Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(109)

She dreaded what would happen later. Daniel wouldn’t remember anything. Matthias would more than likely wipe his memory—for that exact reason. She didn’t have the heart to tell him.

“Wow. That’s an awesome idea.”

“Places, everyone!” Barry, the demon director, shouted. Her stomach roiled. Her pulse spiked. She couldn’t turn back now. The world needed her.

***

Holy cow! She couldn’t believe she had done it. She survived the taping of a cooking show. Even if they had ulterior motives, it was still an accomplishment.

Lucy rushed up and gave her a huge hug. “I can’t believe how well you did. I would have lost it completely.”

Serah almost had… right in the bowl of mascarpone.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Daniel whispered. “Salome prides herself on the taste test scene.”

“Well, let’s give her something to choke on,” Serah said with a smirk.

“I love that attitude.” Lucy grinned. “You got it from me.”

“No. I got it from my Nonni. You got it from me.”

“Perhaps.”

Serah reached in her pocket and grabbed her phone to call Matthias. She needed to hear his voice at least once before she headed into ground zero. She pressed the send button.

“Hello?” his sexy, rich accent hummed in her ear.

Barry snatched her phone and hung it up. That *. She was giving him an extra dose of silver when she met up with him.

“We need to film the final scene. Now,” Barry said, an evil gleam in his eye. He shoved the phone back into her hand.

At least she got to hear one word before Barry ripped her phone way.

“Barry, what’s going on, bro?” Daniel asked as they entered the banquet hall. “You’re not yourself today.”

“It’s my last show.”

Serah stifled the smirk that threatened to burst on her lips. How true it was. It would be his last show—ever. “Moving on to bigger and better things?”

“Yes. I’m about to hit the big time. This has to be the best show ever.”

“So far so good, huh,” Serah said, taking a seat at one of the tables. “I hope this show helps you explode on the scene.” Literally.

“Thank you, Miss SanGermano.” He turned to the crew. “Places!”

Daniel took the seat next to her.

“Action!”

Daniel smiled. “Welcome back, everyone. We’re now going to put Serah SanGermano’s tiramisu to the test.” He flashed Serah a smile. “Here’s how it works. We’ve got a crowd of hungry food critics waiting in the wings. They will taste your dessert and give you either a pass or a fail.” Daniel faced the camera, his gaze serious. “Think it’s easy? Well you haven’t met these people.” He turned back to Serah. “Are you ready?”

Those words held more meaning than these demons knew. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Daniel nodded. “Bring them in, Barry.”





Chapter 42


Matthias’s and Kalli’s eyes remained glued to the computer screen. “Are you all ready?” He asked into his headset—an important staple of a mercenary’s gear.

“Yes, ready,” Rafe said in a hushed tone.

“Ready,” Lucy echoed.

“Good.” Matthias scanned the room. Daniel and Serah stood in front of the tables. “Farquhar and Inanna are waiting behind the Dumpsters if we need them.”

“Sounds good. Let’s rock and roll,” Lucy whispered into the headset.

“Bring them in, Barry,” Daniel shouted, then led Serah to the front of the room.

Barry pulled a cord and a curtain dropped. The people, all with eager delight spread wide on their faces, found their way to their seats.

“Is everyone ready to try some tiramisu?” Daniel asked, playing into the crowd’s excitement.

“Yes!” the crowd shouted.

“Send in the tiramisu!”

He held his breath. Rafe and Lucy wheeled in a cart, the neatly cut pieces of cake wiggling as the wheels jostled. He couldn’t believe he was so nervous about someone serving food as he was now.

“Oh wow, Serah. It looks heavenly.”

Matthias’s breath caught. Would she keep a straight face? He sent out a prayer hoping she did.

“I hope they think so,” she said, her smile radiant.

Matthias breathed a sigh of relief. She was doing well. He caught a glimpse at the necklace around her neck. Then again, she did have her grandmother’s spirit.

Rafe and Lucy bustled around the tables, delivering the cake and filling glasses with the tainted water. Lucy reached over a table to hand someone a glass, bumping another glass with her elbow.

Matthias gritted his teeth. His fists clenched. Their plans would backfire. “Bloody hell,” he growled. He bounded to his feet, ready to burst down the doors of the banquet room. If that water fell on one of the demons, their cover would be blown.

Both Serah and Daniel cringed. She raked her fingers through her hair and gnawed her lip. Matthias scanned the crowd. No one appeared to notice their expressions.

Lucy reached out with her free hand and grabbed the glass. With an embarrassed smile, she righted it, only losing a few drops. She moved on to the next table and finished serving the plates.