Save Yourself by H.G. Lynch Read Free Book Online

and I flicked on the chain reflexively. Then I turned to Brent and crossed my arms.
    “You have no idea what I had to do for that money.”
    Brent, more relaxed with that one debt settled, stuck his hand under his pillow and pulled a pack of cigarettes. He tapped one out and put it between his lips while he searched for his lighter. “Actually, I think I’ve got a good idea what you did for that cash,” he mumbled, giving me a sly look. “I can smell it on you. Hope you at least got a good feeding out of it.”
    As an Incubus himself, Brent could smell Lust the same way I could, but he was better at controlling his Hunger. It was about the only thing he had any self-control over. Then again, I didn’t doubt a large part of his debts were due to him paying off the husbands of women he fed from. Brent wasn’t discreet about his feedings.
    I curled my lip, clenching my fists. I was determined not to hit him—it would be like kicking a dog when it was already down. But, damn, he was pushing my buttons. “That money was meant to be to pay off your debt to Red. I’ve still got nine hundred on me, but how many other debts have you got, Brent? Who else do you owe?”
    He finally found his lighter and held the flame to the tip of his cigarette. He puffed on it, dropped the lighter, and shrugged. “Nobody else. Just Red and Jim. And you just took care of Jim, so really it’s just Red.”
    I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. I was tense in all sorts of ways. I needed to let off steam and feed—properly. Not paid for. As soon as I was done there, I was going out and finding a girl, any girl, to take the edge off my stress.
    “How much do you still need for Red?” I asked, dreading the answer.
    Brent chewed on the end of his cigarette, as he always did when he was thinking. “Well, I’ve got a bit over nine grand stashed away, so…only about six thousand, I think.”
    Six thousand. Six thousand pounds. And it wouldn’t take Red much longer to find Brent. He was going to come knocking in three days, maybe four days, tops. I couldn’t get together that kind of money in four days, not unless I found another housewife willing to pay for it, and I wasn’t going there again. I wasn’t.
    Fuck. I was screwed. No , a dark little voice in my head whispered, Brent is screwed. It isn’t your problem. You tried to help. This is his mess now .
    I wanted to listen to that voice, I really did, but my goddamn conscience wouldn’t let me. Looking at Brent, all scraggly and pale, he looked so pathetic. Bastard or not, he was family. Sighing, I closed my eyes.
    “I’ll get your money,” I said, regretting every word as it came out of my mouth. “Just stay here, and stay out of trouble. I’ll be back in a few days.”

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    ** Kester **
     
    I stood in front of my full-length mirror, frowning at my reflection. I’d donned a plaited tartan mini-skirt with black tights and my Doc Martens, as well as my black leather jacket over a corset-style halter top. My wine red hair rested in loose curls that reached half-way down my back, my green eyes were lined in thick black eyeliner, and my lips were tinted with plum-coloured lipstick.
    In other words, I was dressed for a party—a party I couldn’t believe I was even considering going to. I looked down at the scrap of paper in my hand, the bold writing on the back staring up at me, tempting me, mocking me.
    PARTY FRIDAY 10PM. COME ALONG IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. B.
    I bit my lip, hesitating. I shouldn’t go. I knew I shouldn’t. For all I knew, it was a trick to lure me to his place, to get me alone, so he could do God knew what to me. He could be a rapist or a murderer or…just a really hot guy who wanted to show me a good time.
    I fully believed Brogan was capable of blowing my mind if I let him. There was really no question. I wanted to let him. I didn’t know what it was about the guy. I’d only met him twice, but I couldn’t get him