Warped (Dueling Devils 4)

CHAPTER SEVEN

After a weekend spent in the bed, Symone walked into work Monday morning floating on cloud nine. She hummed as she started the coffee and set out donuts. This was more than she’d ever dreamed of having. A kind of free falling with the belief that any hindrance would be worth the prize that waited at a safe landing.

A knock came.

She frowned. No one ever came in this early other than Monster, who she now knew was trying to charm her in his own way. She walked away from the table where the coffee and breakfast rolls sat and laughed.

Chase stood with her face pressed up against the glass like a small child.

She unlocked the door and the blonde bounded inside like a graceful gazelle.

“I got my ass up at the crack of dawn to come down here, so you better dish.”

“Good morning to you too.”

“Stuff the greetings sister,” Chase drawled.

Symone laughed and held out her hand.

Chase let out a low whistle. “Holy shit. I didn’t think old boy had it in him.”

“You’d be surprised,” Symone mumbled.

“Congratulations are in order! Shit! I’m going to throw you a bachelorette party to end all parties.”

Her face flushed with happiness. Symone was reminded of the bond she’d once shared with Gia. Closer than most sisters, they’d experienced the joys and pains of life together. It’s time to have that conversation.

“What’s wrong?” Chase ducked down into a chair and met her lowered gaze.

“Gia should hear about this from me, not someone else. I owe her at least that much. All these months, I’ve been getting my shit together and her wounds have been left to fester.” She sighed. “I need to get my house in order. I wasn’t ready before, but Monster changed everything.”

“I’m glad, you know. He never deserved what he’d been handed, in my opinion.”

“No, he didn’t,” Symone said, thinking of the secrets she shared with the twins.

The shop phone rang and Symone frowned. “That’s weird.” She walked over to the desk and answered. “Devil’s Auto Shop.”

“Good, you’re there. Call all the appointments for today and cancel them.”

“Demon?” she asked. He sounded frazzled. It wasn’t like him.

“What? Yeah. Ardy’s gone into the labor. I’m at the hospital and trying to get everyone here taking shifts. I need eyes on the kids and I want people securing the hospital in case my bat shit crazy ex is lurking around. I don’t trust that bitch. It’d be just like her to wait until now to come back on the scene.”

“Consider it done. Anything else I need to do?”

“Just be ready to act if I call you. I already let the crew know, so no one will be heading in.”

“I’m here,” she vowed, full of loyalty for the man who’d taken her in and given her protection when he had no real reason to. There were good people left in the world. They might not look clean cut, or live life by the rules society had in place, but personal experience told her demons came in pretty packaging and said and did all the right things, until they had you alone.

“You’re alright, Symone.” The dial tone sounded in her ear and she smiled.

“What’s up?” Chase asked.

“Ardy went into labor.”

“Holy shit, Boss man is going to be a daddy again. I’m starting to wonder if he’s going for the biker Brady Bunch or something.” She shook her head.

“Let me call the appointments and we can get out of here and lock up,” Symone said. She walked around and sat down, calling and apologizing, citing a family emergency. “Alright, I’m done.” She shut down the computer and stood. “Let’s lock up.”