Because he would protect her. He’d then proceeded to take her to the nearest store so she’d know its location. She had a feeling it was to also scowl at people and let them know in advance, mess with her, mess with him. It was ridiculously masculine and cute.

She exited the compound and headed for the equivalent of the corner store at the border of the first and second ring. It was one of her favorite places to wander since Marduke first took her.

The store sold the groceries and junk food you expected, if by different brands and names, but it also had weirder stuff, too, like eyeballs floating in liquid that could be used as a security system. If you were willing to pop them in and out of your own head.

No thanks.

The brooch didn’t just serve as a credit card; it also served as warning, ensuring no one bothered her. This wasn’t the first time she’d popped out to the store. But it was the first time someone accosted her by name.

“Merry, is that you?”

In that moment, she did a very un-Merry-like thing. She turned around and ran away.

What am I doing?

Running away from Brian, Miguel’s dead daddy. Still dead but living in Hell. A place that must be rubbing off because her uncharitable ass wanted nothing to do with him.

As far as she was concerned, she’d be just fine never seeing him again. Let him rot for everything he’d done.

Followed by immediate guilt; after all, Brian was Miguel’s dad. Her child remained traumatized to this day by his father’s death. Would meeting his damned soul make things better or worse?

I’m a terrible person. It shouldn’t even be a question. Some would say Brian had a right to see his son. She shouldn’t be so selfish. Especially given how happy she was. She might currently live in Hell, but with Marduke, it became paradise. He was attentive to her needs, treated her so kindly, and his passion for her and her pleasure…

Then there was how he bonded with her son. She might have worried about his abrupt manner, and the way he set boundaries, but it seemed to be working. Miguel had been a thousand times less temperamental of late.

Did she want to tilt that precarious achievement?

It was the devil, of all people, that showed her the answer. He appeared, as usual, without warning, a hint of brimstone the only clue he’d arrived.

She no longer startled, nor was she surprised to have a child thrust at her. The girl. With the sweetest fire-imbued eyes and a charming chortle.

Jujube snuggled against her, and for a second, Merry thought it would be nice to have another kid.

With Marduke.