Demon's Plaything

by Lydia Rowan

  Demon brought her comfort, took her mind away from the world and made her feel. It was ridiculous, she knew, but no more ridiculous than her letting Ian pull her into his scheme. Demon was right; she knew he was, but Ian had seemed so desperate…

  She pushed away the thought, refusing to let Ian, or anything else, take her mind away from the beautiful, brief moment they’d shared. And anyway, she couldn’t solve this tonight. So she let her mind wander as she drifted off to sleep, letting thoughts of Demon float to the surface.

  ••••

  Demon walked in and settled across from Elah a bit uneasily. He hadn’t been sure the man would be there, let alone whether he’d have time or the inclination to see him, but to his surprise, the receptionist saw him right in. Demon thought Elah had a favorable opinion of him, but still, he felt a bit of trepidation. Elah was unreadable, but Shayla was worth the risk. Elah looked up and leaned back in his chair, his cold eyes assessing.

  “You needed to speak with me?” he said, his voice that same even, somewhat bland tone he always used, circumstances not withstanding.

  “Yes, I wanted to ask for a favor.”

  “That’s direct. I usually get a whole song and dance before people get down to it.”

  “You’re a busy man. I thought I’d spare you.”

  “Much appreciated. So what do you need? And please speak freely.”

  Demon nodded at the acknowledgment. Elah was maniacal about security, so the statement was an indication of his comfort.

  “You asked me to keep an eye on the fights.”

  Elah nodded.

  “Well, I have been and with the exception of one small issue, things seem to be running smoothly.”

  “Go ahead,” Elah said.

  “There’s a guy, Ian, who owes. I’d like to pay his debt.”

  “Ian Rodgers?” Elah asked.

  “Yeah, that’s him. I think he’s in for a lot, a hundred thousand at least, maybe more. I’ll pay the appropriate party, but I need him cut loose.”

  “Answer a question first. What’s it to you? That guy is scum.”

  It seemed the rumors were true. If Elah knew about Ian, he had to be tied in at the very lowest levels of the streets. Ian should have been beneath Elah’s notice.

  “It’s for a friend.”

  “That nice doctor, I presume?”

  Demon couldn’t help but smile. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you know that, but I am.”

  “No, you shouldn’t be. You know I like to keep tabs.”

  “Yeah, I’m figuring that out.”

  Demon waited as the other man considered him. Then, he finally said, “I’d be happy to arrange this if I could. But Ian Rodgers doesn’t have any debts. At least not in this city.”

  “What?” Demon asked, surprised at the news. From what little Shayla had shared and from what Demon knew of Ian’s past, he’d expected Ian to be in deep. It wasn’t uncommon for gamblers to pay debt in trade, and Demon hadn’t asked any specific questions about it, figuring he understood the circumstances. Seemed he’d been wrong.

  Elah shrugged. “He’s clear. And he makes a nice cut off the fight. Collects the doctor’s cut too from what I understand.”

  “You mean that son of a bitch is making money and not working off a debt?”

  Demon couldn’t keep the shock and anger out of his voice. Elah lifted his brow a millimeter, the most animated reaction from him Demon had ever seen.

  “Yeah, and a nice amount of money. He and the doctor are working together. Or that’s how he portrayed it anyway, so I’m told.”

  The red at the edge of Demon’s vision spread and his heart rate spiked. The anguish on Shayla’s face, in her voice, when she’d told him about Ian, her concern for him, played on a loop. He’d dealt with some low motherfuckers, but even the worst of the worst protected their family.

  “You want him out?” Elah’s voice penetrated his brain.

  “Oh yes,” Demon said as he formed a plan. “I want him out. Completely if possible. Her, too. I don’t want her allowed anywhere near that shit.”

  “Done. Anything else?”

  “No.”

  “Good. Now I need to ask a favor of my own.”

  Demon nodded and sat up to listen.

  ••••

  The next night came, and Shayla found herself driving to the warehouse as if on autopilot. She’d wavered back and forth all day, Ian on one shoulder, imploring her to go, Demon on the other, insisting she stay away. The irony of that fact was not lost on her.

  Yet, she didn’t have the wherewithal to resist. If something happened to Ian and she hadn’t done everything she could… She shuddered at the thought. This situation was unsustainable, but the alternative was unthinkable. Maybe Demon could help. The realization buoyed her. He was, to an extent she wasn’t interested in exploring too deeply, familiar with these people, this world. He could help her figure out what to do. Ian hadn’t given her specifics, but with Demon’s help, she’d find a way out of this mess, for Ian and for herself. Then the details wouldn’t matter. They’d be free, and perhaps she and Demon would have a chance to explore things between them, figure out whether there was something more than amazing chemistry and good conversation. Her gut told her there was, that this man was something special, but with everything swirling around her, she couldn’t be sure. And while her instincts had rarely misled her—even when it came to Ian—she didn’t want to get ahead of herself. Still, in spite of what was or wasn’t in the future for her and Demon, she knew he’d help her if he could.

