Free Devil May Care by Pippa DaCosta Page B

flowed through the room like a melody. If he wasn’t demon, he sure as hell was something because his laughter disarmed my instincts with impossible ease. I found myself liking him. Hell, I was about ready to roll over and let him tickle my belly. Resisting the urge to melt into a pool at his feet, I flicked my hair back and planted a hand on my hip, setting my face into a scowl. “What are you?” I grumbled.
    “A vet.”
    Laughter lodged in my throat. “A vet?” I coughed into my hand. “Really?”
    “And other things. But mostly a vet.” He seemed aware of how ludicrous it sounded because those penetrating eyes sparkled with silent laughter. “So, half-blood, what do you want from me?”
    “Call me Muse.”
    His smile died a slow languishing death on his lips, and the laughter snuffed out of his eyes. “Muse. Holy-hell. You’re the half-blood who ruined the Prince of Greed.” He shot a look to Carol-Anne. “You brought her here?”
    “She didn’t leave me much of a choice. Plus she has something for you.” She gave me an encouraging nod.
    I wondered about how he’d described what I’d done to Akil. Ruined seemed like an odd word. I’d drained him and kicked his ass back to hell, but ruined? Did he imply Akil was still around but was somehow desolate? I hadn’t considered what had become of him. I told myself I didn’t care. But Jerry’s definition picked at a mental scab, threatening to peel it off and reveal my fear that Akil was plotting his revenge. Jerry and Carole-Anne were watching me, waiting for me to reveal my trump card. I filed thoughts of Akil away for later and held out the injector. Jerry’s eyes widened.
    “PC-Thirty-Four,” I said. “I’ve had this crap in my veins for over six months, and it’s playing havoc with my demon. I’m sick of waiting for the Institute to free me, and events have... forced my hand. So I’m here, talking to you, to see if we can...work something out.”
    Jerry dragged his hand across his chin then scratched at his cheek. “You’re a hot potato right now, Muse. I could hand you over to half a dozen named demons, and I’d be generously rewarded. Reckon you’re on the run from the Institute too?”
    I’d put money on those demons he mentioned being my owner and possibly Akil, not to mention demons that just wanted me dead for breathing, oh—and my charming immortal brother. Have I mentioned him? Form an orderly queue to kill the half-blood.
    “You could try.” I flicked a glance at Carol-Anne, who pursed her lips. “But I don’t think you want it known you’re the type to talk. Demons get spooked pretty easy, and all of them have secrets I bet you get to hear, right?”
    “And if they find out I’ve had an Enforcer in here, what do you think they’re gonna do?” He made a derisive sound in the back of his throat then crossed the room and took the injector from my hand. His eyes bored through the mask of tattoos and locked onto me. For a few seconds, a cool, creeping, slither of power swept over me, and then he looked down at the injector in his hand, and the elemental touch was gone. “I tried to help a half-blood once... He died. I’ve never seen a man so screwed up in the head. The scars on his body... He was more animal than man. Poor bastard.” He placed the injector on the counter beside me and looked down into my eyes. Did he know what I’d been through? He couldn’t know the details, but if he knew half-bloods, he knew how the demons liked to ruin them. “You got balls coming into this part of town—coming to me. You’re gonna get yourself killed, half-blood. Until then, sure, I’ll help you. I like a challenge.”
    Carol-Anne nodded her agreement. “Can I trust you two not to kill each other?”
    Jerry grunted an ‘uh-huh,’ but I deliberately held Carol-Anne’s gaze. “Back in the parking lot, you said I was another’s property.”
    She nodded. “When you’re done here, come and find me. We’ll talk.” She’d