I slammed my hands on the table and stood, glaring down at him. “You’re wrong. Hannah makes me strong. I need her by my side.”
He bowed his head. “Where is she now?”
“Last I heard, she was taking Azazel to the roller coaster at New York-New York. I sent Gadreel with them too.”
Samael chuckled low in his throat, the rich sound a welcome relief. “Azazel will hate every second of that.”
“I’ll speak with the prisoners now.” I started to leave, but then paused at the door as my hands tightened into fists. “One last thing. Make sure all the Archdemons are at the masquerade ball on Devil’s Night. I have something special planned for them.”
“As you wish,” Samael said.
I strode from the room to find the prisoners and make them talk. If torture wouldn’t work, my special powers of coercion would.
The devil’s work was never done.
17
Hannah
I spent the day with Zel and Gadreel—who I’d started to call Gad—doing all sorts of touristy things on The Strip I’d never get a chance to do otherwise. Zel grumbled and complained the entire time, saying things like, “Roller coasters are for people who don’t have wings,” but she stuck by my side. I just knew there was a gooey center underneath that hard exterior, and I was determined to find it. Gad, on the other hand, gleefully joined me on every ride and for every silly photo shoot. We rode gondolas at the Venetian, stood at the top of the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas, saw the white lions and dolphins at the Mirage, and so much more. Anything that had a ride? We did it. At least once. Sometimes twice, just to annoy Zel.
I also lost a lot of Lucifer’s money on ridiculously-themed slot machines, but somehow I didn’t think he would miss any of it. Soon most of the day had gone by, and there was still so much more we could have seen and done in Las Vegas, but it was time to meet Lucifer. I’d have to take my two Fallen bodyguards out for another tourist excursion soon.
I met Lucifer at a helicopter pad on the roof of a building that was part of The Celestial’s sprawling resort. When I saw him, standing in another black suit beside the Abaddon Inc helicopter he owned, his face was dark, his mouth set in a grim line, and I guessed his day hadn’t been as fun as mine. Then his eyes landed on me and everything changed, the darkness parting like a curtain to allow the light to shine through, and a devastatingly gorgeous smile spread across his sensual lips.
I had that effect on him. Me.
It was a powerful feeling, knowing I could make the devil smile with my mere presence. I couldn’t help but smile back as I approached. Then his smile shifted, becoming naughty, and he winked. Memories of last night and this morning flooded me, and my thighs clenched with desire, which was probably his intention. The man really was sin and temptation.
Lucifer swept me into his arms and gave me a kiss that ignited every one of my nerves and sent lust racing through my veins. According to him, we were destined to be together, and when he held me like this I began to believe it. The past lives thing? That was a lot harder to accept.
“How was your day?” he asked, as he led me to the helicopter.
“Fun.” I glanced behind me at my two bodyguards, who trailed behind us. “Zel hated every second of it. Or at least, pretended she did.”
That got a sexy, low chuckle from him. “Good. She could use some fun in her life.”
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“I’m taking you on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.”
My eyes widened at that, and then he helped me inside the helicopter, which was another new experience for me. At least, I assumed it was. Then he got in the pilot’s seat and we both put bulky headphones on so we could talk over the roar of the helicopter. Zel and Gad got in the seats behind us, but they didn’t bother with headphones.
I was truly impressed when Lucifer guided the helicopter into the air. I supposed when you were as old and rich as he was, you could pick up some expensive hobbies. First we flew over the city, and I marveled at the view of The Strip from above. Then we set out over the seemingly endless desert, and excitement nearly spilled out of me at the sight of the world laid out before us.
I turned to watch Lucifer, who exuded masculinity and power as he flew the helicopter with practiced ease. “How was your day? You looked…troubled earlier.”
He shook his head slightly, as if surprised by the question. “You always did catch everything. Yes, troubled is a good word for it.”
“What happened?”
“We managed to capture some of the demons involved in the kidnapping and the attacks, but we couldn’t get them to tell us anything. Not even when I questioned them personally…” His eyes burned with dark fire. “And I can be very convincing.”
“Did you…” I drew in a breath and tried again. “Did you torture them?”
“Not physically.” He glanced over at me as if considering something. “One of my powers is…coercion, you could say. I can convince people to tell me anything, or do what I wish.”
A memory sparked in my mind of Lucifer telling me to sleep, and cold fear trickled through me. “You used it on me, didn’t you?”
“Only to help you sleep. That was all.”
I bit my lip. “But you use it on others?”
“Now and then, yes. It’s a useful tool, but one I use sparingly.”
I had a sudden realization and gasped. “The devil made me do it. That’s really a thing, isn’t it?”
He let out a low sound of discontent. “I can’t make anyone do anything. That’s more