  Excited by the new course of action, she hurried to her usual post in the space between the private clinic area and the main arena, responding to the polite head nods and hellos that floated her way. Seemed she was becoming a regular, but the thought didn’t scare or concern her as it would have even minutes ago. She had a plan!

  “I told you not to come back here, Shayla.”

  She started at the deep voice whispering in her ear, but fright turned to elation when she realized it was him. Without thinking, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist, breathing in the scent she had come to love, pressing as close as physics would allow, the feel of her curves against his muscled body reminding her of last night. But beyond just the physical, being near him, touching him grounded her, made her believe everything would be okay. He seemed surprised by her display, but after a moment, he put his arms around her waist and closed the last millimeters of distance between them. Shayla wasn’t big on public displays of affection, but she could have been on the fifty-yard line at the Super Bowl and she wouldn’t have cared a whit.

  He pulled back an inch, but she immediately closed the distance. He tried again, and this time she relented.

  “I appreciate the warm greeting,” he said, smiling down at her before he sobered, “but I told you not to come back.”

  “I heard you the first two times,” she said, slightly annoyed at his high-handedness, but still so ridiculously happy to see him that her irritation didn’t bleed into her voice.

  “It didn’t seem to sink in.”

  He pulled back farther, completely breaking their embrace. She looked up at him and saw a glinty sternness that she’d seen flashes of, but never to this degree. He was displeased, and not because she’d let him down, but because he cared for her, for her well-being. It made her want to wrap her arms around him again, but she resisted, instead opting to lean in and give him a peck on the lips that earned her a quick smile.

  “Let’s go,” he said. “I’d hate to waste your exuberance in a place like this.”

  She considered for a millisecond and then smiled and nodded. “Last one to my house is a rotten egg,” she said and dashed toward her car.

  A hand grabbing her wrist stilled her, and she whirled around, thinking it was Demon.

  It wasn’t.

  She recognized the guy from other nights, and in his eyes, she saw that shifty panic of a person in need.

  “Sorry
, but Ian said to find you. Somebody’s having a heart attack,” he said.

  She looked around and spotted Demon, her eyes meeting his in silent communication. He seemed to understand and nodded at her, his face solemn. She nodded back and instinct took over, everything else fading into the background.

  ••••

  Demon watched Shayla head toward the clinic, but he didn’t try to stop her. If someone was in trouble and she didn’t help, she’d never forgive herself. That kindness was what made her special, and again he was enraged that her own brother was using it against her. But that was almost over. He suspected Shayla might be pissed at his interference, but he didn’t care. If she was unwilling to take care of herself, then he had no problem doing it for her.

  He stuck around but must have missed Shayla, because when he checked the parking lot, her car was gone. It was well after three in the morning, and he didn’t want to risk waking her, but he wanted to contact her somehow so he texted.

  You home safe?

  The reply was almost instant.

  Demon? How did you get this number?

  He laughed.

  Told you I was motivated. You home?

  Yeah. Sorry about earlier. I looked around but didn’t see you. There was a false alarm. Heart attack that turned out to be a panic attack. Somebody lost a lot of money tonight.

  It’s okay. I know you couldn’t do anything else. And they always do.

  He pondered his next line and then finally decided on mostly the truth.

  Take care, Shayla.

  He left off I miss you but thought she got the message.

  See you soon?

  Sleep well.

  He waited a few minutes, but she didn’t respond. But he was okay with that. Better to let her rest while he untangled the web her brother had spun her into.

  He looked down at his phone. One last call and the day would be complete.

  Ian picked up after two rings, sounding sleepy and irritated. “This better be fucking important if you’re calling me at three twenty-six.”

  “Such language. I could have been your grandmother.”

  “Who the hell is this? And how the fuck did you get this number?” Ian yelled, sounding even more irritated. Good.

  “It’s Demon, and don’t pretend you don’t know who I am. Meet me at the warehouse at two in the afternoon tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

  He hung up without waiting for a response. He wanted to go back to Shayla, but resisted the pull. He’d finish this, and then they’d have all the time in the world.

  ••••

  He’d gone home for a few hours of rest and spent the morning at the recycling facility. He wasn’t at all nervous about the meeting to come. Ian and guys like him would always do what was in their best interests, and Demon had made it his business to ensure that Ian’s best interests would finally be good for Shayla as well.

  He drove to the warehouse, excited that Shayla would soon be out of this for once and for all. Much to his surprise, Ian was on time. Demon got out and leaned against his car as Ian pulled up; he was so ready to get this over with. Ian seemed to share the sentiment as he jumped out of the car quickly. He might have expected some popping off or other outward show of anger, but Ian was placid, his demeanor entirely untroubled. Shayla had said he was smooth, but this was pretty impressive. Too bad the guy was such a fuckup.

  “So I’m here,” Ian said. “You planning to kill me or something?”

  “Would you have come if you thought I was?”

  Ian shrugged. “No, but it seemed like the right thing to say.” His eyes hardened, revealing the calculation that hid behind his suave exterior. “What do you want?”

  “From you, nothing.”

