“To what,” I say coolly, “do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
Lucas snickers.I shoot him a glare sharp enough to peel paint.
Damiano doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even blink.“I want to invite you to dinner tonight.”
For the second time today, my jaw hangs open and my brain scrambles for words.
What in the ever-loving…
“No!”The word is out of my mouth before I can think and I cross my arms over my chest.Damiano raises a brow.
“I m-mean…” I stammer, grasping at straws, “I am sorry but I have, uh…things to do.Important things.”
“Cancel them.”
Is he for real?My anger is boiling over and I know I am flushing.I inwardly count to five before I counter, “No, thank you.I will not go out to have dinner with you, not today, not any day.”
There!Now take the hint and leave already!
“It’s only dinner.”
I shake my head and he lets out an annoyed huff.
“Fine, we will stay here until you can make yourself available.”
I open my mouth but nothing comes out.I must look like a fish out of water as they exit the room.Don’t they have better things to do?Doom and destruction?Souls to reap?Do they really think I’ll change my mind?I snort.
Ha!Good luck with that!
I take a minute to collect myself, then I go back to the waiting room to get my next patient, not sparing the intruders a glance.
* * * *
When we come out, I am dumbfounded to find them in animated conversation with a group of men and women in the waiting room.Lucas seems to enjoy himself immensely, saying something that makes the room erupt in boisterous laughter.For God’s sake, those men could as well have “Mortal Danger” tattooed across their foreheads.Why can’t anyone see it?
Damiano’s eyes are already locked on me as I step closer.“Ah, Lily,” he greets me, his smile predatory.“We’ve been chatting with these lovely folks here.I must say, I’m really starting to get fond of everyone.”He gestures toward a woman in her sixties sitting to his left.
“Mrs.Dawn here—”
“Call me Betsy,” the woman interrupts, playfully swatting his arm.
I grit my teeth, bracing myself for some outburst, maybe her head exploding or something.But Damiano simply gives her a flirtatious wink, and I swear, I’ve somehow been catapulted straight into the Twilight Zone.
“Betsy here,” he continues smoothly, “has a little trouble with her new neighbor.You won’t believe it, but this punk blasts his music so loud that everyone in the building can hear it.”
Betsy nods, a pleased look on her face.
“So what does she do?”Damiano’s voice drops in faked sympathy.“She has to take walks with her dachshund to avoid losing her mind.Can you imagine?Always outside in the park, even in the evenings and late at night, when it’s not safe for such a lovely lady to be out there.”
She preens at the compliment, but my blood runs cold.
Damiano tuts, shaking his head.“Someone really ought to do something about this guy.”
“Believe me, no one dares talk to him.I’m sure he’s a druggie, a criminal,” Betsy adds in a conspiratorial whisper.
“Those criminals are everywhere,” Damiano mutters, his gaze holding my eyes captive, the sinister edge to his voice sending chills down my spine.
“Promise me, Betsy, that you’ll be careful.Misfortune strikes every day in this city.”
