I nodded, knowing she was not joking.
“James, you’ve got to go,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I approached his table, my heart racing.“I’m serious.You need to go.”
He leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk.“Why would I leave?I’m just getting started!Besides, this place could use a little fun.”
The regulars shot him disapproving looks, but he was too busy basking in his own spotlight to notice.For whatever reason, he was awfully proud of his idiotic self.
I could feel Jane’s glare burning into my back from the counter, her patience running thin.
“Audrey, get rid of him!”she hissed, her voice low but urgent.
I took a deep breath, trying to muster any remaining willpower.“James, just go.I’ll meet you after my shift, I promise.”I absolutely didn’t want to meet him ever, but I didn’t know what else to do or say to get him to move his ass.
“Why don’t you just admit you miss me?”he shot back, laughter lacing his tone.“What’s the matter?Chicken?”
At that moment, I snapped.I wanted him out of the diner, out of mind, and most importantly, out of my freaking life forever.“I’m not chicken!I just don’t want you here ruining my day!”
The diner went silent.All eyes were on us.James raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying every bit of attention from his stupid little stunt.But before I could say anything else, Jane stormed over, her face set in a hard line.
“Shit,” I whispered to myself.She was pissed.Big time.
“James, you need to leave.Now,” she said firmly, her voice brokering no argument.
He rolled his eyes, still refusing to budge.“What are you going to do?Fire me?”
“I’ll fire her if you don’t get out,” she shot back, her gaze fierce.
With a dramatic sigh, he slid his chair back and stood, the shitty grin still plastered on his face.“Fine!Whatever!I’ll go, but you’ll regret this, Audrey!”He growled, sauntering toward the door.He wanted me to know that this was not the end of whatever he had planned.
“Beautiful!Fucking beautiful.”Even the voice in my head was full of sarcasm.
As soon as he was outside, I turned to Jane, my heart dropping.“I’m sorry.I tried to get him to leave.I don’t know why he’s doing this.I broke it off with him weeks ago.”
Jane crossed her arms, her expression cold.“I can’t have that kind of disruption in my diner, Audrey.You’re fired.Grab your things and go.I’ll pay you for your whole shift today.”
“What?!You can’t be serious!”I exclaimed, shock flooding through me.She was actually firing me because of James.
Jane’s eyes softened for just a moment, but her resolve remained.“I am serious.I can’t risk losing my customers over this.I told you when you started here that this is a drama-free zone, and I meant it.Grab your stuff and go.”
2
Istared at the empty chair across from my desk, a sense of betrayal gnawing at my insides.The office was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead, which felt far too cheerful for the storm brewing within me.My executive assistant had vanished, taking with her millions of dollars that I had worked tirelessly to earn.
“Fucking bitch,” I growled.
I felt my beast stirring deep inside of me.He was just as pissed as I was that we’d been scammed by a fucking demon.
A mother fucking demon.
The blood in my veins reached a boiling point.My beast stormed toward the surface.It took all my resolve and then some to push him to the background.
“Easy.The last thing we need right now is to have to redecorate the office.”
He simmered down, heeding my warning.
I rubbed a hand over my face, feeling the weight of my anger settle on my shoulders.“I should have known better than to trust that demon,” I muttered to myself.She had charmed her way into my life, flaunting that irresistible smile and sharp wit, but it had all been a facade.She’d been biding her time, squirreling away as much of my money as she could without me noticing.
Standing up, I paced the length of my spacious office, the floorboards creaking under my shitkickers.Arrhythmia, Texas, was meant to be a last-chance place where not-so-good paranormals could live away from humans.Sadly, it seemed to be a breeding ground for liars and thieves.There were a few good ones here, but that was about it.Most of the citizens of Arrhythmia couldn’t be trusted to piss on you if you were on fire.
