Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(62)

“I spent time with the Etruscans and eventually the Romans. My language abilities passed to you.”

“Gee thanks, Dad. So it’s your fault the nuns at St. Mary’s hated me.”

“That and they may have sensed the demon in you. Holy people are attuned like that.”

She put her foot down. “I’ll stop Belial, with or without your help.” She turned to Rafe. “Well?”

“It’s up to your father.”

Way to pass the buck, Rafe. “Dad? You know I won’t take no for an answer.”

He threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine.” His gaze narrowed with seriousness as he stared out the window. “But be careful. A storm is brewing.”

She looked in the same direction. Thick black clouds churned and roiled in the distance. Heavy gusts of winds sent snow drifts flying across the yard. Craning her gaze toward the driveway, she groaned. Gerardo’s car, which was clean when they first arrived, already had at least six inches of snow piled on it. What in the hell?

Rafe rose from his perch. “They’re preparing for the solstice.” Pulling out his fancy pocket watch, he grumbled. “We have an hour.”

“I don’t like this, but I know my daughter.” Her dad’s lips curved into a wan smile. “Lucy won’t give up until she gets what she wants.”

She wouldn’t argue that. She’d always been determined. Beauty school, Luscious Locks… saving the world. “Thanks, Dad.” She turned to Rafe. “Ready to go?” Her eyes sparked as she loped to the door, leaving him no chance to refuse.





Chapter 18


Justin Timberlake’s serenade pounded in Lucy’s ears as soon as she plopped her ass down in the car seat. She made a quick mental note: Change ringtone.

Fumbling inside the abysmal handbag for the offending contraption, she groaned. “Stupid bag could swallow my whole…” she mumbled as she flipped up the receiver. “Hello.”

“Hey girl,” Serah’s voice crinkled in her ear.

“What’s up?”

“It’s snowing like mad here,” came through in bits of static. “Stay… work. Okay?”

“So you’re staying at work?”

“Until… clears.”

“Hold on a sec.” Placing her hand over the receiver, she turned to Rafe. “Serah says it’s too bad for her to drive here in the weather.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

She took her hand away from the receiver. “Rafe says that’s not safe.”

“Driving back to your house isn’t exactly safe either, is it?” Serah said in a moment of good reception.

“Good point. What if we sent Squeaky to protect her?”

“Squeaky?” Serah said with a bemused chuckle. “You want to send a chimpanzee to protect me?”

“Squeaky seems connected to her,” Rafe mumbled. “He’s a god after all.”

“Cool, then it’s settled.” She turned her attention back to the phone. “Squeaky will be there in about an hour.”

“You’re serious?”

“There’s more to Squeaky that meets the eye, Serah.”

“Other than his three-foot furry body?”

“A lot more,” she said, her voice firm. “He’ll be there in an hour. Okay?”

“Umm, okay. I have some old gangster movies buried in here somewhere. No Chimpfellas though.” Serah said then paused. “A customer just came in. Oh… a hottie too! Talk later.” With that, the phone went dead.

Serah and her hottie clients, oh brother. With a smirk, she shoved the phone into her coat pocket. “Okay, let’s go,” she said as she put Gerardo’s car into gear and pulled out the driveway.

Rafe looked surprisingly relaxed. His hand no longer gripped the door handle and his face wasn’t scrunched in worry. Thank goodness he was getting used to riding in a car. At least it wasn’t Serah driving!

She turned to Rafe, ready to make conversation as they crept at a steady fifteen miles an hour down the icy road. “So who’s this Lamia I’ve heard so much about? Another ex?”

Rafe snorted. “I have more class than that. She takes the form of a snake and can change her appearance at will. After she joined the Infernati, she chose to nourish herself in a not-so-honorable way.”

“How?”

“She feasts on the blood of children.”

Her stomach roiled. “Disgusting! So I won’t feel bad when I kick her ass, then?”

“In theory.” Rafe scraped his fingers through his hair.

“That doesn’t sound all that comforting,” she said as she slid to a stop. A gust of wind blasted into the car, catapulting it sideways.

“Neither does that,” Rafe said craning his head to glance out the frosty window. “Bloody storm demons. Step on it!”

She slammed her foot to the gas pedal, the car revolting by skidding and slipping on the icy snow-covered road. “Easier said than done.”

When she had enough traction, the car lunged forward. Jerking the car to the left, she turned down the road and sped up as much as the weather would allow.

“Why would I feel guilty about battling a demon that bleeds children dry?”