The door opened, and D leaned on the door frame. His bored and calm look didn’t fool me. “So are you ready for tomorrow?” His arrogant, sharp face with its shadows and mystery stared back at me. “My friends and I have a bet… They think you will succeed, but I think it will come down to me to complete.”
His ghastly smile would scare most beings in this world, but I knew my brother. Behind all his sarcasm and attitude was a man who wanted desperately to find something to hold on to and for someone, other than us, to accept him and all his flaws.
“Well, we shall see now, won’t we?” I said, not falling for his barbs like he wanted.
He winked and turned around, closing the door as he mumbled, “We’ll see.”
Yes, brother, we would see.I had learned from our brothers that I couldn’t count on Lillian Darkstar to do exactly what I wanted, which was why planning was so important.
Chapter 14
Forthefirsttimein my existence, I woke up confused today. I was pissed at what both Con and War had tried to do, but I was also… unsettled. A piece, a small annoying piece I wish I could get rid of, missed those turds. Even though they’d tried to take me to Hell. Even though they’d almost succeeded, and instead had fallen through the portal themselves, I could tell that each of them felt like they’d had to do it. Like they hesitated about going through with it but that me going to Hell somehow could save themselves or someone they loved, which only made me question things more. Or maybe that was just what I wanted to believe. This stupid angel side was kicking in at the most inopportune moment. The only thing that I knew for certain was that this was all my father’s fault.
He would be the only one who would hire people to get me into Hell. The only one to make portal keys. He had been playing this game with me for a while. First, he’d tried to convince me. Kept bugging me, calling and leaving messages, sending people he knew I loved to tell me to come back, but I’d stayed strong and told him to fuck off.
Then he’d tried to hire some lowly demons to bring me back. When I kept sending him their heads, he quit with that. He'd sent letters, emails, texts, telegrams. Once he’d even sent one of those singing groups to my office. It had been so embarrassing that I had almost called him to yell at him, but I hadn't because that's what he wanted. So I stayed strong.
Then he’d gotten insistent. He’d contacted some dark witches to try to banish me to Hell. It took a lot of work, schmoozing, and some promises of unlimited specialized ingredients, but ultimately, they liked me more and decided it was better to partner with me. He went silent after that. Not doing anything, not calling, not sending anyone after me. I thought he’d gotten the hint and would leave me alone. I guess I was wrong. I guess he needed to find the right kind of bait.
I was starting to get pissed off all over again, but I couldn’t think about that now. I needed to focus on the best deal of the century. The deal that would ensure my status, solidify my business, and make it so I would never need to go home again. I would have made my own empire, and I wouldn’t needhis.
I dressed in my Sunday best, as they say. I had my hair blown out, makeup on point, red-tipped nails, and shoes that matched my cherry red lips. My white blouse billowed out but was low cut—I liked to show the girls whenever I could. My pencil skirt was tight and showed off my curves in the best of ways. I was going to charm the pants off this lawyer, and he was going to give me everything I wanted.
I was sitting at my desk, swirling the pink alcoholic liquid in my glass, staring at my door for Cass to pop in and tell me he was here and waiting for me. I was ready. I had my notes from his contract, I had my lucky come-fuck-me heels on, and a belly full of power, thanks to last night’s activities.
My mind slinked back to last night, and a delicious ache grew between my legs—a reminder of how much I enjoyed myself.It was just sex, I kept telling myself, but the more I said it, the weaker that voice got. Even if I had only met him that night, I felt a connection with him unlike any other. Well, that was a lie. I had felt that instant tingling when I’d seen Con. It solidified while we spent time with each other.
Both of those men matched me in ways I didn’t know that I wanted. I wanted a man to match me in the desire to have fun like Con did. I wanted a man to make me feel alive, to match me in strength and roughness like War did. Both of those men filled different needs, and even as I missed them and how they made me feel, I knew I needed more. I needed someone to match me in my mind. Someone who challenged me to think more, someone I could sit across the chess board with, and still be surprised by every once in a while.
A knock came at the door, and Cass popped her head in. Finally.
“Lil, they just pulled up in their car. Did you want to meet them in the conference room or in the lobby?”
I thought about it for a second. “Let’s split the difference, I’ll meet them at the conference room door. It makes me look ready but not too eager. Thanks, Cass.”
She nodded and left to go escort them.
I stood up, slammed my fruity drink like it was whiskey, and straightened my shoulders. It was showtime.
Istoodnexttothe door to the conference room. It was already prepped with tea, coffee, juice, and some pastries in case they were hungry. Since we were a firm that could take care of humans and demons, we were properly stocked with various ‘snacks’. Delany Showstoff, the mega pop singer, was human but her manager, Balizar, was a demon. The lawyer, I think, was human because I’d looked into the firm, and it was an all-human firm in New York City.
As soon as I was about to get antsy, I felt a presence before I saw them. For a brief second, I felt this overwhelming power of life being drained. It was different from Balizar’s demon magic, but when I scanned the two others with him, they registered as human. Something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I would need to be very careful in the meeting and pay meticulous attention to everything.
The second thing I noticed was how my mouth dried up, tongue threatening to roll out like a cartoon at how utterly infuriatingly sexy that human lawyer was. He walked in like he owned the place. It was annoying, but damn it, it was sexy too. Infuriating and insulting, but fuck, did he look like a ruler who’d decided to grace us with his presence.
His face spoke of years of studious activities. His pale, unblemished skin made me want to kiss it, making it dirty with my red lips just to see what he would do. And his eyes, they spoke of power and confidence. The kind of confidence a man who has thought of each and every outcome and has determined that he will come out on top. He looked like a man who had planned out his battle to perfection and knew that he would be the conqueror. My blood pump faster as I inspected this fine specimen.
I smiled my best winner's smile at him to hide how I was also paying close attention to him. A shark could always detect another shark in the waters. I would enjoy sparring with this one, and because he was human, I wanted to do it without supernatural power, just our minds going at it. It would be a refreshing break from all the turmoil I had been in recently with beings with power. It was safe to deal with humans.
I stepped forwards as Delany Showstoff approached me and lifted her hand to shake mine.
“Hello, it is so nice to finally meet you in person.” My voice was smooth and cultured, trying to put her at ease and let that lawyer know I had this handled and he was dealing with a pro.
She giggled as we shook hands. “Yes. I have heard a lot aboutthat conniving bitchBalizar complains about.”
When my eyes narrowed on him, he looked around the room like he wasn’t paying attention to us. She lifted her hands and shook her head.
“No, that was not meant as shade or anything. Balizar is the best in the business at wheeling and dealing, so I was excited to meet the woman who has finally bested him.” She leaned closer, eyes sparkling as she cupped her mouth like she was telling me a secret. “It was sooooo much fun to watch him pull his hair out and pace around like an idiot. I’ve laughed about it for days now.”
