“I can’t stay home. If I sit here all day, I’ll think about it. Over and over. And I have no right to do that, Knox. It didn’t happen to me. It happened to her. I’m not her family.”
“But you get to feel how you feel.”
“I don’t know what I feel.”
Seeing his usually decisive mate so unsure of herself… it pissed Knox the fuck off. “If you need a distraction, fine.” He could understand that. “Go to work. But if you need a break, take it.” He kissed her. Softly. Gently. Thoroughly. “I love you.”
She smiled, surprised. He didn’t say the words often, because they didn’t come easily to him, but he always seemed to know when she needed to hear them. “And I love you.” Harper gave him one last kiss before grabbing her purse and heading outside, where she hopped into the Audi. His expression unusually soft, Tanner started to speak, but she shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about Carla. Didn’t have the right to worry or anything else. They didn’t spend the journey in silence, though. They talked about general things, just like they did most mornings.
In the studio, Harper threw all her attention into her work. She smiled and talked and was glad of every distraction – hell, even Belinda’s appearance later that day was a distraction she was happy to use.
Washing her equipment, Harper listened as the cambion chatted on and on about the shindig. Belinda had eventually admitted defeat and dropped the idea to separate the Primes and VIPs from the rest of the demons at the event. She’d also fallen in line with Harper’s idea to jazz up the combat dome and use it as a large social area on the night. Now she was reading out the list of appetizers that would be served at the dome. Most of them sounded similar to the foods Jonas served at his mansion.
“What do you think?” asked Belinda, looking up from her clipboard.
“I think that’s the most unappetizing list I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Harper. “Can’t we just serve normal food? I’ll bet the people there would prefer that anyway.”
Belinda gave her one of those condescending smiles. “The Primes and VIPs will surely head there. Canapés and hors d’oeuvres are normal for people of their class.”
“Great, but it’s not their shindig. How about little sticks with chunks of steak on and half a potato wedge? They’d make good appetizers.”
Pausing in sweeping the floor, Devon hummed. “They sound good.”
Mouth gaping open in horror, Belinda stared at Harper in dismay. “Steak? Wedges? You can’t serve that at a black-tie event!”
“Why not?” It was her event.
Belinda spluttered. “It’s not proper.”
“But it means I won’t starve.”
Belinda sighed. “You’re being dramatic.”
“And you’re being unprofessional by ignoring what your client wants. Your job is to ensure that what I want comes to life, right?”
The cambion lifted her chin. “Knox won’t like it.”
Harper snorted. “He’d prefer that to seeing me hungry. He gets pissed if I miss meals.”
“Here are some alternative appetizers.” Belinda detached a leaflet-type menu from the clipboard and offered it to Harper.
Drying her hands, Harper took the leaflet and quickly scanned it. “I don’t even know what half this stuff is.” And if she couldn’t read the name of something, she wouldn’t eat it. “These are no good.”
Snatching back the menu, Belinda said, “We’ll leave the choice to Knox.”
“Yes, run to Knox.” Harper wiggled her fingers. “Pester him. Then he’ll come to me to work off his anger.”
“I’m trying to help you. I’ve worked for Knox many times. I’ve organized several events for him. I know him. I know what he likes and what he doesn’t like. You haven’t known him long enough to know what he’ll appreciate and what he will disapprove of. You hardly know him at all.”
This bitch was so close to getting smacked around. She smiled inwardly as Belinda’s eyes dropped to the brand on her throat. The cambion had looked at it a few times, but she’d said nothing. “Like it?” Harper asked.
“The artist has a steady hand,” said Belinda. “How nice of you to mark yourself for Knox.”
Yeah, like Harper believed for one second that the cambion really thought it was simply a tattoo. “You’re insulting yourself by pretending you don’t know what you’re looking at.” Oh, that comment got her a sneer.
“It will fade when he tires of you.”
Her inner demon snarled. Harper arched a brow. “Is that a fact?”
“Yes. And he’s bound to tire of you sooner or later.”
“That tone… it’s almost like you’re trying to goad me.” Gently slipping one of the jeweled, metal hair sticks from her loose bun, Harper infused it with hellfire. The simple accessory was now not only ablaze, but absolutely lethal. Fear flashed in the cambion’s eyes and she took a wary step back. “Don’t start a fight you don’t have a prayer of winning. Now go, Belinda, you’re pissing me off and I have shit to do.”
The cambion couldn’t seem to get away quick enough.
