"My sister goes by Liz. Her government name is Lizard," I said, just as I had then too.
Moth roared with laughter and reached his arm out, patting my back. I wanted to backhand him, but it was only day one, no need for that just yet.
"It's gonna be a fun week." His words were friendly, but the slap on my back was not.
"It is! I've been looking forward to this week for months now. Even more so after I heard you were invited, Moth. And during Valentine's." Laney sighed.
"Yeah?" He chuckled and peeled her off him. "Nice to know I have fans everywhere." He shot me a look, almost as if we were buddies. I wasn't his fucking buddy. When I looked away from him, he turned and grinned at Laney. "I can't wait to… work with you."
He was baiting me, just as he had back then.Her swoon was almost audible. Laney's cheeks flushed a deep red and her brown eyes glittered.
"Okay!"
"Jesus Christ," I muttered just as we got to the reception table. I put my arms on the counter and motioned with my thumb back at her. "She's got our reservation."
A blonde woman who reminded me of a skeleton with makeup and filler greeted me with a bored look. "Name?" she asked in the same Russian accent as Arden.
I pulled out my wallet.
"Laney," I called out, exasperated. "Will you get up here?"
"Oh, sorry." She giggled and hurried forward. "Delaney Duvall. I have the suite." She reached for her wallet, pulling out her ID and credit card. She looked back at me expectantly.
I handed her mine and she presented it all to the woman.
She looked at my ID and card, read my name, and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Two keys each. Each bedroom has its own door to theinside, but you can access the full suite from the door in the middle as well. Call for service. My brother, Arden, will help you. Housekeeping is once a day. Here…" She handed us two key cards. "Enjoy."
I turned and looked for an elevator, finding one across the room. "Come on."
"I'll wait down here with Moth."
Her, alone, with him?Fuck no.My eyes flicked to Moth, who was grinning at me. He knew he had me by the balls. I could almost read his thoughts.
Does she know?
"Go ahead with your boyfriend, Delaney. I'll catch you soon. We can get a drink or something." Moth clicked his tongue and pointed at me.
Laney's face fell, as Moth turned and went down the hall, as if she'd never even existed. To him, a raging narcissist, she probably didn't. Together, we went to the ancient-looking iron gate elevator and got in.
"Is that why you came? To hook up with that guy? To give a total stranger your virginity?"
"Does it matter? You've already ruined my chances." She huffed and once the squeaky elevator made it to our floor, she stormed out and began looking for the doors to suite number 13.I reached the doors as she was fumbling with the key card. Her anger had her hands shaking.
I leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Let's not fight again. Remember what happened last time?"
Rule 8 - Priest
Watch for other kinds of monsters.
Four years ago
Fuck!
I needed to calm down.This had gone on too far.Two years. I'd been crushing on Laney, my step-sister, for two fucking years, and today, I let my mask slip.I'd almost confessed everything.
I walked into her room, fully prepared to tell her exactly how I felt, only for my plans to be throttled by some pervert down the block. I don't even know what happened. One minute my heart was racing, my palms were clammy and I was struggling to find the words, and the next, my mind was blank. My heart slowed, I was calm, and the only thing on my mind was… murder.
