Chapter 42
Hours later, we get dressed for the evening.
Crew wears his black pants and an oversized black T-shirt from my closet that barely covers his belt.
His black hair falls messily across his forehead, making his silver eyes shine brighter than the full moon outside.
His large butterfly tattoo sticks out above the shirt.
A maroon leather mini dress with a high neck hugs my curves as Crew walks up behind me. He moves my long hair aside, slowly zipping up the dress as he leans forward, kissing the top of my shoulder. I turn to face him, smiling.
“The Neon Sin with Crew Bannermin,” I say. “Is this every girl’s dream?”
He smiles, touching my waist. “Or nightmare.”
A soft knock sounds, and I jerk my gaze to the large wooden door. Crew tenses and tucks himself behind the bathroom corner, staying out of sight but close by. I walk casually across my room and confidently pull the door open, expecting Bronwyn to be standing there.
I don’t let my expression falter when I see Talon and Shaw.
“Damn, Mara,” Talon says. “You look fantastic.”
I smirk, letting my emotions try to silence me when I see Shaw.
“Thank you,” I respond. “I have plans.”
“I wish those plans included me,” Talon replies, playfully.
I feel Crew go rigid and nearly roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of Talon flirting with me. Shaw stands beside him, tense and focused only on me. No smile graces his lips, and an intensity sits behind his eyes that makes it nearly impossible to stay calm.
“Your assignment is tonight?” Shaw asks.
“Yeah.”
“And you are meeting Crew?” Shaw tilts his head. “Like… that?”
“Yes, Shaw,” I snap. “I know what I’m doing.”
He sighs, letting his eyes shift around the hallway.
“You don’t think so?” I nearly growl, tightening my fists.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I just don’t like you with him so much.”
Crew’s fury strikes my chest as I close the bond, not wanting his emotions to flow into me right now.
“And why is that?”
Shaw tries to enter my room, and I raise my hand to put it against his chest.
“He’s dangerous,” Shaw says, stepping back from my grip. “And a wild card. I mean, you know what he did to you.”
The breath leaves my lungs, as if I’ve been punched in the stomach. He blames my father’s death on Crew, even though Shaw is the one responsible. I can feel the darkness seeping from Crew, and I know he’s using every ounce of his self-control to stay behind the door.
“What did he do, Shaw?” I narrow my eyes.
Shaw glances at Talon and grimaces. “I know he killed your dad.”
“What?”
“Lowell told me,” Shaw whispers. “That miserable demon you are working with killed James that night.”
My hand tightens around the door, nearly snapping the wood as I squeeze. I look at Talon to see if his expression changes, indicating he knows anything more, but he remains frozen, uncomfortable with this conversation.
He doesn’t know.
I step forward, ready to ruin everything by watching the light leave Shaw’s eyes. Since he inherited traits from his mortal side, it would be easy to end this life right now, and I weigh my options.
“Watch your goddamn mouth,” I seethe.
“I don’t mean to upset you,” Shaw says, attempting to offer me a hand. “I just want you to be careful.”
“I can take care of myself,” I spit. “And you are very fucking aware of that.”
“I know, Mara.” His lips form a thin line. “But since you were released, you’ve been different, and I think maybe you need more time to adapt.”
Talon’s eyes go wide at that statement as he looks at the ground.
“Maybe I should step in,” Shaw says with a soft smile. “Take the load off you for a while. I don’t think Lowell would object.”
I lift my leg to lunge forward, and Crew walks around the corner of the bathroom, a darkness radiating off him that makes the lights flicker in my room.
He growls, and I notice his eyes have shifted to black. “Ready to go, Mara?”
Shaw and Talon freeze as the demon heir nearly floats forward.
“Bannermin,” Shaw says. “What are you doing here?”
Crew walks behind me, his body looming over mine like a shadowy bodyguard. His hand rests on the door above my head, and I can feel his heart racing behind me. His hand discreetly touches the small of my back, but my anger doesn’t fade.
“Escorting Mara to our assignment,” Crew pauses. “Wild card and all.”
Shaw huffs a laugh. “How noble of you. Trying to make up for past mistakes?”
Crew leans over me, nearly eye to eye with Shaw. “Fuck, your reputation really precedes you, Durante. Yikes.”
“And what would that be?” Shaw grinds his teeth.
“Nothing,” Crew shrugs, and I watch as Shaw fights the urge to sink into himself.
Shaw leans back, collecting himself, and crosses his arms. “So, what’s the plan for tonight with you two dressed like that?”
“None of your business, dumbass,” Bronwyn spits, as her heels click down the hallway in the distance.
