Page 64 of Life Or Death

Most of the guys are welcoming, except for Nightmare.

“I don’t like what’s going on here.” He glances at me. “No offense to you.” Then he turns back to Shadow. “First, this guy declares a pussy ban at his wedding.” His gaze moves to Lucifer. “Now, this. If you’re trying to phase out the saddle bunnies, I got a problem with that.”

“No one is phasing out anything. The saddle bunnies are still welcome to suck your cock whenever the urge strikes,” Lucifer growls.

Nightmare crosses his arms against his chest but seems to settle down some. When his gaze returns to me, he says, “I don’t like people going in my room.”

“Then clean it yourself,” I volley.

Dread lowers his head, his shoulders shaking as he laughs quietly.

“I don’t like that even more,” Nightmare grunts.

“Watch how you talk to her,” Lucifer warns. “I won’t fucking tolerate any disrespect when it comes to her.”

The room goes eerily silent, and I stare at him, but he doesn’t tear his gaze away from his men. “It’ll be in everyone’s best interest if you all remember why she’s here in the first place.”

Shadow glances from Lucifer to me, his eyes dropping to my legs that are covered by my sweatpants. A sympathetic look flits across his features, and I’m reminded why I declined the offer to work here when Lucifer first suggested it. I didn’t want anyone’s pity, and now that’s all I’m greeted with.

“Sorry, babe,” Nightmare says. “Fair warning, though, my room is a fucking mess, and you might find some questionable shit in there. So long as you don’t get on my case about the condoms and shit, we’ll be cool.”

“No judgment,” I promise.

Dread clears his throat. “I think we should welcome Jess properly.” He walks behind the bar and pulls a bottle of whiskey from the shelf. “How about a shot to celebrate the new mistress of the house?”

Lucifer glares at him but doesn’t say a word. I help Dread retrieve a bunch of shot glasses from behind the bar, and we line them up. Once they’re all filled, we disperse them to the men gathered around.

“To Jess,” Homeboy cheers, raising his glass.

Lucifer snatches the glass out of his hand. “Who the fuck said you could drink my whiskey?”

We all knock back the shots except for Homeboy, then the club disperses. Dread takes the prospects out back to finally deal with the stripper pole. Nightmare and Tormentor head for their bikes. Mammon, Shadow, and Lucifer all start for the trailer, but I grab Lucifer’s arm before he can follow the two out the door.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“What the hell was that?” I snap. “I don’t want them to pity me. Did you have to bring up the fire?”

He narrows his eyes and takes a step toward me, his jaw visibly clenching. “Yeah, I did. You were right there. You didn’t see the way they looked at me? They think I’ve lost my fucking mind and Homeboy is already looking at you like you’re a piece of meat.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“C’mon, baby, think hard. You saw the way Nightmare reacted. No one here but Dread knows you’re my wife. They need to know you’re not free for the taking.”

“So, if they think I’m some helpless charity case they won’t want to fuck me?”

“Make no mistake about it. The only one who doesn’t want to fuck you is Shadow, and maybe Dread. Now quit bitching. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” He cocks his head to the side. “Gotta tell you, baby, I like it when you’re bratty. Makes me want to fuck the attitude right out of you.”

Nightmare wasn’t kidding. He’s a pig, and I’m starting to think he might have an addiction to sex. It’s been two weeks, which means I’ve cleaned his room twice now, and both times I’ve had to dispose of at least three dozen condoms.

I also found an empty bottle of lube under his bed, and a bra I didn’t know what to do with, so I just left it there. Maybe the owner will return for it, but something tells me that’s not likely. I’m better off starting up a lost and found for all the undergarments his conquests leave behind.

I grab the garbage bag and tie a knot in the top as I exit his room and cross the hall to Lucifer’s room. To my surprise, the door is open. The last couple of weeks, it’s been locked, so I’ve had to use the key every time I go to clean it.

Out of all the rooms, his is the cleanest. At first I was relieved, but I’m starting to wonder if he cleans it before I go in. His sheets never smell of perfume, and I have yet to find a used condom in his wastebasket. There are no party favors left behind from women he fucked.

It’s bare.

So bare that one would think he doesn’t even sleep here, but the sheets smell like him, and there is always a loaded hamper in the corner of his room.