Love Knows No Bounds (6 page)

She stopped and pulled out her phone to check for coverage. Nothing. It was as if she stood in the middle of nowhere. Obviously Satan controlled more than just her computer at home.

“Are you ready to tell me what has you so upset?” said Christopher.

She slid her phone back into her pocket and took a deep breath. With a heavy exhale she said, “The Devil’s minion was at the night club.”

He gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Are you kidding?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Did he hurt you?”

The concern in his voice gave her some much-needed comfort. She shook her head again. “No. We just talked.”

“About?”

“About how men are falling at my feet thanks to the Devil, and how I should be grateful, go with the flow, and accept my fate.”

His grip loosened. “And?”

She released his hand. “And what?”

“What did you decide?”

She scowled at him. “I’ve decided the grass is always greener. I’d rather be alone than share my life with somebody who doesn’t truly love me. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to roll over and go willingly to Hell.”

His shoulders relaxed, the tension draining from him. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Good.”

Faye pressed her hands against his chest. “How do I know you’re not under Satan’s spell?”

“Trust me.”

His lips lowered to hover a breath from hers. Breathing grew difficult. Every cell in her body wanted to believe he was different. “I wish I could be certain.”

“The only certainty in life is death. Sometimes you have to have faith.”

Before she could voice another concern, he kissed her. All rational thought flew from her head as his lips crushed hers. This felt right—too right. Maybe that was Satan’s plan. Damn her for not being strong enough to resist.

She sank into his embrace, unable to deny herself what might be the only piece of him she’d ever have. Either he’d awaken from the Devil’s influence or worse, she’d have a V.I.P. seat to one of the circles of Hell.

The way he rubbed against her reminded her of the time she climbed the rope in gym class. Her insides had felt all jangly. At least now she knew what that wonderful sensation was and what to do about it. A moan bloomed up her throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck and practically climbed his body like a horny chimpanzee.

“Faye?” Christopher said against her mouth. She ignored him and plunged her tongue back into his mouth “Faye?” He grabbed her arms and pushed her back. “Faye?” She reached for him again, but he held her tight. “Let’s go somewhere.”

A lustful haze clouded her mind and it took several seconds before she realized where they were. She looked around. People smiled, and a few gave Christopher the thumbs up. Heat crept up her neck. What was wrong with her? If he hadn’t stopped her, she would have dry-humped him in front of a hundred people.

“How embarrassing.” She covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry.”

He wrapped his arm around her. “I’m not.”

Chapter Five

Early Sunday Morning

Faye looked up. Pierre Shogun’s warehouse loomed in front of them. “Wow, I didn’t realize we’d walked this far.”

“Good company will do that,” Christopher said.

“Yeah, or a long walk to cool the fires of desire.”

“Not too cool, I hope.”

She doubted that could happen where he was concerned. Over the past twenty-four hours her mild crush had blossomed into full-blown affection. Her ardor faded, replaced by a feeling of unease. She turned and scanned the dark street behind them. A lone figure stood shadowed just beyond the glow of the street light. Her pulse began to race. Satan’s minion. Christopher followed her gaze.

“Do you see him?” she asked.

“Who?”

“The man by the lamppost?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“He’s standing just outside the light.” It was selfish, but she desperately needed an ally in her crazy reality. “In the bar he told me people chose not to see him but he was always around.”

Christopher squinted in the direction she’d indicated. Then slowly, his eyes widened, the whites shimmering in the dim light. “I see him.”

“Really?” She clutched his arm. “You’re not just saying that to make feel better?”

“No, I see him.” He looked at her. “Do you have your keys?”

“For the office?”

“Yeah, let’s get off the street.”

She’d downsized her purse for the evening out but still carried the necessities, both phones—even though they didn’t work—money, ID, and her wad of keys. The rattle of the keys sounded loud in the quiet of the street. She punched in the security code and unlocked three deadbolts. Christopher pulled the metal door shut behind them and reengaged the locks.

“Let’s call a cab,” he said.

“There’s a phone in the warehouse.” She led the way, flipping on lights as she went. “They were supposed to deliver part of the church today. I check on that while you call a cab.”

Christopher cocked a brow. “Your immortal soul is in peril and you want to check on the shipment?”

She shrugged. “I can’t help it. When I get anxious I work.”

“I hope Pierre knows how lucky he is to have you.”

“No, but I’ve decided I’m going to tell him. After this I really don’t have much to lose.”

The scrape of the metal door echoed through the warehouse as he dragged it open. Each switch he flipped engaged a row of fluorescent lights, making them hum. Half of the cavernous room was illuminated.

“There they are.” Faye walked to the stack. It looked like the men had delivered about a hundred bricks. She ran her hand around the edges of the nearest stones. “They look like they’re in good shape.”

Christopher joined her. “I’m sure Pierre has something spectacular planned for them.”

“I’m sure. The man is crazy but he definitely knows design.”

