Read Online 01 Summoned-Summoned by Rainy Kaye - Free Book Online Page B

finger and turn to leave.
    A familiar woman's voice says, “Dimitri? May I see you in the other room?”
    I halt, then roll my eyes and face the lady of the house. I use this term loosely. Eileena, the demon womb. I trust nothing that spawned the likes of Silvia. Probably from an egg sac laid in some poor sucker's chest.
    She ticks up the corner of her mouth. I think it's meant to be a friendly gesture. She might want to practice in the mirror. 
    She nods for me to follow. I clomp across the chamber after her. Her long blue dress with elaborate gold trim swishes on the floor as she walks. Her dark hair is twisted on top of her head, revealing her slender tan neck. No one could deny the likeness between her and Silvia.
    We exit out the side door and follow down a hallway into one of the libraries. The main area of my house would fit into this one room.
    As soon as she closes the door behind us, her attempt at angelic falls off like a snake skin. “Silvia wants to go out.”
    My stomach twists, but I play it cool and shrug. “She need some bar recommendations?”
    Eileena's eyes narrow. “You will take her, Dimitri. Else I might need you to do some runs in South America for me. Deep in the jungle. No air conditioning, no hot water. One little wish from Karl. Don't think I can't convince him to do it.”
    “I would go with 'nag like the bride of Satan,'” I say, “but 'convince' is a good word too.”
    She takes a step toward me.
    I put up my hands. “Okay, I got it. I'll take Silvia out.” 
    “Now,” Eileena says.
    I push past her, out of the library, and head to Silvia's suite. I knock on her door. 
    She answers, and her eyes flash but not with surprise. It's that unsettling look she always gives me.
    She clasps her hands in front of her and says, “Oh, Dim! I wasn't expecting you!”
    I size her up. Her hair is pulled back in some ponytail thing and she's loaded down with jewelry.
    “Yes, you were,” I say. “So shut up and let's get this over with.”
    I stalk down the hallway. She follows after, jingling behind me as we exit out one of the front doors. I don't slow as I cross the yard to my Accord, which is waiting unlocked with the keys on the dash.
    I drop inside and start the engine. Silvia crawls into the passenger seat, then stares at me as I back out of the estate and onto the dirt road.
    She lights up a cigarette. “Why do you drive these piece of shit cars?” 
    “Tell your dad to get me a new Bugatti.” I roll down the windows because cigarette smoke lingers in upholstery forever. It's disgusting.
    “I'll buy one for you.” She taps ashes out the window.
    I scoff. “You really have no idea how this operation works, do you?”
    “Yes, I do, and that's why I'm going to change shit around here once my old man keels over.”
    “The way you smoke, he's going to outlive you.”
    “Hmm, I don't think so.” She flicks the barely-used cigarette out the window. 
    She picks up my hand lying on the console. I resist pulling away because, in truth, I am her inheritance. The thought always makes me a little dead inside.
    She rubs her thumb over each of my fingertips in turn. I don't think they feel any different than normal ones—the morsels from the bar never seem to notice—but Silvia has a strange fascination with the fact I don't have fingerprints. 
    She puts my hand back down like it's a porcelain ornament and then lights up another cigarette. 
    “Your mother might have a son before Karl drops from a heart attack,” I say, trying to get our conversation back on track before she takes to touching me again. “The oldest male gets the master bond first, then his heirs. Then the next male and his heirs, until there are no more men and heirs. Then it moves over to the women.”
    “Preference to boys, I know. Don't you think that would have happened already?” She jettisons her cigarette. She is the most wasteful person I've ever met. Can't wait to see what wishes she has in store for me.