To Hell and Back Read Free

myself out loud as my heart joined my stomach in dropping down to my feet.
    Alaire had texted Bill a few hours earlier, inviting me to dine with him. I wasn’t sure why, but Alaire harbored some sort of odd fascination with me. Tallis made it sound like Alaire was more enthralled with my innocence than he was with me, but I couldn’t be sure where my innocence ended and I began. It seemed we were one and the same. As to Alaire, he was the very antithesis of anything wholesome, which was probably the chief reason he seemed to be so taken with me—being, as he was, so unaccustomed to innocence in the Underground City.
    Regardless of the reasons why Alaire was interested in me, the important factor was that he basically had me right where he wanted me. He’d threatened to report me to Afterlife Enterprises when I’d offed one of his demon wolves during my last trip into the Underground City. As far as the wolf was concerned, I’d just been defending myself against its attack, but Afterlife Enterprises wasn’t much concerned with the reasons why certain events took place. Instead, it seemed like Jason Streethorn had his nose stuffed right up Alaire’s, ahem, backside, because whatever Alaire wanted, Alaire got. Which meant if Alaire pressed charges, and I was convicted of murdering one of his employees, I would be punished by an infraction. And two infractions were a ticket to Shade for the next hundred years.
    I inhaled deeply and texted back:
    This is Lily. I thought you said I had until tomorrow night at ten p.m. to respond to your invitation?
    I flipped the phone closed just as it hummed again, alerting me to a new text. I flipped it back open and read:
    I have since changed my mind. I expect a more prompt response.
    I was surprised by Alaire’s quick reply, but then figured he probably didn’t have much else to do in his high-rise office building, manned by no one save himself.
    How about I respond by tomorrow at nine p.m.? I texted back as a smile curled my lips. Even though I knew I had to accept Alaire’s dinner invitation, or run the risk of earning my first infraction, I wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily. Alaire, as Master of the Underground City, expected to get his way, which made him cocky. And those were two attributes I found incredibly irritating in any man.
    Very funny, Ms. Harper, he texted back a few seconds later. I expect your response immediately.
    As in posthaste?
    I find your sense of humor vexing, to say the least, he replied. Shall I remind you of the infraction that awaits you?
    So now he was going to threaten me? I swallowed hard and felt my eyes narrowing as irritation began to spiral through me. Should I suppose that dinner with you means the infraction is no longer on the table? I typed back hurriedly, then added: No pun intended . The thought that I should be more aware of my surroundings flashed through my mind, and I glanced up and scanned the perimeter of the forest, although I found nothing untoward or suspicious. I returned my attention to the broken phone screen. Alaire hadn’t responded so I continued. Because if the infraction is non-negotiable, then my reply to your dinner invitation is no.
    If you agree to be my dinner guest, you have my word you will receive no infraction.
    I sighed before typing my next message. Should I trust the word of the Master of the Underground City? I confess you don’t strike me as being very trustworthy. I knew it was a risky thing to say, and it definitely wasn’t a good idea to incite his anger, but I was worried that he wouldn’t keep his end of the bargain. Not that asking him if he was trustworthy would prove otherwise, but anyhow …
    Indeed, you should. I value honesty, Ms. Harper, and as such, you will always know where you stand with me.
    And there it was. I didn’t know what I was expecting from him, but hoped his word was truly his bond. Okay, I wrote back. Next Tuesday evening at eight p.m. I shook my head and wondered