Page 51 of Finders Reapers

Ollie didn’t notice. “Reapers are part of the fabric of the universe, honey-pie.” He smiled brightly. “I couldn’t exactly give you your old body, could I? You haven’t even been buried yet. No. The universe recycles. It stores information. You needed a body that no one would recognize, to be able to interact with the world to an extent.” Ollie explained. “That body belonged to an Irish immigrant that came over to the US after the famine in the 1800s.”

“Wouldn’t the body have rotted by now if it was that old?” My brow furrowed in worry.

Ollie waved his hand dismissively. “You onlylooklike that woman.”

“So, I’m basically a soul stuffed inside a mannequin with a borrowed face?” I tried to parse his explanation together, but I just felt more confused.

Ollie slapped my arm playfully. “I need tostopbefore I give away all of the trade secrets.” He held out the wallet and waited for me to take it. I almost couldn’t believe that he was a demon. Ollie was so open and welcoming. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.

Ollie clapped his hands together when they were free, and I slipped the wallet into one of my shopping bags.

“We should do lunch,” Ollie suggested as he turned back towards the bathroom door. “I’m here for you, girlie. It was fucking tragic what happened to you. I just couldn’t believe it. You don’t remember what happened, do you?”

I shook my head.

“Tragic.” He cooed. “But maybe it’s for the best.”

A smile touched my lips. “Thanks, Ollie.”

He winked. “Don’t mention it, honey-pie.”

No one spoke until Ollie had sauntered back to the bathroom and disappeared behind the door.

Maddox cleared his throat. “That’s the first time Oriax has even hinted about how his bodies are made.” His words were accusing as his almond eyes flicked to mine. “Care to explain why the Demon in charge of logistics at HQ has suddenly decided to be your bestie?”

I rolled my eyes. “I like Ollie,” I declared. “It's not my fault we get along.”

“You don’t think that’s strange?” Maddox pressed. “Charon calls him theMaster of Metamorphosis, and he wants to beyourbest friend?”

I flung my arms out to the side. “Honesty, Maddy? It’s not. I’m used to it. Being famous literally puts you are a base level of acquaintance with anyone that knows your name. Para-social relationships are weird but fascinating.”

Maddox crooked a brow.

“A para-social relationship is when someone forms a bond or emotional attachment or investment in a person that has no idea they exist,” I explained because he was giving me a weird look.

“I know what a para-social relationship is. I’m just surprised you do,” Maddox said dryly.

“Over twenty million subscribers on YouTube,” I gestured to myself. “Three million on TikTok—”

Maddox waved his hand, cutting me off. “Where did you go today?” He asked, changing the subject.

I looked down at my bags. “I went to Target with Rome.”

Maddox sniffed and turned back to the television.

Conversation over. I didn’t know why, but I felt irritated.

“I’m bored,” I declared. “What’s there to do around here, you know, when we’re not killing people?”

“Reapers don’t kill people,” Maddox called out, not turning from the TV as he spoke.

Jamal’s lips pressed together as he stopped himself from laughing again. “We could go swimming.” He suggested. “Or to the gym?”

I brushed my hands together and forced a smile on my face, even though exercising was the last possible thing I wanted to do at that moment. Instead, I employed a phrase that my Nonno used when my Nonna tried to get him to go dancing with her.

“Se vorrai andare, verrò con te,” I shrugged. “I’m game if you are.”

The sun had traveled the length of the sky, no longer directly overhead. I stared up at the Bellagio, and the light reflected off the mirrored windows. The hotel was a monstrous behemoth; it towered over the pool yet somehow didn’t cast it in shadow.