Pan's Salvation (Dueling Devils 5)

“Got some business to take care of, so I’ll be at the club all day.”

“Alright. Later, Demon.”

“Later, brother.”

Their vacation from real life was over. He worried about what it meant for them as they attempted to merge their everyday existence. There was a lot he didn’t know about her.

Chapter Six

It’s done. Robin’s body took its final ride to the funeral home. Lark had decided to cremate her. Robin always despised the thought of rotting away in a pine box. The flowers would be a mix of roses and lilies and their pastor from years ago would speak. An hour of sobbing and typing on Pan’s laptop had produced a letter she would have printed off to use as an obituary she had set to go in the paper tomorrow with the funeral information. Neither of them had many friends and most of their family was estranged or gone to the great hereafter.

Spent, she wiped away the fresh tears and took a deep breath. She pushed the chair away from the desk and stood. Vertigo stuck and she swayed before she regained her balance. I need to get my shit together. Now, isn’t the time to fall to pieces. She took the pep talk to heart as she marched into the small guest room and office combination.

Pan glanced up from his spot on the couch in the living room. “You all squared away?”

“Yes, it’s all set for Thursday at six o’clock. There will be no viewing. I’m having her cremated.”

“Okay, we need to pick up your car and then head over to the clubhouse. My president

wants to meet you.”

“President?” She arched an eyebrow.

“The club President of the Dueling Devils, aka…The man in charge of everything.”

“I understand. Am I in some sort of trouble?”

“No, but he did stick his neck out for you, as a favor to me. He’s wondering why.”

She frowned. “I don’t follow you.”

“I’m not going to lie to you little bird. I’ve never been a one-woman man. The way I am with you is unusual for me. You’re different. This thing between us has me altering my behavioral patterns. You get me?”

“Is this your gentle way of letting me know you were a manwhore?”

“More than that. Let’s call me a commitment phob. I never cared enough to want to stick around, or get too serious.”

“And I changed that how?” She glared. “I won’t be anyone’s charity case.”

A sneer twisted his lips and anger turned his eyes a stormy blue. “You were in the room last night and the shower this morning. You think what I feel for you is charitable?”

“I don’t know what to think about anything right now.”

His face softened. “I get that. I’m not trying to lay everything on you, but there’s shit you need to know. When I claimed you, it was a serious thing. It’s not something we take lightly and now, that shit is starting to settle, I don’t want to let you go.”

His words penetrated her haze of grief. Her tongue just tied itself up tighter than a knot.

“I’m not expecting you to make a decision about that now. But you do need to decide what you want.”

“Y-you would let me go?” She could never be sure if she as a prisoner or a willing captive.

The line blurred days ago and she’d been too rocked by life to slow down and examine it closely.

“Fuck no babe. I don’t give up easily. But I’d never force you to stay here. I’m more into the art of persuasion.”

Her skin heated as she thought of how he made her beg the night before. “Yeah, I can see that,” she mumbled. “So I can go home when I want?”

“After a time. I’m still concerned about Manuel. Matter of fact, after we see, Demon, we need to hit up your place for more clothes. You got a job you need to report to?”