Page 26 of A Leaner Meaner Midlife

“Didn’t mean it,” he swore. “Just messing with you.”

“Really?” I asked. “And the attempted murder was a joke too?”

He didn’t have an answer to that. However, if he was willing to chat before he left this realm for good, I was all ears.

“He’s committed crimes against women and children,” Gideon mind-spoke to me with red-hot fury in his voice. “He’s wanted and will be put to death immediately. I’m going to kill him unless you would like the honors. It will save my sister some time and she’ll owe me.”

“His punishment can come from you. The less I have to do with the Goddess of Darkness, the better,” I told him.

The Grim Reaper gave me a curt nod.

“Here’s the deal,” I said, winking at Ragon which caused him to whimper. “You’re going to die. Sorry not sorry about that. People who harm children and women don’t deserve to breathe. So here’s how I see it. If you’d like to do one good deed in your slimy life before it’s lights out time, you’ll tell us what’s going on here. If you’d prefer not to, that’s fine.”

“What’s in it for me?” he growled.

“A quick, easy death or a quick, painful one,” I replied flatly. We didn’t have time for the slow death he deserved, but we could definitely make it excruciating.

The Demon mulled it over. When he noticed the red sparks flying from Gideon’s eyes, he started talking. “The Dragon King will be given Immortality by the Angel of Mercy,” he admitted.

“Not possible,” I shot back.

“It’s true,” he insisted desperately.

I was already aware of that part. I wanted something I didn’t know. “When?”

“Sometime after the sacrifice,” he replied. “He plans to behead Anne Boleyn in an hour.”

I rolled my eyes, blew out a long breath and glanced over my shoulder to make sure the coast was still clear. It was. “Anne Boleyn is already dead.”

“Fuck you,” he spat. “It’s all I know.”

I looked at Gideon. “He held up his end. Quick death it is.” I narrowed my gaze at our captive. “But make it painful.”

“But I told you everything I know,” the Demon cried. “You said I’d get a quick, easy death!”

“Oh,” I nodded slyly. “It will be as easy as pie, and not even an iota of what you deserve.”

“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” Gideon said tonelessly. “Compliments of the Grim Reaper,”

Rogan’s eyes widened as terror filled his gaze. “The Grim?—”

Without flourish or fanfare, the Grim Reaper cut Rogan off mid-sentence by ripping his head clean from his body. Within seconds, he was dust.

I shuddered thinking about all his victims and what he might’ve done to them. “Did you make it hurt?”

“Baby, I promise you, he’s still feeling it,” Gideon assured me.

I nodded my approval. “Good.”

My guy stood up and waved his hands. The remains of all four Demons blew away in the wind. They would not be missed.

“Oh my goodness,” Dimple said. “That was violent.”

I tilted my head and squinted at her. “You bit the ass off of Micky Muggles.”

“Forgot about that,” she replied with a giggle. “Thank you, Gideon and Daisy, for saving us. The favor shall be repaid.”

“No need,” Gideon said. “If memory serves me right, the spot where Anne Boleyn was beheaded is up the hill.”

---