Page 54 of Demon's Desire

Lucia’s eyes widened. “If you really think it’s necessary. I’m not defenseless, but I’m not stupid either. If I hear anything more, I’ll call you and pretend I’m not home.”

“Thanks.” Nico rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take care of it and tell you when things are resolved so you won’t have to worry.”

“Who’s worrying?” Lucia gave him a stern look. “Don’t go taking care of it by yourself. Get that vampire to sort it out for you.”

Rowan would always help, but he might have too much on his plate. Who knew what he needed with Onyx? “I’ve mentioned it to him.” At least he’d mentioned Michael was back, even if he hadn’t brought up the break-in to his apartment.

Lucia nodded. “Good. Come by tomorrow. I’m making empanadas de mole amarillo.”

Nico’s mouth watered. “I’ll be over. That’s a promise.”

She smiled.

By the time Nico got inside his apartment, his phone had stopped ringing. Pulling it from his pocket, he saw Onyx had called. A grin tugged on his lips.

Fuck, he was a fool.

He called Onyx back.

“Oh, good. You aren’t ignoring me,” Onyx said as he picked up.

Nico chuckled. “I called you first, so how could I be ignoring you?”

Unsurprisingly, Onyx didn’t acknowledge the flaw in his logic. “What do you want? I’m busy.”

Nico paced the apartment. “I know you’re busy. I was going to call later and see if you wanted to game, but something came up.”

There was a beat of silence. “You called to say you can’t hang out with me because something came up? Even though we didn’t have plans?”

“No. That’s why I wanted to call, and I would have, but Rowan asked to meet with you.”

“Oh.” Onyx’s disappointment was unmistakable.

“We can still game after meeting him. If you don’t have anything else lined up.”

“I don’t know, Nico. I don’t want to see the vampire. I’m not in the mood.”

“I get that.” There was no way Onyx was over what had happened with Ash and Dante, and Nico didn’t doubt he wanted to avoid magic world problems. “But it sounds urgent, and Rowan wouldn’t tell me what it was about. I’d deal with it if I could, except he said he needs to tell you before anyone.”

Onyx let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Fine. Whatever. But if it’s some bullshit and Rowan is wasting my time, he’s going to hear about it. Meet me at the club.” Onyx hung up without waiting for Nico’s reply.

He hadn’t put up as much of a fight as Nico had anticipated. That had to be good. Nico was making progress. He just didn’t know where it was leading.

15

ONYX

Onyx wavedto Jade as he entered the strip club. “I promise I’m not stalking you.”

She sashayed toward him. “If you say so.”

That morning, Jade had called Onyx. He’d been glad to hear from her and had set up a meeting for the two of them at the gallery next week. Ideally, he wouldn’t have shown up at the club before then. It was just his luck that she was working tonight.

“I’m meeting Nico and figured it was rude not to stop in before heading upstairs.”

To her credit, Jade didn’t seem bothered. “Star will be sad she missed you.”

“As am I.” Onyx handed Jade several crisp twenties. “Would you mind sharing this with the bartender and bringing me a bourbon?”