Page 60 of Hellbound

The goon pulled a phone from his pocket. “It’s the front of house.”

“Then deal with it somewhere else.”

“Stellan, stop,” Marian pleaded, seizing the opening the distraction had given her. “You’ve fucked this girl up enough. Let’s … let’s make a new deal, OK?”

Stellan sneered but remained silent. He looked at her for a long moment, as though turning over the temptation. The Butcher of Bel Air loved a deal almost as much as he loved maiming people. He straightened and lowered his scoop.

Marian sagged with relief when he let go of Aisling. The other diver collapsed sideways to the tile floor with a soft thud.

That horrid smirk returned to Stellan’s face. “Satisfy my curiosity and I’ll consider voiding your blood wager.”

Marian paled in revulsion as her imagination summoned a sexual scenario. “Ew.”

Stellan’s smile collapsed.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’d rather stick my cock in a blender.”

Marian swallowed back more bile. “I’d be happy to arrange that for you.”

In a flash, Stellan was in front of her, his gloved hand wrapped around her face and squeezing so hard, Marian’s jaw popped open with a pained gasp.

“You have far too much nerve for someone with no leverage.”

Marian forced herself to meet his seething gaze.

“You can’t kill an experienced diver without pissing off every other demon in L.A.,” she warned, wincing as his fingers dug into her cheekbones. “If that’s not leverage, then I don’t know what is.”

Stellan fumed as he leaned closer.

“Maiming isn’t off the table. Unless you tell me what I want to know.”

Marian eyed him warily, confusion slowing her words. “What do you want to know?”

The demon was so close, she could smell his breath—blood and juniper.

“What is Vale hiding?”

There it was. One of the many things she hadn’t had time to think through. Stellan hired Aisling to find her. Like Verinne, he knew about Vale’s hunt. Unlike Verinne, he didn’t know how to play nicely.

She’d made a promise—one that she was quickly regretting now that it appeared to be integral to a feud she wanted no part in.

Marian wasn’t sure if Stellan would buy her ignorance, but she was willing to try for Mr. Vale just a little longer. “Uh, what?”

“The artifact he seeks.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Stellan snorted as he shoved Marian’s head back and released her. He stepped over Aisling and dragged her by the hair off the ground. His scoop glinted in the light as he raised it.

“Then let’s resume.”

Marian didn’t recognize the desperate sounds that exploded out of her next.

“Let her go and I’ll let you hurt me however you want. Cut me up, but don’t take my eye.”

It was such a bogus proposal, but Marian was counting on all she’d heard of Stellan to be true. No sadist would pass up a willing victim. Never mind that Aisling had agreed to all this. But if there was really a choice, if only one of them had to endure Stellan’s ministrations instead of both, she’d take it.

She had no idea why, but she’d take it.