He cringes, looking shocked.
“Shit! I’m sorry… and Pax?” he asks, raising a brow.
“What about him?”
“Is he your one? The one that your mother can’t take from you.”
I half-nod and half-shrug.
“I guess.”
“You guess?” he repeats. “I’ve seen the way you two are together, you guys move like water; you’re in sync. And the way he looks at you, I mean that has to be worth something, right?”
“What are you? A fucking shrink?”
“No,” he laughs, “just a guy who cares. I want to help your mother, and I also want to help you.”
“Who says I need help? And why the fuck would you entertain the idea of burdening yourself with Lucifer’s sins?”
He must be absolutely insane.
I pour myself another drink as he covers his glass.
“None for me, thanks, and you should slow down a bit.”
“Answer my questions please,” I prompt, ignoring his attempt to father me.
He smiles genuinely. He’s got a gorgeous smile to match his emerald eyes and for an instant, I’m attracted to him again, but I shut it off.
“It’s not that I think you need help up here,” he says, pointing to his head, “I just think you need someone to intervene so that you aren’t in harm’s way whenever you enter the main house.”
“You mean hell’s kitchen.”
“Exactly,” he laughs. “I think I can get your mother into a program eventually. It might take some time, but I think it would give you some space to heal, and her some well-needed addiction control.”
“You’re playing with fire,” I warn, “you do realize that monster has money, correct? Not to mention claws, sharp teeth, and a tail she could probably strangle you with.”
“Now, now,” he chuckles, “I’m not entirely worried, I have connections. I’ve got money too, and over the last couple of weeks, I do believe I’ve managed to tame some of her demonic spirit if you haven’t noticed.”
“Sure, you have,” I laugh. “If you are referring to the plastic cup you gave her to drink from that she shoved in the garburator, I wouldn’t call that helpful.”
“No… I am referring to the two times I stood in front of her so you could get away unscathed.”
He lifts his brows twice as if he’s some kind of hero, and I sigh.
“Oh, those times… well don’t get used to trying to defend me, that’s what Pax is for. And if he sees you doing it while he’s around, he will take it as an act of war.”
“Take what as an act of war?”
My heart pounds to the sound of Pax’s voice behind me and I glance quickly at Gabe before I turn in my chair to see Pax’s venomous expression.
“I think I should leave,” Gabe states, standing up.
“Sit the fuck down,” Pax growls. “Answer the question, Vixen. What will I take as an act of war?”
His eyes are cold, like blue ice as he stands there with his arms crossed, his tattoos practically moving with how tense his muscles are.
“It’s nice to see you too,” I say dryly. “We were discussing Satan’s attempts to send me to the underworld if you must know. You were gone, so, Gabe stepped in twice and botched her plan. That’s all Pax, it’s not a big deal.”
“I suppose not,” he says, still unhappy in his tone. “But what the fuck is the lawyer doing here now? Not saving you, I’m assuming.”
I can tell by his tone he’s gritting his teeth, growling, which makes me nervous. He only does that when he’s holding back his desire to either fuck me or kill something.
“No… Gabe came by because I asked him to. I had some questions and I wanted to avoid the bitch at all costs. Now can you please drop the angry man attitude, Gabe was just leaving.”
Pax eyes him over wearily, and then juts his head toward the door.
“Go then, you fucking weasel, and learn to talk on the Goddamn phone!”
I watch Gabe make his way to the door swiftly, stopping once he’s there.
“Thanks for the drink, Kirsten. You know how to reach me if you need anything.”
“Stop talking and get the fuck out!” Pax growls before I can say anything.
The sound of the door slamming startles me as I stand and shake my head with an exaggerated sigh.
“You are a lunatic sometimes, Whiskey, you know that? The guy is half descent.” I say it feeling slightly guilty and then add; “He actually has good intentions when it comes to Satan.”
“Yeah right,” he snarls, “I’ll be the judge of that, Vixen.”
“No, I’ll be the fucking judge of it. What is with you? You can’t just show up here after four days of radio silence and behave like a complete barbarian because you’re in a mood.”
“A mood?” he mocks, “I just came home to that smug bastard sitting in our kitchen, drinking with my girl.”
“Oh, so, now this is your home? Because the last four days it didn’t seem to be when I woke up to you being AWOL. And since when am I your girl?”
“Since fucking always, Kirsten! And don’t pretend you didn’t know who I was when you asked me to stay here with you. I’ve always hated lawyers, and so what if I take off sometimes? I always come back, Vix, always.”
I hate that he’s so damn gorgeous and that he’s right. It makes me feel guilty, but it’s not like I know where he goes or what he does on these stupid trips, never mind with who.
“Fine, Whiskey, let’s just drop it. Gabe won’t be a problem, I’ll make sure of it.”
“Yeah, you’d better or else I will,” he warns. “Now close your eyes… I
