Page 27 of Hellbound

Marian waved a hand. “So just make something up and sketch it. How would a demon know you’re lying?”

Tori shot Marian a disapproving look. “Because if my client sends a diver to a place I drew only to find that I made it up, they’ll turn me into a flesh hat.”

And Marian thought the deal she’d made with Stellan Blacke had been bad. “Rewind—how the fuck did this become life or death?”

Tori’s foot tapped rapidly against the base of the stool. “Because this demon offered me a lot of money and I thought they were joking when they said ‘if you fail, you’re dead.’ But when I shook their hand to make the deal—when the terms became part of me—I felt the truth: they weren’t kidding. And by then, it was too late to back out.”

Marian let out a low whistle. “Wow. That was stupid of you.”

Spoken like a true hypocrite.

“Yes, please tell me more about how I screwed this up. I’m not already stressed out of my mind about how I’m going to be murdered,” Tori replied dryly.

Suddenly craving some personal space and a seat not dripping whiskey, Marian shoved off the stool and ambled to the nearest booth, where Tori couldn’t see the turmoil on her face.

Does it really matter if she’s a traveler and not a diver? At least you won’t be alone down there.

The irritating voice inside her set her teeth on edge. Did it matter? No, a traveler was most definitely a downgrade. They could leave Hell at will with intense focus, but if the Remnant snatched up a traveler before they shifted back to their bodies, they’d die for good, just like divers. Divers who weren’t Marian.

Tori followed her to the booth.

“I can give you five thousand dollars. It’s all I have.”

Marian sat down and looked up to find the traveler offering her a thick white envelope. She glanced from the stack of green bills peeking through the opening to Tori’s face. She knew that look intimately.

Desperation.

Marian’s jaw set as she turned the idea over in her head. She could absolutely die for five thousand dollars if it meant she’d collect one hundred thousand dollars from Mr. Vale once she found the key. Five grand was half of her typical base fee, but desperate times called for steep discounts.

“Who’s your client?” Marian asked.

Tori shook her head. “I can’t tell you. My deal came with a secrecy clause.”

“Fucking demons.”

Tori’s full lips quirked in a sheepish smile. She held up the envelope. “Here’s my proposal: I help you find your artifact. Then you help me open this door. I’ll give you twenty-five hundred now, and the rest when it’s done.”

Marian folded her arms across her chest. “What makes you think I won’t run off with this and ghost you? I’m a shit bag.”

“You won’t. And no, you’re not.” Spoken without a shred of doubt in her voice. “You want me to think that you are for some reason, but you don’t really believe it.”

Marian unfolded her arms and leaned back as she stared at Tori. The traveler spoke before Marian could get another word in.

“You’re not going to steal from me,” Tori continued, holding Marian’s gaze. “I always know when people are lying.”

At that exact moment, the door to the kitchen burst open. Tori and Marian’s heads snapped to the back of the bar. The traveler quickly shoved the folded envelope in her pocket.

A stocky, tan man in a tight black tee and white apron was suddenly standing at the end of their table. He dropped a plastic basket beside Marian from high above her head. Half of the fries spilled out when it landed. Iggy turned around and stormed away without a word. Marian hesitated before picking a fry up out of the basket. Stone cold.

“Ketchup, Iggy!” Marian yelled.

“Go to hell, shitass,” Iggy shouted back before disappearing into the kitchen.

If you only knew.

Marian sighed and looked back at Tori. Their eyes locked for a moment, uncertainty fizzling between them until Marian broke whatever odd spell had fallen over them by shoving the basket toward her. “Want some? They taste like spite.”

Tori blinked looked down at the six remaining french fries. “No thanks. I’m trying to cut back on high-spite foods.”