Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(36)

“?Ay caray! You chopped it off.” Gerardo pranced their way. Reaching down, he snagged a piece of snipped hair.

“?Madre de Dios!” Gerardo waved his reddened hand frantically. What used to be Rafael’s hair crumbled in the effeminate man’s hand and blew away in a cloud of dust.

Rafael drew in a long breath of air. “See why you must ask for permission first, Gerardo?”

With a downturned gaze, Gerardo nodded. “Talk about ‘killer hair.’”

Apparently, Lucy’s smartass sense of humor was contagious. Didn’t surprise him one bloody bit. Tossing him a stern glare, Kalli reached down and grabbed Gerardo’s hand, drawing her fingertips over his singed palm. “Any better?”

“Wow, that’s awesome! What you got in those hands? Aloe vera?”

“Something like that,” Kalli muttered. “I’ll take care of the hair. Go handle the client who just walked in.”

He clapped his hands with excitement. “You’re a regular Florence Nightingale.” Gerardo turned and flashed a friendly smile and swished toward the desk to greet the customer. Rafael shuddered. Never in his four hundred and fifty-five years had he seen a man move his hips in such a way.

With a quick scrub of his recently shorn hair, Rafael shook his head. Humans were bizarre. Then again, here he was saddled with an impanzee. He sidled a gaze toward Squeaky, who sat snuggled in Serah’s arms. How bloody strange.

Squeaky, sensing the perusal, looked up. “Stop staring, buffoon, and get going.”

“I plan on it,” he grumbled. And the next business after the chest would be the assignment of a new familiar—preferably one whose voice didn’t grate on his eardrums.

“Plan on what?” Frankie asked, eyes glued to the tabloid in front of him. Flipping the page, he let out a loud chuckle. “Lucy, listen to this… ‘Child Compelled by Demon Eats Family Pet.’” More laughter erupted. “‘A ten-year-old boy from Jackson, Mississippi, grabbed Nibbles, the family guinea pig, and bit its head off.’” Frankie wrinkled his nose and cringed. “‘When questioned why he killed the pet, the little boy said, “The Golden Guy made me do it.”’ That’s crazy.”

“What’s the kid’s name? Ozzy Osbourne?” Gerardo asked, his head thrown back in laughter.

Rafael’s jaw twitched. They had no idea of the evil surrounding them… infecting them. The fact that they acted so glib regarding such a terrible incident irked him. “Human suffering is no laughing matter.”

“Human suffering?” Frankie asked, eyes wide in shock. “It’s entertainment. Most of it isn’t true.” He shook his head, mirth rolling from his smile. “I’m sure the kid didn’t really bite off a guinea pig’s head.”

Rafael narrowed his eyes into a scowl. “How do you know it isn’t?”

Frankie opened his mouth to speak, his eyes sparking.

“Frankie…” Lucy warned.

Frankie lowered his lids. “Fine, Lucy.”

Rafael shook his head. Impressive. Her commanding presence left him awed—again.

As she brushed a light-brown gooey substance onto her mother’s hair, Lucy flashed Rafael a gaze with just as much warning. It chilled him to the core. He didn’t like his reaction. He was through hemming and hawing. He’d go to the council now. Kalli was capable of protecting Lucy. She’d be in good hands.

“I have to leave for a few hours. I need to speak to the Fore—” He darted a gaze toward Lucy’s mother. Despite the bizarre ooze on her head, she sat tall and proud. He allowed his gaze to examine the younger woman. Like mother, like daughter. The only thing different besides their eyes was the effect Lucy had on him. Energy pulsed through him at the devious thought. He throbbed in a place he didn’t want to. His body tingled.

“Uhh… what I meant to say was I need to meet with my… ahh… boss.”

“Boss?” Lucy, although she tried—rather admirably—to control herself, snorted in laughter. She had a cute laugh, Rafael noted. And her voice, it melted him. More tempting than that of a siren who caused sailors trouble. Demons, every last one of them. Now he was affected all over again.

“Yes,” Kalli chimed in. “He has to present his report.” She pushed him toward the door. “Poor guy’s nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory. Right?”

Rafael slanted his eyes into a penetrating glare. “Not on my life. I look forward to it.”

“I’m sure you do.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “Good luck, Mr. Deleon.”

His heart plummeted. What had he done now? Women! He stopped trying to understand them. He had a hard enough time with demonesses and an even harder time with mortal women. Throw in a half mortal/half sex demon and he was even more clueless. “Thank you, Miss Gregory.” He turned to Lucy’s mother. “Mrs. Gregory, it was lovely to meet you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Deleon. I apologize that I confused you with the help. You’re a true gentleman.” She smiled. “We need more people like you in Connolly Park.”

“You’re welcome.” With that, he threw open the door and turned to Squeaky, motioning to him with his finger. “You. Come. Now.”

He would get this whole imp fiasco settled while he was at it, too.