He jerked his head toward me. “This isn’t a joke, Tess.” His voice was clipped. “I have no idea what you’re dealing with.” Those angry eyes focused back on the road. “Hell, I’m still trying to accept that demons exist. And I don’t want you doing this alone.”
Me neither! And if Kipp was here I wouldn’t have to. But why point out the obvious? We both knew it.
“Trust me, I’d be all for having you come with me, but you don’t have the protection I do.” I fiddled with my fingers in my lap. “Besides, I kinda get the feeling I have more strength to deal with it because of my connection to ghosts.” Why I knew that was so definite was simply beyond me, but I did feel stronger than Max in this regard.
His lips thinned. “My worries aren’t settled.”
Ditto. But I was on my way to deal with this demon and worrying about the what if’s wouldn’t help me. “It’ll be fine.” I hope. “I’ll be fine.”
Not quite sure who was I trying to convince, him or me?
The rest of the drive remained in silence. And when we approached Chelsea Avenue, my nerves rattled me. I gripped the bag on my lap and tried to find a brave bone in my body. It appeared hidden under the mask of sheer fear.
Max pulled up to the curb, stopped the truck, then turned to me. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll wait out here for you.”
“I don’t think that’s wise,” I countered. “What if it gets out and then…I don’t know…possesses you, or something.” No lightening the mood here. Max’s expression was more firm than I’d ever seen it. “Honestly, I’ll call if I need help. Promise. But Dane was right. You shouldn’t be around for this.”
His brows drew together, but after a long pause, his posture relaxed. “The moment you’re done, or if you run into trouble…” he handed me a radio, “call for me and I’ll come.”
“Will do.” I opened the door, and was just about to get out when Max latched onto my arm, forcing me to glance back at him.
“For God’s sake, Tess, be careful.” His normally strong gaze held deep concern. “Do you hear me?”
“Max...” I mirrored the exhausted sigh he’d made. “I will sure as hell try.”
His hard stare told me he didn’t want to let go, but he eventually did. I shut the door behind me, then turned toward the rundown house and inhaled the warm breeze that carried fresh scents of nature.
I tried to remember what Dane had said. Dammit, I always had the worst memory. I c
ursed that personality trait right now. Sure, I could have called Dane, but I’d rather swallow a nail than see the reason Kipp was gone.
“Michael to my right. Michael to my left. Michael over me. Michael under me.” I snorted, as weird images flashed through my mind. “No, that can’t be right.” I was never going to remember it.
“If you’re there Michael, the Archangel, watch my back, will ya? And get that flaming blue sword of yours out and do some serious ass kicking.”
With a big push of determination, I strode forward and coldness washed across my soul. I rubbed my arms to warm myself. “Kipp,” I whispered. Hoping he’d hear me. Hoping he’d come. Alone, I was scared. With him here, I could take on anything.
But with each step I took, the awareness he wasn’t coming weighed heavily on my shoulders.
At the front door, I opened it, then stepped over the line of salt and spotted the medallions placed there, too. I entered the living room, hearing the floorboards complain under my feet as dust made my nose crinkle.
I’d only taken two steps in before it appeared.
It—the man—seemed to consider me before he said, “She’s returned.”
I wasn’t fooled by the kind look he possessed. The darkness in his gaze gave away the evil that lurked within him, even if by all appearances he seemed like a typical man with short brown buzzed hair, masculine features, and a tall frame. His uniform once again made me pause.
Where had I seen it before?
Not that it really mattered. My concentration stayed on those dark eyes of his. I hadn’t noticed it before, but my lingering disbelief that demons existed faded as I stared one right in the face. “Come to get rid of you.”
“You think you can?” His gaze travelled to the necklace at my throat. “You think that will protect you?”
I fought against the fear rising and attempted to hide it. “I believe so, yes.” I drew in on the strength I had within, pushed it to the surface. “And you wouldn’t be looking at it if you didn’t think so, too.”
“You thought wrong.” The demon shot forward to attack and only a hairsbreadth away it was as if he hit a brick wall. He flew backward, landing with a loud thud on the floor.
In a second, he was on his feet, he cursed in some language I didn’t understand, but sounded scary as hell.