Pan's Salvation (Dueling Devils 5)

“Yeah, me too,” Pan replied.

His words resonated in her soul. He cared. This was about more than sex for him too.

Whether they liked it or not, they were in over their heads and sinking deeper by the second.

The knock made Pan frown. I’m not expecting anyone. He glanced down at the woman who’d just fallen asleep and quickly slipped from the bed. The funeral had done a real number on her. She’d spent the past week, sleeping off and on when she wasn’t crying, or silently going through memories in her head. He grabbed his gun from the nightstand, strode across the room and closed the door to the room quietly.

As he walked down the hall, the knock came again. He picked up the pace and turned off his safety. He peered out the peephole and rolled his eyes. Monster. He opened the door and scowled. “What the hell are you doing, just showing up? I almost shot your ass.”

“You’ve been M.I.A. I was worried.”

“Didn’t Demon tell you I was off, taking care of some business?”

“Maybe I wanted to see for myself.”

“I’m not your responsibility, Monster. I’m a grown ass adult.”

“I know that,” Monster snapped.

“Really? Because it seemed like you’ve forgotten over the past few months.”

“If you weren’t acting like a child. Maybe I wouldn’t have to.”

“Listen new Daddy, you can take you parental emo shit and give it all to Tate.”

“Don’t bring him into this.”

“Why not? When Symone and Tate showed up, you changed.”

“No. I started to live.”

“Bullshit. Ragging on me is not living.”

“Not wanting you to drink yourself to death has nothing to do with how our lives differ.”

“Really? Then why is what I do suddenly not okay? You never had a problem with it before when you were right beside me.”

“It got worse, we both know that.”

“So, I went off on a bender or two and got a little wild. I just lost my partner in crime.”

“Every damn night. I don’t even know how you manage to come into work most days. This

is the healthiest I’ve seen you look and I’m sure that has everything to do with you being away on a mission for Demon.”

“Fuck, when did you become so judgmental?” Pan spat.

“I’m concerned, you stupid son of a bitch. There’s a difference.”

“Oh now, I’m stupid? I guess I’m not good enough anymore. Or maybe you’re just sick of

looking at me, now that you know the fire was my fault. Is this how you plan on getting back at me? Tearing me down and making me feel as if I’m less than nothing?

“Is that how you feel?” Monster looked hurt.

“You start in on me and you don’t stop. God, it’s like being back with Dad all over again.”

Pan raked a hand through his hair.