Page 76 of Destroyer

“Yes. And bought one of her own bags back.”

Mrs F, short for Thayer, has been taking the boys out to lunch every Monday. Then they go back to her house, and she clears out her wardrobes of bags, hats, and other weird woman stuff. She's been giving things to Nico for years, but it's all a lot more obvious now. Knox foots the bill, which is a fair punishment for killing her husband. Nico has a pile of things in the corner of the room, which I will take to the shop on Wednesday.

“How was your day, Daddy?”

“Same as every Monday. But tonight, I am showing the new manager around the club, so I won't be needed there so much.”

It's slightly unfair that Nico ended up with the club Porter used to dance at, but as it was owned by the man who pulled the trigger on his mum, it was a nice gesture.

Chapter forty-nine

Nico

OnceCaeohasfinishedhis coffee, we move into the kitchen.

“I did got post.” The first of two confessions for today. I'm adjusting to my life as a domesticated person, slowly. “And Mr Johnson wants to be talking to you in the morning.”

I hang my head, making my guilt obvious. Yes, I'm angling for a spanking.

“I'm not going to like the post, am I?” Caeo frowns, picking up the A4 envelope. “You're still muddling your words when you've been a bad demon.”

It is my tell, and I am very aware. It's my cutest feature when I want his attention. Gavriil always said to never stop making little mistakes, as it was all the personality I had. I don't think that's entirely true, but some habits are hard to break.

“What is this?” Caeo frowns as pictures of houses fall out of the envelope. “These are nice houses.”

They are nice and expensive, much bigger than the other houses I own, but similar to Caeo's.

“Not do I have a Balen house.” I shrug. My uncle thinks there is a trend in buying me off with houses, so why would I say no to that.

“So Christian Balen is buying you another house.”

“Not can he be outdone by my father and brother.” I give a sly grin.

Caeo is bound to protest that he doesn't need the work, or that we don't need the rental income. That is why I was naughty.

“I did creep up on Mr Johnson and his friend. I snooked around the garden and threw muffins at them. Now he wants to talk to you.”

“You did what?” Caeo frowns, all his house protests forgotten.

“I was being kind. I was thinking they would like the muffins from Porter.”

“You were being a demon so u would spank you tonight instead of having an adult discussion about why you are getting another house.”

“Not do I like adulting. Why do people keep wanting to give me things?”

“Because you are a devious little demon, and everyone is desperate to keep you sweet.”

“Will you say no to him?”

“Good lord, no. Other than you, he is the most important person in this whole weird arrangement.”

“But I am still naughty and-”

“Yes, Nico. You don't have to be naughty to get your reward.”

“But it is more fun.”

“You are such a demon. Take off your clothes.”

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