27. Chapter 27
Jason found Billy leaning over the porch railing smoking a cigarette. She knew, of course. Bear’s offer was contingent on her accepting too.
Bear, in a surprisingly enigmatic move, let Jason take a shower to rinse the splinters of ceiling tile from his dark-blond hair.
What I’m offering you has never been done.
He looked down at his arm, the blank canvas for a demon with a pitchfork. Unlike the other men at the bar and milling around the bikes outside, his wouldn’t appear one appendage at a time. His would come complete with a job.
And a woman.
“He lives,” Billy said without turning.
“He does,” Jason replied. He shoved his arms into his jacket and joined her at the rail. She handed him what was left of her cigarette and lit a fresh one for herself. He didn’t usually smoke, but he couldn’t think of an occasion that called for it more than this one.
“On what condition?” She finally looked at him. If he expected hopeful tears to glisten in her eyes in the fading daylight, he was disappointed.
Jason puffed on the cigarette. “I think you know.”
She nodded and took a healthy drag of her fresh menthol. “It wasn’t my idea.”
“I believe you.”
Billy squared to him, ready to go down swinging. “Good. I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to trap you.”
“I never said you were.” He almost laughed. “Honey, calm down.”
“I told him not to ask.”
He grabbed her chin and kissed her. “Shut up,” he said, holding her face so her cheeks were scrunched up around her lips. “Just shut up.”
She kissed him back. The bikers smoking below the porch whistled and Jason remembered where he was and who was making his dick hard. He laced his fingers through the shirt she’d re-tied and urged her back a step.
“I’m not done with you,” she said with a ragged exhale.
“I’m not trying to get shot today.”
She stepped out of his grip and leaned on the rail again to smoke. “You’ve already made up your mind, then?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“If you won’t touch me, I assume you’re leaving.”
“I didn’t say that either.”
He grabbed the bottom edge of the skirt barely covering her ass and pulled her toward him. The Demon princess wasn’t having it. Suddenly Billy was a two again, making him work.
If you want it, and Billy wants it, it’s yours.
“Hey, listen,” he said. “I’m not done with you either, but I can’t do the things I want to do to you out here in front of these pricks.”
“You want to screw me again and then leave?”
“This really has your panties in a twist.”
“It would if I were wearing any.”
“You—”
One sentence and she made him lose his mind.
She grinned, triumphant, and took another drag.
“Billy.” Jason shook his head and tossed the butt of his own cigarette over the railing.
“If he wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”
“You’re his kid.”
“As if you care.”
He sighed. “What are we even talking about?”
“You fucking me and leaving.” She huffed out a puff of smoke. “You just leaving.”
“I always come back.”
“It’s different this time.”
It was different this time. Her dad offered him the job to end all jobs. A career—and not the kind that would make his mama proud. It was a commitment akin to joining the mob, with just as many strings and rules and perks and terror. And oh, by the way, marry my daughter.
Bear never mentioned a wedding in white and a set of gold rings, and he didn’t need to. The implication was clear: the job didn’t come without the woman. And he couldn’t have the woman anymore without the job.
“Come here,” Jason said.
“No.”
He stood behind her and took her hips in his hands. It didn’t take long for Billy to melt against his chest.
“Your door doesn’t have a lock anymore,” he said into her ear.
“I found a cinder block to keep it shut. My dad’s busy behind the bar anyway. It’s poker night.”
With one eye on the men smoking below the porch, Jason ran a hand up the center of her legs to confirm she actually wasn’t wearing panties, then nipped at her ear.
“Let’s go,” he said, and she followed him back to her bedroom.