Page 2 of Jackal's Pride

The Den was a filthy place inside a giant, insanely hot building. By filth I meant the relatively wicked and murderous acts that took place inside its compacted metal walls—sex, cage fights, poker, you name it. Vamps, werewolves, ogres, any and all creatures of the Underworld—which were all species of demon—were drawn to this place.

Smoke filtered through my nostrils as Gavin blew a puff from his cigar in my face as I sat down at their table. “Deal me a hand, Rabbit,” I said, tapping my knuckle once against the wood.

“Aren’t you supposed to be, I don’t know, saving the human world from the near disaster that almost freed the Devil?” Gavin’s eyes devoured me as he flicked his cigar. He was easy on the eyes—blond hair, baby-blue eyes, and a straight nose with angular cheekbones that went well with his pale skin and lean body. There was no doubt he was beautiful, but he was also the biggest sleaze-ball. I didn’t trust a word out of his mouth, let alone give him a chance with my body. Even so, dropping in to play cards or talk shit with his usual crew—friends of mine—allowed me to unwind from work.

After the last few weeks I’d had and the super awesome news that I was destined to die in nine months—and counting—along with everything good, yeah, I needed to step away from that part of my life and doanythingelse.

“Where do you think I’ve been this entire time?” I hissed. “I need a fucking minute. Do you mind?”

He leaned back with a smirk, holding his palms up in surrender.

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Maureen,” said Rabbit, a hairy man who stood just north of four feet, as he dealt us our cards. It was just the four of us—Gavin, Newt, and Rabbit. I wasn’t sure what type of demon Rabbit was, but he claimed a witch’s curse turned him into a tiny bearded man with whiskers and an overabundance of white hair—hence the nickname. Newt was a slender, bald warlock while Gavin was a vampire which explained why he smoked a lethal number of cigars. He had no working lungs to worry about.

“I know it is,” I responded as I dragged my fingers through my long brown hair.

“Seen what’s new on the market?” Newt asked, and I arched a dark brow his way. Leaning his elbow on the table, he twisted his palm up, and some sort of collar materialized.

He stretched his hand out to me, and I took the device. “You into collars now, Newt?”

He smirked. “Always have, but this is something different.”

We ignored the cards as I inspected the collar. The energy coming from it was off the charts, so whatever the hell this thing was supposed to do…it should do it.

“The moment you link yourself to the collar, whoever you place it on will be within your control.” Gavin’s words dripped with a malevolent glint in his eyes. Yeah, I’d bet the idea was very tempting for him. I gripped the metal necklace in my hand as I gauged his reaction to it.

“How ominous,” I said, then I glanced at Newt. “Why show me this?”

“I asked him to show you,” Gavin answered.

I glared at him. “Well, spit it out.”

“Why else?” He laughed, then pulled out another one from his pocket. “Let’s make a bet.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you get tired of losing?”

“This time, I’m gonna win,” his eyes skimmed over my breasts as he extended his fangs, “and I’ll finally get inside that pussy.”

“Never in a million years,” I told him.

“What? Afraid of losing?” he goaded me, and damn it, pride was a bitch and she never said no. Gavin purposely used my own sin against me. Too bad it never worked in his favor. I never lost a bet.

“Did I say no?” I growled.

He gave a victory grin. “There’s that pride.”

I was one snide remark away from punching him in the gut. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “So, how does this work? See who collars who first?”

He shook his head. “I’ve thought about using it on you, but that would be my death. Your family would have a warrant on my head the moment I did.” I quirked a brow his way in amusement. Well, as long as he knew. “No, we pick a target and the first one to catch the target wins the bet. You keep that collar so we’ll each have one.”

“What are you two betting on this time?” Rabbit placed his chin in his palm like he was bored.

“Maureen. In my bed. Like she should have been ten years ago when we first met.” I would have sat on Gavin’s face five nights out of the week if he didn’t have a vulture-like personality. He was nice to look at, but I had standards.

I sighed. “No, thanks.”

“And, what do you want if you win?” Newt asked me. Rabbit and Newt were the ones that kept things fair so that Gavin couldn’t back out of his bets when he lost—which was always.

“What do you have left that I haven’t won already, Gavin?” His expression was icy as I jeered. Then it hit me. “Oh, I got one.”

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