Sin & Chocolate (Demigod of San Francisco 1)

I tuned her out as I drifted toward Kieran, electricity surging through my body and heat warming my blood. I lifted my eyebrows, streams of tears still cutting tracks down my cheeks.

“His rate of recovery is incredible,” Kieran said quietly, his gaze roaming my face. “It speaks to his power. All of this has been entered into his files. I can’t change that, not now. He’s already been assessed at a shifter class five, and this boosted rate of healing, no doubt his body’s natural response to his years of sickness, will elevate his overall attractiveness. Given that he has no true pack affiliation, organizations from around the world will be interested.” His eyes took on a hard edge. “Some of those organizations will seem powerful and prestigious, but their interests are less than reputable. I know you don’t trust me, but—”

“Mordecai can ask advice from whoever he wants. I’m his guardian, not his brain.”

Kieran’s lips curved upward and his gaze intensified as it delved into mine. “So you do trust me.”

“No. I didn’t say that. I just said—”

“I heard you.” His grin flipped my stomach before seriousness stole his expression. “As I’m sure you know, he’ll also get challenges as soon as he’s better. Almost all challenges stop at losing consciousness, but some are to the death. He’ll need to plan for both.”

I nodded, looking over at Mordecai listening to Daisy ramble on about something. “I know.”

“He’ll need to train. Hard. He’s lost time. He has a powerful frame, but he needs—”

“Fuel,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Don’t play dumb. I know you know about the meals.”

He exhaled a laugh and his breath dusted me, sweet, like chocolate.

“Yes.” His volume lowered and his tone took on an intimacy I hadn’t expected, sucking at my focus and making my body tingle. “Do you need anything? Money? Food?”

I looked into those turbulent, deep blue eyes, and a part of me understood what he was really asking—if I’d allow him to provide for me. If I’d let him take care of me as well as protect me.

Emotion welled up again. I’d been offered plenty of pity in my life, and occasionally some compassion, but no one except my mother had ever wanted to look after me. No man had ever wanted to take on the hunter role in my life.

The part of me that recognized his interest desperately wanted to say yes. Wanted to be saved for once and let someone else shoulder the burden that was my life as the poor, immature matriarch of a cobbled-together family.

But a bigger part of me knew I needed to stand on my own two feet. I may be immature, but I was a matriarch. I would not yield or give up my power to a possessive stranger who only sometimes did the right thing, something he’d admitted himself. I’d worked too hard to hand over the reins.

Not to mention the kids would never go for it.

I smiled and shrugged in a blasé sort of way. “Now that we don’t have to pay for medicine, we’ll be okay. Thanks for asking.”

His eyes lingered on mine for a moment, and I saw his understanding.

He nodded. “Look over that contract. I’ll be in touch.” He strode past me, but paused and turned back when he reached the door. “It occurs to me that I never paid you for our session at the Magical Showcase. Since I was never quoted a price, I took the suggestion of your…associate.” His gaze flicked to Daisy before he nodded at a large white bag in the corner that I hadn’t noticed.

It was a testimony to how focused I was on Mordecai that I hadn’t noticed a huge bag with Burberry written on the side.

“No.” I shook my head while excitement bubbled through my body. “Nope.”

He watched me for a moment, and a smile ghosted his lips. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “He didn’t.” I looked at Daisy. “You told him to buy me that as payment?”

“I don’t know. Look in it.” She squealed and crossed the room before grabbing the bag and bringing it to me.

“How’d you…” I pulled tissue paper out with a shaking hand. “Oh my God,” I breathed, then stared with my mouth open, speech leaving me.

It was a buckle medium tote. In pink! The exact bag I’d had to leave behind the day we’d met. He’d returned it to me.

“No way.” Tears fogged my eyes.

“This bitch owns a Burberry, what?” Daisy pointed at me before lifting her hands in the sky. “Watch out, fancy ladies, we all up in your business.”

“I’m proud of you,” Mordecai said as I slid the bag up my arm.

“Why?” I petted the side. “Because I have a ward who knows how to wrangle fashionable presents out of a conniving Demigod? If so, I’m proud of me too. Good work, Daisy. And no, you can’t borrow it.”

“Too soon. That joke came too soon.” Daisy paused. “It is a joke, right?”

“Because you recognized that the Demigod wasn’t offering you pity,” Mordecai said, “he was offering you a leash, and you didn’t accept it.”

I felt a frown bud as I thought back to what Kieran had said. “I don’t know that it was a leash, per se…”

“It was a leash. I heard him.” Daisy nodded confidently. “Don’t let no dick rule you. You be the boss of you.”

“All right, fourteen-year-old. Thanks for the life lesson.” I rubbed at my face.

“Are you going to take the job?” Mordecai asked.

I lowered the handbag. It was now or never.

After tucking it back into the bag and gingerly placing it to the side, I crawled in next to him. Daisy squished in on the other side.

“Yes,” I said. “For a few reasons. But yes. I am.”

“Finally. The truth!” The bed jiggled, and I knew Daisy had made some sort of dramatic gesture.

“You should know that Daisy sent a letter of negotiation to his office,” Mordecai said. “Ow!”

“I told you not to tell her!”

“What?” I leaned forward and turned so I could look at both of them.

“You’re a terrible liar, so I figured I’d get out in front of you. Someone has to protect your brand.” Daisy straightened up with a determined expression. “I gave the letter to the robot two days ago. You weren’t being undercut, but your experience wasn’t being fully taken into account. I figured they could come up a little. Plus, he owed us for that session. I wasn’t about to let that go. That’s why I recommended the bag. You never would’ve bought it for yourself.”

I looked back and forth between the two of them. “You’re not going to bust my chops on this? You’re not going to tell me I shouldn’t take it?”

Mordecai shrugged. “It’s a bad idea, getting mixed up with a Demigod, but…”

“He’s got mommy issues, not to mention big daddy issues, and you have a thing for helping out people with issues. I mean…hello?” Daisy raised her hands. “You’re going to do it anyway. We might as well sign up to do damage control so you don’t get in over your head.”

With a squishy heart, I leaned back and swung my feet up onto the bed. Daisy elbowed Mordecai and yelled something about Samwise Gamgee and tatters before finally settling. We all crowded together.

“I’m sorry you guys don’t have normal teenage lives,” I said softly.

“At least we have lives,” Daisy said. “Without you, we’d both be dead. I’m exactly where I want to be. With you fuckers.”

“Really Daisy, with the swearing?” I wiped away a tear.

“Daisy got her miracle,” Mordecai whispered. “I got my miracle. Now, Alexis, you need yours.”

I didn’t have a miracle in my future. I had a nightmare. But as long as they were taken care of, I’d just be happy with a pint. Dream small.