Page 76 of Deviants
The second I shut the door, I spotted Romero. He was standing on the stairs addressing a house full of people. Some wore the masks and robes; some didn’t.
I stood back and watched him work the crowd. It was obvious that these people adored him and everything he represented. When he talked, they listened as if they were entranced, and when he moved, they followed as if they were compelled. I leaned against the door, content to stay in my little bubble for a few minutes longer.
“Cali.”
I blinked when he popped up in front of me.
“You zoned out on me, baby.” He linked our hands together and led me towards the stairs. Music was playing from somewhere, and the smell of food made me weak in the knees.
“Did I miss something?”
“Only that everyone is losing their shit because you’re home and having my kid.”
“I missedallthat?” I had to damn near yell to be heard.
“Cali, you should have your skinny ass in bed and be pigging out. You’re exhausted. And don’t try and fucking bullshit me, I can see it.”
Fucker.
He led me to the sofas and sat me beside Arlen.
“Stay here; I’ll be back.” He disappeared into the masses without explanation.
A few minutes later, he was back with a plate of delicious goodness and a bottle of water. He dropped down on my other side and handed me the plate.
I bit into the juiciest burger in existence and almost moaned. I didn’t even care there was an onion on it. The meat was thick and healthy looking, unlike the flat mystery burgers The Order used to consume.
I swallowed my mouthful and looked over at him. He and Grimm had their heads bent in conversation. As I turned my attention back to my plate, Dhal caught my eye.
This chick was weird—and that said a lot, coming from me. She pretended she hadn’t just been staring at Arlen and me, making herself that much more obvious.
Finishing off my plate and water, I searched for a trashcan, only to have the plate lifted by an acolyte. He or she gave me a slight nod and simply walked away.
“Stop glaring.” Romero nudged me with a soft laugh, instantly making me melt. He’d been doing that a lot lately—laughing, that is. I loved it.
“They like doing shit like that,” he explained.
“Being garbage collectors?”
“I have to go to the pot,” Arlen said. She’d been speaking specifically to me, but Grimm heard due to the volume.
“Let’s go.” He stood up and held his hand out like a well-refined escort.
“I’m not goin to argue with you about being my shadow, because I don’t wanna piss my pants.” She took his hand and huffed out an exasperated breath.
I stared after them with furrowed brows.
“That’s going to happen,” Romero stated with something akin to amusement. I’d like to have agreed with him but I didn’t see it.
“Didn’t you all have a thing with her sister?”
“You mean, didn’t we all fuck her bitch of a sister at the same time?”
“Yeah, Rome, that’s exactly what I meant.” I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder. “What happened to her?”
“She’ll be at the hotel until it’s laundry day.”
I wanted to know what he meant but that would have to wait. I followed his gaze across the room where Luther stood with Dhal, both staring back at him expectantly.