As she was passing the reception desk, Khloë scowled at Belinda and demanded, “Is it you that keeps moving my stapler?”
Looking befuddled, the cambion just stormed out.
Khloë whirled to face Harper, Devon, and Raini. “Seriously, who is doing it?” The phone rang, and the imp answered it with her “receptionist tone.” Then she called out, “Harper, Grams is on the phone! She wants to talk to you!”
Great. Easing the hellfire away, Harper returned the jeweled stick to her hair as she crossed to the desk. Taking the phone receiver from Khloë, Harper said, “I’m guessing you heard about Carla.”
“Yes,” replied Jolene. “Don’t be feeling guilty. It did not happen at your hand. You wouldn’t wish such a thing on anyone, not even her.”
“I’m already under strict orders from Knox not to blame myself, so you can stop fretting.”
A huff. “I’m your grandmother, it’s my right to fret.” The line went dead.
“Blame yourself for what?” asked Khloë, arms folded. “And what about Carla? Has she been found?”
Raini and Devon flanked the imp, looking just as worried.
Harper sighed, wanting to strangle her grandmother. Jolene could have spoken to her telepathically, but no. She’d wanted the girls to overhear the conversation so that Harper would have to tell them. Jolene didn’t want her to bottle the whole thing up. Master. Manipulator.
Devon took a single step forward. “Harper, what’s going on?”
Knowing they wouldn’t stop pestering her, Harper told them. For a long moment, there was a stunned silence.
Khloë blew out a breath. “Well, fuckadoodledoo.”
“You can’t possibly think this is your fault, Harper,” Devon said.
“I don’t,” Harper told her, returning to the sink. “And I don’t want to talk about it.”
Khloë sidled up to her. “Grams obviously wants you to.”
Harper sighed. “Look, I have another client coming in soon.”
“Not now you don’t,” said Raini.
Harper grit her teeth. “Raini —”
The succubus raised a hand. “We’re officially closing for the day. In fact, it might be best to close for a few days.”
For God’s sake. “That’s not necessary.”
“Harper, news of Carla’s condition will get around the demon community pretty fast,” Raini pointed out. “Every demon who walks through that door is going to watch you carefully and report back to their friends whatever it is they think you’re feeling. That’s if they don’t simply ask you outright and insist on talking about it. Is that how you want the rest of your day to go? Because I pointblank refuse to put you through it.”
Shit, she was so right. “I know, but —” She paused because something… something felt off. Looking into Khloë’s coffee cup, Harper saw the liquid shaking just as she felt subtle vibrations beneath her feet. “Do you f
eel that?”
They all exchanged looks of alarm as the framed licenses and pictures shook against the wall. The items on the desk clattered on the wood, and pieces of equipment tumbled off the counters of their stations onto the floor. The ground no longer vibrated, it tremored. Harper’s heart began to pound frantically, and her demon tensed.
“Did I ever mention how much I hate earthquakes?” groused Raini.
Devon winced as her shoulder crashed into the wall. Harper swayed, slamming her hand against the other wall for balance, while Raini and Khloë leaned against the desk for support.
Outside car alarms wailed, sirens blared, headlights flashed, and shingles tumbled off the roof and hit the sidewalk. People passing pressed themselves against the studio’s window to support their weight, hands plastered to the glass.
Harper breathed in time with each bucking tremor. The glass of the jewelry display case shattered and the items inside rattled and jangled on the shelves. Coffee was sloshing out of the cups, spilling everywhere.
Then the tremors slowed until, finally, they eased away just as suddenly as they’d began.
Tanner came racing inside, face hard. “Everyone okay?”
Harper nodded. “But there was nothing natural about that earthquake.”
Rubbing her sore shoulder, Devon declared, “That’s it! We’re getting out of here.”
“I can’t go home and just sit there,” said Harper.
Raini slipped on her jacket. “Who said anything about you going home?”
Khloë picked up the phone. “I’ll cancel the last two appointments for today and then we’ll all get the fuck out of here.”
“To go where?” asked Harper.
Devon grabbed her purse. “Where do you think?”
The human was good at bluffing; Knox would give him that. But he simply wasn’t good enough. Knox had no interest in working with liars or people who believed they could manipulate him. This was why he preferred working with his own kind. They already knew these things and, as such, didn’t waste his time with such bullshit. But in order to blend with humans, he had to work among them and —
Knox, said Tanner. Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you might like to know that Harper and her friends are at the Xpress bar. They’ve been here for a few hours now and she’s… well, she’s blind drunk.
