Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(49)

Lilith blew out a breath. “How exactly are you planning to get there?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. “As I was patrolling the area, I noticed your friend drive off in your car.”

Crap! In all the excitement, she forgot that she lent her car to Serah. Glancing at the clock on the far wall, she grumbled. From what she’d said earlier, it’d be a while.

Grabbing her cell phone from her pocket, Lucy punched Serah’s speed dial. One… two… three… four… voice mail.

“Hello, you reached Serah SanGermano. Leave your message at the tone.” Not even bothering to leave a message, Lucy hung up. Must’ve been an important meeting. Serah never missed her calls. That’s what made her a great friend.

“Here, take mine,” Gerardo said, stuffing his keys in her hand.

Lucy cringed, recalling the last time she borrowed Gerardo’s car. Mounds of wrappers, cups, and plastic bags filled nearly every recess of his vehicle. It amazed her how he stayed as skinny as he did.

Noticing her cringe, he smiled. “Don’t worry. I just had it detailed.”

“Thanks, Ger. You’re a lifesaver.” She gave him a big ole bear hug. “Just so you know, I would’ve taken the car either way.” She had to see her mom.

“Is it safe to be traveling in public, where any of Belial’s goons may be lingering?” Lilith ran a hand through her shiny brunette tresses.

“I’ll judo chop them,” Lucy said, posing like the boy from The Karate Kid movie—the old school version. “Rafe will be protected.”

Lilith and Kalli broke out in simultaneous snickers. Catching their faux pas, they snorted—again in unison. With a huff, Kalli crossed her arms and tapped her toe.

Lilith, on the other hand, plopped back down on the seat, crossed her leg, and flipped her hair over her shoulder. Each avoided the other’s gaze like she had the plague. What was the deal with those two?

Rafe pulled on his leather coat and zipped up. “I don’t need no stinkin’ protection.”

Laughter filled the entire salon. Newsflash! Rafael Deleon, Paladin Demon, had finally found his sense of humor. Perhaps the time he’d spent with Squeaky did him some good.

Rafe shrugged, the muscles rippling against the leather of his jacket. He rolled his eyes. “I can be funny when I want to be.”

“Better late than never, I guess,” Kalli muttered. “I have no qualms with you taking Lucy to check on her mother. Sometimes in times of distress, having your family close by can be a blessing.”

Groaning, Lilith shook her head. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

Heads turned to Lilith. Every band of heroes always had a naysayer. Leave it to Mrs. Sex-o-holic to be the one. Fancy that—Lucy imagined it would’ve been Rafe. Then again, he seemed to be rather supportive since he returned.

“She may be a target.” Lilith rubbed her fingertips together. “A trap to set Lucy up.”

Rafe turned to face Lilith, his jaw firm. “If it’s a trap, then her mother is in danger. We are going.” The finality in his tone was unmistakable.

It unnerved her, the way she could read this man. She never had such a connection with any man. And the way his gaze burned, she knew he felt it too.

“Guess it’s three to one.” She smiled and blew Lilith a kiss. “Sorry, toots.”

Frankie giggled. “Hey, that’s my line.”

“It’s a catchy line, you know?” She gave Frankie a hug and turned to Gerardo, who’d remained abnormally quiet. “What’s up?”

Shrugging, Gerardo flipped his fingers through his hair. His gaze lowered to the floor; he let out a deep sigh. “I am responsible. I let that thing into the salon.” He shook his head. “I should’ve known better.”

Lucy sucked in a deep breath and took Gerardo into her arms. “It isn’t your fault, Ger. From what I’ve been told about Belial, he’s very strong.”

“But mi mamá always warned me about evil. I should’ve known.”

She swatted Gerardo on the arm. “Hey, he almost got me, so it’s my fault too.”

Lilith blew a deep breath out her nose. “It’s true. Belial is one of Hell’s strongest kings.” She brushed her fingernails with the pad of her thumb. “He almost got me at one time.”

Lucy arched a brow. Lilith didn’t seem the type to broadcast such a failure.

Her lips arched into a sheepish grin. “I’ve been around over two thousand years. I wasn’t always so talented, you know.”

“I heard about the whole flood incident. Fortunately for you, God took the blame,” Kalli muttered. “It pays being the king’s sister, doesn’t it?”

Lilith bolted from the sofa and lunged at Kalli. Her nails extending into long claws, she wrapped her hands around Kalli’s neck. “Get over it,” she hissed out.

“No,” Kalli seethed, squeezing her nails into Lilith’s fingers as she pried them from her neck. With a deafening snap, she twisted Lilith’s wrists and held firm. Her amethyst eyes flickered and sparked. Fangs poked from her mouth. Where’d she been hiding those?

As if Lucy had just turned on the nightly WWE program, the women sized each other up like two professional wrestlers. Thank goodness there wasn’t any mud! If these women kept it up, she’d have another disaster to clean up in her salon. It wasn’t time for a catfight.