“I know, so we need to dive deeper into this guy. Find proof his empire was built on a scam.”
“Surveillance first.”
That would usually excite me, but this time, I wanted to take action. “What time is your meeting?”
Diem cut his gaze to his phone, a stitch appearing between his brows. “Nine. I can bow out, and—”
“No.” I checked the time on the microwave. Seven thirty. “We’ll wait for you.”
Diem leveled me with a mistrustful glare. “Don’t get your ass in trouble.”
“Never.”
“Tallus.” A warning.
I smirked, coy and mischievous.
“Tallus.” He harshened his tone.
“Go shower, Guns. I’ll make your carton of eggs and side of pig.”
The demon arose with the scent of food. He padded blearily into the kitchen, nose wrinkled as he peered over my shoulder into the frying pan. “I don’t like eggs.”
“Well, they’re not for you.”
“But I’m hungry.”
“Then find food. I’m not your maid.”
He clutched my old prescription bottle with his good hand as he shuffled to the fridge and stood with the door open for several long minutes, peering inside. I heard my mother’s voice from ten years ago, yelling about hydro bills and shut the fridge door already. I yearned to tell him the same but was loath to admitIwas now the grown adult. Plus, there was something unsettling in echoing my mother’s admonishments.
“There’s no milk,” Darcy announced.
“Oh, I’m aware. You drank it all yesterday.”
“Shoulda bought more.”
“Well, some of us worked all day yesterday, then spent the evening sorting out your shit before landing at the emergency room. I’mterribly sorry, Your Highness, but you’ll need to find something else to drink.”
“I wanted cereal.”
“Me too, buddy, but I guess that’s not an option, is it?”
He slammed the fridge door, the condiments rattling within, and had the audacity to givemea dirty look. “Where’s Diem?”
“In the shower.” And because I was a jerk, I added, “Probably jacking off because I couldn’t suck his dick with you sleeping on the couch, and he likes sex when he gets home from the gym.”
Darcy’s face contorted, and he looked like he had a hundred venomous things to say. Before his sleepy brain caught up with him and he spewed something hateful, I added, “Swallow whatever is on the tip of your tongue, or I’ll kick your ass, which might be embarrassing for you. You know, since I’m gay.”
I adjusted the heat under the eggs. “Also, Diem’s going to a meeting this morning, so you get to hang out with me for an hour, and for the first time in the history ofever, I’m the less tolerant of the two of us, and I’m not in the mood to share space with a punk ass kid, so stop being a brat.”
Darcy collapsed at the table and stared sulkily at the pill bottle. Did he find a glass of water and take a pill? No.
I transferred Diem’s eggs to a plate, lining them up beside a mountain of peameal bacon. I jammed the button down on the toaster and found butter and an avocado in the fridge.
Still, Darcy stared forlornly at the pill bottle.
The toast popped.