Page 18 of Death
“Straight home?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “The scenic route.”
I flex my jaw.
He laughs. “Come on, Tannis. We both know you can’t help yourself.”
I inhale to argue, growing increasingly annoyed as Ari lowers himself down into the car. He leaves the door open for me and, for a moment, I think I can actually resist my curiosity.
Everyquestion I have?
Hard to pass up.
I step off the curb and slide into the vehicle. Ari sits on the opposite side, his hands resting on his knees in plain sight as I tug the door closed behind me. The car slowly eases back into traffic. I glance forward into the driver’s seat and stiffen.
It’s empty.
“Uh…” I say.
“It’s perfectly safe,” Ari says with a wink.
I exhale hard and my skin crawls as the wheel spins and the pedals move on their own.
“Relax, Tannis.” He checks his watch. “Are you hungry?”
“You said you were taking me home,” I say.
“Eventually, yes.”
“Then, get talking.” I look at him and his brow rises. “Who are you and what deal did my parents make with you?”
He nods, impressed. “You’ve figured out more than I thought.”
I stare at him, waiting for a response.
“All right.” He pauses to clear his throat. “How much do you know about the night you were born?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not much. Only that I almost died.”
“Your parents were going to lose their newborn daughter before she even took her first breath. There was nothing to be done. Medically speaking.”
A chill takes my spine. “Then, what did you do?” I ask.
He smirks. “I answered their prayer.”
“How?”
“It’s not uncommon,” he muses. “I see it all the time; people who claim they’d give up anything — do anything — for their loved ones.” He chuckles. “It’s rare in my work to meet people willing enough to follow through. People like your parents.”
My eyes threaten tears. “What?”
“They begged me,” he says. “Spare her. Give us just one day with her. I gave them twenty years.”
“Gave them?” I quote. “That was the deal?”
“Yes.”
I think hard, trying not to go crazy. “What are you? The devil?”