Grabbing a jacket off the hook, I followed him outside. “What are we going to do?”
He was on the porch steps when he spun around suddenly, facing me. I smacked into him unexpectedly, with only one arm in a sleeve. “You…” he fixed me with one of his famous don’t-argue-with-me glares, “are going to stay here until I get back. I am going to find out what they want.” There was a quick flash of lightning in his eyes. Then it was gone.
I checked the “no” box. Shaking my head, I responded, “Not happening, jerk face. I’m coming with you.”
Those unique eyes fell. “I can’t argue with you right now.”
“No shit. I’m still coming, and I am guessing you can’t stop me either, since you can’t seem to stop yourself from walking out the door to heaven knows where.”
“Angel!” he growled. “I am going to kill you when this is over. Do you hear me?” His whole body was tight.
Loud and clear. Christ. He was yelling. Obviously I heard him. “Yeah, I am sort of getting used to being threatened all the time. It doesn’t really have much effect on me.”
He shook his head. “If you insist on making a nuisance of yourself, we’ll take my car.”
Oh goodie.
I jogged to passenger side of his sporty car before he decided to try to pull a fast one on me. The car ripped to life as I was slamming the door. Burying deep into my ski jacket, I tried to find a comfortable position, nearly impossible when I wasn’t sure what we were walking into. He drove along the main road, through town, and jumped onto a narrow road leading toward the outskirts of town.
“How do you know where to go?” I asked, curious what was guiding him. Did he have this internal GPS that lead him to Hell?
“I don’t really know. There is this pull inside me, kind of like being compelled. I can feel someone or something muddling around in my head—calling me—yanking me.” The more he spoke, the darker his tone got. His hands tightened on the wheel, and the vein at his neck popped. “I’m going to kill them.”
Ookay.
I certainly didn’t envy who or what was waiting for him. They were in for a can of demon whoop ass.
I nibbled on my nails. “Do you think we have time to stop for a snack? I’m starving.” I was trying to lighten the thick tension that joined us in his car. It was choking me, along with my fear.
He did not find me amusing. I got the Lucifer glower, which was totally frightening. The closer it seemed we got to this unknown location, the brighter Chase’s eyes glowed.
I practically jumped out of my skin and hit the roof when he parked the car. My eyes glanced up. “This is it? An abandoned parking lot?” The place gave me the willy-nillies. It was too dark, too isolated, and dense pine trees surrounded the whole lot. But most importantly, my hip was throbbing.
“I don’t make the rules, Angel.” Darkness etched in every line of Chase’s face.
“This is bad,” I said.
Chapter 11
“Stay here,” he whispered, reaching for the door handle.
“Where do you think you are going?” I demanded in a louder voice.
He glanced over his shouldered. “To see who is out there.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. There was an evil vibrating in the atmosphere. “I’ll tell you what’s out there—trouble. And you can’t leave me in here alone.” Someone or something might sneak up on me, I added in my head. My overactive imagination was going to do me in.
His lips pursed as he considered the amount of crap that could go wrong. If it was anything like the thoughts running wild in my head, they were doozies. “Christ,” he muttered under his breath. “I want you suction cupped to my side at all times. Got it?”
I nodded, liking this plan. Next thing I knew, he had zapped to my side of the car and was opening the door. With reluctance and shifty eyes, I took his hand and stepped out. “Do you still feel them summoning you?” I asked softly.
His eyes lit up the parking lot, burning so bright. Our fingers were weaved together, and his tightened on mine. “Yes. Much more now.”
Just ducky.
Judging by the color of his eyes, I knew that it wouldn’t be long before Chase went full-on demon. Our footsteps were light and cautious as he scanned the area, but they sounded heavy to me. Tall weeds and prickly bushes rustled in the wind. I stretched out my hearing even though I knew that Chase would pick up any noise before I did. For once I would just like to be forewarned before something jumped out to try to kill me.
Once couldn’t possibly be too much to ask for.
I never get a break.
Chase spun us around so fast, I was sure he had given me whiplash, but the pain in my head was momentarily forgotten as my mouth hit the ground.
Eric’s lips twisted into a plastic smile, eyes solid black—soulless. “Well, if it isn’t the dynamic duo. What took you so long? I don’t like to be kept waiting.” His voice was all off. It had a gravelly texture that was stuffed with an arrogant kiss-my-ass attitude.
It reminded me of someone else.
“Holy crap,” Chase said.