Page 13 of Inferno

Unless Odin cloaks you.

I still haven’t told my brothers about Odin taking me to see Emmy while she slept. I haven’t confessed his words to them or how fucking rattled they have me. That little nugget of information is mine and mine alone.

“None of you are coming to watch me do anything,” I snap. “The only reason I agreed to work there is to get closer to Emmy, not so you jackasses could make fun of me.”

“He’s right,” Viking says. “This is the best option if we have any hope of keeping the woman safe.”

“I still like the dating option,” Reaper says with a smirk.

“I’m not dating her,” I say through gritted teeth.

Reaper sighs dramatically. “Yeah, yeah, so you’ve said.”

Tired of the conversation, I get to my feet and start walking away. “I’ll be in my room until I have to leave.”

Their muttering follows me until I’m behind my closed door, and I heave a sigh of relief. I’m so glad they’re getting such a kick out of this. As for me… I wanna throw up.

What if Emmy recognizes me?

What if she doesn’t.

“I know you.”

I slowly turn around to face the woman who spoke. It’s the chick who was with Emmy at the restaurant, and she’s grinning like a cat who ate the canary.

“I don’t think so,” I lie.

She tilts her head. “Well, technically, no, I don’t. But I recognize you,” she says. “You’re the guy my friend was all ga-ga over.”

“I’m… What?”

“I’m Steph.” She moves closer and reaches out to shake my hand. Her grip is firm, her skin soft. “I’m one of the counselors here.”

“Nice to meet you, Steph. I’m Dean.”

She grins. “I thought it was Inferno.”

I can’t stop the laugh that creeps up the back of my throat. “That, too. I’ll respond to either.”

“I’ll have to tell Emmy that.”

My stomach flip-flops. “Emmy?” I ask as if I have no clue who she’s talking about.

“My friend from the restaurant. She works here as well.”

“Oh. Small world.”

“Well, I’ll let you get back to work. I’m just heading home for the night.”

“Okay. Have a good night.”

“You, too… Inferno.”

I watch her walk away until she disappears around the corner. Steph is beautiful, no doubt about it, but she’s not Emmy.

Wait… no. I can’t be thinking like that.

I go about cleaning each of the offices, and the staff continue to trickle out as they finish up whatever it is that they have to do before going home. Seven o’clock rolls around, and I’m all alone with only one office left.

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