“Because of her unique position, Bel was shunned by other deities…myself and my men included. This led to bitterness, which in turn spawned a need for revenge. Her nefarious plans were carefully woven over several centuries, but jealousy won out over a cautious campaign when she realized my friends and I were being given a second chance at life on earth. She stepped up her plots, which eventually led to her downfall.”
Hutch read between the lines. There was a lot Marduk didn’t say, such as how badly Bel had been treated before she’d gone rogue. Had she simply been shunned, or bullied? Perhaps vilified? And why had the god and his group received a “second chance”? From what? Were they guilty of transgressions as well? Considering his soon-to-be association with this strange world of immortals, he had to make it his business to find out.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
“Can we get on with business, now?” Bel’s fake, sweet voice brought him back to present.
Hutch glanced at Jim, who nodded, having regained a semblance of his normal aplomb.
“Jim?”
“I’ve read things over. The first couple pages are purely informational, listing your credentials, and outlining how Bel is in charge of the program called…” He shuffled back to the first page. “…The Office of Special Projects. It states that the Queen has final word on the specifics of her program.”
Marduk leaned forward, regarding Jim intently. “Make sure you read every word to see how they might be manipulated. It was just such a contract she constructed that nearly led to my group’s demise.”
The lawyer’s brows rose. “In that case, give me a few more minutes. I’ll take it apart line by line, after which we’ll discuss the more pertinent codicils.”
The room quieted as he studied, with Darby sending surreptitious glances toward Marduk. The god noticed, too. “I realize you have questions. Go ahead. What would you like to know?” he questioned, not unkindly.
She bit back a nervous giggle. “What are you the god of?”
“Storms,” he answered easily. “Particularly thunder and lightning.”
“That’s why you appear so intense,” she dared, growing more excited. “Does your son have your powers? Your wife?”
He didn’t seem to mind her questions at all.
“My wife, up until ten years ago, was human.” He smiled and it softened him immeasurably. “It took her some time, but eventually she acquired my abilities as well as a few uniquely her own. Our son,” he shook his head, wonderingly, “When he was an infant, he conjured lightning indiscriminately.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure how we kept the house from burning down around us.” He beamed with pride. “Now that he’s older, he has a solid grasp on his skills. He’s going to make a good leader someday.”
“Someday when you’re old and retire?” she asked.
He threw back his head and laughed. “How old do you think I am?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Thirty? Thirty-five?”
A grin lingered on his face. “I was born four-thousand, three-hundred, twenty-two years ago in Ancient Mesopotamia. Yet I look to be no more than thirty-five. Gods are, for the most part, immortal.”
Darby’s eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed like a landed fish. “Your son…baby…grew…little boy…,” she strangled out.
Hutch knew what she was asking, and couldn’t wait to hear the answer.
“Yes, he’s growing. We immortals age like humans until we reach full maturity. For some, that’s mid-twenties, for others like myself who need, uh, additional time to mature, it ends up being thirties or even forties.”
“And your wife who was once human?” Jim asked, having set the papers aside, clearly fascinated.
“She stopped aging the moment she became my Chosen.”
“Chosen?” Darby asked.
“It’s essentially the same as a wife, but that’s all I can tell you. Our specific mating ceremony is not something we speak of outside our immediate circles.”
“Fair enough.” Jim brought attention back to himself, tapping the pages he’d read. “I’ve combed over the preliminaries. There’s nothing that looks even remotely suspicious.” He regarded Hutch. “Are you ready to dive into the rest?”
“Go for it.”
“Okay. This states that you will be available to work in purgatory one day out of every seven.”
“Does it mention what day? I’ll need to schedule so I don’t disrupt the patients I see at my office.”
Jim frowned. “It doesn’t. Bel?” He asked the question to the ether, although looking uncomfortable as he did so.
A decided huff was forthcoming. “I want to keep it flexible. What if someone has a crisis and needs him?”
“Hutch?” Jim raised a brow at him.
He dropped his head, thinking. How could he maintain his practice and be available to the Nightmare Men? “What if I designate one weekday to purgatory? Let’s say, Wednesday. And then be on call over the weekend…with adequate notice.” He blinked at Darby. “I don’t want to be in the middle of someplace, or something, only to be unceremoniously snatched away.”
Jim was scribbling in the margins. “Right. How does a full day on Wednesday sound, with additional shifts possible on Saturday and Sunday, requiring…two hours’ notice?”
He glanced at Darby, who nodded. “Sounds fair.”
“I agree,” Bel stated.
“You’ll also want overtime pay for any extras,” Jim continued. “Let’s say time and a half over your normal daily rate of…” He ran his finger to a line on the page and quoted a figure which far exceeded Hutch’s expectations. He whistled long and low.
“That’s a lot of money,” Darby breathed.
He agreed, then thought of something… “Remember, Darby. Bel’s getting two for one. You have to keep watch over my comatose body when I’m gone.”
“But we haven’t decided if I’m coming back yet.” She bit her lip. “We haven’t taken care of my…problem.”
“Problem?” Both Marduk and Jim looked up at the same time.
“Darby?” He’d leave it up to her whether she wanted to explain.
