Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,69

new things. They want innovation. Maybe we could even put a table or two outside, since out front-of-house is so outdated and cramped. Little things that would go a long way towards keeping the few customers we still have.

I start to stand, but one of the piles of paper catches my eye. There is a red stamp on the top invoice sitting on the stack to the right. It looks bad. My heart pounds. I shouldn’t read it. I’m sure we owe money to our flour supplier or something. Looks like we’re a little in the red. I’ll help out at the end of the month. It’ll all be okay. I force myself to breathe.

As much as I’m tempted to, I definitely shouldn’t look at the invoice. That would be wrong. It’s not addressed to me. Then again, I’m trying to save the family business. ‘Family’ being the keyword. I’m doing everything in my power to keep Buns afloat. I think part of the reason it got this bad is that we decided to bury our heads in the sand instead of facing up to the truth. I’m not doing that anymore. I need to know how bad things really are. I have this feeling that if I look at that red-stamped invoice, I will be closer to the truth. I pray it’s for flour…or maybe for packaging or something. An amount outstanding that’s manageable. It could be the guys who supply us with fondant. It’s nothing serious. I squeeze my eyes shut because I’m so tempted to walk out. I can’t! If my parents won’t face up to reality, then it’s my responsibility. We’re family. My father is afraid, that’s why he’s acting this way. I need to be strong. I need to be brave. I can do this!

I snatch up the invoice and gasp. It’s not an invoice but a statement. It’s worse than I ever could have imagined. Infinitely worse. It concerns my parents’ house. It looks like they’ve borrowed against their mortgage, which should have been paid up – or close to paid up – by now. They are nearing retirement age, and the bank is going to foreclose on their house. I make a sobbing noise, quickly covering my mouth. How have things gotten this bad? I knew it wasn’t great. I knew Buns was in trouble…but this? This is worse than I ever thought. I snap a picture of the statement with my phone. I had planned on giving Bolt a piece of my mind and then resigning, but I can’t do that now. I need my paycheck now more than ever. He’s still getting a piece of my mind. I hope he doesn’t fire me because of it. I don’t think he will. In fact, I know he won’t!

21

Bolt

My desk phone rings. I make a grab for it. “Yes,” I growl.

“Miss Shaw just drove in,” my head of security informs me.

I put the phone down and start pacing. My scales are rubbing again. My dragon is restless and pacing. This happens when my stress levels are too high. I take a couple of deep breaths and force myself to calm the fuck down. I can’t have Miss Shaw see my eyes glowing, or scales appear on my skin.

It’s just gone eleven. I canceled all my meetings for the day. I can’t concentrate. Can’t think straight. It’s unlike me, and I don’t like it. I’m completely off-kilter. I didn’t expect Miss Shaw to send me that text message last night.

Miss Shaw: I’m going to be late tomorrow!

I wonder what she’s been doing. Who did she see? Has she reneged on the NDA? Does she have a lawyer? I would encourage her to have the contract read by one. My cellphone rings, disturbing my thoughts. I check it in case it’s her, but it’s Lyre. I ignore it, letting it go to voicemail. Miss Shaw will be up soon. My phone rings again. It’s Lyre again. He doesn’t call me often, and then never twice in a row. I’m tempted to answer but leave it. He can leave me a message. Within seconds of the call ending, a text comes through.

Lyre: Call me! It’s urgent! Can’t wait!

I curse under my breath and call Lyre back. It had better be important. “What the fuck is going on?” Lyre growls almost before the cellphone can ring.

“I was going to ask you the same.”

“Morgan just sent me a picture of you with the harpy. It’s out of some