He shrugged. “It’s usually effective when you want someone’s attention. People tend to listen to you more carefully after that.”
“Dad, this isn’t some guy who owes you money, screwed you over on a business deal, or snitched to the cops about the warehouse where you keep the shit you steal.”
“Many of us prefer the word ‘purloin’ to ‘steal.’ It sounds classier. As for that rat, he should’ve kept his mouth shut. To be fair, he never blabbed to the cops again.”
“Probably because you set his business on fire.”
He shrugged again. “As I said, it’s effective.”
“It really is, you know,” Bram chimed in, to which her father’s other two brothers nodded.
Shaking her head, Raini turned back to Lachlan. “Returning to the point I was trying to make … Maddox Quentin isn’t some man who wronged you. He’s my anchor.”
“In theory, not in practice,” said Demi.
Ignoring her sister, Raini went on, “I need you to respect that, Dad. Not to dig out the gasoline and toss balls of hellfire around.”
His brow furrowed. “I don’t tend to use gasoline these days. Stinks worse than a rancid ass. I don’t use hellfire either. I prefer matches.”
“Dad.”
“Fine.” He rolled his eyes. “I won’t set his precious club on fire.”
“Or his house, or any other building he may own,” she prompted.
“His possessions are safe from me. Unless he hurts you. Then things will change.”
“And burn,” added Bram.
Nodding, Lachlan pointed at his brother. “What he said.”
Raini turned to her mother. “Help me.”
Evangeline slid her arm around Raini’s shoulders and drew her close. “I already did that by convincing him to give Maddox time—which was not easy.” Seeing that Lachlan was now talking with Jolene, Evangeline quietly went on, “He’s your father, he loves you, he wants you to have an anchor who appreciates you. It hurts him that both you and your sister have been let down in this area of your lives.”
Exhaling heavily, Raini leaned into her mother. They’d always been close, sharing a similar sense as humor as well as a love of shopping, bargains, and spa days. They were very unlike in one respect, though. Evangeline embraced being a succubus and didn’t try to tone her appeal down with casual clothing. She’d tried encouraging Raini to do the same but to no avail.
“Why don’t you come down to the salon today?” Evangeline proposed, referring to the local hair salon she owned and managed. “You can relax, have a facial, get your hair and nails done. The salon’s busy on Saturdays, but I can fit you in. We could even go to the movies later; have some mom and daughter time.”
Raini gave her an apologetic look. “I promised I’d meet Maddox at his club tonight.”
Evangeline’s eyes lit up. “All the more reason for you to come to the salon today. You want to look your best for later. You’ll feel better having that ‘armor.’ More confident. Less nervous. A girl should always look her best anyway.”
“A little time with my mom would be nice.” And highly distracting.
Evangeline beamed. “You know how much I love pampering my girls. Demi rarely lets me nowadays.” Evangeline’s smile faded. “She used to love it. I don’t know why she doesn’t anymore.”
If what Demi had once said to Raini when totally blitzed was true, it was because she didn’t see the point of getting “prettied up” when Raini would always be more beautiful than her. Her sister had then laughed and said, “Don’t feel sorry for me; I don’t wish I was a sex demon too. In fact, I pity you, Raini. You effortlessly reel in all these men, but none care who you are. To them, you’re just eye candy. A notch on their bedpost. They don’t take you seriously or assume you have a brain in your head. All they want is to bang you. None have really loved you, have they?”
No, they hadn’t—the reminder of that had hurt. What had hurt more, though, was the scorn and venom in her sister’s voice. It had almost made Raini flinch. Her inner demon had been so pissed it had wanted to toss a ball of hellfire at Demi’s crotch.
Bram stood. “We gotta roll if we’re gonna open the shop on time, brothers.”
Demi also rose to her feet. “Dwain and I need to leave, too.”
Raini did a mental fist pump.
Standing, Dwain smiled. “My mate went shopping with my mom and sister, so Demi and I are going to spend the day together.” The self-involved asshole didn’t even notice how Demi had winced at the word “mate.”
People said their goodbyes to Raini and then slowly trickled out of the house, until only Jolene remained. The Prime leaned forward in her seat and said, “Now think hard, Raini. Think very, very hard. Did that demon truly hit you with the dagger accidentally, or do you think he was aiming for you?”