Page 457 of Hell Hath No Fury
“Of course.”
“Really? Because if you’re sad your daddy’s dying, it’s okay.”
He laughed. “I’m not sad, sweetheart. I just need him to hurry the hell up so it can be done.”
I nodded. “Will you tell me if you get sad?”
“Maybe.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right.”
“I love you for defending my honor, though,” he said, his grin widening.
“Can we go now? This house gives me the creeps.”
He stroked my cheek. “Might want to get used to it, because it’ll be ours in a few weeks.”
I shook my head. “I vote we raze it and build something new.”
“I promise, you’ll change your mind once you make it yours.”
“We’ll see,” I breathed out.
He’d taken my hand and led me out of the house and back to our little apartment at the edge of town. Hill had died two days later, and the will had been read and the inheritance finalized six weeks ago. As the only living heir, Duke got everything.
I wish I could say I was more excited.
“Mama, come on,” Michael, my three-year-old, begged, tugging on my hand and bringing me back to the present.
“Just a second, baby,” I said, and settled my hand on my ever-expanding belly. I was pregnant with our second baby, and I desperately hoped for a little girl.
“Pearl!” Duke bellowed from inside the house. “Whatya doin’, woman?”
“Wondering if I need a priest to exorcise any demons that might be in there,” I grumbled to myself.
My husband appeared in the doorway and smiled. “Baby? You comin’?”
“Yes,” I breathed out.
Michael pulled free of my hand and ran to his daddy, who picked him up and gave him a hug. “You wanna see your room?”
“Yeah,” Michael said, and Duke glanced my way again.
“Baby, you okay?”
I nodded and waddled up the porch steps and into the house. I didn’t combust, so I forced myself to relax a bit. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Duke slid his hand to my neck. “We’re gonna change anything that you don’t like.”
“All of it, Duke,” I whispered. “We need to erase the darkness.”
“Okay, Pearl, we’ll change it all.”
“Knock, knock.”
I turned at the sound of my girlfriend’s voice.
“Hi, Ronnie, come on in,” I called, and she and her husband, Zaius walked in.