“Oh, hell, I might as well fill you in.” She launched into an abbreviated version of her attack, Hutch’s introduction into her nightmares revealing Cy’s identity, and how they planned on “outing” him.
“Geezus, you guys,” Jim groaned. “I don’t like it. It sounds damned dangerous.”
“I can help,” Marduk offered.
Hutch regarded him with interest. “Bel told me she wasn’t allowed to interfere.”
The god snorted. “That’s because she’s a Hell-convicted felon. She has rules governing her actions. My friends and I live on earth. We do pretty much as we please.”
Darby hopped to her feet. “That’s awesome. The only part of the plan I didn’t like was Hutch confronting Cy with a baseball bat until the police arrived. I’m afraid he’ll get hurt.”
“And I’m afraid you’ll get hurt,” Hutch reacted. “I know you want to confront him before I show myself. Don’t deny it.” He knew she couldn’t.
A dimple popped out on her cheek. “Okay. Fine. I need watching over, too. So we’re agreed?” she asked, her emerging smirk telling him he’d been played. “Marduk can help?”
He chuffed. “Why didn’t I see that coming?”
Bel cut in. “Much as I enjoy a love-fest, can we finish up with the contract? It’s Friday, and Utu will be home soon. I want to close up office and make him a nice dinner.”
And didn’t that make the all-powerful goddess sound domestic?
“Jim?” Hutch asked.
He shook the sheaf in his hand. “You’re okay with the days discussed and the pay rate?”
“I am. But what if…things change in my life and I want out? There’s supposed to be a provision for that.”
“Mmm.” He nodded. “It’s in here. It says you have to give a four-week notice of intent to terminate.”
“Four weeks is a pretty long tim
e,” Darby interjected.
A remote growl sounded from Bel. “You try to find somebody who has the smarts to take on purgatory and a bunch of arrogant, delusional men in one month. I’ll be lucky if four weeks is sufficient.”
“She has a point,” Marduk oddly agreed.
Hutch nodded. “I understand. And Bel, unless there are mitigating circumstances, I won’t leave you in the lurch. You can take your time finding the right person.”
“Thank you, Hutch.” She sounded smug. “Do you all see why I picked him?”
“Because he’s smart and driven,” Jim agreed.
“Because he’s compassionate and kind,” Darby added.
“Because he’s another fucking idiot who’s fallen under your spell,” Marduk decried, but without heat. “I don’t know how you do it, Bel, but congratulations on another win.”
“My win will help people like him who’ve lost their way,” Bel responded seriously.
Hutch remembered one more thing. “I’m not responsible if a Nightmare Man’s epiphany doesn’t happen, right? If you recruit someone who lacks the necessary compassion, who can’t connect with their assignment, I’m off the hook?”
“Paragraph seven, page four,” Bel replied. “But it’s only in there because you wanted it. The people I pick have been carefully vetted. I have every confidence that with a little nudging, they’ll all come around.”
“It’s here,” Jim confirmed.
“Then all my questions have been answered. I’m ready to sign if you don’t see anything suspicious.”
Marduk scowled. “Make damned sure it’s correct. I still don’t trust her.”
Bel growled. “Marduk, with all due respect, screw you. I may have been a selfish bitch once, but I’ve turned my life around because the right people cared. Your wife included. Now get off my back and let me pay it forward.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“That went well,” Darby exhaled as she closed the door on Jim, the last of their company. She turned to Hutch who leaned against the kitchen door jamb. “I really like Marduk. He seemed like an asshole at first, but he warmed up as things progressed.”
Hutch remained silent, and that worried Darby. He wasn’t one to hold back. Even if he didn’t voice his opinion, he always poked and prodded, analyzing all thoughts and opinions.
She wasn’t about to let it go. “What is it?” she asked. “What’s got you all out of sorts?”
He huffed and pushed away from the wall. “Just talking myself down off a dangerous precipice.”
“What does that mean? Can you share?” she urged.
His troubled eyes met hers. “I’ll look like a jerk.”
She grinned. “Try me. I’m totally on board with you exhibiting some asshole qualities, because so far, you’ve been too perfect.”
“Perfect, huh?” He returned her smile. “Far from it. You just happened to catch me after I spent a couple weeks in purgatory. My normal, smug, self-serving personality had been dealt a serious blow. This morning I feel it peeking its ugly head out.”
She walked forward and took his hand, pressing it to her heart. “Be ugly,” she offered. “You’ve seen some pretty terrible things from me. I’d be honored to return the favor.”
“You really want to hear this?”
“Of course.” She led him to the couch where she pushed him down and snuggled up beside him. “Now spill it.”
He huffed. “Fine. First of all, I didn’t like how you ogled that god.”
“Ogled?” She felt her cheeks flush. “I did not… Okay. I sort-of did. But what was I supposed to do? I’ve never seen a real, live immortal before, and the way he presents, all huge and muscly, packed into that t-shirt and those tight jeans, I’d have to be dead not to notice.” She wriggled closer and kissed his cheek. “But even with all that other-worldliness, he didn’t stir a single zingy feeling in my girly parts.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on her breast. “Feel that nipple? Not a smidge of head-lighting.”
