Page 236 of Dark Love

Manners were bred into Torment to the point that I wasn’t even sure he was capable of being rude. Whatever happened is going to ruin my already not great day. I let him in and walk towards the elevator door.

Torment earned my respect many years ago. He’s also the best hunter on the planet and in reverse the best person if you need someone hidden for a while. Because of that, he doesn’t always stay on the right side of the law. I need him out of here before Dahlia gets out of the bathroom.

That gives us about twenty-five minutes, which should be more than enough time. The elevator doesn’t take long to arrive.

“Torment.” I give him a slight bow as I offer my hand to shake.

“Vex.” He returns the gesture. “How is Payne?”

“Good.” Head over heels for a woman whose name he shouldn’t even know, but surprisingly good. “How is your father? Were you able to find the tree he wanted?”

“He is well, but I haven’t found the tree yet.”

Is it an actual tree? Or is that code for something I don’t want to know about? “Can I take your coat?”

Torment shrugs out of his jacket. His hair falls down his back in a sheet of black. Women would kill for hair that shiny and black. Payne’s probably right. There’s some cultural reason Torment won’t cut it.

Torment’s eyes widen slightly as his gaze stops somewhere behind me.

Dahlia! There wasn’t enough time for her to get ready.

“Shut your eyes.” There’s no need to add a threat onto the end of that statement. With a twist and a pivot, I step between Torment and Dahlia.

She’s frozen in embarrassment. If her face gets any redder, she might spontaneously combust. Like a deer stuck in the trance of headlights, she just stands there.

“Dahlia, go back and get dressed.”

“I didn’t know you had company.”

That’s quite obvious. “I wasn’t expecting any.”

“I… um… need to put some brownies on or they won’t be ready before I go to work.”

My sleepy Dahl can’t even think straight. “Go get ready. We’ll pick up something from the bakery, before Torment slips and opens his eyes and I’ll need to kill him.”

“Your friends have weird names.”

Torment chuckles.

She turns to walk away, shouting over her shoulder. “We aren’t bringing store-bought brownies.”

That woman is going to drive me out of my mind.

When the bedroom door closes behind her, I say, “You can open your eyes.”

“Are you sure? I’d like to keep my head attached.”

We both know there’s no guarantee I’d win a fight with Torment. “Do you want a cup of tea?”

“I wouldn’t say no to one.”

He follows me into the kitchen. “So, you finally fell in love.”

Why does everyone keep saying it like that? It’s not like that was out of the realm of possibility.

“My father keeps asking if I’m going to find someone.”

Torment would have to stay in one spot for more than five minutes in order to fall in love, which seems impossible. He lives like a ghost, disappearing as fast as he appears. “You should. I highly recommend falling in love.” I put on the teapot and walk over to the cabinet to get the ingredients out for Dahlia’s cocoa.

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