Page 91 of Dead Heat

“Yes, but she’s family. She’d never use it against me.”

“I won’t either. You can trust me.”

He glanced at me. “I know I can. On that note, if you want extra help in Helheim, I’m willing.”

My chest tightened. “Oh, Gun. That’s so kind of you to offer, but I wouldn’t put you in that position. I’m the one who agreed to help Alessandro.”

“I realize that. It’s one of the things that drives me nuts about you,” he grumbled. “I don’t want to be a better person, but you keep dragging me in that direction.”

I laughed. “I’m not forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do, Gun.”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Oh, I know. You lead by example. It’s the absolute worst.”

I laughed again. “I’ll try to be … worse in the future.”

He pulled behind my truck and stopped. “Then you wouldn’t be you.” He clicked open my car door. “Now get out before my embarrassment catches up with me.”

“What do you have to be embarrassed about?”

He gave me a deadpan look. “Are you only pretending to forget our conversation from two minutes ago?”

“What conversation?” Smiling, I exited the car. “Thanksfor the lift. Hey, fun fact: did you know the platypus has no stomach?”

With a dramatic grimace, he hit the gas, and I laughed over the sound of his screeching tires.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I was sprawledacross the infamous red leather sofa when Nana Pratt found me.

“Why are you making that noise?” she asked.

I stared up at her. “What noise?”

“Something between a groan and a wheeze. A greeze.”

“I feel torn.”

She pretended to sit on the spare cushion, although in actuality she simply hovered above it. “About what, dear?”

“Many things, and they’re hurting my head.”

“Pick one at a time and work your way down from there.”

“How do I choose? I have two nights left before I enter the land of the dead, possibly never to return. Even if I do manage to return, I may find myself in a different land of the dead for eternity as its queen.” My arms flailed. “I don’t want to spend eternity in the underworld, but if I can’t find someone appropriate to relieve Hestia, I don’t see how I can avoid it.”

“That does sound like a headache. What are your options?”

“Find another deity who can handle the throne, onewithout ties to The Corporation. Figure out whether Hades and Persephone are actually obliterated, or whether there’s a chance they can be restored to their original forms.” I exhaled through my nostril. “Put the Castle on the market and pack my bags. All aboard the underworld express.”

“Hmm. I can see why you’re struggling.”

“Even if I had all the time in the world, that would be a challenge. As it happens, I have the pressing Alessandro situation, which involves sneaking into Helheim and hoping I can sneak my way out again with a shade.”

“And if you don’t go?”

“Alessandro dies.”

“And if you go?”

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