Redemption (10 page)

The lesser demon’s mouth began to water. She knew exactly how to manipulate him. Insult, forever following her around, begging for scraps.

Hold my hand, Apathy. One small hug, Apathy, and I will be satisfied. Kiss my cheek, Apathy, and I will tell him anything you want.

Mara rolled her eyes.

“I have been watching you closely, Apathy. You are his favorite, and he needs to know what you are doing.” He flicked out his black tongue and licked his lips. “I have seen you with the mortal. You are enjoying him differently.”

“What do you know of enjoyment, Insult? When has anyone ever bothered to really touch
you
?” She knew she was being cruel, which was usually fun; but Insult had gone too far this time. The thought of him seeing her with Bryan, seeing Bryan, was unacceptable.

He was annoying, and she just wanted him to go away. She grimaced. There was no denying she’d have to step up her efforts with Bryan. If Lucifer thought she was failing him...Well, to say that there would be Hell to pay was a giant understatement, favorite or not.

The lesser demon looked wounded by her words. Not good. After centuries of spying on her for Lucifer, his normal routine, after being near her, would be to report only what she asked him to and then return to watch her some more. The little creature had something of a crush on her, and Mara easily manipulated him to serve her needs. She sighed.

“Fine, Insult. What do you want from me to keep this report between the two of us? I assure you, the mortal is completely under my influence. However, I do not desire for you to report otherwise to Lucifer,” Mara grumbled. “Tell me what it’s going to take. A hug? Would you like to sit with me for a while?”

His red eyes seemed to literally sparkle. A creepy, fang-filled smile spread across his deformed face. Insult was a truly hideous thing. Mara’s face betrayed her disgust.

“A hug will not be enough this time. I have seen the way you kiss him, the way you look at him. I have heard the way you speak to him,” he hissed, attempting to straighten his crooked frame. Insult looked at her firmly. “Give me what I desire, fallen one, or I
will
go to Lucifer. He may find you pleasurable, but I also know that he has never hesitated to punish even you. What do you think he will do if he fears you will lose this one?”

Mara’s stomach roiled at the thought of being so near to Insult, and her skin crawled as she understood his meaning. “I will not.”

She could not conceive of having to touch this creature in the way she craved touching Bryan. The mortal was beautiful, sculpted, tasted delicious. Insult smelled of brimstone and rotting flesh. He was bumpy, scaly, and thoroughly disgusting. Still, the possibility of Lucifer receiving a report that she would not deliver Bryan was out of the question. He would not punish her this time. His desire for the mortal was so strong that she knew he would destroy her.

Regardless of how
pleasurable
he found her to be.

She weighed her pathetic options. She lost either way. Insult would forever use this to
his
advantage. He would expect her to trade such favors whenever he threatened her with a negative report. Mara narrowed her eyes, and, realizing she really had no other choice, extended her hand to the demon.

“Come with me,” she said reluctantly. “I will give you what you desire.”

She led him to an empty room, one that was easy to access. She threw a hand in the air and twisted it behind her, quickly putting a ward in place to keep mortals from being able to enter. Insult looked at her, his beady eyes filled with desire.

“I have waited for this day,
Mara
,” he said, using her angelic name. His voice was thick with longing.

Mara tried not to vomit. She could endure this. Reclining on the bed, she gestured for Insult to join her. He was eager, too eager. Quickly climbing in beside her, he clamped his mouth over hers in an attempt to kiss her.

“Talk to me the way you talk to him,” he insisted. “Tell me the things you tell him.”

“Insult,” she breathed his name.

He grunted in his excitement. His scent overwhelmed her, and she held her breath. He drooled, he breathed his foul breath all over her.

No more. She would not do this. She could not withstand his writhing, hideous body. With one hand, she stroked his back. With the other, she slowly reached for the knife strapped to her thigh.

He kissed her neck, leaving cuts and scraps from his fangs.

“Yes, Insult. Like that,” she whispered, struggling not to gag. She raised the dagger behind him and plunged it deep.

His eyes widened in shock. “Apathy,” he croaked. Blood gurgled from his mouth.

She yanked the knife free and rolled him off her.

“I will decide who gets my body, demon. I may be his whore, but I will not be yours.” With two hands, she stabbed him again, twisting the blade deeper into his flesh.

He convulsed. “Mara,” he gasped.

The body caught fire and turned to ash before her eyes, returning him to the Hell from which it came. Mara cleaned her dagger, wiping the demon’s blood on the hotel’s comforter. Insult was gone. She sighed, realized that Lucifer would merely send another demon to watch her.

This time, she’d be ready.

C
assidy stood by her car, liking that Bryan had insisted on walking her to it. Just to make sure she was safe. The wind blew icy cold, but she barely felt it. It had been extremely easy to talk to Bryan during dinner, and the way he watched her while she spoke continued to warm her from the inside out. This wasn’t good. No, nothing remotely good could come from what she felt was happening. She turned to face him, leaning back against her SUV.

“Thanks for dinner, Bryan. It was good,” she began, rubbing her mittened hands together. That internal heat didn’t quite make it to her frozen fingers. “Next time, we split the bill, though, or I treat.”

“Next time?” he asked, a devilish twinkle in his gray eyes. “You’re assuming that there will be one.”

“Well, I - I,” Cassidy stammered.

“Just playing with you, kid.” He laughed and shifted from one foot to the other. His body was unaccustomed to these chilly temperatures. Of course, he could think of a few creative ways to warm up.

Stop. Focus. Not why you’re here.

Cassidy scowled. “I’ll see you on Saturday, then. Carrie’s taking me for a dress tomorrow, so you better believe it’ll be amazing. Make sure your suit can keep up.”

“Don’t worry about me, kid. I’ve been known to turn a few heads. I think I’ll be able to put together something acceptable.” Bryan was still grinning at her.

