Pan's Salvation (Dueling Devils 5)

“We don’t need any more spice, trust me,” Lark said fighting the urge to rub her sore

behind. Just as he’d promised, she’d thought of nothing but finding completion at his hands.

“You keep talking that way and I’ll be trying to get myself a biker. Keep an eye out for me, will you?” Tanya winked.

The talk with her closest friend settled her nerves. There was nothing wrong with having a little fun. This was her time to live, explore and risk mistakes. She’d always miss Robin, but life without her, opened new venues. There were possibilities she’d never even dreamed of before.

She could continue on her path with, Pan. Right? Because doing something else, wouldn’t break my heart? She ignored the voice that told her she’d lost her chance to walk away days earlier.

The jingle of the bell brought Lark out of the back where she’d been taking inventory since Tanya was on her break. She pasted a smile on her lips and walked out to the floor. The tall man in the expensive gray suit made her stomach rebel. Pure will kept her lunch down. “What the hell are you doing here, Jim?”

“Looking for Robin. She’s not answering her phone and she’s not at her old address. That leaves you.” Jim smirked.

“You want to know where my sister is? In the ground! Where you drove her to, you son of a bitch.”

Jim took a step closer. “Watch what you say to me, little girl. I’d hate to put you in your place. You see, Robin understood that. A real man has never taught you. Now, stop being obtuse and give me the address. We both know I have the money to find it.”

She gave a humorless laugh. “You want the address? Drive about twenty miles north on 275, get off at the Greenland exit and about ten minutes down the road, you’ll find Oak Lawn Cemetery. I’ll leave the rest of the detective work up to you.”

“What are you saying? She’s actually dead?”

“What did you think would happen? You got her back on smack to a habit for shit she

couldn’t afford.”

“All she had to do was come back to me. I provided her with everything she needed.” He

thumped his chest. “But I bet you wouldn’t let her. So, she had to what? Whore herself out.

That’s on you. You uppity little bitch. I had a good thing going with her.”

“Fuck you!” Lark roared. She was tired of being good, biting her tongue and swallowing

down everything life gave her.

Jim took a step toward her.

She stood her ground and balled her fists

. If she faced down a store full of gun-toting bikers, she could face this overgrown prick, who never liked to get his hands dirty.

The bell on the door chimed once.

“You want to take a step back from my lady. Hospitality only goes so far in retail.”

The sound of Pan’s voice flooded her with relief. She smirked up at Jim who looked ruffled.

He lifted his hands in the air and took a step back. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding here. I’m a friend of the family and I just received some shocking news.”

“The hell you are!” Lark snapped.

Jim scowled.

“Did I stutter? Get the fuck out of here, before I throw you out. If I hear about you anywhere near this place again, we’re going to have a problem. I promise you, that’s not something you want,” Pan drawled.

His voice never rose above normal speaking volume, but the tone gave her chills.

“Hah, funny I didn’t think the bitch even liked dick.”