Malachi had planned on staying but Bassano assured everyone that he’d set a protection on my apartment to keep both Valerie and Brenda out so I could get some sleep. Matt packed Brenda’s clothes and they were gone, but not before I overheard Bassano whispering something in Mal’s ear about a strip chess game in his hotel room. Dad had offered to stay until my bodyguard got back but I sent him home to Mom. Right now all I wanted was some privacy. Besides, him and Mal were both a phone call and a quick phase between spaces in reality away. I’d be fine. I was cool. I was collected. I was a demoness damn it, and two psychobitch nephilim were not going to get in the way of my nap. I took a scalding hot shower, groomed my feathers to keep them shiny, and reveled in the quiet of an empty apartment. I sang along with the radio, my tail swinging back in forth with the beat, relaxing for the first time in a month. Brenda was gone, the apartment was empty, and as soon as I finished my nap I was going to make Matt sit down so I could tell him about Dan.