The shrill ring of her phone startled her. She removed her hand from the stones and fumbled in her purse, but the ringing stopped. The screen said one call missed. Pierre must be trying to phone her at—she glanced at the time on the screen—one in the morning. She’d be irritated with him if she wasn’t already even more irritated with Satan. The phone now registered no coverage.

“That’s weird.” She flipped the phone shut and shoved it back in her purse. “It only rang once, but it did ring. That’s the first time since…” She thought back to when she’d used her phone last. “Since the Bandicott Estate.”

Christopher took out his phone. “I use my phone all the time but it says no coverage.” He slid it back in his pocket. “Looks like somebody doesn’t want you making calls.”

“Or checking my email.”

He nodded. “Maybe you were onto something by trying to unfollow. Maybe that’s why you’re being tailed.”

“Because I’m too close?”

“Yeah, I think Mr. Minion is getting nervous.”

Faye looked at the stones. She’d been touching them when her phone rang. She placed her hand against the top of a brick and her phone chirped. She pressed both hands on the bricks and her phone chirped again, more loudly.

“Help me. I have an idea.” She lifted a stone and placed it on the floor about ten feet from the pile. “Lay out some of the stones on the floor.”

He picked up a brick and followed her over. “Why?”

The feeling of being watched returned. If Vern was inside the building, she didn’t want to give away her plan. She tried to sound nonchalant. “I want to examine some of the stones before we call a cab. Mr. Shogun will kill me if the moving crew damaged any of these.”

Christopher’s brow furrowed in confusion. “So you want to examine each stone?”

“No.” Her voice sounded unnaturally high. “Maybe twenty or so.”

If her suspicions were correct then the stones just might be the answer to her dilemma. The trick was to not let the demon know she’d figured it out before she had a chance to test her theory. The chapel had been the one place her phone had worked. She prayed everything she’d read about holy ground would apply to these stones.

After several minutes of hauling bricks, they’d managed to lay out a square stone platform big enough for two people. Faye knelt, pretending to examine the pieces while digging in her purse. She pulled out the phone Mr. Shogun had given her and stood, searching the shadows of the warehouse. But she couldn’t see anything beyond the light, Still, she felt him and knew he was there.

Her heartbeats thumped at the base of her throat and she tried to swallow past it. She didn’t know what the next few minutes would bring, but if she didn’t try to thwart the Devil then her fate was sealed. The unimaginable torture the nuns had drilled into her head strengthened her resolve.

She stepped onto the stones. Instantly her phone rang. Before she could answer it, the phone flew from her hand. Faye grabbed, but missed and watched it sail into the darkness. She waited but no crashing pieces sounded.

“What the hell?” Christopher said.

“Exactly.” The voice wafted from the darkness.

Faye shuffled a few steps to the left, grabbed Christopher’s arm, and pulled him onto the stones. He stumbled, but quickly righted himself. “What’s going on?”

“She’s figured out the loophole.” The minion stepped into the light, holding her phone in front of him like a trophy. “Unfortunately, she wasn’t clever enough to hold on to this.”

Christopher looked at her, silently asking
What the hell?

“The stones.” She pointed to their feet. “They’re holy ground. They’ve been blessed. That’s why my phone worked in the chapel at Bandicott’s today.”

Vern laughed. “You’re a smart one. Smarter than most who enter into a contract. But I’m afraid you’re not smart enough.”

Faye pushed her purse behind her so the pouch rested against her right hip. Satan hadn’t won yet. She angled away from Vern, blocking his view, and she slid her hand under the flap. Lipstick tube—money—wallet—her fingers finally wrapped around her personal phone. Obviously the demon spawn didn’t want her have access to the internet, so that must be where the answer lay. Hope blossomed. If she could just check for the response from Twitter.

“No,” the minion continued. “Most don’t get as far as you did, Ms. Albert. They give up. Resign themselves to a life of doing my master’s bidding.” He paced the edge of the shadows. “Hoping by doing his will their fate will be better.”

Careful not to drop the phone, she pulled it out of her purse and switched it to her left hand.

“But their efforts are useless,” the man continued.

Jeez, he really liked to hear himself talk. “Meaning?”

“Meaning…” A purely evil smile spread across his face. Shivers raced up Faye’s spine, driving home the fact that she bargained for far more than her life. “Once the contract is entered into your fate is slated for eternal damnation, fire and brimstone, never-ending suffering.”

“The usual stuff then?”

Vern’s expression turned dark. “I’ll make sure we plan something special for you.”

Christopher gaze cut to her. “Uh, maybe it’s best not to taunt the demon.”

Probably. Time to switch plans. Faye widened her eyes and clutched Christopher’s arm, making sure to hide the phone behind his back. “No, I’ll do anything, but don’t send me to the fiery pits of Hell.”

She hugged Christopher and hid her face behind his biceps. Wasting no time, she lifted the phone and punched her email. The message from Twitter glowed like a beacon in a storm. Satan’s lackey was talking, but Faye ignored him. She tapped the message, enlarging it.

