Page 59 of Demon On Deck

I look to the petite demoness sitting across from me, who is absolutely beaming. “It’s so lovely to meet you, Kallie. We’ve heard so much about you.”

I glance at Evren, who is looking rather nervous, before returning Una’s smile. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Although I must confess, the circumstances are a little strange.”

A waitress appears to take our orders, and everyone waits until she dashes off before speaking up.

“That would be my fault,” Evren says with remorse.

“Mine as well,” says Mel in the most unapologetic tone imaginable.

Evren shifts to face me, and I mirror his stance. This close, I can feel the heat his body radiates and smell his glorious smoky scent.

It’s like coming home.

But I shove that feeling aside to listen to what this powerful seven-foot demon, who is currently fidgeting like a toddler in time out, has to say.

“My parents are here out of concern. I’ve not been doing…well. They flew in to check on me. I explained your situation to them, and my dad said he could help.”

Mel’s hand on my arm draws my focus to her.

“That’s where I come in. Evren knew you’d never accept his help. Or his Dad’s, for that matter. Hell, you barely accept my help, and I’m your sister,” she declares aggressively. I open my mouth with a retort, but Mel plows on.

“Evren reached out to me and wanted to meet.”

“Just to discuss a way to help you with the legal case,” Evren jumps in.

Mel rolls her eyes. “As if you had any interest in me. That’s about as likely as me giving up iced coffee. The point is, we met up and he explained that his dad was a retired forensic accountant who could help with your case. We talked a few days after you met with Neeve. You were stressing about the ungodly hourly fee charged by forensic accountants and wondering how you were going to be able to pay it in addition to the rest of your legal fees. I saw an opportunity and took it. You wouldn’t help yourself, so I, we, did it for you.”

I glare at my sister, who has crossed her arms defensively over her chest, practically daring me to argue. Instead of engaging my sister, I look to Evren’s dad.

“But how did you get my financials?”

“I handed them over,” Mel states next to me.

“You what?” Shock colors my tone as I stare at my sister.

She shrugs and takes a sip of her drink. Which I do as well, needing to feel the burn of the alcohol to ground me. “Evren’s dad needed access to your finances in order to do the deep dive audit. Now don’t be mad, but I called Neeve.”

“Mellodie!”

“I called Neeve,” she continues, unfazed, “And explained what was happening. I had her get in contact with her forensic accountant to cancel your appointment.”

I knock back the rest of my drink in one swallow.

“I need another drink,” I rasp, raising my hand to grab our waitress’s attention. “Another lemon drop, please. Make it double. Don’t be stingy with the vodka.” I tell her as my sister’s bombshell rocks me to my core.

Mel continues, “I came by Bloomhaus and grabbed the financials you had left for me to drop off with Neeve, except I brought them to Demmir and not Neeve. You met with Mr. Frost and Ms. Balentine and were none the wiser. Until today.”

The waitress, blessedly, returns with a very large double lemon drop. I take a deep drink and try to focus on the burn. It doesn’t work. I set my head in my hands and breathe. Evren lays a hand on my back and rubs gentle circles.

“I’m very sorry for how this happened,” Demmir says, drawing my attention to the man who saved me from financial ruin. “Going behind someone’s back and keeping secrets is wrong. But I truly believe your sister and Evren were acting out of love and in your best interest,” He says.

“They just wanted to help,” Una adds softly.

“I know. And truly, I appreciate what you did. What you all did.” I say, looking each of them in the eye, hoping to convey my gratitude. “I just don’t like the way it was done. Especially involving my lawyer.” I say pointedly to Mel.

She softens and grabs my hand. “I know, but she didn’t know we were going behind your back.. She’s faultless in this.”

I blow out a deep breath. I should be furious. Should be yelling. But all I feel is relief…and the realization that I didn’t have to do this alone. I chose to. And pushed away the most important people to me by doing so.