Demon's Plaything by Lydia Rowan Read Free Book Online

Demon made sure to stay on his good side.
    “I don’t mean to intrude. I just find it interesting.”
    Elah looked at him, stony expression revealing nothing. After a pause, he finally said, “No intrusion. Curiosity can be an admirable trait.”
    Demon nodded and waited. Elah hadn’t just dropped in for a social visit.
    “The fights have restarted.”
    It was a statement, not a question.
    “Yes.”
    “And you’ve been in attendance.”
    Another statement.
    “Yes.”
    “How are they going?”
    “Fine. I mean, with the main attraction gone, it’s a little stale, but people seem to be enjoying themselves.”
    “And everyone is getting paid?”
    “I haven’t heard anything, but there’d be hell if they weren’t.”
    “True. If you find yourself at another event, keep your eyes open. I may have further questions. And you have the run of this place, so look at whatever you’d like.” Elah looked at his watch. “I have another engagement. You’ll contact me if anything comes up,” he said.
    Demon nodded, and the other man turned and left.
    Alone again, Demon considered the conversation. He couldn’t begin to guess what Elah was looking for and also couldn’t imagine what he would know that Elah didn’t. But one thing was clear: Elah wanted him at the fights. It was just the excuse he needed. He leaned back in his chair and smiled, excited at the prospect of seeing the good doctor again.

Chapter Six
     
    The next day came way too soon, and Shayla was almost a zombie as she moved through the morning. He had been on her mind half the night, and Nana’s doctor appointment had taken up the other half, leaving sleep out in the cold. So she definitely wasn’t at her best, a thought that nagged at her as she walked the halls. The hospital was dedicating a new wing, and her attendance was an unspoken requirement, but Shayla was so not up to this. But she had donned her nice scrubs and freshest white coat, and now she headed toward the atrium, trying to get into the schmoozing frame of mind. The ER was slow this morning so she wasn’t concerned about the patients, but Nana should be at her appointment by now or would be arriving shortly, so she was more distracted than the lack of sleep and seemingly uncontrollable images of him that floated through her brain would dictate. But, on the plus side, maybe the event would help distract her for the next couple hours.
    As she got closer to the hospital’s atrium, the soft strains of orchestral music floated at her, and when she turned the corner, she was greeted with the sight of the city’s moneyed elite come to celebrate their generosity. The room was bright with natural light, the four-piece string group off to one side, a spread of hors d’oeuvres laid out, along with champagne. At ten thirty in the morning. She mentally shrugged and headed to the bar for a glass of seltzer. It seemed an incongruously extravagant display for a public hospital, but if this was what it took to get the donations that built new facilities and bridged the gap between state and federal funding, insurance, and what the patients could afford to pay, then so be it.
    She looked around and spotted Charlotte Trufant chatting with a well-dressed man and walked in the woman’s direction. Lottie’s father was the president of the city council, and Lottie worked with him in a variety of capacities. In addition to helping her father with his campaigns and the day-to-day running of his office, she devoted a massive amount of time and energy to a variety of causes. Shayla knew her from hospital and other charitable events, and had always found her to be incredibly warm and genuine, a kind acquaintance who would have been a friend if either woman had the time to invest in building a relationship.
    “Hi, Lottie,” Shayla said, using her nickname when she reached her, smiling up at the much-taller woman.
    Charlotte turned and faced Shayla and leaned in to hug her, a pleasant, welcoming smile on