“Where are you staying?” he asked.
“This cheap place off The Strip.” I looked away, embarrassed to say the name of it. I’d scrambled up every penny I had to come here, but it was nothing compared to this penthouse. "Double Down Motel.”
His face twisted with disgust. "Give me your room key. I'll have all your things brought here.”
“What about my car?” I asked.
“My people will handle that as well.”
I raised an eyebrow at that, but pulled out my keys and handed them to him. He had people? I thought people who had people were just a myth. Who actually had people to do shit for them?
“Good.” He pocketed them and held out a hand. “Now follow me.”
Every time I touched him I felt…things. I kept my hands to myself. “Where?”
“To your new room.” His voice dripped with promise. “Though I suspect you’ll soon prefer mine."
We walked down a corridor and he threw open a door at the end. Unlike the rest of the penthouse I’d seen so far, which was all decorated in black and silver, this room was done in neutral tones. The queen-sized bed had one of those padded headboards behind it and was covered in lush blankets, a thick duvet, and soft-looking pillows. On the other side of the room was a cute sitting area and a desk in front of windows looking out at The Strip. A door led to a walk-in closet as large as my old apartment, and another opened to a massive bathroom all done in Carrera marble.
“This is your guest room?” I asked, as I took it all in, spinning in a slow circle. If this was for guests, what did his bedroom look like?
His lips quirked up in amusement. “It’s yours now. Make yourself comfortable. Order anything you like from room service. My people will bring your things along shortly, while I begin my investigation into your friend’s whereabouts.”
I shook my head, part in denial, part in wonder. This situation made no sense, and I was starting to wonder what the catch was. Maybe this was a case of mistaken identity of some sort. After all, why would he want me—me, of all people—for seven nights? I was just a basic bookworm with a nice set of boobs and a cute smile, who worked in a flower shop and wore flip-flops and jeans. Nothing special. Not compared to the women he probably surrounded himself with all the time.
Nerves churned in my gut as I considered the full force of what I’d just agreed to. Me. Here. In this penthouse. For seven nights.
And him. Doing whatever he wanted to me.
For the next week, he owned me. Completely. But it would all be worth it if he kept his side of the bargain.
I turned toward him. "Do you promise to find Brandy?"
“I will. Dead or alive, I will find her.”
He looked me in the eye, and I didn’t doubt his conviction. Lucas Ifer was a man who got things done, and if anyone could find my friend in the dark underground of Las Vegas, it was him.
He offered me his hand, and I took it to shake. The moment his skin touched mine, an electric tingle rushed through me, with that same fleeting sensation of familiarity and long-lost desire.
His fingers tightened around mine almost possessively. “It’s a deal.”
2
Lucifer
The door to the guest quarters closed behind me with a barely perceptible click as I stepped into the wide hallway. There I paused to draw in a deep breath as the enormity of what had just transpired hit me fully.
She was back.
My heart raced with anticipation. I could hardly believe it when she walked into my penthouse without warning, but the second we touched all doubts had vanished. She’d returned to me. Finally.
Hannah Thorn. A new name. A new look. But still undeniably mine.
I pictured her on the other side of the door, probably examining her new bedroom. Long golden hair framed a heart-shaped face with blushing cheeks and bright blue eyes, not to mention her very kissable lips. Lips I would soon be claiming, along with the rest of her small, curvy body. I only had to convince her over the next seven nights that she belonged to me.
While I found her friend, of course. Couldn’t forget that part. She’d led Hannah to me, after all. Yes, I needed to find this Brandy woman, if only to thank her.
Besides, I didn’t take lightly the disappearance of a human female in my hotel. Though demons fed on the energy of humans, I had strict rules about not harming them, especially within my domain. Of course, now that we’d made Earth our permanent home, the entire world was technically my domain. Still, even the youngest demons knew not to break the rules in the king’s own castle.
The Celestial Resort & Casino was my flagship hotel, a shining gem on the Las Vegas Strip, designed to entice humans to sin in any number of ways, all so my demons could feed safely while still remaining hidden from the world. In fact, I’d covertly built the entire city over the last forty years to be the perfect haven for demons. Sin City, they called it, and I was its King.
I stepped outside my penthouse and adjusted my suit as I eyed my guards. “No one goes in or out, except by my command.”
They bowed their heads as I entered the elevator. If Hannah really wanted to leave, I wouldn’t stop her, but I couldn’t have her running around the city alone either. Now that she’d been returned to me, she needed to be protected at all times.
For years my heart had been cold and black, a hard piece of coal waiting for her to return and ignite it. I’d searched for her for so long to no avail, only to have her walk into my life out of the blue. Looking for me this time. Oh, the irony.
I took the elevator down one floor to my war room. As I stepped inside the large space, I could almost inhale the power of my rule—a heady scent indeed. I paused as I took in the room, dark lord of all I surveyed. Live feeds and surveillance footage filled huge TV screens, and my industrious staff operated computers on too many desks to count as they followed every thread and whisper of sin this city had to offer. Greed, envy, lust…all mine, mine, mine. A huge switchboard took up an entire wall as they made connection after connection, following people, emotions, and things. Flashing lights moved around on a large world map on the wall, showing various demon, angel, and fae activities.
Samael was in his office, as I expected him to be, from where he oversaw everything in the command center. He acted as my right-hand man in most matters, and he’d been by my side ever since I left Heaven to rule Hell. Gadreel was in there too, looking at an open file atop the black desk. He was one of the younger Fallen, only about two centuries old, but he’d proved his loyalty many times and had risen in the ranks to become Samael’s assistant.
I poked my head into the office. “Meeting. Now. Get Azazel too.”
They both snapped their heads up, one dark and one light. Samael furrowed his brow. “What’s this about?”
“She’s returned.” I didn’t need to elaborate. They knew who I meant.
Gadreel’s blond eyebrows darted up. “Are you sure?”
I thought of the sparks I’d felt when I touched Hannah’s hand. “Yes, I’m certain of it. Funny enough, she found me this time.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed for our meeting room. The windows facing out to the rest of the command center turned opaque as soon as I flipped a switch, giving us complete privacy. The room was soundproof too, even from supernaturals with enhanced hearing. I took my seat at the end of the conference table, sinking into the plush leather executive chair. Seconds later, Samael walked inside, followed by Gadreel and Azazel. They shut the door behind them, and took seats around the table.