Page 92 of Hell’s Half Acre

“They went for ice cream.”

That seemed off to him. “You stayed behind?”

Helly sighed heavily. “Been a long day here, too. I just wanted to come in and watch something funny.”

Tommy Boy. One of her favorite movies.

He held the bag of chips out for her. “You’re upset.”

She arched a brow at his words. “You used to not notice.”

That was very true. Worse, he wouldn’t have cared. “I’m not the same demon I was.”

“I’ve noticed.” She took a handful of chips. “Are you all right?”

“Not dead yet.” But life kept trying.

She snorted at his joke. “I take it that your visit didn’t go as planned.”

Luke didn’t want to think about it and yet it was the only thing on his mind. “I learned nothing, other than an exercise in futility.”

“That seems to be normal in this realm.”

He’d noticed that, too. “And I have nothing on the werewolf killings.”

“Because you can’t focus.”

Nothing got past Helly. It was one of many reasons why he loved her. So, so many, really.

His thoughts drifted to all the times in his life when she’d been there. No matter how bad things were, she’d stayed by his side. Even when it’d caused her to be harmed.

No, tortured.

How many times had she covered him with her own body and absorbed abuse meant for him?

In Hell, he’d taken that for granted. As his guardian, it was her place.

Only now he knew the truth. She could have run and hidden. Could have gone for his mother and saved herself.

But she hadn’t. Not once.

Whenever he was in danger or being hurt, she’d been there to pull him out.

Luke took her hand in his. “Thank you, Helly.”

She looked confused. “For what?”

“Just thank you.”

“You’re scaring me, dominus.”

He put her hand over his heart. “I know, and call me Luke.” Giving her hand a squeeze, he released it and got up.

“Where are you going?”

“To find Sorcha.”

When she started to get up to join him, he stopped her. “Keep watching your movie. I’ll be fine.”