Drunk? I didn’t expect her to go drinking. But he maybe he should have done.
I don’t think anyone can ever expect anything when it comes to Harper. I have to admit, though, I didn’t think she was the kind of person who would drown their sorrows.
She’s not drowning her sorrows. She’s distracting herself because she doesn’t think she has the right to be upset.
I’m watching them from another table, since they wouldn’t let me sit with them. Do you want me to take her home?
No. Knox got to his feet. I’ll go get her myself. He quickly ended the business call, uncaring that he’d been rude. Opening his office door, Knox indicated for Levi to follow him. “Tanner just contacted me,” said Knox. “Apparently Harper —” He cut off as a she-demon rounded the corner and came to a halt in front of him.
Belinda smiled. “Oh, Knox, I was hoping to catch you.”
For fuck’s sake. “What can I do for you, Miss Thacker?”
Her smile dimmed at his impatient tone. “It’s about the appetizers for the event.”
“I told you I want Harper to decide these things.”
Belinda’s mouth flattened. “She doesn’t find any of my suggestions suitable.”
“Then they’re not suitable.” Simple.
“Knox —”
“Miss Thacker, I didn’t invite you to call me by my first name.” Her cheeks reddened. “I gave you my orders when I hired you. They were not complicated. I specified all the details of the event that I wished to be left for Harper to decide.”
“She wants steak and potato wedges on sticks!” Belinda took a deep breath and lowered her eyes. “I apologize for my outburst.”
Steak and potato wedges on sticks? echoed Levi, a smile in his telepathic voice. That actually sounds pretty good.
“Do you remember the all-important order I gave you before sending you Harper’s way, Miss Thacker?”
She swallowed. “Yes.”
“What was it?”
Belinda met his gaze. “You told me to give her whatever she wants.”
“Then do it. Now I have somewhere I need to be…”
She straightened her blazer. “Thank you for your time, Mr Thorne,” she said stiffly.
As the cambion strode off, Levi asked Knox, “Where are we going?”
“To the Xpress bar to collect my mate, who may or may not be conscious by the time we get there.”
Raini clinked her glass against Harper’s and loudly slurred, “Best. Night. Ever.”
Harper nodded, smiling. “In the history of ever!” She couldn’t understand how they weren’t drunk. They’d been there for hours, drinking martinis, mojos, and shots. Harper could still feel the burn of the tequila in her throat… though it was possible that the burn was more to do with the fun they’d had on the karaoke. Or maybe it was because of how loud they had to speak to be heard over the laughing, hooting, singing, and swearing.
Bopping her head to the thumping music, Khloë grabbed Harper’s arm. “Dude, let’s race.”
Harper held up her blue martini; it glowed in the dim lighting. “I need to finish this first. Can you yodel?”
“Sure,” replied Khloë, and went on to do just that.
“Yoo-hooing isn’t yodeling,” Raini told her.
Khloë frowned. “Oh. Then no, I can’t yodel. We should learn. Is there a yodel school? We could go there. Or to a beatboxing school!”
“Ooh, yeah!” said Harper, eyes wide. “Dude, I will totally go with you.”
“Me too.” Raini adjusted her cleavage. “I always wanted to learn how to beatbox. And how to use a crossbow.”
“He’s not even that cute,” Devon muttered to herself, playing with a cardboard coaster. “And he pulls my hair. Pulls. My. Hair.”
“Who?” asked Harper before she swallowed some of her martini; the cool liquid slid down her parched throat.
Devon looked up and straightened her shoulders. “I should call him. I should. Shouldn’t I?”
“Are we talking about the hound?” asked Raini, reapplying her lipstick with a shaky hand.
“He has a girlfriend.” Devon shook her head. “But I don’t care. Why would I care? She’s welcome to throw balls for him and scratch his belly.”
Khloë puffed out a long breath and fanned herself. “Why do you think he has a girlfriend?”
“I heard someone talking about it. But it’s fine. It really doesn’t matter. Let’s not talk about me.” Devon turned to Harper. “Let’s talk about you.”
Harper pursed her lips. “Nah.”
Devon grabbed her hand. “You can stop pretending you’re not upset. This is us. We know you. We know when you’re hurting. And what hurts you hurts us.” The hellcat leaned forward, and Harper got a whiff of her hairspray. “Let us help you. We’ve got to stick together at times like this. We’ve got to be tight, like those sisters on Charmed. What do they say? Oh yeah, the power of three… something, something, free!”