“What? No. I’m good. Fine. Perfectly good and perfectly fine.”
She arches a quizzical eyebrow.
“Just… trying to get used to the new neighbors,” I admit. “Business has been slow today. You’re my first customer, actually.”
“Oh, good heavens.” She glances out at the mob across the street and frowns. “I’d really hoped some of the overflow would find their way over here.”
Forcing a smile, I top off the tea with a web of elderberry-infused honey, pop on the lid, and hand it over. “Sip it slowly and let it work its magic. You’ll be back to full capacity before you know it.”
“I feel better already.” She slides a ten across the counter and winks, her energy warm and genuine. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks, Mayor Singh. Good luck with the budget meetings.”
At the door, she stops suddenly, turning back with a grave look in her eyes. A wave of regret pulses outward, taking me by surprise. Despite her constant fretting, I’ve never known the mayor to be so somber.
“You’re one of the good ones, Violet Pepperdine. Wayward Bay is lucky to have you. Whatever the future holds, remember that.”
She’s out the door before I can even formulate a response.
One of the good ones? Whatever the future holds?What is she talking about? Sure, Beans is putting a crimp in my style—a big one—but I can weather this storm.
Can’t I?
A flash of silver and black on the counter, and I turn to find my stalker grinning up at me once again, like this is all a big cosmic joke and he can’t wait to deliver the punchline.
Ignoring this will only make it worse. Haven’t you learned that by now?
“No. I haven’t learned it, obviously.” I snatch up the card, ignoring the uncomfortable buzz of magic prickling my fingertips.
Trouble is brewing, Violet…
“You wanna know what’s brewing? I’ll tell you what’s brewing. Coffee. At Mean Beans. Which is apparently the place to be, since all the usual tea-sipping, scone-gobbling customers are lining up around the block for a free hat and an uninspired half-caf, low-foam, cappu-latte sugar bomb made from an industrial-sized container of powdered chemicals, and I’m standing around with a broomstick up my butt just praying to the goddess I don’t lose my business and get cast out into the cold, cold world like last week’s stinky fish—fish everyone will trample on as they sprint over to Mean Beans. So as you can see, I have enough to worry about withoutyouturning up every five minutes with your creepy grin and your ominous warnings and your stupidly handsome face and—”
Movement outside the door catches my eye.
The card evaporates, and I dust off my apron, double-checking there’s no trace of the Devil clinging to the fabric. But when I glance up again, there’s no customer at the threshold.
Just an official-looking envelope carelessly shoved under the door.
The moment I see it, the energy in the room turns cold and unpleasant, like stepping into a winter slush puddle wearing nothing but socks.
And I knowexactlywho left it for me.
Nathan Pike, realtor from Hell.
No wonder the Devil keeps showing up. Nathan isn’t just a passive-aggressive twatwaffle. He’s evil incarnate, ready to carve up Wayward Bay and sell it off to the highest bidders, piece by piece.
I pluck the envelope from the floor and tear into it, my heart sinking as the words take shape. No, I wasn’t expecting a birthday party invite or thank-you note for the free scones he pilfers from his aunt, but this?
It steals the breath from my lungs—a full accounting of my past-due rent, plus compounding interest and late fees, followed by several paragraphs detailing his plan to bring in potential buyers and convince Beverly to sell. Failing that, he’s working on getting power of attorney over his aunt’s holdings, since she’s clearly not of sound mind.
Thinking about him criticizing that sweet old woman—sharp as a tack and one of the kindest non-magical souls in Wayward Bay—makes my blood boil.
But Nathan’s not done twisting the knife just yet.
There, at the very bottom, shouting at me in all-caps, multiple-exclamation-points glory:
PAYMENT DUE IN FULL!!!! 30 DAYS OR EVICTION PROCEEDINGS WILL COMMENCE!!!!
