Chapter 9

Beatrice

Persephone was working an evening shift. She was a receptionist at Bliss, a company that planned kinky getaways for couples. I’d only been in the office a couple of times, but Persephone had told me about the items she unloaded from shipments. I’d been good friends with a succubus, and I was shocked by some of those items—shocked and curious.

Looking in the mirror, I was happy with what I saw. The vivid green dress brought out the color in my eyes. I still couldn’t believe I’d bought a dress for my date. Persephone had tossed it into the fitting room, insisting I try it on. The dress was more form-fitting than I’d normally be comfortable in, but I was feeling daring.

When my phone rang, I considered sending the call to voicemail. The caller was unknown, which usually meant it was one of my parents. For whatever reason, they felt the need to block their number when they called to ask for money. They never called for any other reason.

“Hello,” I answered, doing nothing to mask the irritation in my voice.

“Hi, Bea.”

His voice slithered along my skin like a venomous snake. Even knowing Desmond couldn’t get to me, a shudder of fear ran through my body. When he’d been holding Julia Dupree captive, I’d risked my life to go after my brother. Knowing full well what Desmond was capable of, I wasn’t normally that brave. He’d killed my familiar when we were young to make a point. Since then, he’d killed many people. I was glad he was in Hell.

“Come on, Bea,” he crooned. “Talk to me. You have no idea how hard it was to get my hands on a phone so I could call you.”

“What do you want?” I demanded.

“Just to talk,” he assured me, sounding calm and reasonable. “We’re family.”

I snorted. “You tried to kill me.”

“And I’m sorry,” he continued, his tone mocking this time. “I’ve had a lot of time to think. At first, being framed for stealing Lucifer’s car enraged me, but I’m over that.”

“You’re in Hell for stealing Lucifer’s car?” I asked. Rainer hadn’t told me the details of how he’d gotten my brother incarcerated in the demon realm, and I hadn’t asked.

“We both know I didn’t steal his car,” he said quietly, the accusation clear in his voice.

It sounded as if he knew that I’d been the one to take Lucifer’s SUV, but he couldn’t. Only a handful of people knew the truth, and none of them were on friendly terms with Desmond. Show no emotion, I reminded myself. I needed to keep my feelings hidden from Desmond so he couldn’t use them against me.

“Too bad no one will believe you,” I replied in a cold voice.

“Why are you acting like this?” Desmond asked. I could hear the effort to control his anger. Desmond didn’t like it when anyone got the better of him. There was no doubt in my mind he hated me even more now. Not only had I made a fool of him when I’d escaped the day he’d come to kill me, I’d also helped stop him from killing Julia. Desmond would never forgive me.

“I already know you didn’t just call to talk,” I told him. “You’re calling because you want something, not because you give a damn about me.”

“I’ve changed,” he insisted.

I hesitated at his words. It was foolish, but I wanted my brother to change. I had no family. My parents didn’t care to be involved with me. I’d never mattered to them. Desmond had never cared for me either. As a child, I’d longed to have Desmond love and accept me. I wasn’t a foolish child anymore, so I shook off my weakness.

“Fine,” I began. “Don’t tell me the truth about why you’re calling.”

Desmond chuckled. “Oh, Bea,” he crooned in a patronizing tone. “You’re going to regret talking to me this way. When I get out of here, and I will get out of here, I’m coming for you first.”

“I’d tell you to go to Hell,” I began in a sweet voice, “but you’re already there.”

Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call. My hands were shaking. I hated my brother for making me feel this terrified. He was in Hell. I was safe from him. The logical part of my brain knew that, but he clearly believed every word he said. I’d learned long ago to never underestimate my brother.

The doorbell rang, interrupting my dark thoughts. I needed to pull myself together and stop thinking about Desmond. I had a date.

When I opened the front door, I found Dev dressed in an expensive looking black suit with a deep blue tie. I was still shaky, despite my efforts to seem unaffected.

He frowned when he saw me. “What’s wrong?” he asked as he slid an arm around my waist and guided me farther into my apartment.

Great! I must look really pitiful to get that kind of reaction. This was not the best start to my date. “It’s nothing,” I assured him, forcing a smile.

“Beatrice,” he began, reaching out to stroke my cheek. “You don’t have to pretend everything’s okay. Obviously, something is bothering you.”

Dev closed the front door and guided me toward the sofa. “Sit and we can talk.” He chuckled when I glared at him. “That’s better.”

Better? I had no idea how this could be better. “You like it when I’m irritated with you?”

“I’d rather have you irritated than upset,” he explained.

“I can’t believe I let my brother get to me this way,” I complained. “He’s in Hell. Rainer took him there.” I paused and met Dev’s eyes. “I know what you’re thinking. He’s a warlock, so he shouldn’t be in Hell.”

“It is unusual,” he agreed. “I’m assuming he committed a crime against Lucifer.”

“Not exactly,” was my hesitant reply. “That’s the excuse Rainer used.”

Dev frowned. “Your brother didn’t commit a crime against Lucifer?”

“If I tell you this, you have to promise to keep it from Lucifer,” I began.

“Why would I need to keep this from Lucifer?” he asked.

“I’ve heard he’s friends with Rainer,” I explained. “Are you his friend, too? I know you must work with him since you hold a higher position.”

“We don’t have the same relationship as he and Rainer,” was his cryptic reply.

“I shouldn’t talk to you about this,” I stated as I turned away. “Let me grab my bag, and we can head out.”

“Wait!” Dev told me, placing a hand on my shoulder to stop me. “You can trust me. Tell me what’s going on, Beatrice. I won’t tell anyone.”

I hesitated, not sure I should share these details with Dev. I needed to talk to someone. Usually, I talked to Persephone, but she had trouble grasping evil like my brother. Dev was a demon of some sort. He’d seen the darker side of the world, unlike my cheerful best friend.

“Trust me,” he murmured as he sat on the sofa and tugged me onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me. My gasp of surprise made him chuckle. “Tell me what’s going on.”

With a sigh of frustration, I relaxed in his arms. “I don’t like bossy men.”

“Yes, you do,” he argued. “That doesn’t mean you’ll give in when I’m bossy, but you like the challenge.”

“You’re awfully arrogant for a first date,” I remarked.

“Are you trying to change the subject?” he asked.

“A little,” I admitted. “My brother called.”

“Didn’t you say he’s imprisoned in the demon realm?” he asked.

“He is,” I told him. “He called from Hell.”

“I see,” Dev began thoughtfully. “What did he want?”

“According to him, he only wanted to talk. When I told him I didn’t buy that, he hinted that he knew it was my fault he’s in Hell,” I explained.

“How could his incarceration be your fault?” Dev asked, his hand massaging my back. His touch felt so good that I let out a sigh.

“Rainer said my brother stole Lucifer’s SUV,” I reminded him.

“That’s definitely a good way to piss off the devil,” he remarked. “I still don’t see how that’s your fault.”

“I did it,” I admitted.

“You did what?” he asked, looking down at me.

“I stole the devil’s SUV,” I confessed.

Dev looked truly shocked by my confession. “You stole Lucifer’s SUV and let your brother go to Hell for it?”

“Technically, I borrowed it,” I explained. “I needed something fast that I wouldn’t get pulled over driving. My brother was going to kill this witch named Julia. I like her, and I couldn’t let that happen.”

“So, you’re a hero,” he deduced with a nod.

I snorted. “Hardly. I did what anyone would have done.”