Demons (Darkness #4)(10)

He said as much.

“Really helpful, Charles, great talk.”

“At least you have a little information. If it was up to the Boss, you’d be back at home base.”

Sasha turned to him in a cloud of frustration. “What is really going on, Charles? Why is he so freaked—”

Her mouth slammed shut and her body went rigid. Her eyes flicked toward her left—Adnan. She could be open with Charles—they were as close as siblings—but Adnan was a different story entirely. And he must’ve known it.

“See you out there,” he said quickly. He slid out of the car and closed the door behind him, waiting just outside.

“What is his deal with all this?” she asked immediately, fear riding her words. “Why is he scared out of his head, Charles? What’s happening?”

“He’s, ah…”

Charles hesitated. This was the Boss’ business, and that man hadn’t opened his mouth to utter a word about it since it happened. Apparently not even to his lady love, which meant he didn’t want the information known. Charles was not about to get killed by being the messenger.

Although, not telling her anything and letting her get her fool self killed would also get him, as her protector, killed.

How did he always end up in these situations?

“You know his parents were killed, right?” Charles hedged.

Sasha’s round eyes swung his way. Charles nodded. “Without giving too much detail—or any, because I value my life—I’ll just say that his parents had a run-in with one of these things, and it didn’t work favorably on his family life. You need to approach with caution on this one, Sasha.”

“Oh my god—demons killed his parents?”

Charles wiggled like fire ants were eating his backside. “I’ve said plenty.”

“A demon like the one in there? Is it that strong—or, you know, that powerful?”

“Jonas said that this one is probably a six or seven, out of ten. Dulcha are nines and tens—not powerful. This one is just slightly more so. The one that…you know…with his parents—gods, I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“I won’t breathe a word.”

“I’m sure he can feel your gushy compassion and all that chick crap.”

“Oh, shut up.” She punched him. “You feel those things, too, you jackass.”

Charles rubbed his arm for something to do. Mental note: teach her how to punch. “Anyway, the demon that…”

“I get it. Finish the damn sentence.”

“Well, it was a three, I think. A really nasty one. They had to sacrifice three people to summon it—two humans called it, the lunatics. Guess who it killed first? Served them right.”

“So the one we have isn’t that strong. But, are you sure? Because Jonas was really freaked out. And Stefan is out of his mind...”

“Jonas lost his dad,” Charles said without thinking. He thrust a finger through the silent air, straight into her face. “If you say one word—one word­—to anyone that I just told you that, I will make your life hell. Do you understand me?”

“No you won’t, because Jonas would’ve already killed you.”

True. Shit.

Worry melted the grin off her face. She peered at the large building a ways in front of him, then at the Boss. “What are we waiting for?”

As if on cue, the Boss’ gaze flashed into the car and pommeled Charles. Charles could feel the power push into his body, buckling his spine and having his gaze headed for the ground before he could stop himself. This was the Boss that everyone feared. Everyone. The mean sonovabitch that fought his way to the leadership role with teeth and nails, taking down males twice his age, experience, and size. If he found someone he couldn’t cripple with brute force, he used his honed intellect. That failing, he used his friends.

Jonas and Jameson had been infallible wingmen, Charles had heard. Still were.

The Boss had started ascending shortly after his parents were killed. He wanted to make sure no other kid would go through what he did. And so far, he had.

But he hadn’t had a demon show up to prove his prowess. Until now. With his chick on site. And not only that, but she’d have to actually face the demon, too.

Charles should have picked another occupation.

Knowing what was coming, Charles spilled out of the car as he clicked on the child lock, slamming the locked door before Sasha could follow. The large, lethal shape of his leader came around the hood, bristling with danger. He did not look scared at all. He looked formidable.

Charles gulped.

“If shit goes sideways, get her out of here,” the Boss growled, putting a heavy hand on the door in an act of protectiveness, keeping Sasha from letting herself out. “I don’t care if you have to knock her out and run, get her out.”

“No problem, Boss.”

Charles felt the dark stare as the Boss ensured those words were heard. When he tore his gaze away to walk to the front line, Charles couldn’t help a sigh of relief. Only to be sucked back up when the crazy sidekick stalked up next.

“You keep her alive, or you better hope you go down with her,” Jonas threatened, his eyes alight with his thirst for blood.

“Don’t tell me my job, bro. I got this.” Charles flexed, wishing that other male’s stare didn’t have the power to give him the heebie-jeebies. Jonas could really turn into a hardass when he placed himself as a protector of someone. Especially someone in danger. Like the pissed off human in the car.