“What does my father have to do with anything? Oh, right. You stole his soul too!”
“Worst mistake in my life. Do you know how long we were together? And do you know what he did? He talked. And he reasoned, and he made sense, dammit. He made me something I’ve never wanted to be.”
“A jackass? No, it can’t be that, because you’ve always been a jackass, because you’re a demon.”
“Of course I’m a demon, and maybe I’m a jackass, but I am not evil.”
“Using my sister’s soul as a bargaining chip to save your life when your father comes here to try and kill you? What part of that isn’t evil?”
He went deadly still. “Who told you that?”
But I was on a roll now, all the anger, frustration, grief, and yes, regret for not being able to act on my attraction to him, rolled through me so fast, I couldn’t seem to stop the words falling out of my mouth.
“Maybe I just figured it out on my own.”
“No, that’s not something anyone would know. Except my mo…therfucker! It was the unicorn, wasn’t it?”
“No.”
“She told you about the king of the Underworld. And she painted him as a monster, didn’t she? Myra, she’s a unicorn. She hates all things demonic. She hates me. She’d like to see me kicked out of Ordinary. She’s playing you so you’ll get rid of me.”
“I’ve been trying to get rid of you for a year.” I was on my feet, braced between the concrete bench and concrete table. It was uncomfortable and bad footing. I snagged up his bag of chips he hadn’t eaten and shoved them in my pocket.
“Those are mine,” he said.
“No chips for liars.”
His lips twisted. Almost a smile. “All right. So you’re going to team up with my father? Do you really think that’s smart? Use that big brain of yours, Myra.”
“I’m not doing anything with your father. If he’s anything like the unicorn says he is, I don’t want him anywhere near Ordinary. Two demons,” I jiggled my finger at him derogatorily, “isn’t going to make anything better.”
“We agree. I think my father coming to Ordinary is a terrible idea. You and I are on the same page. See how good we are for each other?”
“You’re delusional.”
“Now, now, Myra. You just said I was evil. Try to stay on message here.”
This was serious. It really was. My sister’s soul hung in the balance of his decisions, of my actions. But this back-and-forth, the heat and pull, was frustratingly enjoyable. Why did emotions have to be so confusing?
“I’m going back to work,” I said archly. “Perhaps you should go to Hell.” I lifted my feet over the bench and stomped across the grassy space toward the cruiser.
“See you for dinner then?” he called out.
I lifted one hand over my shoulder, middle finger in the air.
He laughed, a sudden, unexpected sound.
I hated how much I liked it.
Chapter 15
Than easedinto the passenger seat and handed me the coffee I’d left behind.
“I don’t want it.”
“You do.”
I did. I took a sip. It was rich with just enough cream and a hint of sugar. Exactly how I liked it. “He’s evil.”
