Page 124 of Devilish Debt
“Because it was the only way I knew how to make sure you stayed alive!And you two being alive is all that fucking matters to me!”
His mouth lowers, although no sound escapes.
“And if that meant selling my fucking soul to a woman without one-”
“Blush…” she nefariously swoons in between sounds of more buckets being emptied into the water.
“-and doing thesameon your behalf then that’s what’s up!”
“Did you even botherconsideringwhatwemight want?!What we might have to fucking say about this shit?!”
“The dead don’t talk, Garcia,” Salay sassily reminds.
“Exactly,” I argue in a weaker tone than intended.“And I’d rather you be alive and pissed at me for what I did and chewing me out about not reading the fine print of this arrangement than be some shark’s 4thmeal.”
“Real shit?”Our bikini bearing woman throws out.“Kinda always assumed I’d get eaten by a shark.”
“There’s still time.”Ravencroft vilely smirks.“Particularly if you continue towastemine.”
Garcia momentarily presses his lips together in submission.
Fuckme,I know on the clicks and clacks, it’s not time to admire her for that, but I do.
Her ability to flex on him is the same one Salay possesses.
It’s the same one IwishI had.
Could have.
But no matter what I do, no matter how much I nut up, do the shit that show my balls are made of steel not Styrofoam, hestillbucks back.
Fights me.
Refuses to accept that I am a lot more capable than he wants to give me credit for.
Strongerthan he wants to see.
I’m not some fragile little fuck toy all the time.
That’s a privilege.
One I’d really fucking appreciate him understanding.
Ravencroft tucks her newly cleaned letter opener into the tight, high bun on top of her head.“Debts will be paid inservices-”
“Not dollars?”rudely interrupts Garcia.
“My business.My decision.”He lowers his jaw to talk again prompting her to lift a finger.“You’ve now lost your speaking privileges.”The tiniest twitch pushes her to add.“One more unapproved sound, and I’ll use my new gift,” she motions to the tool tucked into her locks, “to hold your tongue in place while I use a fillet knife,” thistime a gesture is made to Gibbons who wiggles the one he’s holding, “to cut it out of your mouth.”A quirked eyebrow is attached to her next command.“Nodthat you understand.”
And he does.
“Salacia-”
“Salay,” she instantly corrects.“Respectfully.”
“Salay,” Ravencroft slyly smirks, “you will finish the salvaging ofÉcume de mer Éternitéwithmy blessing.”
No sound manages to escape her bobbing lips.
