Page 49 of A Deal in Darkness
I blush and squirm, and he kisses me again, letting his hand wander down my body.
“I'd appreciate a laptop. Please.”
“Of course. I'll arrange for you to have an iPad too. So you can easily work when traveling.”
I ought to thank him, but my mind is busy whirling. I'm trying to understand what's so important to protect on my electronics and why he seems to need to know where I am and what I'm doing. Sure, he's a control freak, but this feels different. This feels important. Like this isn't a game.
Enzo offers me his most reassuring smile and I'm certain he's hiding something. And it might be the key to me getting out of this nightmare deal I've made with the devil.
“You're wondering why I've provided everything for you. Why I've gotten rid of almost everything you owned before our arrangement began.”
Technically, I was only thinking about my computer and phone. However, the accuracy with which he discerns my thoughts is alarming and I've got to get better at concealing them.
I nod.
“You belong to me. It's complicated to explain and over time, you'll understand it. The world—my world—is dangerous and I've made many enemies. Some powerful enough to try to hurt you to get to me. You’re tied to your possessions and unless they're protected, they can be used to control you. Or hurt you. Or worse.”
Enzo's face is soft, but his tone is not. It isn't nasty, isn't vicious. It's firm and serious, cold and calculated. It’s a voice that sends a shiver down your spine because you know that every word being said is true.
“Your new possessions are safe and they're of a suitable quality. They do you justice and you deserve them.” His hand strokes my face. “Some of what I do is because I enjoy controlling you, but everything I do is to keep you safe, baby. It's a fortunate coincidence when they overlap.”
That shiver rolling down my spine turns into something more like an earthquake, and the aftershocks hit me hard. It's easy to forget that Enzo is a demon and his handsome face, powerful physique, and deep brown eyes conceal his darkness behind his attractive features. It's a spell that's damn effective. Too effective. One that helped him manipulate me into making a deal with him and even now has me under its spell.
“What else do I need to know?” I ask.
“About what?”
“About your world.” I attempt to hide my nervousness. “About demons. And stuff.”
A flash of amusement lights his face and the amber sparks in his eyes burn brighter. Enzo slides closer to me and slips his arm around me, and I'm not sure if this is because I'm about to need some reassurance.
“What do you want to know?”
“How does it work?”
I look as confused as he is by my vague question. What I'm really asking is whether there are any loopholes in our deal or if there is anything else that helps me. I don't know enough to ask clever questions, but if Faust had some relation to reality, then maybe other books about demons might be closer to the truth than he'd like me to believe.
“Are there any rules that I need to know?”
“Rules?” Enzo's eyes narrow and darken. “Hell is a hierachy. I'm fairly near the top and hold more power than you could possibly imagine. My domain is my dominion and I do with it as I please, and that includes doing whatever I want with those underneath me. Their bodies and souls, if they have them, are mine and there are few rules and fewer limits that govern my behavior. Most have the good sense to pay me respect and stay on my better side, and those that don't don't stay around long enough to bother me.” He pauses and I'm certain it's to ensure I've understood the threat. “We can go through the protocols I like later, Adi. Is there anything more specific you were wondering about?”
I bite my lip and take a risk. “If I know your real name, can I control you?”
A roar of laughter booms around me, and I watch Enzo collapse into hysterics. He's so damn beautiful like this that he steals my breath and I almost lose my train of thought as he almost steals them as well.
“Sorry, Adi. It doesn't work like that. There are ways to summon me, but they're pretty damn difficult and require more than my name.”
The car comes to a stop outside another designer shop, this one specializing in bags and shoes.
The driver opens the door and Enzo leaves, waiting to help me exit the car. He pulls me against him and drops his hands to my ass, leaning down to steal a kiss.
“My full name is Lorenzo, Adriana. Lorenzo Antico. My demonic name is much harder to pronounce, and you never need to worry about the particulars of my ritual. I'll come for you whenever you call—and even when you don't.”
13
SMELL THE ROSES
ENZO
