Pan's Salvation (Dueling Devils 5)

“I like music. Every era, every genre. It fascinates me how people can tell a story so

poignant you believe they must understand what you’re going through. When all else fails, music has been there to save my ass and keep me sane. I have a vast collection of vinyl records. To me, they always sound better. There’s a purity to them that’s been lost in the digital age.”

The passion in her voice intrigued him. “So, why didn’t you do something with music?”

“I tried for a while. I saved up, got some decent equipment and started Djing. I worked my way from the ground up. After a while, I made a little bit of a name for myself.” The happiness in her voice and the expression of pure bliss on her face changed her.

“You loved it.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I did. The money was shit, the hours were long and put me at odds with everyone else I knew, but…when I was up there watching everyone dance to the music I wove, it was fucking magic.”

“So, what happened?”

Her face clouded over. Her eyes went flat. “Robin. I was letting her stay with me for a while. She’d been clean for six months, got a job at a local dinner and damn, I was hopeful, you know? An old friend showed up at work, one thing led to another and she was off the wagon.

Our hours were completely opposite, so I didn’t notice until I came home from working a shift at the boutique where I worked part time and found everything gone.”

“What the fuck?” he whispered.

“The place was ransacked. I called the cops. They wrote it off as a robbery. I made the report and jumped through all their hoops. Then I came home and started the clean-up process. I was broken, but not out for the count. My thoughts were on rebuilding. I’m not the type of girl who lies down and takes it. I’m sure you figured that out on your own.”

&nb

sp; He laughed. “I read that loud and clear.”

“I was feeling like a Phoenix about to rise from the ashes when it hit me. Robin hadn’t been around all day. It—it broke something inside me, knowing she could destroy the one thing I loved.”

“Why didn’t you cut ties?”

“Because I didn’t want to be like my mother. I refused to abandon her, or allow her to sink any deeper into the hole she’d begun to dig for herself. So. I-I tracked her down and I spent my nest egg, placing her in one of the top rehabilitation centers. She got clean, apologized and for a long while, we were happy.”

“How did you go from there to here?”

“A man, if that’s what you want to call him. I think he was the devil himself. He showed up all smiles, lavishing and pampering. He was a businessman, or so he said. He worked in

advertising. He should’ve been good for her. She was head over heels within a month and nothing I said mattered.”

“You didn’t like him?”

“No, he set off alarm bells. He was a little too squeaky clean and far too perfect. From his perfect tan to his blindingly white teeth. I saw something moving behind those blue eyes that made her swoon.” She scowled. “I should’ve pressed her about it and stood my ground. Instead, I watched while he stepped in and separated us, little by little. Hell, part of me felt relieved. Now, she was his problem to look after. Great sister, huh?” She laughed coldly and took another drink.

“Human sister, I think.” He placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Now, you know my sin. Even now, this isn’t about her; it’s about me. My guilt. My need to clean my slate. Because if she dies now? That’s on me. And I—I.” Her voice warbled. “—I can’t handle that.”

“She’s a grown woman who made her decisions, Lark.”

“Yeah well, head versus heart.” She shrugged. “I’d do anything to just forget for one

second—maybe you had the right idea, after all.” She finished off her beer.

With her actions and change in attitude, he knew he’d won.

Chapter Four

Mind blissfully blank, Lark giggled as they made their way inside the hotel. Pan’s arm around her waist kept her upright and protected. God, it felt good to have someone looking out for her. Pan was warm, powerful. Whenever he smiled, she could imagine all the pleasures he could offer. He unlocked the door and she followed him inside like a star struck girl. His eyes hadn’t left her the entire night. If it was just her body, he wanted. It was his for the taking.

He pulled her inside. She leaned against the metal. He studied her silently. The minutes crawled by. Tension filled her body. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation and fear. This was uncharted territory. Pan would be more than a fuck to burn off energy and get her mind away from the shit in her life that had become her restraints. He touched a part of her she’d ignored until it shrank to nothing.