Page 44 of Deathless & Divided

“No,” Lily said, her gaze flicking away from him. “I’ve been told more than enough times to know I don’t get a choice in the matter.”

“Then what?”

“I don’t like what you do. I don’t like the things you’re a part of. I don’t like that you agreed to this at all, regardless of your reasons.”

“And?” Damian asked.

“And maybe I might like you.”

“Yeah,” Damian said, his laughter coming out like black molasses. Slow, thick, and covering every inch of her it could reach. “That’s a bitch, right?”

Who was this man?

“You’re late,” Dino said, his words coming out as a sharp whisper.

Damian shrugged. “I called.”

“At one in the goddamn morning,” Dino growled.

Lily pretended to ignore the way her brother looked her over like he was searching for some sign of her defilement. She hated to be the one to break it to him, but that defilement happened years ago when she was sixteen on a summer vacation to Germany.

“Church steps,” Lily said quietly, reminding her brother of where he was. “People are watching us.”

Dino scowled. “Why didn’t you call?”

Lily waved a hand in the air. “I forgot. Damian did instead. It was late, Dino. I was having fun.”

Her brother didn’t look like he believed her for a second.

“She was with me, so what is the damn problem?” Damian asked. “Didn’t you call Tommas?”

“Yes,” Dino said.

“And?”

“And I don’t want her at that club again, supervised or not.”

Lily faced her brother. “Why not?”

“Because Tommas does business in that place, Lily, and not the drinking kind.”

“Fine, I’ll take her elsewhere next time,” Damian said.

Dino’s glare turned on Damian. “Make sure it isn’t owned by the Outfit.”

“Will do.”

“Fine,” Dino muttered.

“Perfect.”

Lily sighed, annoyed with the entire day already. “Church, then?”

Damian’s hand found her lower back and Lily tried not to react to the touch. She seriously needed to get her head, heart, and body on the same page.

“Yes,” Damian said. “Church.”

“Okay, now that’s something else,” Evelina said.