The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3)(7)
Author: Gena Showalter

They all were, those self-proclaimed "Lords of the Underworld."

Lords of Nightmares, she called them, for of all the frightening dreams she’d had in her life, none came close to the reality of these men.

Aeron had black gossamer wings and could fly like a bird – or a malevolent dragon of lore. Lucien had multicolored eyes that swirled hypnotically just before he disappeared as if he’d never existed. The scent of roses always drifted from him, insidiously sweet.

What magical ability Reyes possessed, she didn’t know.

All she knew was that he’d saved her once. Had fought his fellow soldier for her. Why? she’d wondered so many times since. Why had he hurt his friend rather than her? Why had he looked at her as if she were his only reason for breathing? Why had he then set her free, again?

Does it matter? He’s one of them. He’s a monster. Don’t forget.

Another ding sounded, slicing through her thoughts. "Girls!" Enrique shouted.

Gilly moaned.

Danika massaged the back of her neck. Reprieve over. She straightened. From the corner of her eye, she saw one of her customers wave his arm in a bid for her attention. To Gilly, she said, "I’ll be at your place about…four-thirty tomorrow morning? Sound good?"

"Make it five. Yep, I’ll be tired but ready." Gilly turned and gathered the drinks.

Danika moved off. Ten minutes of napkin and straw duty, coffee pouring and fetching for the Bird Brothers followed. Kept her mind off Reyes, at least.

Twice, Bird One dropped his fork and needed her to fetch him a new one. Once, Bird Two needed a refill. Once he needed a clean napkin. When she tried to leave after the last delivery, Two grabbed her wrist to stop her, his touch sharpening her nerves to razor points.

She didn’t rebuke him – every penny counts, every damn penny counts – but politely asked what he needed and tugged free.

"We’d like to talk to you," he said, reaching for her once more.

She stepped backward. If he touched her again, she just might snap. No longer were strangers allowed to put their hands on her. Not for any reason. "About what?"

A mother and young son strolled inside, the bell above the door tinkling to announce their arrival.

"About what?" she repeated.

"About a job. Money."

Her eyes widened. Dear God. They thought she was a hooker? So that was what they’d meant by "someone like her." Funny that they looked at her with disdain and yet were willing to buy her services. "No, thank you. I’m happy where I am, doing what I do." Well, not really happy, but they didn’t need to know that.

"Danika," Enrique called. "Got people waiting."

The men glanced at the entrance and frowned. "Later," Two said.

How about never? Seriously. A hooker? Closer to the door than Gilly, Danika gathered two menus and ushered the new arrivals to a table. They were a little unkempt, thin, clothing stained and wrinkled. They would not be good tippers, but the smile she gave them was genuine, if a bit envious.

She missed her mother like crazy.

"What can I get you to drink?"

"Water," they said in unison.

There was a wistful gaze in the boy’s blue eyes as he stared at the soda resting on the table a few feet away from him, condensation running down the plastic. Danika’s head tilted to the side, her artist’s eye seeing the heart-wrenching possibilities of a portrait. Human desires were always simplified when all but the bare essentials were taken away.

You’re not going to paint anymore, remember?

It was too much of a luxury in this die-any-moment world. Besides, she had to feel to paint. Not just happiness, either. For her, painting required a wide spectrum of emotion. Fury, sadness, bliss. Hate, love, sorrow. Without them, she simply mixed colors and splattered them on a canvas. But with them, she would lose the edge she needed to stay alive.

"The Darkest Pleasure"

Tamping down the sadness she couldn’t afford, she handed the pair their menus. "I’ll be back in a moment with your drinks, and then I’ll take your order."

"Thank you," the mother said.

On the way to the fountain, Bird Two grabbed her arm again, fingers locked in a tight grip. Danika stiffened, sparks of fury so hot under her skin she suddenly felt wrapped in flames. She couldn’t fight the emotion, couldn’t tamp it down as easily as she had the sadness. The ice she’d imagined coating her skin all these weeks melted.

"What time do you get off?"

"I don’t."

"We’re asking for your own good. The world is a bad, bad place and unless you’re one of the bad guys, you shouldn’t be out there alone."

"Grab me again," she said through clenched teeth, ignoring his feigned concern, "and you’ll regret it. I’m not a hooker, and I’m not looking to make any money. Okay?"

As both gaped at her, she ripped free. She stalked away from them before she did something stupid. At the station in back, she filled the mother and son’s drink order, her hands shaking. Her heartbeat nearly cracked her ribs. You have to calm down. Deep breath in, deep breath out. That’s the way. Finally her muscles released their vise-grip on her bones.

She steered clear of the Bird Brothers on her way back to the table, remaining completely out of reach. When the mother realized she’d brought the boy a Coke, she opened her mouth to protest but Danika stopped her with a raised hand – a still-shaking hand, she realized with surprise. Hadn’t calmed from Two’s touch, then. Another deep breath in, another deep breath out.

"On the house," she whispered. Enrique gave nothing away, not even to his waitresses, and would deduct the dollar ninety-seven from Danika’s pay if he heard. "If it’s okay that he has it, that is."

The boy’s expression lit with happiness. "It’s okay, right, Mom? Please, please, please."

The mother gave Danika a grateful smile. "It’s okay. Thank you."

"My pleasure. Know what you want to order?" She withdrew the pad and pencil from her apron. Her hand had stopped shaking, but the muscles were so rigid she accidentally snapped the pencil in two. "Oops. Sorry." More carefully, she dug out the spare.

The pair placed their order, and as she wrote she scanned the diner. Another family had just walked in. She gave them only a cursory inspection. Less and less, she jumped when people entered. First few days here, she’d expected Reyes to stalk through the door, throw her over his shoulder and steal into the night with her.

Gilly motioned the family to the only other available booth, her gaze catching Danika’s. They shared a tired smile. Danika’s felt brittle, her nervous system clearly still raw from Two’s touch. You know you can’t react like this. You have to be prepared, ready for anything.