We’ve reviewed your complaint and as per your request have provided a link to Unfollow. If you’ve received this message in error or the problem has been resolved, please disregard.

She hit the link with her thumb. A roar erupted from Vern, rattling the rafters. Before she could react, a gust of wind hit Christopher and knocked him from the stones. Faye lurched forward, fumbling for the phone and catching it, inches from the stone.

“Christopher!” She grabbed for him but an invisible force shoved him across the concrete floor and slammed him into the pile of stones. He struggled against the hold but couldn’t move. “Let him go.”

The minion’s voice boomed through the warehouse. “Give me the phone.”

She clutched it to her chest. He stepped toward her and now the flames she thought she’d once seen danced where his eyes should have been. The stones beneath her began to shake and slowly separate. Faye dropped to her knees. With one arm, she scooped three bricks toward her, trying to hold them in place, struggling to keep her sanctified ground. Her thighs burned from the effort of holding the bricks in place. Damn, a Pilates class would have come in handy about now.

“He doesn’t care about you, Faye.” Vern pointed to Christopher. “If you
unfollow
your hopes of love will die and you’ll live an empty and lonely life.”

She cradled the phone and looked at Christopher. Stupid demon. Of all the things to say, that had pushed her button. Whitney had said the same thing. Would she be alone all her life with only work and the satisfaction of helping others to keep her warm at night?

“Don’t listen to him, Faye. It’s not true.” Christopher’s gaze begged her to believe him. “I love you.”

Vern laughed and raised his arms, sending brooms and mops spiraling through the air. “Yes, he loves you…now.” He glided closer. “But if you press that link, all that goes away.” He held out his hand. “Give me the phone, Faye, and find love.”

“Don’t Faye. I’m Hopeless Romantic.” Christopher’s words choked out as if somebody squeezed his throat. “Crispy Cre…”

“Ah, he’s a hopeless romantic. How sweet. But he won’t be. Not if you press that link.” Pierre Shogun’s phone rang. To her horror, Vern flipped it open. “Yes?”

Oh my God, was he talking to Pierre?

The minion listened for several more seconds then closed the phone and smiled. “It’s your lucky day, Faye. I’ve been authorized to make you a deal.” He paced along the edge of the shadows. “We are willing to offer you ten additional years to your life, plus a twenty-five percent increase in your overall happiness. And all you have to do is give me the phone.”

Her thighs burned as she struggled to her feet. “There isn’t anything I want from you.”

“Don’t be so hasty. We’re also willing to gift you with a one hundred percent increase in income and a guaranteed five new friends a year for life.”

She stared at Vern. Was he freakin’ serious? “I’m not cancelling a credit card. This is my immortal soul we’re talking about.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Faye.” He continued to pace. “Very well, we’ll throw in a lifetime supply of guaranteed parking spots whenever and wherever you want them.”

She pondered the offer. That was a pretty good one. She could see why a lot of people would go for it. “I don’t own a car.”

Vern stopped and looked at her. He smiled as if he held the trump card. “You can keep Christopher.”

She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

Christopher struggled against the force, trying to speak, but no words would come out.

“Hand me the phone and he’ll be yours for as long as you want him.” He inched toward her. “Think of it, Faye—the man you love by your side forever.”

Christopher had not said he was
a
hopeless romantic. He’d said he
was
@HopelessRomantic. He was right, she had to have faith and expect miracles.

“Forever?” She forced as much wistfulness in her words as she could muster. “Mine?”

“Yes, Faye.” Vern’s licked his lips and held out his hand. “Give me the phone and the world will fall at your feet.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I promise.”

She extended her arm as to give him the phone. His smile turned victorious. He reached for it, but she stopped and cocked her head to the side. “Go to Hell, jackass.”

She hit the link.

Chaos erupted. Equipment careened through the air and smashed against the wall. Papers swirled across the floor in a violent vortex. Faye dropped to the stones again, narrowly dodging a metal stool. Flames flared around Vern. He screamed, his wails ricocheting off the walls and turning Faye’s blood to ice. A black mark formed on the floor under him, spreading like spilled wine. Glowing red sparked as the edges of black, eating inward and opening what could only be described as an entrance to Hell.

“Holy Mother of God!” Every prayer Faye could remember flowed from her lips.

The nuns had espoused the evils of Hell but as the fiery entrance yawned before her, Faye realized her imagination hadn’t scratched the surface of reality.

Vern hovered above the opening, clawing upward as if trying to escape. Heat seared Faye’s face but she couldn’t look away from the horrific scene. Skeletal hands reached from the pit and latched onto his ankle. He looked at her, reaching toward her.

For a second she felt sorry for him. Then he bared his fangs.

“Bitch!”

Right, this was demon scum she was dealing with. She leaned toward him. “Bite me!”

Inch by inch he disappeared into Hell, the entrance shrinking until finally swallowing Vern whole. Papers fluttered to the ground around Faye. Christopher dropped, hitting the floor with a heavy grunt.