Wicked
A Damned Novel
LM Pruitt
Release Date: April 2017
All things truly wicked start from innocence.
—Ernest Hemingway
Book Description:
Being a demon isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Especially when you make a massive mistake your first month on the job.
Even more so when your sister is one of the all-star players on the other team.
Add in the rumors of not one but two coups and it’s not hard to see—something wicked this way comes….
Excerpt 3
“How can I help
you, ma’am?”
you, ma’am?”
“Did you just
call me ma’am?” Abby blinked once before breaking in to peals of laughter. “You
did. Oh, aren’t you just adorable?” She waved away my answer before I could
offer it, continuing to laugh for another moment before sighing and shaking her
head. “You almost distracted me from why I’m here.”
call me ma’am?” Abby blinked once before breaking in to peals of laughter. “You
did. Oh, aren’t you just adorable?” She waved away my answer before I could
offer it, continuing to laugh for another moment before sighing and shaking her
head. “You almost distracted me from why I’m here.”
“My punishment.”
I nodded, already resigning myself to my fate. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”
I nodded, already resigning myself to my fate. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”
“I need you to
be watchful.”
be watchful.”
“I beg your
pardon?” It was my turn to blink and frown, not quite able to hide my
confusion. “I’m not sure I follow.”
pardon?” It was my turn to blink and frown, not quite able to hide my
confusion. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“There have
been… rumors.” She paused and I realized, with no small degree of shock, her
hesitation was real and not for show. “I wouldn’t call them disturbing, not
yet, but the potential is there.”
been… rumors.” She paused and I realized, with no small degree of shock, her
hesitation was real and not for show. “I wouldn’t call them disturbing, not
yet, but the potential is there.”
“Rumors about
what?” When she didn’t answer right away, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep
sighing in exasperation. Every time I thought I was finished with secrets and
lies, something happened to prove me wrong. “You have to tell me what I need to
watch for otherwise it’s pointless.”
what?” When she didn’t answer right away, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep
sighing in exasperation. Every time I thought I was finished with secrets and
lies, something happened to prove me wrong. “You have to tell me what I need to
watch for otherwise it’s pointless.”
“There are some
of Lilith’s girls who are… unhappy with the way she’s running her business.”
Abby uncrossed and recrossed her legs, her expression growing serious. “It
isn’t the first time people have been upset but there’s something different
this time around. Something which has Morning Star… concerned.”
of Lilith’s girls who are… unhappy with the way she’s running her business.”
Abby uncrossed and recrossed her legs, her expression growing serious. “It
isn’t the first time people have been upset but there’s something different
this time around. Something which has Morning Star… concerned.”
“And you want me
to deal with it?” I couldn’t hold back my bark of laughter. “I’m sorry but
anything which worries the ruler of Hell is probably more than a little out of
my league.”
to deal with it?” I couldn’t hold back my bark of laughter. “I’m sorry but
anything which worries the ruler of Hell is probably more than a little out of
my league.”
“Which is why
you’re not being tasked with solving the problem merely observing and reporting
back.” If her patience grew any more exaggerated there was a good chance she
would choke on it. “Surely that isn’t outside of your range of expertise.”
you’re not being tasked with solving the problem merely observing and reporting
back.” If her patience grew any more exaggerated there was a good chance she
would choke on it. “Surely that isn’t outside of your range of expertise.”
“No, but it’s
not as if I associate with anybody other than Lacey.” I paused. “Or Asmodeus.”
not as if I associate with anybody other than Lacey.” I paused. “Or Asmodeus.”
“Then you should
see about changing that, hmm?” She stood, drawing the panels of her coat
together before tying the belt in a precise, deliberate knot. “My understanding
is you’ve had a few disagreements with Kelly. Maybe you should take the high
road and bury the hatchet.”
see about changing that, hmm?” She stood, drawing the panels of her coat
together before tying the belt in a precise, deliberate knot. “My understanding
is you’ve had a few disagreements with Kelly. Maybe you should take the high
road and bury the hatchet.”
“Right.” I
stared at her, certain she was telling me something but not sure what, exactly,
it was. “Any other people I should cozy up to?”
stared at her, certain she was telling me something but not sure what, exactly,
it was. “Any other people I should cozy up to?”
“I’m sure
Asmodeus is going to send an emissary to plead his case. It will, more than
likely, be Cam.” Her smile was once again cool and lovely and very, very
calculating. “Again, I know the two of you aren’t on the best of terms. Perhaps
you should see what you need to do in order to make amends.” Her smile widened
a fraction of an inch. “I’m sure you have a great deal of practice at
manipulating men to do what you want.”
Asmodeus is going to send an emissary to plead his case. It will, more than
likely, be Cam.” Her smile was once again cool and lovely and very, very
calculating. “Again, I know the two of you aren’t on the best of terms. Perhaps
you should see what you need to do in order to make amends.” Her smile widened
a fraction of an inch. “I’m sure you have a great deal of practice at
manipulating men to do what you want.”
“Some.” I stood,
clasping my hands at my waist and pasting on what I hoped would be considered a
pleasant, accommodating smile. “And when would you like for me to report to
you?”
clasping my hands at my waist and pasting on what I hoped would be considered a
pleasant, accommodating smile. “And when would you like for me to report to
you?”
“Let’s see in
one week—that’s a few days after Lilith takes up the collection, which should
give you time to have a few drinks with a few different people.” Abby’s smile
slipped in to something which seemed almost genuine. “I’ll confess, I expected
you to push back a little harder. I’m happy to see you don’t have nearly the
same problem with authority as your sister.”
one week—that’s a few days after Lilith takes up the collection, which should
give you time to have a few drinks with a few different people.” Abby’s smile
slipped in to something which seemed almost genuine. “I’ll confess, I expected
you to push back a little harder. I’m happy to see you don’t have nearly the
same problem with authority as your sister.”
“Joanne? Problem
with authority?” I snorted out a laugh. “Are we talking about the same woman?”
with authority?” I snorted out a laugh. “Are we talking about the same woman?”
“I think once
you truly learn who your sister is, you’ll be as surprised as she was.” Abby
lifted her brows and gave me a slight nod. “In a week, then.”
you truly learn who your sister is, you’ll be as surprised as she was.” Abby
lifted her brows and gave me a slight nod. “In a week, then.”
I waited until
the smell of brimstone dissipated before dropping back to the sofa, my legs
suddenly more than a little weak. Resting my elbows on my knees, I cradled my
face in my hands, taking long, deep breaths.
the smell of brimstone dissipated before dropping back to the sofa, my legs
suddenly more than a little weak. Resting my elbows on my knees, I cradled my
face in my hands, taking long, deep breaths.
What the hell
had I gotten myself in to?
had I gotten myself in to?
About the Author:
L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice. She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.
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