Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(38)

“Capone died of syphilis. Good times, indeed.” Lucy patted Serah on the back.

Serah shook her head with exasperation. “Now look who’s party-pooping now.” She looked down at her watch. The same watch she had worn the night before. “Oh! I have to go. I have a client coming in at noon.”

Lucy caught a glimpse of her friend’s hand and cringed. Serah had been hurt! Lucy’s gut clenched. A long scar stretched horizontally across her hand. On each side of the scar, two perfect puncture wounds marred her porcelain skin.

Ouch! Scar? That meant the injury happened a long time ago.

“What happened to your hand?”

Serah looked down and shrugged. “Oh, that.” She waved her hand dismissively, pulling her sweater sleeves over her hands. “It happened before I moved here.”

Noticing Serah’s lack of forthcoming information, Lucy prodded some more. “How come I’ve never seen it before?”

“I don’t know.” Serah bit her lip and wrung her hands. “Sorry, I don’t have time to discuss my childhood injuries. But, if you’re interested, we can compare scars later. I have an awesome one shaped like Djibouti on my ass. Bet you’re wondering why you never saw that one either.” A weak smile peeked from her lips. “Never sit on a rat trap.”

Lucy’s eyebrow jutted up. Regardless of her flippant dismissal, Serah was hiding something. They’d been friends since Serah moved to Connolly Park twenty years ago. But she’d give her friend the benefit of the doubt—for now. “I’ll heed your advice.” Lucy gave her friend a quick hug. “Be careful. If anything strange happens, call me ASAP.”

“Sure thing.” With a quick wave, she threw her coat on. “See you in a few. I’d stay if I could, but this client is huge.”

“No problema,” Lucy said in a pathetic attempt at a New Jersey accent. “See youse later.”

Too bad Squeaky, the Godfather of all chimps, wasn’t there to appreciate her mobster-speak. Not that she’d be winning any Oscars. Her performance was lacking. Then again, so was Squeaky’s.

Serah smiled and nodded as she pulled the door open, then stopped dead in her tracks. “My car! Duh!” She smacked her forehead. “It’s still at your place.”

Brilliant move, Sherlock. Taking the Rio sounded like such a great idea earlier. After all, Rafe said he couldn’t just poof them there because of the human cargo. Like they were illegal immigrants, or something. Lucy grabbed her purse from beneath the counter and pulled out the keys. “Here you go,” she said, throwing the keys to her friend. “If you crash it, I’ll kick your ass.”

“I’ll be gentle.” A deceptively sweet smile swept across her face. Gentle? Hah. Lucy had seen this woman drive. “You have my word.”

Then again, her word was as good as gold. Serah knew she was a woman of her word, too. “One dent, and I’ll flog you with a wet noodle.”

“Ooh! Sounds fun! You know I like my spaghetti kinky.” With that, she waved and scuttled out the door.

Lucy’s mom shook her head. What looked like a genuine smile graced her face. “She’s an odd one, but she’s good for you.”

“Eh?” Her mother never approved of any of her friends, including Frankie and Gerardo. Apparently, Lucy was supposed to schmooze with her doctors, dentists, and gynecologists. Yep! She actually tried to set Lucy up with an OB-GYN. A truly clinical experience. Fortunately, Lucy managed to send him away before the pelvic exam.

Her mom raised a brow. “What? Is trying to be a better mother so wrong?”

“Sorry,” Lucy muttered. “I’m just stressed and all your newfound interest creeps me out.”

Her mom blew out a breath laced with dejection. “I… I… just…” Her lip quivered and jutted out into a pout.

A pout? She’d never seen her mom do that before. She gnawed her lip. Now she felt like a complete bitch.

“Lucy’s had a hard day, Mrs. Gregory.” Frankie swizzled his way over and wrapped his arm around Lucy’s shoulders. Frankie to the rescue. What a guy! “She didn’t get any sleep last night. Bookkeeping, you know.” Frankie turned his head to glance at the clock. “Oh no! I’ve got a highlight coming in. I need some foils.”

With a sneaky little whistle, Frankie bustled to the back room. Hmm. Didn’t he know alone time with Mom wasn’t what she needed?

Thanks a bunch Frankie!

“I knew this wouldn’t work.” With another sigh, she clasped her hands in her lap. “But I just wanted to make up for lost time.”

Lucy shrugged. “I’m still not going to your family’s Christmas party.” Lucy clenched her fists. They never approved of her father, and that disapproval had since passed on to her. In fact, part of her mother’s constant pushing stemmed from them. Always the one to please her family… that was Victoria Gregory.

“This has nothing to do with the party tonight, dear.” Her mom’s lips spread into a wan smile. “I’m talking about the big picture. As for Aunt Sally, I think I’m taking a pass, too.”

Did she hear her correctly? Standing up Aunt Sally and the whole Jennings gang? “But didn’t you just say this was an emergency? That the party was tonight?”

Her mom just offered a cryptic shrug. “I changed my mind.”