as local utility inspectors and firemen. In order to keep the complaints down, Ishamel had arranged for Gadara Enterprises to foot the bill for a local hotel stay and two-hour gondola rides. The last thing any of them wanted was to catch some mortals in the crosshairs. Better to be safe than sorry.
Moving to her office, Eve sent an e-mail to her secretary, telling Candace that she wouldn’t be coming in today. She would wait another hour, then call the detectives and let them know. With her schedule set, she leaned back in her chair and stared up at the ceiling.
What would Gadara be like when he returned? He’d been gone so long.. . And Riesgo. How would he be? Her heart ached for the both of them and what they must have endured.
“So . .
Eve lifted her head and discovered Reed in the doorway. “Hi.”
“I’m still trying to decide how I should feel about sleeping alone last night.”
“We don’t live together.”
He entered and took a seat on the futon. His shirt was a deep red, perfectly pressed and left open at the throat. Paired with black slacks and his dark hair, it was edgy in a way that made her toes curl.
“So Cain calms down a bit.” he said tightly, “and you throw me over, is that it?”
“No. That’s not it.”
“Am I your dirty little secret now, babe?” His dark eyes were hard and cold. “Are you going to pretend that we didn’t happen?”
“I’m going to pretend that you’re not insulting me now. I’m going to convince myself that it’s because you like me so much that you’re being an asshole.”
“Are you going to tell Cain about us?”
“I already did. Well, I tried to,” she amended. “He didn’t want to hear it, but he knows.”
Reed’s entire mien changed, softening to the point that it made her breath catch. He was as vulnerable in that moment as he’d been with her in bed. It was somehow more intimate with them both fully clothed and a room’s length away from each other.
“Is it over between you?” he asked.
“Honestly?” She rubbed her palms over the arms of her chair. “I don’t think it’ll ever be over. I’m in love with him. I’ve been in love with him forever.”
Nodding slowly, Reed’s gaze remained on her but it was distant. Unfocused.
“Thing is,” she continued, “I’m pretty sure that I’m halfway in love with you, too.”
He stiffened, now tensely alert. “Go on.”
“I have no idea how that’s even possible, but there it is. I know you’re not good for me. You’re needy and self-centered—”
“Eve. .
“—but I crave you like chocolate.”
“And what do you think Cain is?” he snapped. “Healthy for you? Gimme a fucking break.”
“He’s heaithier but I have a sweet tooth. That doesn’t mean you’re my guilty pleasure, so don’t take it that way.”
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I know I can’t have both of you. And I can’t choose between you. I guess that leaves me with having neither of you.”
“Fuck that,” he retorted without heat. “I’ve got you right where I want you now.”
“Is that so?” Eve tried to hold back a smile, but felt her lips twitching anyway.
“Oh, yeah.” Standing, Reed came toward her. He leaned over her and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
He retreated enough to meet her gaze. “For everything, really. Most especially for not castrating me for offering to send you to Hell. You say you don’t trust me, but you couldn’t prove more clearly that you do.”
“What’s your plan anyway? Get everyone here tomorrow, then what? The way I understand it, you’d have to go into the trade assuming they let Riesgo and Gadara escape. You know better than to trust a demon.”
Reed’s mouth curved in a slow, smug smile. “Ah, but they don’t know better than to trust me. That’s the beauty of it. Asmodeus is worth a lot to Sammael. He’s one of only seven kings in Hell. Once Asmodeus makes sure you and Cain are here on the premises, he won’t be able to resist trying to nab you. He can only see things from his perspective, and to him it must be a potent temptation to get rid of Cain. It won’t even enter his head to think I’ll double-cross him and take him prisoner instead.”
“And if things go to shit, then what?”
“Cain would be with you to protect you. For all his fuck-ups, I’m sure that when push comes to shove, he’s got your back. And I’m confident