Page 62 of Ravage

"Four to five minutes if we make them work for it," Jillian replies. "But if we have it planned out and people are stationed nearby, we should have enough time."

"Okay. Let's put that under a new operation. Any name suggestions?" Damon asks, looking around the table.

I run through a list of words in my head, snorting. "How about Operation Magic Trick?" I offer, amused.

A few people laugh around the table, some nodding. Damon's lips twitch as he resists the urge to showemotion. "Alright, Magic Trick it is."

"Now they see us… now they don't," Grey laughs. "Hopefully Arthur doesn't bang his assistant in his office. That's one image I don't want to see."

I shrug. "They have sex tapes of other people. Maybe it's time they got a dose of their own medicine."

Chapter 22

Avery

The meeting wraps up and despite the dark storm cloud that looms over our heads, Damon still directs his team to hang around and enjoy the food and party aisles.

I stay back at the table with Damon, Grey, Theo, and Leighton while the others explore the library. Theo continues to give me shit about the pineapple, while Grey chimes in and provides scientific evidence of why pineapple is good for theirbodies.

I'm not sure I buy into the wholechanging tastething, but I have to laugh as they start arguing about it.

My eyes move over to find Damon, his chair tilted back slightly as he half-listens. Leighton is scribbling on a piece of paper, making notes about something and pretending he's not being subjected to the weirdest sperm argument in history.

"If you're so confident, thenyoueat it," Theo snaps.

"I'll happily eat the pineapple, but Avery should be the judge," Grey replies, giving me a wink.

I shake my head, pushing my chair back. "I need alcohol."

They continue to fire shots at each other while I stand at the food and beverage table, reaching to grab a beer. I sense him behind me, well before he appears in my peripheral vision.

"That's not strong enough," Damon mutters, pouring a glass of straight whiskey. "Not by a long shot."

"Yeah, well I'm not the best at holding my alcohol so probably best I know my limits," I laugh. "Knowing my luck, I'd drink too much, and they would try to make a move tonight."

Damon doesn't seem amused by my comment, his jaw tensing. "I'm on guard tonight. No one is going to bother you."

I turn to face him, eyes scanning for his reaction. "Doesn't it bother you having to stay up all night?"

"Not really. I'd rather know that you're safe than have something happen while I'm sleeping."

"It makes me feel bad," I admit quietly, bringing the bottle to my lips. "It can't be healthy being on alert all the time, especially if you are missing out on sleep."

Damon shrugs, unfazed. "I'll catch up on sleep tomorrow night when Theo is on duty."

The word is foreign coming off his tongue, my face freezing as I glance him over.

"What now?" he groans.

"You called him Theo," I point out with surprise. "Not Ashwood."

It's as if he's just registering that fact now too, eyes narrowing slightly as he thinks back. "Well, that's his name, is it not?" he quickly answers. "Besides, he's one of us now."

"I'm still going to call you Demon Boy every now and again," I say playfully. "Besides, those masks you wear seem to fit."

"They do, don't they?" he smiles. "I was pretty happy when I found them. It's a nice reminder to Lilydale that we can unleash hell."

I lean against the table, my hip pressing into it as I nibble on some cured meat. "Maybe so, but this," I pause, nodding to the aisles. "Is a nice present for us. Makes hell feel a little less lonely."

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