Page 51 of Demons and Debts
I bring up the bus station schedules, taking a look at what’s going where today. I’ll have to leave the phone. I know it can be tracked, but I’ll be loath to do it. I won't be able to buy another one for some time. I mean I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’ll have anyone trying to get in touch with me.
A pang of sadness, loneliness maybe, takes me by surprise. I’m so sick of living this way. Tears come to my eyes and I sniffle as I close them, willing the waterworks away. This is no time to fall apart.
I wipe my eyes and open them, catching sight of something that has me gasping loudly and throwing myself back in the seat, my heart instantly beginning to thud hard in my chest. Paris is looming over me and even I can tell he is furious with me.
‘Get your ass up,’ he says in a quiet, steely tone that makes me shiver.
I glance around, hoping for a little help from my own kind, but no one’s looking. In fact, they’re going out of their waynotto look.
Traitors.
‘Don't you dare.’ He leans in close. ‘The Iron I’s own this town. Cause a scene now and when the supe cops get here, they won’t be taking me in, Baby Girl, they’ll be taking you and I can guarantee supe county lock-up will be a lot worse than whatever you think I’m going to do to you.’
I nod. As threats go, it’s a good one. Humans taken to supe jails don’t usually come out again; and if they do, they aren’tright. Everyone knows that.
I slowly put my phone and charger in my bag and stand up.
‘You’re dumb even for a human,’ he tells me. ‘Now, your shit can rot wherever you left it. You ain’t getting it back and you only have yourself to blame.’
When I don’t move fast enough, he grabs me, taking hold of my forearm and I wince as he pulls me along.
‘Get your fucking hands off me,’ I growl.
He actually listens to what I say, turning back and gesturing with his thumb out to the street. ‘Then get your ass out that door and onto that bike.’
I follow the order, making sure my earbuds are in properly and my bag is secure on my back in preparation for another fun trip on the loud machine of death.
‘How did you find me?’ I ask, wondering if it was the phone.
He doesn’t answer, and I flinch as he starts the bike. He peels out into the road without warning, making a car honk it’s horn. My senses scream and I do too, grabbing hold of him as tight as I can, my fingers digging in hard, but he doesn’t seem to care.
His speed doesn’t let up the whole way back, taking corners like he’s drifting in a freaking car, skidding all over the place. He even does a wheelie. The journey terrifies me to the point of tears. My whole body’s shaking in anger and upset by the time we pull into their pretentious fucking driveway. If he thinks he can scare me into doing whatever it is that they want though, he’s in for a nasty surprise.
Plan B it is.
10
KORBAN
I'm in her room, smelling her sheets like the pervert I accused Theo of being. Why I'm in here again, I have no idea. I was here last night too, watching her sleep. I wish it wasn't as creepy as it sounds, but it definitely is.
Still feeling the buzz from the fight last night, I walk around the room. I can smell her in the air but it's not enough. I go back to the bed and grab her pillow, inhaling deeply. Theo’s scent is mixed in and it’s fresh, but I don’t think he’s been rubbing his body all over her sheets. That’s not really his style. She's probably using his soap.
Interesting.
An idea comes to me, and I run down the hall to my room, taking my own bodywash out of my shower. Making sure no one sees me, I dart back to Theo's room and place it in the bathroom next to his.
I don't know what I hope to get from this … is thisjealousy? No, I scoff to myself. I don't know what this is, but I’m probably just bored. Maybe I need Vic to get me some more fights.
Last night’s was a good one. I gotta hand it to Callaghan. I hate that fucking asshole, but he gives me a good run for my money. I still won despite him trying to rile me up though, trying to get me angry so I’d make a mistake. Told me he heard one of our guys had died like a pussy. It's been, what three days, maybe four, so him knowing that wasn’t a surprise. Everyone does by now. But then he said he couldn't wait to have a chance with our new girl the next time he was at the house. How the fuck could he know about her? I made sure I didn't have her scent on me, so it wasn't that he could smell her and was guessing.
It’s a problem because it means that we either have a break in our magickal borders that's letting in surveillance, or, worse, we have a mole.
I walk around the room again and see the hamper lid askew. I open it and feel inside. There's something at the bottom. Small, silky. No way! I draw out a little red thong slowly, hardly able to believe my luck. I smell it.
Fucking heaven.
There’s a part of my brain that’s saying this is way past weird, and that I'm definitely as depraved as Theo, perhaps worse, but I don't care.
