Page 5 of Devious Corruption
“Sorry to interrupt.” I wince as Marion bites into my hand. Poor girl, she hasn’t had her dinner yet, either.
“No problem, Max. Something wrong?”
I close my eyes. “I’m locked out of my apartment.”
“Did you call Mr. Banderas?”
“Yeah, he’sout on a joband won’t come over until tomorrow afternoon.” I let Marion down, and she curls up in my lap. “Do you still have the extra key I gave you?”
“I think so, hold on, let me check.”
I cross my fingers while she does her thing on the other side of the line. A heavy voice asks her what she’s doing, and she explains that she’s looking for my spare key.
Another voice asks how I got locked out, and my throat clenches. It’s smooth and dark, this familiar voice. For weeks, I’ve tried to put that voice out of my mind, toput the face that belongs to it out of my soul, and now it’s on the other side of this phone call.
“Yes! I got it.” Vee announces. “I have it.”
“Oh, thank God!” I do a small fist pump, not wanting to disturb Marion still sleeping in my lap.
“How did she get locked out?” There’s that voice again.
“Uh, how’d you get locked out?” She asks, and from the sound of her voice I already know there’s a demon glaring down at her.
“My brother borrowed the key and forgot to drop it in my mailbox for me. He and Keith aren’t going to be back until tomorrow. They went out somewhere.” I stroke Marion. “Where are you, I’ll come get it.”
“No. I’ll bring it.” The demon says.
“No. Vee, don’t let him come here. I’ll come pick it up,” I say fiercely.
“Too late. He’s gone.” At least she sounds slightly apologetic.
“Gone? Catch him!”
“He’ll get there faster than you can get here, Max. I heard him talking with Kaz, he has somewhere to be in a little while. He’ll give you the keys, then leave.”
“You promise?”
There’s a pause.
Then another one.
“Vee?”
“Sorry, I was trying to figure out if there’s a way to promisethat without lying.”
“You’re a real doll.” I groan. “So. How are things over there? I’ve barely seen you since you moved out.”
“I’m not moved out all the way.”
“Really?”
“Mostly. But some furniture and clothes are still at the apartment.”
“Do you think Ivan will let you ever bring your furniture to his place?”
“I guess not.” She sighs, but there’s a contentedness in her voice that dredges up a pea-sized bit of jealousy.
Vee met Ivan at work, and he chased her relentlessly. He’s also high up there in the Russian Bratva, which probably causes more problems than not. So I guess I don’t have too much to be envious over, except that he loves her more than life and would do anything to make her happy.
