Page 38 of Cry for Help

“He has an addictive personality,” Caim smirked. “He gets fifty magazine subscriptions on the first of the month. It’s like The Shining when the elevators open and all the blood pours out. Except it’sGood HousekeepingandNational Geographic.”

“We all have our vices,” I said, struggling to keep my face straight.

When I thought about vices, I couldn’t help but picture the demonic dildo in Caim’s room.

Caim’s eyes narrowed, and I wondered if he could hear my heartbeat—it definitely got faster.

Caim and Murmur glanced up in unison before thedoorbell rang through the house's various smart speakers. I didn’t move—it wasn’t my house, after all—but based on Caim’s expression, the demons weren’t expecting company.

Murmur got up, stalking toward the door. Moving with the grace of a jungle cat, his steps didn’t make a sound.

Caim and I looked at each other but did not try to communicate.

“Hey!” An enthusiastic female voice echoed through the hall. I recognized it, barely, but couldn’t place it. “We met yesterday, didn’t we?”

Frowning, I stood up and padded to the door, my curiosity getting the better of me. Caim followed on my heels.

Aimee, the neighbor, and her friend Darla stood on the porch. Darla craned her neck, trying to look past Murmur, who seemed as amused as a man about to have a colonoscopy.

“You remember us, don’t you?” Darla pouted. “At the bar yesterday, when you came to get...” Darla let the sentence hang, clarifying that she had no idea what my name was.

“Maddie.” Murmur supplied, his voice dry as a bone.

Darla clicked her fingers. “Maddie. Exactly!”

Aimee rolled her eyes, shooting me an apologetic glance.

“Aimee’s shower doesn’t work, and we’re heading out to a party in Greed.” Darla continued.

I hadn’t noticed that Darla had a tiny towel hooked over her arm.

“Maddie...” Darla stepped to the side. “Can we borrow your shower?”

Aimee winced. “Mine really is broken.” She said apologetically. “We wouldn’t usually ask, but it’s an important party.Mammonis going to be there.”

“Mammon?” Caim echoed, making his disbelief known. “King of the Fifth Circle. That Mammon?”

Aimee nodded frantically. “One of the demons in hiscourt is on the show. Zagan. I think.” By show, she meant Real Housewives of the Red City.

“Zagan can turn anything to gold.” Darla piped in helpfully. “They don’t have a romantic partner lined up for him on the show yet. I want to try my luck.” Darla dragged her hand over the strap of her top. “Unless someoneelsecatches my eye.” She flashed Caim and Murmur a hot look, and I restrained the urge to make a face.

Caim stepped forward, his brows high and his expression innocent as he smiled. “Come in. You can shower. Absolutely.”

Darla flashed Aimee a look that spoke volumes. An‘I told you so’if I’d ever seen on.

“I’ll show you where the shower is.” Caim continued, stepping around me as he approached Darla.

My stomach curdled as the horned demon led the bombshell into the house, and I was in denial about why.

Aimee returned to the living room with me, sitting on the couch by my side as we flicked through the film options on the TV. Movies had changed since I’d gone to prison, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.

Maybe it was because I didn’t recognize any of the actors anymore.

“You should come to the party with us.” Aimee offered. “It’ll be the biggest party of the season. Mammon is a king in Hell. If anyone knows how to throw a party, it’s aking.”

I shrugged.

Aimee pulled out her phone and offered it to me. “You can type, right? I couldn’t imagine not being able to speak. I’dstrangle someone in the first minute.”

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