Page 13 of She is the Darke

“Kind of,” she chirped.

“When you grow up and rid yourself of your judgmental tendencies, ask me then.”

“If I nail this schedule, we’ll rarely have to talk to or see each other until you leave town, so there won’t be a need for that discussion.”

“Perfect,” he said, his smile refusing to reach his eyes. “Send me addresses and times, and I’ll take care of it. Goodnight, Darke.”

As the door clicked closed, it was a lonely sound. Confusion swirled inside of her. “Goodnight, Durock,” she uttered on a breath.

She’d felt something when he’d cupped her neck and whispered into her ear, and she hadn’t liked the feeling of the loss of control. She didn’t like that he still affected her. But his admission that he saw picking at her as play made sense with his personality.

Something else was bothering her though. Demi picked up her phone and texted Rachel.Your brother said he tried to get your dad to help me.Send.

Rachel would tell her straight up if he was full of crap. She would tell her immediately if he was just using some line on her to secure the contract, or get in her good graces, or whatever it was he was trying to do.

A video came through the text with the caption,Obviously I had to record the drama.

The video opened up on yelling. It was a shaky shot of the Durock dining room, where Tyler was on one side of the table, arms locked against it, angry gaze on his father, who was pacing and yelling from the other side of the table. Mr. Durock said, “Of course you would come back and pull this shit immediately. I’m not even surprised.”

“By shit, do you mean talking about a good business move? Have you seen what she does to those houses? Have you seen what her family has done with the pumpkin patch? TheyareHalloween around here! You want to extend your income by months? Then get in on the All Hallows Lights Festival!”

“Not if it means working with those shifters—”

“Are you serious right now? Dad, you are the only one holding onto that. No one else cares. She’s a good person! You’ve known her since she was a kid, and she’s still the same hard worker you knew back then—”

“I’m not tethering my business to her or her people—”

“Her people? She’s not a fucking alien. You know her! Your daughter is one of her people!” Tyler yelled, jamming a finger atRachel. When he noticed the camera, he yelled, “Stop recording us.”

And the video went dark.

I don’t know what you said to Tyler, but they were yelling for ten minutes at least. Super entertaining. Tyler has clearly forgotten that you’re supposed to just let Dad have his prejudices and move on with your life. He won’t ever change.

Why were they talking about me in the first place?Send.

Hell if I know. Tyler came in with a chip on his shoulder and an axe to grind, and apparently, today, you are that axe. He was PISSED that Dad wouldn’t work with you.

None of this made any sense. Why would Tyler even care? Mr. Durock’s opinion about shifters had been loud and obvious from the moment they were outed to the public. Why was Tyler getting involved at all?

Can we do a girls’ night soon?Rachel texted.It’s been a long week.

Demi frowned at her phone. Rachel never planned girls’ nights in advance. She always just showed up at her house or work and dragged her into it.You okay?Send.

Yep! I’m always great!

Hmmm. It’s my busy season, but I’ll see when I can get a night off.

You love Halloween, Demi. Don’t overwork yourself and forget how to enjoy it.

Demi bristled, and put the phone down before she could get defensive. Rachel didn’t understand that Demi was taking a hit on her business from a rival, or that her income had been cut, or that she didn’t have enough for her property taxes yet. It wouldn’t be fair for Demi to lash out at her when she didn’t truly understand why Demi was having to focus so much on work.

She picked up the phone and pushed play on the video again, and watched it twice more.

Tyler was a beast when he wanted to be. He had been intimidated by his dad back when they were kids, and had tried so hard to please him, but now? Tyler had learned to look a grown man in the eyes and tell him he was wrong.

Huh.

And he’d done it sticking up for her.