I bring?

Luna: Nothing and seven. We’re also going to have a little chat. Roman said you’ve beenLIVINGWITH HIM

Sylvie: Quit texting me in all caps. It’s annoying

Luna: You are in so much trouble, LYING LIAR. And quit texting me while I’m texting you, I have to keep changing my text. See you soon

She sent me the middle finger emoji. I hadn’t known there was such an emoji. I definitely needed to use it on Fennick.

By the time I pulled into Luna’s driveway, I felt depressed and just wanted to turn around and go back home to hide under my covers and sleep. I needed the thoughts in my head and the ache in my chest to go away.

The night air was crisp, nipping playfully at my exposed skin. I reached the sanctuary of Roman and Luna's oversized front door when a shadow detached itself from the darkness. An all-too-familiar voice made me freeze.

“Are you avoiding me, Lollipop? I never thought I’d see a Spade be such a coward.”

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