  “Oh, you want something from Shayla? Can’t help you with that, though you don’t seem to have had any trouble so far. My only advice is keep doing what you’re doing. She’s smart, but she has a soft heart, and if you get to it, you’re in. Anything else, or can I go?”

  Smack!

  The sound of Demon’s slap reverberated off Ian’s face before Demon was even fully aware that he’d reached out. Ian looked more offended than hurt, but he didn’t try to retaliate. Which was very disappointing. Demon would have welcomed the opportunity to kick his ass. He deserved that, more than that, for the way he treated his family, the way he’d talked about his sister. It was disgusting, really, that an asshole like Ian got people who loved him so much to put themselves at risk to protect his worthless ass.

  But Demon needed to refocus. He’d have this problem taken care of soon enough.

  “I don’t know if you got the message, but you’re out.”

  Ian scoffed. “Fuck you. You don’t call shots around here.”

  “I don’t, but I know the man who does, and you’re out. Everywhere. Permanently.”

  Disbelief marred Ian’s features.

  “What the fuck ever, man!”

  “Believe me or don’t; that’s your call, but my only advice,” he said mockingly, “is that you take my word for it.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Ian said, having regained some of his composure.

  “You will.”

  Demon handed Ian an envelope.

  “There’s nothing left for you here, so you’ll probably want a fresh start somewhere new. This should help you on your way.”

  “Oh, and now you wanna run me out of town, too?”

  “I’m just laying out your options. Stay if you want, but you’re unemployable in this city.”

  “Well, you seem to forget I have family here, people who love me, who’ll do anything to help me.”

  “Not anymore.”

  Demon thought he saw the tiniest crack in Ian’s exterior, but he recovered quickly. “Thanks for the free money.”

  He’d had enough Ian for one day and frankly couldn’t see why Shayla felt so compelled to help him. Then again, Ian wasn’t Demon’s family.

  “Do what you want. But you’re out. And Shayla is too.” He said the last in a tone that brooked no argument.

  And then he got into his car and left Ian standing in the sun.

  Chapter Ten

  Please.

  No.

  Please! One last time!

  No.

  Please…

  And on it went all during her shift two days later. Ian texting, begging for her help, her saying no, him begging even harder. There was a new message every time she had a spare minute to check her phone, and during that day’s sleepy shift, there were far too many spare minutes for her comfort.

  Shayla was absolutely disgusted. For God’s sake, could he not even have the decency to pick up the phone to call and ask for her help? And what kind of moron sent text messages about a fucking illegal criminal enterprise!

  Probably the same kind that responds to them, Shayla, she thought.

  And, in the spirit of being honest, she had to admit that Demon’s voice was again whispering in her brain, confirming what she already knew. The situation was untenable. She’d been able to help that woman last week, help the man through his panic attack, but there were no such assurances for the future. Things could get out of hand—more out of hand—in an instant. Someone could die. Add the fact the she could lose her license, go to prison, or God knew what else… She pressed her eyes closed tight to chase away the thought.

  Even still, she had a hard time accepting what she knew she must do. She’d always had Nana, and, despite whatever trouble he brought, she’d always had Ian too, the three of them a little family. But that was dying, was probably already dead, in fact, its members falling one by one, Nana from time and disease, Ian from himself, Shayla from the stress of trying to keep it all together. She’d known it, her attempts at trying to lie to herself of little success. But she’d also known or could now at least acknowledge that it’d been gone a long time. She’d tried so hard to hold onto Ian, to that boy she’d loved so much, that she’d ignored the man he had become.

  The stab at h
er heart at the thought proved that the pain of her realization hadn’t faded, likely wouldn’t for a long time, but that was no matter. She’d heal. Eventually. And in the meantime, she had to regain control of her life.

  Resolve stiffened her spine. She’d do this one last time, and then she was done for good.

  ••••

  The rest of the day passed in a strange mix of slow and fast. Each moment felt excruciating and slow, but at the end of the day it was as if the hours had passed in an instant. Just another sign that she was making the right choice.

  She headed to the warehouse straight from the hospital without stopping home to change, unwilling to put this off for another moment and anxious for this day to be over. She was surprised to discover the parking lot was mostly full. She supposed the crowd couldn’t wait to get their fix. A thought of the picture she presented in her scrubs and clogs—she’d ditched the white coat—idly floated through her mind before she dismissed it. She’d seen full formal attire down to shorts and flip-flops and everything in between, so she doubted her outfit would even garner a second glance. But she couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel conspicuous, like people would stare, like maybe she’d see someone she knew. Nana would say it was a guilty conscience, though whether for ditching Ian or for being involved at all, she couldn’t decide. Trying to shake off the feeling, she parked and walked toward the back entrance. If she saw someone she knew, they’d have as much to explain as her, so she couldn’t let that be a concern, not when the finish line was in sight.

  As she reached out to open the door, a hand clamped on her shoulder, and she screeched, her heart nearly pounding out of her chest. She looked up and recognized one of the burly, sour-faced guys who patrolled the crowd and escorted unruly patrons elsewhere. She hadn’t caught his name and didn’t intend on asking for it now.