“We might have a problem,” I said, shifting and meeting his gaze.
He tensed and crossed his arms. “What?”
“The ex-FBI agent lives in York.”
Damian’s expression hardened but before he could balk, I added, “He’s the only one on the news who didn’t jump to the conclusion that you killed those people. He said he spoke to a witness, a cafeteria worker who saw what happened. He said you weren’t responsible for the officer’s death despite the evidence stacked against you. The cops disagree, in light of the surveillance video, they severed the agent’s connection to the case. That’s when I got pissed. Lucifer is doing a hell of a job setting you up.”
“I’m aware of what that bastard is doing, and now we have a garage smeared with blood. I’d bet my left arm there will be a missing person reported and he’ll make sure the blood in the garage is matched to the victim.”
“But the dogs?”
Damian pointed toward the tunnel. “You missed the coup d'état. The hellhounds disintegrated, so it’s just a bloody mess.”
“Jesus,” I whispered, my mind turning this new fact over. It was like Lucifer intentionally sent those beasts into the slaughterhouse. “It would have been better if the carcasses were found, even though they would have been a real bizarre find.”
Damian sent a sarcastic smile. “That would have made things eons better,” he said and ran his hand through his tussled hair. “Should we change our plans and head to Greece?”
I blew a stream of air from my lips, considering his offer, but I knew damn well both cops and Lucifer’s henchmen would pack the airports. “No. I think we need to look up that agent. He’s the only one who believed you weren’t responsible and both the cops and reporters made him look like a fool.”
“He’d hand us over in a heartbeat,” Damian said.
“Well, if he tries, I can always turn tiger,” I said and forced a smile, but the prospect of hurting a human made me feel sick to my stomach. I swallowed the burn in the back of my throat. “But I don’t think he will. Before he got into his car, he said if we wanted someone on our side, to look him up.”
Damian rolled his eyes. “It’s a bullshit ploy,” he said, raising my irritation level.
“I know bullshit when I see it,” I said. “This wasn’t. Besides, I’d rather take my chances with him than the cops, because you know damn well if we end up in a jail cell neither one of us will walk out alive.” The memory of the roadblock in New York City crossed my mind, the sheer number of police officers Lucifer commanded had chilled my blood and even the memory made me shiver.
“How do you know this guy isn’t in Lucifer’s pocket?” Damian asked as if he got a whiff of my memory.
I focused on him. “I don’t.”
“Then why the hell do we even chance it?”
We stared at each other and I sighed. “It’s just one of those things, Damian. I trusted him. I don’t know how to explain it better than that.”
“What’s his name?”
“Special Agent Steve Williams.”
“As soon as I finish welding the doors, I’ll find his address. While I’m doing that, do you mind packing things upstairs?”
I didn’t mind, especially with him safeguarding the house from demons and other preternatural creatures. My gaze dropped to his leg. “Do you have any bandages down here?” I pointed to his still oozing wound.
“I don’t think so,” he said and turned, disappearing into the bathroom. The creak of a door drifted on the quiet followed by the crinkle of a package being opened. When he stepped out, a six-inch bandage covered the cut. “I guess Michael stocked us up,” he added and pressed his lips together.
Damian’s hands found his waist and his head dropped to his chest. It wasn’t until I saw the shake of his shoulders that I realized he was crying. I crossed and lifted his chin. His crystal-blue eyes swam with tears and more clear drops traced lines in his face.
“I guess grief hits at the damnedest times,” he said and laughed, swiping the tears from his face like they were an unforgiveable offense.
My heart squeezed in my chest and I wrapped my arms around him. He returned the hug for a minute and then planted a kiss on my cheek.
“I don’t have time for this right now,” he mumbled and stepped away, heading back into the bathroom. This time, when he came out, he wore the clothes he had on when we were attacked and I started to speak, but he held up his hand.
“I’ll change after I’m done.” He pointed toward the tunnel and then stepped out of the bedroom, leaving me with my own sense of loss.
Chapter 10 - Naomi
I dropped the duffel bags into the trunk of the Aston Martin and retreated to the living room, irritated that the only comfortable thing I found to wear was a pair of Damian’s sweat pants. My cell buzzed and I picked it up from the table, glancing at the caller ID. It wasn’t Valerie, so I answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Mrs. Andreas?”