A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

number.” Cass retrieved her
high-tech phone and waved it in front of Kieran’s face.
    “Daddy come up with a new invention?”
Kieran said.
    Cass raised her chin defiantly. “As a
matter of fact, I did. Why? Are you jealous?”
    “I see Amber has offered you refreshments,”
Aidan said, pointing at the unopened cans. His gaze move from the cans to the
dirty glass on the sideboard and then back to me, the corners of his mouth
twitching.
    I glared at him. “I quit. Remember?”
Surely, he could lift his manicured fingers and clean his own house?
    “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, Aidan,” Clare
said. “Let’s hire a new housekeeper next week.”
    “Yes, let’s do that,” Kieran said. “And
this time, bro, don’t date the help.”
    Aidan raised his brows meaningfully. “You
both know I’ve bigger things going on in my mind than discussing the future help.
Like the book.”
    “Or Amber.” Cass smirked.
    My heartbeat sped up. What did Cass hear in
his thoughts? Was he thinking about me the way I was thinking about him?
    “After the stunt you pulled on us, I don’t
care for small talk with Shadows, so let’s get going,” Kieran said.
    Cass jumped up from the sofa. “Goody.”
    “We should discuss the plan one more time
because we can’t afford to screw up,” Devon said, glancing at Kieran.
    “You know what’s screwed up?” Kieran said. “Those
big black eyes of yours. Must be some major inbreeding problem among Shadows.”
    Clare grabbed his arm to silence him. “Let’s
go over the plan one last time, just to make everyone happy.”
    “There’s no need,” Aidan said. “We’ve
discussed it a million times. Everyone should know their part.”
    Devon pointed at me. “Including Amber?”
    “Let’s go,” Aidan said. I could hear an
edge in his tone.
    “So you’re keeping her in the dark?” Devon
shot me a disbelieving look. “What do you see in this guy?” Ignoring his
remark, I stood, signaling Aidan I was ready to leave when they were. As long
as we got the book, I didn’t want the details because, after Aidan saved my
life last night, I trusted he knew what he was doing.
    “But your life is on the line,” Angel said.
    Same old, same old. “Isn’t yours too? You’re
just as mortal as I am. I’ve been filled in on the dangers. Now, can we get on
with this? My family’s waiting.”
    “Dad might be calling any time,” Cass said,
nodding. “I don’t want my new position as ambassador to clash with my hell
duties.”
    “What is it that you assist Daddy with?”
Kieran asked, barely able to suppress his laughter. “You help the big guy
create more swarms of rats and locusts, destroy a poor farmer’s crops, send out
a plague or two, offer contracts to steal people’s souls, perhaps start a few
wars?”
    Two flames blazed in Cass’s eyes. “Drop
dead, jerk.”
    “Been there, done that, hot stuff. But I
came back to life.” Kieran chuckled. “And when I say hot, I’m talking about
temperature, not looks.”
    Cass’s cheeks turned bright red, her hands
clenching and unclenching in her lap. Geez, did she have a temper. If she
couldn’t even handle Kieran, she wasn’t going anywhere near Dallas. “I’d rather
be hot than an ice cube,” she said. “Better yet, why don’t you pop over and I’ll
show you what my new phone can do.”
    Kieran raised his hands in mock defense. “Did
you have to invent a phone to do the work for you because you have no
supernatural abilities?”
    “I told you I get them when I turn
eighteen,” Cass snapped.
    “Let’s just go.” Aidan held the door open,
muttering under his breath, “Am I the only sane one here?”
    I hurried after him, eager to catch a
moment alone, but the others followed too close behind to the cars parked outside.
Aidan retrieved the keys from his pocket and threw the bundle to Kieran who
caught it in mid-air. I realized getting him alone in the car was out of the
question. Sighing, I jumped on the cold backseat as Kieran started the engine.
Peeking out the tinted glass, I watched Aidan pull Devon aside, talking
heatedly. I craned my neck to listen, but Kieran switched on the radio as if to
stop me from eavesdropping.
    I punched Kieran’s shoulder. “What is it
you don’t want me to know?”
    “Ouch.” Kieran rubbed his shoulder,
grinning.
    “Don’t quit your day job. You’re the worst
actor ever.” I rolled my eyes and threw Aidan another glance. Hundreds of
questions raced through my mind.