Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(61)

Good ole Lilith. “Great disguise, by the way,” she said with a snicker. “Gives new meaning to ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’”

“My sister is a mistress of disguise.”

“Among other talents, I’m sure.” And why was the sex demon formerly known by five other names targeting her dad and her? It had to do with more than just Lamia. “What’s so bad about Larissa taking Joshua off my hands?”

Her dad flashed a sidelong glance at Rafe. “Yes, Joshua Carlson wasn’t the best man for you, but even so, to move in on another succubus’s mate is against Sexubi code. Then again, Lamia makes her own code.”

“Lamia sounds like a real winner.” And hopefully she wouldn’t have to meet her.

“I can handle Lamia.” Rafe clenched his fist. “I have before.”

Her dad crossed his arms. “Yet here she keeps coming back for more.”

Maybe she was a masochist? Lucy turned the conversation back to Josh’s fiancée. “So how does Larissa fit in?”

“Miss Newell, as she was known when I first lay with her, was one of Lamia’s human servants. The enchanting aura of her sensuality enraptured me.” Her father snorted. “I took her virginity.”

Rafe sucked in a hard breath, teeth clenching as her dad revealed all the dirty details. “Go on.”

“She told me she’d been with men. She lied. I might need sex to survive, but I swore as king to never take someone’s innocence.”

“She told me something completely different,” Rafe mumbled.

“Amanda claimed to love me.” Her father shook his head. “But it was a trap set up by Lamia. When her human form died, Lamia made her one of hers.” Her father turned to lock gazes with Rafe. “I’m sorry you never knew, Deleon.”

“People like keeping me in the dark. I’m sure it was done with good reason.”

“She wanted to become one of Lamia’s minions… completely.” Her father’s gaze grew apologetic. “She knew she wasn’t supposed to touch you, yet she did anyway. She knew exactly what would happen.”

“How comforting.”

Rafe’s voice, so hollow, tore at her heart. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and give him a hug. He needed to know someone cared and wanted to comfort him. Unfortunately, that time wasn’t now. It was time to change the course of the conversation.

Thankfully, her dad went on to explain how he returned to Limbo, never wanting to step foot on Earth again. However, he grew weak and needy.

Then came her mother and those same turbulent emotions. As that clichéd line goes: The rest is history.

“So, the reason Larissa is here isn’t Lamia, at all. It’s all you. The woman was jealous of your mom and you. She wants to destroy you.”

The joke was on her. Joshua Carlson and Lucy Gregory were doomed long before hot-legs Larissa Harding entered the picture. She couldn’t help but smirk.

“Poor Larissa,” she said with a pout.

Both her dad’s and Rafe’s brows jutted up with bemusement. “Huh?” Rafe asked.

“Josh and I were already on our way out. Her plan was for nothing.”

“Perhaps.” Her dad’s gaze grew serious. “Perhaps not.”

“What else does she want?”

“Your mother and you dead.” Wow, Lucy couldn’t have said it more succinctly.

Shaking his head, Rafe ground his teeth. “I can’t believe it. Am I that foolish?”

“No, Deleon. You still have human emotions. I have been around for two millennia and still I was duped.” Her dad’s eyes swirled like two fathomless amber pools. “I am more foolish than you.”

“Fools or no fools,” Lucy said, pulling herself from the couch. She placed her hands on her hips and glared like something reminiscent of a gunfight out of an old western movie. John Wayne had nothing on her—or so she hoped. “We have a demon infestation to stop.”

Her dad’s eyes sparked. “I love your pluck, but this won’t be easy. No fun and games like you see in the movies. No stunt person to fall back on. It’s real, and it’ll be deadly.”

She wasn’t ignorant. She knew it wouldn’t be all roses. After she locked fists with Belial and experienced the stench of brimstone and Atomic Fireballs, she’d learned that lesson. “I’m not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself. Rafe will help me.”

She angled a beseeching gaze toward Rafe. “Right?”

“Your father is right.” His gaze pleaded back, like two giant puppy dogs wading in silver pools. Ugh! For only just meeting her, he knew her too well.

“But you promised,” she urged. “I’m the one who opened the chest, and I’m the one who needs to get us out of this mess. I feel responsible.”

“I’m responsible,” her dad interjected. “I should’ve brought you back to Limbo with me. I knew you had powers.”

“The only powers I have are a good roundhouse kick and some serious kung fu knowledge.”

Her dad raked a hand through his graying hair. “No, you have another ability.”

“I do?” Her mind reeled as she thought long and hard. Then it hit like a ton of bricks. “Latin? Why Latin?”