They jerk their gaze toward her as she approaches. Her fiery red hair falls long at her sides, and paired with her long-sleeved little black dress, she is a knockout.
“You are going with them?” Talon questions.
She throws her hair over her shoulder. “Or maybe I’m just dressed like this.”
Shaw laughs sarcastically. “Yeah fucking right.”
“I’m going out tonight, boys. I have a date.”
I think back to all the times Bronwyn and I went out. She lives for the nightlife and could outdrink any of these men under the table.
“With whom?” Talon snaps, letting his protective brother show.
She picks at her nails, leaning against the wall as if she’s bored. “Some loser demon boy I need to set straight.”
I smile, thankful for her mouth and distraction at this moment.
“I was just coming to see if Mara wanted to come with me,” she says.
I step aside, allowing her to enter my room. She pats Crew on the chest and turns him to give me some space. Shockingly, Crew follows her lead and walks farther into the bedroom. Talon watches, his mouth nearly falling open, and Shaw narrows his gaze.
“Be careful tonight,” Shaw snaps. “You don’t know what you are dealing with.”
I sigh, leaning my head against the door. “Oh, Shaw. That’s where you are wrong. I know exactly what I’m dealing with now.”
I shoot Talon a glance, and he grimaces. I begin to slam the door in their face as Crew yells from the opposite side of the room, “Have a fantastic night, Shaw.”
A heavy exhale escapes my throat as I turn to face the others. Crew’s eyes have returned to normal, and Bronwyn is fixing her hair in the mirror. I lock the door behind me and distance myself from it.
“Shaw is shitting his pants,” Bronwyn says. “He’s on the outs, and he hates it. You remember how mad he used to get when Lowell treated him that way.”
I walk to the windows, throwing them open to let the night air cool me down.
“Do you think Talon is going to be alright?” I ask.
She nods. “I do.”
Crew unfolds his black wings, stretching them wide, and Bronwyn snaps her gaze to him.
“Damn.” She grins widely. “Impressive.”
He smirks, stretching them farther, and I can’t control the laugh that leaves my mouth.
“Is your friend that impressive?” Bronwyn unfolds her own wings. “Because if so, I’ll probably marry him on the spot.”
“Sadly, no,” Crew responds. “But his personality also… doesn’t make up for it.”
She rolls her eyes. “That sounds exactly like my type.”
“Should I leave you two alone?” I chime in. “Or can we get back on track?”
Crew walks toward me, wrapping his hands around my waist. “Jealous?”
“Yes.”
He hums, praising the air. “Finally.”
Bronwyn speaks again. “Let’s go. I want a drink and to shake my ass.”
Crew whispers in my ear, “She’s going to kill Damien.”
I grab his hand and unfold my wings, walking toward the window. “Good, then we can finally stop being interrupted.”
Bronwyn goes first, diving out of the window into the open air toward The Neon Sin.
We follow next, our bodies aligning in the sky.
I never thought I would be with Bronwyn again, let alone with Crew.
Tonight already feels thrilling, and although a heaviness weighs on me, I push it aside and allow myself to feel free.
Crew moves closer to me, smiling and nodding his head.
I tuck my wings snugly to my side and propel myself faster, leaving him behind in the clouds.
I hear him laugh, and he quickly catches up to me.
Bronwyn flies to the right, her red hair trailing behind her like crimson fog, and I notice her singing to herself.
The city lights twinkle below, and the busy nightlife fills the streets. Shouts, cars, and loud noises echo through the area beneath us, taking me back to when Bronwyn and I did this nearly every weekend—the drinking, the men, the excitement—when we could be free from being assassins.
The first night I went out with Bronwyn, I ended up vomiting the entire next day, but it was the most fun I’d ever had.
We stumbled through every bar in Halcyon City, getting men to buy us drinks, and limped home at 4 A.M. when the last bar kicked us out.
I was young, free, and blissfully unaware of what was nearby.
From that night on, we started going every weekend, becoming a nuisance to many bouncers and bar owners across the city. Bronwyn had compelled nearly every one of them to give us VIP service, and an ache grows in my chest as I reminisce on those days.
We approach the bar, and I see a line of people waiting outside to drink themselves silly. I nod to Crew and Bronwyn as we lower into the dim alleyway a few blocks away. The thin concrete walls surround me as my feet touch the dirty ground, and I quickly fold in my wings.
Bronwyn and Crew do the same, and my gaze jerks to a figure waiting in the shadows—Damien.
His tall frame approaches, and his shaggy brown hair falls around his face. Damien’s smile shines in the dim alleyway, and his green eyes gleam. I can tell he’s just as excited as we are.