Page 23 of Reaper & Ruin
“It’s when someone says I’m allowed to do something.”
She nodded solemnly.“Consent. Mr Beau says that’s what I call it. Because I don’t consent to yelling or bad men touching me. He says it’s good to say no, and I can do it now all the time. Nobody will be mad at me for saying it.”
I was the slightest bit confused about her words, or why they had been drilled into her that way, but now was not the time to ask questions of a child. Least of all a Montana one I was manipulating into giving me permission to borrow a plane.
“He’s right. Consent is important. So… do I have yours? To use the plane?”I did my best to soften my voice, trying to remain unintimidating. I didn’t want to scare her, and not just because it would have taken up more of my time.
I would have felt bad. She was so small and soft-looking. Like I had once been before I’d rotted from the inside out.
She tapped her chin, thinking.“If you bring me something.”
“Name your price.”I always appreciated a good bargain, especially if it was for something twistedly brilliant.
“Mr Kody’s gone, and no one can make me chocolate cake. If you bring me one, you get consent for the plane.”She slid her taser into the back of her pants.
“I’ll find the biggest one I can.”I promised.
“Big enough to climb?”
“Of course.”
She nodded, satisfied. Then, she held up her phone and snapped a picture of me as she said,“I’ll tell Mr Beau you have consent for the plane.”
“Appreciated.”
She turned and walked off, ponytail bouncing, thumbs already tapping out her message.
With only the slightest satisfaction, and the knowledge I was about to have another long journey to my temporary home, I hurried to make my exit before I had to deal with any adults.
It wasn’t like I could be too mad that this was the slow way. The diplomatic way. The Gio-and-Heaven-won’t-be-mad-at-me way.
I hated it. Thought it was a waste of time. But I did it. Which was a pleasant thought.
Nice because I knew that I didn’t always have to be a monster. Sometimes I could just be… nice. Even to something as gross as children and strangers.
Chapter Seven, Mile High
The hum of the private jet engine was strong enough to make me vibrate. I leaned back in the wide leather seat, letting my fingers skim lazily across the edge of the whiskey glass I’d set on the armrest. Outside the window, there was nothing but endless black, the occasional flicker of lights far below disappearing under thick clouds.
My whiskey was aged just right. A perfectly smoky drink, with the right amount of ice cubes and enough to make me smile despite my nerves.
As I sipped, I unlocked my phone and opened the text thread with my cousin, Caro.
Giovanni
Landing in Birmingham in four hours. Be on time. I’m in a rush.
No response. I stared at the screen for a moment before tossing the phone onto the table in front of me. Typical man.They were always far too slow at texting for my liking. I needed an instant reply, not something that took three business days.
Across the aisle, Heather’s laughter broke through my thoughts.
She was curled up in one of the seats, legs tucked under her, scrolling through Atlas’ tablet with a grin plastered across her face. Every so often, she’d make some excited noise or wave her screen in Atlas’s direction, trying to get him to look. He, of course, was buried in his laptop, but still made sure to respond to every joke, comment, or giggle.
No matter how busy he was, he always put her first. It was rather sweet, even if it made me feel like I needed to up my game.
“Can you come and help me for a second,amore mio?”
Instantly, she stood up, crossing the cabin with an exaggerated sway of her hips, and dropped herself into my lap. Her hands found their way to my shoulders, and her grin turned mischievous.
