“You’re not going to succeed in pulling at my heartstrings.” Mosavi leaned in close. “If Darryl is indeed the grandson of Sebastian Shields, I’ll return the guitar to him on three conditions.”
“Really?” I said, almost hyperventilating. If Roscoe gave this back to Darryl, it would be enough to really mend things between them. Just the look on his face would be worth whatever Mosavi wanted in return.
“Condition one: our poor butler and maid haven’t had a decent vacation in years. I’ll have Roscoe take over their duties while they take a year off with pay.”
My eyes went wide. “A whole year? I think he really will die if he has to actually work.”
“If only I could be so fortunate,” he said with a satisfied smirk. “Condition two: I’ll be there to witness this exchange, and listen to Darryl play it. If I don’t get that same feeling during his performance, you and Roscoe will be joining me in the dungeon two nights a week. And condition three: you will give me a solid answer of yes to being my protege, and you’ll do so gladly.”
“I swear I’m gonna kill Roscoe,” I muttered under my breath. “All right.”
“You must really like this werewolf to make such a one-sided and risky deal.”
I looked directly into Mosavi’s eyes, his face reflecting the silvery-blue glow. It was then he knew how serious I was.
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Darryl. I’d do anything to get him his guitar back.”
Mosavi nodded and smiled before slipping his arm around my neck, squeezing the top of my shoulder. “I look forward to your unwavering devotion to me and this town.”
Once again, I found myself in an unpleasant situation with the mayor, and again it was Roscoe’s fault. At least I had Willa in my corner, and in spite of all of his blustering, she was the one who had the final say.
At least I sure as hell hoped so.
Chapter 38
Bringing the Music Back
Cody
“Ihave to do what?” Roscoe shouted while following me around the bedroom. “What the hell did you do Cody?”
“I’m getting Darryl’s guitar back.” I tossed an empty suitcase on the bed and started neatly folding and stacking outfits into it.
“That guy had it this whole time?” He plopped down on our ugly brown couch. “He’s had it in fer me since we moved here, and now you’ve gone and signed my life away.”
“It’s light housework in a mansion, not breaking stones in a gulag. You can stand to do a little more than just eat, sleep, and fuck.”
“But that’s the golden trinity! That’s the perfect life, and it’s all I wanna do.”
I grabbed more clothes from the dresser. “Well, now you can do it all in a maid’s outfit.”
“He ain’t gonna make me wear one of them frilly black and white dresses, is he?”
I snorted involuntarily at the thought. “Dude.”
“Hmm, ya know, I could make it work, with the right alterations.”
I stopped packing and shot him one of my most disgusted looks. “If I ever see you in one of those, I’ll probably never be able to have sex with you again.”
“Youcould wear one. Shit, I’m gettin’ hard just thinkin’ about it.”
The front door slammed open, and rapid, clawed footsteps raced through the house.
“Cody!”
“In the bedroom,” I shouted as Adam ran in. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh man oh man, if I’m right about this, Austin’s gonna freak the fuck out.” He handed his phone to me. “Look.”