His big, warm hand surrounded her orb, sneaking in a scissoring of said nipple, forcing it to perk up, instantly. “Not a smidge, huh?” he asked, a smile creeping over his face.
She slung her leg over his lap and hoisted herself to perch there and face him. She palmed his cheeks. “You fight dirty,” she purred. “And I know there’s more on your mind.”
“Can we just forget that, and play?” He nuzzled her chest, inhaling her scent.
“After you tell me the rest.”
He brought his arms around her, pulling forward so her chin rested on his shoulder and she couldn’t see his face. Sly devil.
“I want to be the one who saves you from Cy,” he finally admitted. “I want to be the big, bad, macho hero who takes him out. And that’s so screwed up. I should be ecstatic we have divine help.”
They’d given Marduk Arkie’s address and told him to show up at 4:30 on Monday morning to hide in the back with Hutch and Seth.
She sighed against him. “Don’t you know you’ve already saved me? You gave me power over my nightmares and a much-needed break from my crummy situation.”
“Yeah? Well, I couldn’t keep Cy away. He almost got you, yesterday.”
“But he didn’t.” She pulled back to stare at him. “And that’s because of you. If you hadn’t taken an interest in Harvey, made him a valued friend, he wouldn’t have been so quick to become involved and get Cy arrested. Heroism comes in many packages, not always with physical prowess.”
His bottom lip stuck out in an exaggerated pout, attempting to mask the irritation she knew ran deep. “But I want to flex some muscle for you.”
Impishly, her hand dropped to his crotch, hoping to dispel his insecurities. “You’ve flexed plenty of muscle, big-guy. I’ve got the sore spots to prove it.”
He “flexed” under her fingers and sighed, half exasperation and half pleasure if she read him correctly. “Do you always say the right thing? You’re totally distracting me.”
“I’m learning from my he-man, therapist,” she teased. “He’s empathetic but hot as hell. A lethal package that puts me on my toes.”
He growled and flipped her back on the couch, smothering her body with his hard contours. “I have every confidence you can keep up.”
A few hours later, they headed out the door to…an interview.
Somehow, in the heat of the moment, Hutch had convinced her she needed to meet with his friend, Lance, to discuss possible employment. She was nervous as hell, but she’d said yes, and here she was, outfitted in a daytime-worthy, little black dress, heading for an audience at the publishing company.
Hutch told her not to worry and overthink, that Lance was a real friend and a consummate jokester, but how long had it been since she’d had a job interview? Actually, had she ever had a real one? She’d pretty much walked into all her retail experiences. And what about a resume? If she crafted one, it would be mighty thin—one year of college and a bunch of low-paying jobs. Who would hire her on those credentials?
The last thing she wanted was for Hutch to use his friendships to find her a position. Although the thought of working in the publishing field made her brain fire with excitement, she’d be just as happy… Okay, almost as happy in another retail situation.
“Why are you putting your friend on the spot for me?” she asked as Hutch opened the car door and she slid in.
He leaned down into her face. “Because it’s not an imposition. I’m doing him a favor. He’s going to love you.” He gently closed the door before she could utter another word, then came around and got in, speaking again so she couldn’t rebut. “If I didn’t think you’d be an asset to him, I wouldn’t have suggested it.”
“But my lack of experience…”
“You’ll more than make up for with intelligence and company loyalty.” He started the car and maneuvered it smoothly out of the garage. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Darby. I just had this conversation with Paxton. In this day and age where millennials switch jobs like the
y change sneakers, Lance will consider himself lucky to have someone who’ll stick with his company for more than a year.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “You will commit to at least a year, right?”
The laugh that emerged from her throat was nervous but heartfelt. “I’ll sign on for life if he wants me,” she quipped. “Anything to do with books will be a dream situation. And regular hours instead of having to get up in the middle of the night? A huge bonus.”
Hutch hadn’t mentioned money, but she assumed she’d make more than she did at Arkie’s. She bit her lip. But how expensive was rent in Chicago? And could she find a place in a cheaper part of town? And… Oh! What about Wednesdays when she was supposed to keep vigil over Hutch’s lifeless body? What kind of full-time position would allow for that?
She was just about to breach those questions when Hutch pulled into a parking spot in front of a modest, glass-fronted high-rise.
“We’re here already?”
“Two blocks from me.”
She huffed. “We could have walked.”
“In those shoes and that dress? Not a chance. I didn’t want to have to fight off half the male population.”
She giggled, as she knew he’d intended. “It would have given you a chance to get your inner caveman on,” she suggested, impishly.
His eyes practically sparkled with mischief. “I wonder how Lance would feel if I slung you over my shoulder, my hand possessively on your rear, as we walk in?”
She eeped, quickly scurrying out of the car. “Don’t even think about it.” She slammed her door, waiting for him to get out and come around. “I know you guys like to kid around, but I’m not about to be the butt of your joke.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Nice one,” he smirked. “Butt of our joke. I get it.” As she stuck out her tongue, he placed a comforting hand on the small of her back, urging her toward the doors, his face calming. “And don’t worry. I’d never do that to you.”
Hutch Nightmare Men Page 22
