Love Knows No Bounds by Brooke Moss, Nina Croft, Boone Brux

that link, all that goes away.” He held out his hand. “Give me the phone, Faye, and find love.”
    “Don’t Faye. I’m Hopeless Romantic.” Christopher’s words choked out as if somebody squeezed his throat. “Crispy Cre…”
    “Ah, he’s a hopeless romantic. How sweet. But he won’t be. Not if you press that link.” Pierre Shogun’s phone rang. To her horror, Vern flipped it open. “Yes?”
    Oh my God, was he talking to Pierre?
    The minion listened for several more seconds then closed the phone and smiled. “It’s your lucky day, Faye. I’ve been authorized to make you a deal.” He paced along the edge of the shadows. “We are willing to offer you ten additional years to your life, plus a twenty-five percent increase in your overall happiness. And all you have to do is give me the phone.”
    Her thighs burned as she struggled to her feet. “There isn’t anything I want from you.”
    “Don’t be so hasty. We’re also willing to gift you with a one hundred percent increase in income and a guaranteed five new friends a year for life.”
    She stared at Vern. Was he freakin’ serious? “I’m not cancelling a credit card. This is my immortal soul we’re talking about.”
    “You drive a hard bargain, Faye.” He continued to pace. “Very well, we’ll throw in a lifetime supply of guaranteed parking spots whenever and wherever you want them.”
    She pondered the offer. That was a pretty good one. She could see why a lot of people would go for it. “I don’t own a car.”
    Vern stopped and looked at her. He smiled as if he held the trump card. “You can keep Christopher.”
    She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
    Christopher struggled against the force, trying to speak, but no words would come out.
    “Hand me the phone and he’ll be yours for as long as you want him.” He inched toward her. “Think of it, Faye—the man you love by your side forever.”
    Christopher had not said he was a hopeless romantic. He’d said he was @HopelessRomantic. He was right, she had to have faith and expect miracles.
    “Forever?” She forced as much wistfulness in her words as she could muster. “Mine?”
    “Yes, Faye.” Vern’s licked his lips and held out his hand. “Give me the phone and the world will fall at your feet.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I promise.”
    She extended her arm as to give him the phone. His smile turned victorious. He reached for it, but she stopped and cocked her head to the side. “Go to Hell, jackass.”
    She hit the link.
    Chaos erupted. Equipment careened through the air and smashed against the wall. Papers swirled across the floor in a violent vortex. Faye dropped to the stones again, narrowly dodging a metal stool. Flames flared around Vern. He screamed, his wails ricocheting off the walls and turning Faye’s blood to ice. A black mark formed on the floor under him, spreading like spilled wine. Glowing red sparked as the edges of black, eating inward and opening what could only be described as an entrance to Hell.
    “Holy Mother of God!” Every prayer Faye could remember flowed from her lips.
    The nuns had espoused the evils of Hell but as the fiery entrance yawned before her, Faye realized her imagination hadn’t scratched the surface of reality.
    Vern hovered above the opening, clawing upward as if trying to escape. Heat seared Faye’s face but she couldn’t look away from the horrific scene. Skeletal hands reached from the pit and latched onto his ankle. He looked at her, reaching toward her.
    For a second she felt sorry for him. Then he bared his fangs.
    “Bitch!”
    Right, this was demon scum she was dealing with. She leaned toward him. “Bite me!”
    Inch by inch he disappeared into Hell, the entrance shrinking until finally swallowing Vern whole. Papers fluttered to the ground around Faye. Christopher dropped, hitting the floor with a heavy grunt.
    She stumbled to her feet and raced across the floor to gather him in her arms.