Caitlin Kittredge - Devil's Business

Jack stayed still until the door slammed, then let out the breath he’d been holding until it burned. “Shit. I hate it when he does that.”

Pete sat on the edge of the tub. “That was bad, wasn’t it? Saying no to him?”

“Probably come back and bite my arse, yeah,” Jack said. He sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. Pete was warm and smelled faintly of cocoa butter. He pressed his face against her hair.

“What if we fuck this up?” Pete murmured. “Like, beyond repair? What if the kid gets an ASBO and starts lighting people’s pets on fire?”

“We won’t,” Jack said, feeling no conviction whatsoever.

“Maybe you should have said yes,” Pete whispered. “It’s the only way we could be sure…”

“No,” Jack said. “Belial would find some way to put one over on me, and I’d end up even worse off.”

“At least you’re learning,” Pete said.

“Trying,” Jack said. “Not doing a fantastic job.”

“It’s all right,” Pete said, and kissed his cheek before resuming her position. “We’ll figure something out.”

Jack let his eyes close, to just be still for one moment. Soon enough he’d have to move, find them a place to go where the local mages and sorcerers weren’t howling for his blood and freaks weren’t trying to sell their souls to ancient demons, while other freaks optioned the movie rights. Soon. But right now, he could be with Pete, and that was worth anything Belial could have offered him, true bargain or not.

“Yeah,” he said to Pete. “I think we’ve sorted it.”

“We’ll move to the country, I’ll get fat and pop out six more kiddies, and you can take up sheep farming,” Pete said.

“Or I could sit in front of the telly and shout at you the baby needs changing,” Jack said. “And to fetch me another lager.”

“Or I could smack you in the head,” Pete said.

“All of the above?” Jack suggested. “Or none.”

“I don’t know,” Pete said. “And that’s all right, Jack. Really. I don’t expect you to have it all sorted this second.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m just glad you’re not leaving.”

“Not for anything,” Jack said. “And I mean that, Pete.”

“I know you do,” Pete said softly. Jack pressed his lips against her hair.

“That’s all that matters, then.”

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