Devil to Pay by Renee Bernard

Author:Renee Bernard [Bernard, Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Renee Bernard

Thirteen

“Everything’s set,” Malcolm said as he collected the morning’s files and electronically transferred his notes to Lucifer’s mainframe. “The DTT were very grateful for the advance warning this time and Chinatown should be a breeze today.”

“A breeze?” Lucifer gave him a wary look. “How is it that nothing I think is going to be a breeze, is actually a breeze?”

“Yes, but then the inverse would be true,” Malcolm pointed out. “Wouldn’t that mean anticipated disasters would be guaranteed to succeed?”

“One would think,” Lucifer smiled. “Not that I’m complaining. So long as she’s safe, Malcolm, that’s all that matters. Things have been going so well, I don’t want anything to spoil it.”

He’d hung the simple painting she’d given him in his private sleeping quarters, ensuring that it would be the first thing to greet him each dawn. Yesterday had been a brutal day of painful statistics and agonizing quarterly reviews, but Jayne’s appearance and her gift had turned everything around.

After all the reports were done, he’d walked over to take in the bright colors and playful turns of it and felt completely whole and healed as he hadn’t been in a long time. Malcolm’s incantations paled in comparison to the power of Jayne’s affections.

Malcolm had grasped its significance instantly. Maintenance had been informed and extra precautions would be taken for its cleaning and care. A magical barrier had been added so that the colors would never be damaged by exposure to light or changes in temperature. The demonic Art Conservancy department had created a standing work order to keep an eye on it for Lucifer’s continued enjoyment, which meant Jayne’s finger painting would outlast the ‘Mona Lisa’ and the work in the Sistine Chapel.

And Lucifer didn’t see anything inappropriate about that fact.

Nothing was ever as simple as it first appeared in Hell—or in Heaven.

“Here’s the walking tour map you requested and Percy in meteorology said you should be ready to buy an umbrella but don’t carry one.”

“Good advice,” Lucifer said as he tucked the map into his coat pocket.

“He’s never been wrong. Ten thousand years and that guy’s never missed a single raindrop.” Malcolm put his hands behind his back. “Are you ready then?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He stood from his desk. “How do I look?’’

When Malcolm hesitated, Luke rolled his eyes. “Don’t say it.”

“Say what? ‘The Devil Wears Prada’?” Malcolm grinned. “Well, it is Prada. Very well, you look like any other average tourist wearing a very nice designer label business suit.” Malcolm gave him an openly assessing look. “Very becoming, sir.””

“Don’t I own anything casual? A pair of jeans or something?” Luke asked.

“Casual?” Malcolm’s shock and disgust was comical. “There’s the Gucci two-button, but if you’re asking me if you own sweatpants, the answer is a firm and unequivocal no.”

“Great.” Luke waved him off and decided better over-dressed and on time than over-dressed after an endless debate with Malcolm that was going to gain him nothing and late for his date with Jayne.

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