Free Summers, Jordan by Gothic Passions [html] Page A

anything—including Lily.
    With a scowl upon his face Richard walked forward until
he could see Archibald. He looked utterly defeated. His hands were buried in
his silver hair and his blue eyes were watery and bloodshot. Richard nodded to
the men at the table, quickly scanning their minds to ensure the games had been
won fairly. They stood, taking their winnings with them and left. He sat in the
chair directly across from Devlin, waiting for the man to recognize him. It
took a few moments.
    Archibald’s face split into a sneer. “I thought I told
you I didn’t want to see you around anymore.”
    Richard patiently stared at the drunken man. “It seems
to me you were referring to your daughter at the time, not this establishment.”
    Josephine flashed a smile at Richard and then sauntered
to a stool nearby, so she could get a better view of the action. Her face lit
up with anticipation. The woman liked the sight of blood, almost as much as he
did. If he didn’t know any better he’d swear she was vampire too. Richard shook
his head, but didn’t bother asking her to leave, because it would be a waste of
time. She owned the place and was entitled to sit where she liked.
    “What do you want?” Devlin hissed.
    Richard arched a brow, inclining his head toward the
man. “You know what I want.”
    Devlin’s lips thinned. “Never! After what you did to my
friend, to me, I’ll allow Lily nowhere near your kind.”
    Tilting his head away from Josephine, Richard smiled,
showing Devlin just enough of his fangs to appear menacing. He slipped into
Archibald’s mind, ready to plant terrifying pictures if he chose to defy him.
It was like stepping into Scottish bog, thick, black and bottomless. “Rest
assured, Devlin, you have no idea what kind of man you’re dealing with.”
    “And I don’t care! Lily’s future is all but secured.”
Devlin pushed back from the table, almost falling over in the process. He stuck
out his hand to steady himself then stood. With a shaky finger he pointed at
Richard. “I’d rather see my daughter working as a whore, before I’d allow you
to have her.”
    To insinuate that even his presence was worse than
subjecting Lily to this sort of life went beyond insulting. Richard stood so
fast he tipped the table. The wood crashed to the floor, scattering markers in
all directions. Rage the likes of which he’d never felt boiled beneath his
skin, scalding his insides. “Listen to me and listen well, Lily will never step
foot in a place like this.” His hands fisted as he fought to keep his talons
sheathed. “And she will never have to pay off your foolishness in your stead.
Do you understand me?” Without physically touching him, Richard squeezed Devlin’s
throat with invisible hands.
    A twitch started in Archibald’s cheek and he couldn’t
seem to keep the tremors from his fingers. He clawed at his throat, trying to
break the hold. Richard released him and shot Josephine a questioning glance.
She shrugged. Devlin’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
    “Now that I have your attention.” Richard jabbed
himself in the chest with his thumb. “I’m going to pay off half of your losses.”
    Devlin’s gaze widened and he swayed. “Half?”
    “To start.” Richard tugged at his cuffs. “And in return
for my generosity, you’re going to accept my offer to court Lily and ask for
her hand in marriage.”
    “Never,” Devlin spat and took a step toward Richard as
if he considered throttling him. “I’ve got my own plans for her future and they
do not include you.”
    Richard allowed his eyes to flash red, showing the
beast inside. Devlin took an immediate step back, his hands trembling.
    “I suggest you reconsider, before I change my mind and
let Armand and Luc take you out back.” Richard pointed to the two men who were
all too eager to pounce at a moment’s notice.
    Devlin’s gaze shot to the bodyguards standing off to
Josephine’s right. Their hard expressions pinned him in place.