Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(27)

Minerva only chuckled and patted Matthias on the shoulder. “If you were anyone else, I’d kill you. But I promised someone I’d keep you safe.”

“Me?”

“Well, you are her protector after all.”

Serah groaned. Were people this wise always so mysterious? Then again, she always knew Nonni had been wise beyond her years, and she was as mysterious as they came. “So what do I have to do with your promise? I’m just a caterer, born and bred in the Midwest.”

Minerva shook her head. “You are so much more, Serah SanGermano. Come.” She held out her hand. “I’ll show you.”

A spark of truth flashed in her green eyes. Serah nodded and took her hand. With no more effort than lifting a paper off a desk, Minerva pulled her to her feet. “This way,” she said, extending her hand toward the darkened hallway.

Matthias grabbed Serah’s elbow, the instant jolts of energy not so foreign anymore. “I don’t trust her. She’s been known to be very manipulative. I won’t have you hurt her on my—”

“First day on the job,” Serah said with a roll of her eyes. “You said that already. Besides, I think if she planned on hurting me she would have done it already.”

“Precisely!” Minerva interrupted. “You are much more valuable alive,” she added with a wink.

“Valuable to whom?” asked Matthias.

“To you, I imagine,” Minerva snickered.

Matthias glared.

Serah simply scratched her head with bemused wonder. “Are you working for the Infernati or Paladins?”

Minerva shrugged. “I work for myself and the occasional human or demon”—she punched Matthias’s shoulder—“who can pay me a price.”

“How do I know you aren’t being paid by Infernati right now?”

“Matthias can answer that.”

Matthias balled his hands into tight fists, as a flash of remorse altered his gaze. Serah wanted to comfort him. She’d never seen any man with that sort of pain in his eyes. It tore her up inside. What the heck? “The Infernati keep you prisoner until the debt is paid.”

“And this obviously isn’t a prison.” Minerva crossed her arms and lounged against one of her ornate tables. “Will you follow me now? We haven’t got all night.”

“I haven’t got anything better to do,” Serah said, angling a glance toward the front of the shop. “Balthazar has us pretty much blocked in for now.”

Minerva shook her head. “You have so much to learn. You won’t need to use the door to exit the shop.”

Serah sighed. Leave it to a goddess to show Serah her shortcomings in the IQ department. “No need to rub it in, oh wise goddess. I already know I’m not the smartest person in the world.”

“There is a difference between being smart and being wise. Smarts are learned, but wisdom you are born with. However you chose to use that wisdom… well, that’s up to you.”

Serah clasped her hands in front of her. “One of my teachers said my prospects weren’t that great.”

Minerva huffed. “Thereby proving that not all teachers know what they are talking about. You’re an awesome caterer, right?”

“I don’t like to brag.”

A mysterious smile spread across Minerva’s face. “See? You are wise!” She turned to Matthias. “This is for Serah’s eyes only.”

Matthias moved forward and grabbed Serah’s arm. Jaw rigid, he shook his head. “You might not be Infernati, but I still don’t trust you.”

“I swear on all that is wise, I don’t plan to harm her.”

Matthias crossed his arms, keeping that same stony look.

Minerva threw her hands up and blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. You can stand guard outside the door. That’s the best I can do.”

Matthias offered a slow, reluctant nod. “But I warn you, if I sense the tiniest bit of harm, I’ll take you down.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less out of you, Matthias. How’s that favor working out, by the way?” She smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder. The touch sent an instant flame of anger inside Serah—she didn’t like it.

Matthias jerked away. Serah’s inner jealous bitch went back to her little corner. Jealous? What the heck for? He wasn’t her type. “It works well, thank you.”

“Good. I’m glad we could work together.” She flashed a knowing smile.

What exactly did she do for him? Jealous bitch stirred from the recesses. “What if I don’t trust you?”

“What would your dear Nonni say about that?”

“Nonni?” What did her grandmother have to do with this? “She died almost two years ago.”

With a frown, Minerva’s gaze traveled to the floor. Not something Serah would expect from a woman full of wisdom. “A terrible loss.”

“You knew Nonni?”

A wan smile formed her lips. “Quite well. She was one of my best customers. A true friend.”

Serah’s eyes widened. She always knew Nonni was spiritual. But Nonni was, like most people in their quaint town, a devout Catholic. A New Age shop was the last place the fine parishioners of St. Vincent’s Catholic Church would step into. Even from beyond the grave, Nonni surprised her.