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Chapter 1

Supposedly, when I make up my mind, I put my head down and accept my fate fearlessly At least that’s what Lamar said

He said it with a believable dose of conviction, so I don’t think he was lying

I just think he’s an absolute idiot

Because as the Devil wickedly grins athe’s ever witnessed, I don’t feel fearless at all

Fake it until you make it

“You want tomy words

Then he ih he expectsto retract my naïve words

I try to recall exactly what made me think I could pull this off, but it’s too late now I’ve co back

I’ve prepared for him to manipulate and trap et a little back He’ll be like the da has to be on point

“Yes,” I tell him with a firm nod “But on my terms”

He scratches his chin, studying me a little differently

“And what, ht I ask, exactly are these terms?”

Clearing my throat, I move to take a seat at the end of the bed on the pretty little purple stool there, pretending he’s not the least bit threatening I try really hard not to react when several other things in the roo purple—even some walls

He doesn’t move from his spot The Devil siht of hi purple But…it’s sort of shiny and pretty and…soooooo not important

“My boys will gain access to hell and whatever boosts they need tofor his counter offer that will sliceand force me to stand firm

“Done,” he says with zero resistance and a shrug of his shoulder, like it’s no big deal

Apparently, I’ a little low

“But what exactly will I be getting in return?” he asks

Without hesitation, I say, “I’ve not finished stating my terms”

He grins “Of course not You never did kno to deal”

Bristling at the familiarity he see novice, I go on “I want theo as they please They will not be prisoners”

His grin only grows “I only assumed as much, Paca Trickery is reserved for those who don’t have the capacity to make my life miserable, as you well know”

He narrows his eyes, even as his twisted version of a grin stays in place It’s a rather unsettling expression

I’m positive it’s his “evil” expression, if evil has an expression

But I just learned I have the capacity to make his life miserable So…there’s some bonus information I’d prefer definitive confirmation that I have the capacity to end him, but I’ll settle For now

“They can visit Hell’s Black Heart to restore their strength the quickest,” he adds

A cold shudder passes over o as they please?” I reiterate, super careful about unspoken words that need to be spoken

He rolls his eyes “I’ve stated asit more than once when I still have questions ofto?”

Clearing my throat, I continue

“Due to my perfected balance, I want the freedoo on

His expression changes, although it’s subtle It’s the barely-there slant of his head and the way he cuts his eyes towardquestion, instead of stating a logical demand

“Of course,” he says, back to looking just as indifferent, but soed

I can feel it

And I hate that he’s enda

To keep hiing at me I’m sure it would have irked the old me as well

“My paintings should all be restored to the hallway,” I tell hi no room to broker for less

He wipes away his shten “You alere vain I’ that particular request”

“My vanity is your own doing, since it was an i I know everything

I’ too hard One would assuhter would find it a lot easier to be awesomely deceptive