Stupid grin. Just friends.

She extended one arm, placing her hand on his shoulder. Giving him her most serious look, she said, “It’s not good to live in the past, Bryan. Face it, you are older and much hairier now.” It was all Cassidy could do not to erupt in laughter at the shocked expression on his face.

“I’m taking that as a challenge, kid. Prepare yourself. I’m not sure you’re ready to play games in this league.”

Winking, Cassidy added, “Turning thirty, old man. I’ve been playing in this league for a while now.” She patted his cheek. “See you Saturday.”

What? Playing in this league?
she thought, swallowing hard.

She turned to unlock her door, heart hammering so loudly in her ears she was sure he could hear it. Cassidy quickly climbed into her vehicle and backed out of the spot. She had never been so forward with a man. She wasn’t interested in him, and there was absolutely no way Bryan was interested in her, no way he could handle anything real.

Besides, he was going back to California after the wedding, so there was really no point.

She shook her head, ordering her heart to slow its insane pace, trying to breathe normally. Her eyes glanced into the rear view mirror, and she saw that he was still standing where she’d left him, arms crossed, smirking.

What had she just done?

Cassidy bit her lower lip, wondering if she hadn’t, just maybe, made yet another huge mistake.

She took the ride home to think about the best way to help Bryan. A few times during dinner, she’d seen him visibly relax only to stiffen again in response to some word or after seeing someone she guessed must remind him of Miranda. He didn’t like to talk about himself much. His work, yes. His personal life, no. People naturally felt relaxed around her, and she was unaccustomed to the wall he kept around himself.

“Give it a few days,” she told herself aloud, “and he’ll feel more comfortable with you.”

In the remaining time she had with him, she’d focus on what he needed from her. Not the way his eyes had softened when they gazed into her own. Or the way she was looking forward to seeing him again on Saturday. She frowned.

Carrie was reading in the living room when she got back to the house. She looked up when Cassidy entered and set aside her book. “Well, hello.”

“Hey,” Cassidy began, flopping onto the other end of the couch and shedding her mittens, coat, and scarf.

“Did Bryan get a car?” Carrie asked.

“Yeah, he went with a Jeep. Probably better considering the time of year.” She put up her feet and lounged, her muscles tired from the long drive and lack of rest.

“A Jeep, huh? Interesting choice.” Carrie looked like she was hiding something.

Cassidy found this perplexing. What was the big deal about Bryan renting a Jeep?

“Is there something I’m missing?” Cassidy asked. She was too tired to try to figure out what her cousin was up to.

Carrie got up and headed to the kitchen. “Derek drives a Jeep.” She threw the comment over her shoulder.

“Derek, as in Miranda’s Derek?” Cassidy jumped up and followed.

“Yep.” Carrie took out the tea kettle and filled it with water. “You want?”

“Fine, sure.” She waved a hand in the air, frustrated. “You’re telling me he rented the same thing that
Miranda’s
Derek
drives? Why?”

“To tick him off, naturally.” Carrie smirked. “Bryan is the king of head games, and he hates Derek.”

“Because he’s still in love with Miranda,” Cassidy said, feeling immensely foolish about her earlier flirtatious display.

“Yes, and that needs to stop.”

Carrie held up two different herbal teas. Cassidy pointed to the one with ginger - her stomach was feeling a bit ill - and decided that she needed to make herself a promise.

No more flirting, even in fun, with Bryan.

She would be his friend, nothing more.

Even if he tried the flirting game, she would ignore it.

Honest.

Cassidy crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “You can’t just stop loving someone on command, Carrie.”

“I know
that
. He just needs to realize that punishing himself isn’t going to change anything. Miranda is never going to be the girl he needs, and he just keeps torturing himself over it. One day,” Carrie paused, “he will find someone who can make him smile again. I know it.” She handed the tea to Cassidy.

“Hmm,” she murmured. “Well, I suppose women in California are lining up for the job.”

“I suppose,” Carrie shrugged, “but I don’t think anyone significant has gotten it. You spent time with him today, so you know. The guy is a complete wreck. He could barely hold a conversation while he was here. How did you manage with him for so long?”

She thought again about the hours she’d spent with Bryan. At first, he’d been awkward, quiet; but he’d been fun in the end. She’d seen real smiles behind that beard.

“Fine,” Cassidy answered briefly.

“Well, that’s good,” Carrie paused. “Hungry, or did you eat already?”

“Bryan took me for something at the hotel’s restaurant.”

“Oooh, Bryan took you. I see.” Her eyes were shining mischievously.

Cassidy shook her head. “Not like that. We were talking, got hungry, and he just insisted on paying.” She took a breath. “I feel bad for him, Carr. Miranda really broke something in him. I know you said he needs to just get over it, but I’m not sure he can.”

They were interrupted by Carrie’s parents. The hugs, questions about her drive, and general excitement at seeing her ended the girls’ conversation about Bryan fairly quickly. That was okay with Cassidy; she wasn’t sure how to explain her reasons for wanting to spend time with him without making her cousin suspicious. It would be difficult to do, since she was becoming suspicious herself.

 

Bryan stretched out on his bed. Why had he made that stupid comment about turning heads to Cassidy? He was flirting with her, and shamelessly so. It was fun, meaningless, and maybe she’d be enough to keep his mind off seeing Miranda on Saturday night.

Maybe not.

How was he going to do this? He clutched the stone around his neck. He wished for Mara. She would make him feel less nervous. With her by his side, everyone would take notice. Bryan Roemer would no longer meet eyes filled with pity but filled with envy. A woman like Mara made other women look inferior.

Yeah, if she was with him, he’d have an easy time doing this. Seeing Miranda would be a walk in the park.