1
My boss was the opposite of a demon. And because of that, I hated him. As the clock ticked over to five, Mr. Winchester bustled out of his office door to give me a watery smile. His brown suit was wrinkled in the front, though his shiny shoes were polished to perfection. He never wore them on the sidewalks, always changing out of tennis shoes when he got to work.
“It’s five now. Thanks for doing a wonderful job, Laura. You may go now.” His eyes lingered far too long on my V-neck blouse, and then he vanished back into his office. Even though he stayed until well past eight most nights, he always sent me home the second my shift was over. I knew I should be thrilled. Ever since Az had found me a job and an apartment with my new fake name, my life had never been easier.
And yet, I’d never felt more anxious. It was like my skin wanted to jump off my bones and run.
Not from New York. Not from my past, like I’d done the past several years of my life. Everything within me wanted to run straight toInfernal.
With a heavy sigh, I powered down the computer, pushed up from the desk, and grabbed my bag. Time to head home and have another night just like the one before. And the one before that. Ad infinitum.
I’d plop down on the tiny sofa inside my Brooklyn walkup, feed my pigeon, and watchFriendsreruns until my eyelids fell shut. I’d seen that damn pivot episode too many times to count. And still laughed every time.
As crazy as my month with Az had been, it had definitely never been dull.
Not that it matters, I thought as I rode the elevator down to the ground floor. My weeks with Az hadn’t been boring, but theyhadbeen dangerous. I’d nearly been killed. And so had Serena.
Staying away from Asmodeus was the best thing I could do.
Not to mention that damn contract he’d made me sign. The rules were clear. If I put a single toe insideInfernalever again, I’d lose my soul. What that meant, exactly? I still wasn’t sure. But it clearly wouldn’t be pleasant.
The elevator doors whirred open. I trailed through the lobby and stepped out onto the bustling Midtown streets. For a while, I let myself get lost in the city's energy. I had nowhere to be or no one to see. My best friend, Serena, had been swamped at work for the past several weeks. Any other friend I’d made during my time in New York City worked at that damn club I couldn’t go near.
I blew out a frustrated breath as the summer breeze rustled the red strands around my face.
I wanted todosomething. Life stretched out before me, full of limitless possibilities. No one knew who I was anymore. Mia McNally didn’t exist. Well, she did, just… not here. I was Laura Adams, a hopeful transplant who’d moved here from the south to make it in New York City, just like thousands of other girls my age. I didn’t want to go back to my empty apartment. Not yet.
So, I wandered through Times Square and smiled at the tourists posing beneath the blazing lights. I dodged taxis charging by and ducked around a guy with a guitar who wore nothing more than an American flag as underwear. I wandered down Fifth Avenue, glancing at the designer bags that cost more than my entire life savings, which was… not much. Even with a job, I barely made enough to pay for rent and food.
But it was enough. For now. I didn’t need designer bags or fancy shoes.
In fact, I didn’t need anything or anyone but myself, my best friend, Serena, and my favorite pigeon in all of New York.
My heart lurched as my mind instantly popped another name into my thoughts.
And I need Az.
I gritted my teeth and forced that thought away, following the streets downtown. Obviously, I didn’tneedAz. Logically, I knew I was better off without him in my life. He was an asshole most of the time, and he’d brought me nothing but trouble. Also, he was, you know, an actual demon from the underworld. Sure, we’d had a moment. But he’d made it clear that night had meant nothing to him at all.
It had only been sex. It wasn’t like it had meant anything to me, either.
I certainlyneverwanted it to happen again.
So why had I just walked myself all the way down to Hell’s Kitchen?
I sighed, folded my arms, and leaned against a light pole. Just across the street,Infernalsat closed and dark. Even after hours spent wandering through the city, it was only seven o’clock, and the club wouldn’t open for a few more hours. It was one of those late-night places, a fancy, glittering watering hole for wealthy supernaturals.
Instinctively, my hand curled around my necklace. I’d kept his signet ring all this time and wore it day and night, just in case. Rumor had it Lucifer was in Manhattan. And he wanted to find me.
Obviously,thatcouldn’t happen. So, if he sought me out, I needed the ring’s blasty thing to use against him.
Of course… standing right outside Az’s club probably wasn’t the best way to avoid Lucifer. It was just…dammit, I was curious, okay? The literal King of Hell had come to New York, and I was dying to see what he was like. Did he have horns? Gleaming red eyes? Did fire pour off his skin?
If you looked at him wrong, would he smite you?
Plus, I couldn’t get Serena’s words out of my mind. Lucifer didn’tjustwant to find me. He wanted me to become his bride.
My biggest question was:why?!
