Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Bomb. Dropped.
Along with my phone. It clatters to the tile floor. I grab it quickly and put it back to my ear. “You’re serious?”
“I’m serious.”
“Who are they?”
“I’m not sure, yet, but I have it on good authority that you’ve already come into contact with one.”
I look over my shoulder and eye the closed door. I didn’t lock it. Rogan wouldn’t dare interrupt me in the bathroom. Would he?
I take a few steps backward and click the lock.
“Dad,” I say, “I was attacked by three thugs last night.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m talking to you right now, aren’t I?”
“Believe it or not, Hannah, I’m concerned about your wellbeing. You’re my daughter, for God’s sake.”
“You weren’t around when I was growing up, when Larissa and I needed you, so forgive me if I don’t think you give a shit now.”
“I won’t deny I’ve made mistakes.”
I scoff. “Cool the ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ bullshit, Dad. I’ll never buy it. As for the attack, I’m fine. I only mentioned it because you said I’ve already come in contact with one of Rogan’s demons. One of my attackers was in Rogan’s office this morning and is apparently on his payroll.”
A short pause. “Is he a demon?”
“How the hell should I know?” My thoughts race. “Probably not. I sensed fear from him. Demons don’t feel fear, do they?”
“Not usually. Unless they’re only half demon.”
“I have no idea. I sensed his fear, but I didn’t smell anything out of the ordinary on him. He’s not lycan. Could be a half-breed or a human.”
“What about the others?”
“I was busy trying not to get my ass kicked,” I say, “but they weren’t scared. Not like Blaze.”
“Blaze?”
“That’s the guy on Rogan’s payroll.”
“Blaze Delacourt,” my father says.
“Is that his name?”
“Yes, but he’s not a demon. He’s human. What about the other two? Do you have any other information that might be helpful to me?”
Yeah, I have information, but to tell my father would be to admit that Rogan came to my rescue, which I really don’t want to do.
Three against one was hardly a fair fight, but still…
I sigh. “Rogan pummeled one of the other two. Demanded to know who sent him, but he wouldn’t talk. So you can imagine how pissed I was to find Blaze in his office this morning. And on his fucking payroll.”
“You think Rogan set you up?”
Did he? What did he say to Blaze this morning? She’s not worth the effort.
Asshole.
Asshole who I just let fuck me and who’s waiting on the other side of this door with a raging hard-on.
“I don’t know, Dad, but at this point, I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“Has he responded to you?”
“Well, you called while we were in bed together. What do you think?”
“Good. Very good. You should still be able to get what we need, Hannah.”
“Even if he set me up?”
“Yes, maybe even more so if he set you up. He’s probably feeling guilty about it.”
“Why would he feel gui—”
He’ll jump through all kinds of hoops to get to you.
“Damn it, Dad. You knew, didn’t you?”
“Knew what?”
“Don’t act all innocent. Rogan thinks I’m his mate.”
“What?”
I flinch at the harsh surprise in my father’s voice. He seriously didn’t know?
“What about all that ‘he’ll jump through all kinds of hoops to get to you’ crap?”
“You know exactly what I meant. I have faith in my daughter. You can seduce anyone. I’m well aware of your past.”
My past? Seriously? Sure, I had a lot of sex. Did a lot of drinking and drugs, too, all in an effort to quell the blood lust that I didn’t understand because I didn’t know my true heritage. Hardly makes me a talented seductress.
“Dad, I—”
“Save it, Hannah. Use this to our advantage. If he thinks you’re his, you can easily get what we want. If Rogan is behind those murders, I want him to pay.”
“Fine. Fine. And what am I supposed to do about the demons on his payroll? And about the fact that he may have set me up?”
“Demons are difficult to identify,” Dad says. “They’re masters of illusion. They can make you think they’re human, vampire, lycan, ghost. If Rogan is in league with demons—”
“What do you mean if? You just said he’s got some on the payroll.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s in league with them. Rogan owns a hotel and casino and runs a multi-million dollar enterprise.”
“Uh…still not explaining why he has them on the payroll.”
“A lot of businessmen employ demons, Hannah.”
“Why, exactly?”
“Security. They’re great at it.”
I lift my eyebrows. “Aren’t they inherently evil?”
“Of course, but they can control that if they’re disciplined enough. Demons have incredible internal strength.”
“Really? You’re praising demons?”
“I’m simply stating fact, Hannah. Demons have a wide range of abilities.”
“So why does it matter, then, if Rogan has demons on his payroll?”
“It matters which demons are on his payroll. You’ll need to identify them.”