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A Kindness Of Crows
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The Deal With The Devil Dig Till There's No Gold Left
GiovanniI've known Jack for over a decade. Met him when I started to work for Lanigan.Murray Lanigan was about eighty when I met him in an alley where two idiots were trying to rob him. I say idiots because the fools didn't realize who they were fucking with.I knew. I knew from the minute I set foot on the strip.What the old man thought he was doing without his bodyguard I have no idea. To this day, I'm certain he suffered from some sort of dementia.The casino I own used to be his, but by the time I started working for him, he was old news. A legend, but old news.I beat up the two-bit thugs trying to rob him, and he hired me on the spot. I still think it's because he mistook me for one of his sons, long dead by the time I came on the scene. It was partly my accent, heavier then since I'd just gotten into the country about a month earlier.During one of his rare lucid moments, he changed his will, leaving the casino, hotel and the building itself to me. His children were pissed,
The Deal With The Devil Hard Out Here
SiennaI blink my eyes open and wait for the room to come into focus. It's silent, a quiet I'm not used to, and bright with morning light.And the instant I remember where I am, my heart rate picks up.I roll onto my back, glance at the empty space beside me. I tug the comforter up, appreciating its weight. I wouldn't use one so thick at home. It's too hot in the summer, but it's cool in the penthouse. Giovanni's got better air-conditioning.The pillow still has its indent from where he slept, and I remember the feeling of his arms around me, his body like a solid wall at my back.I sit up to take in the room. The bathroom door is ajar, the light out. He's not here. I know. Not in the bedroom and not in the apartment.I get out of the bed. I'm still wearing his shirt and I catch the hint of aftershave clinging to it.Barefoot, I pad across the hardwood floor and open the door to step into the hallway, putting a hand to my hair to tamp it down. It seems to grow to three times its size
The Deal With The Devil Frigate-Birds & Soft-Shelled Dreams
Sienna"Miss, your car is ready.""My car?" I remember how rudely I was brought here."Giovanni—"That's right. Giovanni.I shake my head. "No, thank you." Best to get back into my world as soon as possible. "I'm fine. I don't need a ride.""But I was told—""I'm fine," I repeat and walk out of the casino and into the summer heat. I walk down the street for a moment, feeling like people I pass know what I did last night. My walk of shame.Around the corner, I have to sprint to make the bus. I only look back once at the building as we pull away from the stop. Only crane my neck to look at the penthouse level for a moment before I dig out my phone and call the shop. I leave a message for Deirdre to let her know that I'll be late today. I don't tell her why. I then read the text from Jim, my mechanic, telling me my car is ready.At least that's one thing going my way.From the bus stop, I walk three blocks to the garage, and when I get there, I see the old model VW Golf in the lot. I wal
The Deal With The Devil Skeletons Of The Past
Sienna Once I arrive, I park my car and head inside. I walk up to the reception desk and think maybe I should have called instead of showing up here."Can I help you?" the middle-aged woman behind reception asks.Too late now. "I'm looking for Ciara Williams's room?"She looks down at her computer screen, punches some keys. "You just missed her," she says, looking up at me. "Discharged. She's being moved to a private facility.""Oh. You said I just missed her?""Yes. Her brother signed her out not half an hour ago and the private—""Her brother?" I feel my face drain of color. Feel the weight of cement in the pit of my stomach.The woman's smile fades. "Are you all right, hun?""You said her brother?"She looks at her screen again. Nods. "Sean Williams. I recognize him from TV. Nice guy."No.No, there's nothing nice about that guy.I turn in a circle, look around the lobby half expecting him to be here lurking in a corner."Miss, are you all right?"I force my legs to move. Force my
The Deal With The Devil A Stranger In My Bed
SiennaI busy myself tagging new items, the day passing in a blur, my thoughts a whirl with everything.In my mind, I'm weighing options. If I leave here, I'll need to get a new car. One that won't break down on the side of the road. The Golf is fine for short trips in town where Jim is available if I run into trouble. It won't make a long-distance trip.But what will happen to the shop?Deirdre could take it over. She'd like that, I think. Right? But there's her granddaughter to consider. This is just a part-time job for her.And I don't want to leave. I don't want to start again.I don't want to be afraid.I go back and forth all afternoon, deciding and changing my mind about everything again and again. All the while, thoughts of Giovanni last night, of how he was, how gentle he became. How almost careful with me.But I will never see him again. Best to get him out of my mind. He's not my prince charming and there won't be a fairy-tale ending. Not for me.As much as I want to close
The Deal With The Devil Sad, Little, Broken Wings
Sienna"Where are you going?" He breaks away and I can breathe again."What?""Half-packed bag upstairs."Shit. "You had no business going through my house.""I wanted to see where you live. And by the way, you're messy.""Why did you want to see where I live?"He shrugs his shoulder now. "Curious." He looks at my wrist, at the bracelet there.I cover it with my other hand."You didn't answer my question," he says."I was unpacking, actually," I lie.He studies me like he doesn't quite believe me but then he drops it."Do you have whiskey?" he asks, turning to walk into the small living room. I'm pretty sure this entire house fits inside one room of his penthouseI shake my head when he looks at me. "I have vodka.""That'll do."I exhale and walk into the kitchen to get the bottle of Absolut out of the freezer. I take out two water glasses, not wanting to feel embarrassed but feeling it anyway.I don't have a lot of nice things. No crystal tumblers. My furniture is second-hand. Most o
The Deal With The Devil Is It Love?
Giovanni"What?"She's staring up at me, eyes huge. There's something inside those yes. A child-like quality.A child's hope.A child's fear.I wonder if it's me she's afraid of or something else. Because I got a call from Jack about an hour after leaving his office and I'm going to bet it's that something else. Especially considering the half-packed duffel upstairs because I know for a fact she wasn't unpacking."One month. With me. Like last night.""I don't understand.""One million dollars."Her mouth falls open.I wait for her to process."One million...That's..." her voice trails off and she looks away like she's trying to count it.She gives a shake of her head and scoots under my arm. She walks into the living room and sits down on the couch to swallow the rest of her vodka. She sets her glass on the coffee table before returning her gaze to mine and when she does, it's steelier than I expect."I am not a prostitute. What I did last night, I did because I had to. Because of Ci
The Deal With The Devil Glowing Shards Of Light
SiennaI watch him from behind the curtains of the window.Is this even real? Did he just offer me a million dollars to sleep with him? To be his for one month?No. This makes no sense. Not after last night.I wonder if this is some sort of personal challenge. Maybe his ego can't take a woman not panting for him in his bed.The sedan disappears and I flip the single lock that still works on the front door. I go upstairs and look at my room, at the half-packed duffel, the clothes strewn here and there.He's right. I am messy. The opposite of him.I pick up the clothes and hang them up or put them away in the dresser drawers, all the while my mind working.Can I do it? Would I?I want to tell myself I wouldn't say yes just for the money. Although that's a lot of money.But there's something about Giovanni Adams. A thing that makes me want to be near him.Which is ridiculous because he is who he is.Everything set aside, though, there is one thing that will take this decision out of my h
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