Page 73 of Dead Serious: Case 3 Mr Bruce Reyes

Chan lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes.

We break the huddle and she struts back over to Death, one hand on her hip as she flips her hair over her shoulder and levels him with a dry stare that would’ve withered a lesser man. “Fine,” she says haughtily and Death’s mouth curves slightly. “But just so you know, I don’t put out on the first date.”

“Liar,” Dusty coughs into her fist.

“But first you need to do something with all of this.” She waves her hand at the pile of gifts. “And for the love of ballroom dancing, put that bloody painting back before you give the French police a collective aneurysm.”

“Okay?” He tilts his head as he studies her.

“I have to be at The Rainbow Room in an hour.” She spins on her heel and heads toward her bedroom, and Death follows along behind her like a puppy. When she reaches her door, she turns and points a finger at him. “No more leaving weird presents lying about, no more just appearing in my flat. You will arrive tomorrow at 8 p.m. on the dot, on the other side of my front door, and you will knock like a normal person.”

“Okay,” he replies, his mouth curving.

“Good. I expect flowers. Fully assembled, colourful ones would be nice, not just petals strewn everywhere. They may be considered romantic, but all they do is clog up my hoover. Wine is optional.” She slams the door in his face. “AND YOU GUYS, LOCK THE DOOR ON YOUR WAY OUT,” she yells through the door.

Death snorts quietly and turns to give us one last look before he disappears, taking the huge painting and the other items with him.

“I have a feeling my life is never going to be boring with you around, Tristan,” Harrison’s brows rise.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, boo.” Dusty’s brows rise pointedly as she stares at me.

“Chan will be perfectly safe with Death,” I reply and then replay that sentence in my head. “Fucking hell, this is weird,” I mutter.

“I’d be more worried about Death at this point,” Harrison murmurs. “She may be pretty, but she’s like a glittery tornado.”

“You have no idea.” Dusty rolls her eyes then looks at me. “You’re sure she’ll be safe?”

“You’re not seeing it, are you?” Harrison says to Dusty.

“Seeing what?”

“Almost every gift Death has given Chan is intended to protect.”

“He’s protecting her?” Dusty’s mouth falls open.

“And not just with the gifts he’s given her, but with her home too.” He looks around curiously. “I felt it as soon as I walked in. It’s like warding, but not quite. If we’re right about Chaos and what he’s doing, Death knows he’s trying to manipulate people and circumstances on this side.”

“He’s going out of his way to make sure his evil twin doesn’t fuck with Chan?” Dusty’s eyes widen in surprise. She pouts for a moment before adding, “Well. Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it though.”

“She’ll be fine, Dusty,” I assure her. The thing is, I’m sure I’m right, even though I don’t know what makes me so certain. But I don’t think Death would hurt Chan and to be honest, it kinda makes me feel a little better that he seems to be looking out for her.

Dusty turns to me with her arms folded across her chest. “I hope you’re right, boo, because you just set my bestie up on a blind date with the Grim Reaper.”

17

Danny gives a loud snore and murmurs in his sleep as he flings his arm out across my side of the bed. I stand in the doorway of the bedroom and watch him in amusement.

It’s still early—well, early-ish—and I’ve just gotten off the phone with Judy at the mortuary. Last night when I couldn’t sleep, too full of stress and pizza, I’d decided to take a few days’ personal leave. I hate doing it so close to having been off sick, but there is just too much going on and the last thing my brain can handle is focusing on work on top of it all.

We’re running out of time, and we don’t know what the hell we’re doing. The flat is leaking like a rusty bucket, and we still have to pack everything up and move. We still need to figure out where the portal in the book shop came from and if we can close it. Danny and Sam are still working on Bruce’s murder investigation. Chan is going on a date with Death, which I’m starting to feel guilty about because I can’t tell if she only agreed to it as a favour to me. I’m still really worried about my dad, and the days are ticking down to the eclipse like an Acme bomb.

My head feels like it’s going to explode.

Hence, I feel it’s prudent to take some time out to deal with it. I suppose the good thing about being a stubborn workaholic before I met Danny is that I accrued a lot of leave at work.

But first…

I grin to myself as I slip into the bedroom and strip off my sleep shorts and t-shirt, leaving me completely naked. Last night Danny and I were too exhausted and too full of pizza to do anything but crawl into bed and crash. But now? Now I’m wide awake, horny as hell, and spirit-free—temporarily.