Page 8 of Devils Don’t Deal

“You dislike most of the people you make deals with?”

His smile sharpened. “Yes. Those who are desperate, lacking in discipline or a willingness to accept the consequences of their actions are always irritating. You’re only here for your father.”

I hesitated while my heart thudded under my ribs. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it all the way. I sat up as straight as possible and forced myself to hold his amused gaze. “And my mother’s medical bills. I want you to pay off all the debts, not just yours.”

He wouldn’t say yes. Her medical bills were endless. He studied me for a long moment, leaning back while my heart beat faster and faster. I should accept what he gave me, take it and run.

He slowly nodded. “Of course. But if I’m taking care of that, I suppose I won’t be able to have dinner with you to go over the shop’s details after all.” He snapped his fingers, and a woman stepped out of the shadows. She looked professional in a beige suit as she came forward with a clipboard and a sheaf of papers.

“Sir? Where should I put the documents?” she asked, ignoring me.

He stood and, with a wave of his wrist, the chair collapsed in a flurry of cards that ended up in his hand. He tucked it into his inside pocket, but when his hand came out, it was holding a ribbon. The ribbon kept coming, shiny periwinkle, and then my favorite cake box came out of his jacket.

He handed it to me and bowed as I gaped at him. “Miss Rawley’s going to sit with you and go over the details. Opening a bakery will take a great deal of equipment. Be sure to get everything you need. This deal will only be as good as you make it.”

“What about the rabbit?” I stammered, clinging to the box that was so distracting. Where had he gotten it? Did he know the vampire? No, I had to focus.

He hesitated. “All in good time.”

I raised my chin. “I’m not signing anything until I meet him.”

He sighed heavily then crouched in front of me before reaching past my legs so his face was pressed against my shin where it had been cut.

I gasped at the contact and would’ve tried to kick him, but he pulled back, dragging a mangy creature out with him.

He held a rabbit by the nape with a twist of dissatisfaction on his soft mouth before he dropped it into my lap. “You can see that he needs feeding.”

I gulped as I grabbed the creature and stared at the thing, dull grayish white with bare patches and scrawny ribs. I carefully shifted my grip, and his fur—where it wasn’t gone—was very soft. His heart beat fast in his chest, matching my own, and his breathing was raspy, like he was taking his last breath. This was the creature I was supposed to take care of, when he looked like he was already more than half dead?

I slowly stroked him, careful to keep hold of him, not that he seemed strong enough to leap out of my arms. “He’s so soft.” Where he wasn’t bare. And the poor thing had sores all over.

“Indeed.”

I once more reached out and caught the devil’s sleeve but released him before he pushed me away. “And if something should happen to the rabbit? What happens to our deal?”

His eyes flashed with pity. “The deal would be off, Miss Charles. Discuss the details with Miss Rawley then have your father read it over. Take her to my office for that,” he said to the woman before giving me a polite smile as he edged away. “I look forward to working with you.” He spun on his heel then, with a twitch of his forked tail, vanished into smoke that smelled like strawberry shampoo and regrets.

So that was the catch. I had to keep this creature alive when he already looked more than half dead. What if he was just a really, really old rabbit that was going to die from old age? Was he really magical or was this a completely lost cause?

I straightened my spine and tightened my grip on the sad rabbit. This was my chance to have my own bakery and show people what I could do. Maybe after the devil’s deal fell through, I’d be able to start my own bakery with real funding from a bank. Not the Granite. Although maybe I could let the goblin king study me in return for a good loan rate. Lieutenant Sato seemed absolutely trustworthy. If I could make friends with her… She went to The Cat’s Pause often or she wouldn’t have recommended it to me. And the shop would be right next door…

“Are you ready to look at the contract?” the woman said with zero expression on her face. He was right. She would make a terrible Cheshire cat.

She didn’t look like much in the way of security, either, but looks could be deceiving. Also, “Why is the head of security showing me paperwork? Don’t you have more important things to do?”

She gave me a dead look. As in, I should drop dead. I clung tighter to the rabbit instead. “Yes. I do have more important things to do, so if you could follow me, I would appreciate it.” And if I didn’t, she’d probably spit on me or rip out my fingernails. She was in charge of torturing people, not brute force. That made sense for a cat shifter.

She walked with me into the shadows, a trail leading to the castle. It was tall and shining, like a fairytale castle for marketing purposes, but when we stepped inside, it was much more cozy. The office had a crackling fire with a pot of steaming hot cocoa on the large table surrounded by comfortable chairs. The walls were lined with shelves containing objects that seemed an unorganized, jumbled mess. In other words, it felt more like a kitchen than an office, without the pretentious marketing strategy in the rest of Wonderland.

“Sit,” she said, gesturing at one of the chairs. I sat, still snuggling the rabbit that I had to keep alive, as she dumped the papers in front of me before brushing off her hands. “I’ll go get your father. It’ll take some time to get the feathers off. They were stuck on with honey.”

I stared at her. “Why were the feathers stuck on with honey?”

She rolled her eyes. “Some of the Master’s servants get too creative. They think if something can be done, then it should.”

“Not you. You’re never creative.”

There was a flicker of something dangerous in her eyes. “Not particularly, no. Read the contract. You may have as much hot cocoa as you like. It won’t hurt you, but it will make you feel less guarded. Not because there’s anything in it, but because that’s the natural psychological reaction to eating something delicious someone’s given you. It creates trust. And the chocolate is very delicious.”