Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(59)

“I’d rather let him explain it.” Rafe’s gaze, even though intense, had a calming effect. “But it is very interesting.”

Yep, her dad still had it. He’d managed to reel in the ever so stoic Rafael Deleon. What a feat. Her father could sweet talk a demon. A powerful one, at that.

Sweet talk a demon, her mind echoed. A lump filled her throat as the temperature in the room lowered by ten degrees. She refused to dwell on that explanation. She tugged at her sweater and shook her head.

She turned to face the cold draft of air. Standing before her was the apparition, swimming in a mass of gray cloak, the dark hood covering most of its face. It floated there, as if on its own invisible cloud. The familiar scent of musk and sandalwood wafted in the air. Where was Dad?

“So how can I help you, creepy cloaked guy?” she crossed her arms and raised her chin. “If you’re trying to scare me, it’s not working.”

The cloaked figure raised its arms, its hands translucent. This thing took creepy to the extreme. She slid a gaze toward Rafe, who sat calm and still as a rock. Some bodyguard.

Pulling its hood down off its head, the apparition solidified in front of her. Sandy blond hair peeked from beneath the hood as greenish amber eyes sparked. His lips curved into a wide beaming smile, her father stood tall with arms opened wide to embrace her. What in the hell?

“Lucia, please. I missed you.”

The floating caped figure was her dad? No way! Like she was on a soap opera adequately named Demons of Our Lives.

No! No! No!

With a shake of her hand, a deep chuckle rumbled from her mouth. “Wait just a minute. You’re telling me that you’re a demon?”

“Lucy,” Rafe whispered, reaching for her arm.

She yanked it from his grasp. Pacing in front of the couch, she shook her head. She turned a sidelong glance toward Rafe. His jaw twitched and his silver eyes swirled gray. She’d noticed that expression before—when they talked about Larissa and her multiple personas. Frustration and hurt.

Ahh hell. Look what she’d done now.

“Sorry, but I don’t understand,” she mumbled, turning to face her dad. No longer translucent and now dressed in khaki chinos and his favorite blue check shirt, he stood there looking more regal than ever. “So you’re the one who made me this way?”

A wry smile spread across his face. “Quite an accomplishment, don’t you think?” His words, thickened by a deep Italian accent, danced in her ears. Accent? What else was he hiding?

“Fake accent, huh?”

Her dad blinked and his jaw clenched. He had the audacity to look affronted? “My accent is real.”

Of course. But she’d promised that she would let him speak, and she wasn’t one to renege on a promise. “That’s some trick.”

“I was born in Sumer but spent much of my life with the Etruscans. As the centuries change and humans evolved, so did my voice.”

Whoa! Dad was old. She shook her head. Don’t fall for his story, her mind screamed. “You’re always full of good explanations, aren’t ya?”

“Lucy…” Rafe’s silvery gaze sparked in warning.

She threw her hands up in exasperation. “What? I don’t have a right to be pissed?”

“You have every right, my dear.” Her father came to stand next to her and took her hand in his. “I’d feel the same if I were in your position.”

His touch was tender, just as it had been when she was a girl. His gaze pleaded, drawing her to him. She missed him so much, but now that he had returned under false pretenses, she didn’t know what to do. She took a deep breath.

With smooth efficiency, she pulled her hand from his. “I told Mom I’d let you explain. So explain.”

Her dad smiled. “Thank you, my little—”

Narrowing her eyes, she shook her head. “Don’t even…” She didn’t want to be called a little demon. Especially not now.

“Fair enough.” He turned his gaze to the empty couch. “Will you have a seat now?”

She had no choice. She ambled to the couch and took her time getting comfortable. She gripped the arm tight to prevent her hand from doing something she would later regret. “Better?”

Rafe scratched his stubble as he scrutinized the father and daughter powwow. Why was he here? To hell with this protection baloney. Why was their family reunion any of his concern?

She turned to face Rafe. “No offense, but why are you here?”

Shrugging, Rafe sank further into the chair, his hands balled into tight fists. “It concerns me.”

She gazed to father and demon and sighed. Both remained straight-faced and tight-lipped. Her words came out a little harsher than intended. “What the hell is going on?”

Her dad blew out a ragged breath and rubbed his temples. “I’m trying to find the right words.”

“Say what? That you’re a demon?” With bemused wonder, she scratched her head. “Easy as pie. ‘Lucy, I’m a demon.’ See?”

Her father let out a halfhearted chuckle. “I wish it was that simple.”

“Don’t tell me you’re an Infernati warrior and you’ve come to bring me back to Belial.”

Her dad’s amber eyes sparked. Not at her, but at Rafe. Daddy wasn’t the only one withholding information. “Belial?”