Enemy Mine

Chapter 54

After handing off December's rent to my landlord, Vincent and I met the junk van in front of the building, and as we watched the majority of Mr. Pearlman's worldly possessions roll away on dollies, Sylvie joined us, insisting on talking about Christoph, a conversation I knew could easily incite a riot with Vincent.

"I didn't get the best first impression of demons," she said. "But I totally trust your judgment, Reese. If you say Christoph is one of the good ones, I'm going to give him a chance to prove it. I was thinking pizza."

"Pizza?"

"Yeah, I'll order pizza and share it with Christoph and Willem." Sylvie snapped her gum as she smiled at one of the movers. He had a hot body. Right up her alley. Oh yeah, and mine. "Sharing food is the best way to make friends. Does Christoph like pizza?"

"How should I know?" I blurted out my answer a little too rudely, and Sylvie raised her blonde brows at me.

"Didn't he feed you when he kidnapped you?"

"Yes. Honeybuns... and strawberries."

Sylvie's brows remained upright, and she got that devious look in her eyes. I willed her to keep her lewd thoughts to herself, and like a blessing from heaven, Willem and Christoph pulled up in a cab, nixing the convo. Introductions were made and a pizza was ordered, after which Sylvie joined me as I gave Christoph and Willem a quick tour of the apartment.

"Don't be shy about using the bed," I said. "I changed the sheets before you got here."

Christoph looked embarrassed at my suggestion, which probably had something to do with Vincent standing in the background, and Willem seemed to have his mind on other things.

"If you need anything, just ask," Sylvie said. "Of course, I probably won't have what you need because I'm a broke working girl, but if I do, I'm happy to share."

Willem eyed Sylvie critically. "I see Reese has attracted friends who share her passion for kindness. Thank you, Sylvie."

The pizza arrived in record time, and Vincent met the driver downstairs. From my view at the window, I saw him agreeing to a selfie with the female delivering the pie, making me think he finagled a faster delivery by using his charm and street cred. As soon as we sat down with our slices, Vincent started in with the awkward yet inevitable questioning.

"Tell me, Christoph. What do you plan to do about job prospects?" he asked, making his inquiry with all the tact of a board room director.

Christoph didn't flinch as he offered a ready reply. "I'm talking with a friend who might let me help him move boxes around in a warehouse. The pay is shit but it could turn into something more. All under the table, of course."

"Manhattan is an expensive city to live in," Sylvie said. "I've had to cut back my pricy coffee habit and start brewing my own."

I knew Sylvie liked to insert random comments to keep the mood light. It was a nervous habit of hers, and like the charming gollum he was, Vincent gave her the floor then moved on with his interrogation.

"Would you agree that a false identity could get your foot into a few more doors and offer better pay?" Vincent probed.

Christoph's eyebrows rose without hesitation. "Are you suggesting I take Hadria up on her offer?"

"It would give you more options than you have now. And you could remain in Manhattan, keeping your allies close."

"I already told you, I don't want to follow Hadria and her lemmings. She had her own mother murdered."

Sylvie gasped, and she followed it up by taking a long pull off her water glass.

"What if I found you a legitimate position making enough money to keep the status quo?" Vincent said. "Would you consider returning to the hive and making nice with Hadria?"