Page 19 of Calling Chaos (Demon Bound #3)

18

Cooper

“ A nd you’re sure you’ll remember how to get there?” Cooper asked for maybe the second or third time; he couldn’t be sure.

“Puppyyy,” Chaos chastised, drawing out the word with a sly smile. “What a silly question.”

Cooper could only stand there, staring at him doubtfully. He was vaguely aware he was acting like a mother hen, but he couldn’t help it. He’d given Chaos directions to Ivan’s apartment—and then to his office, in case the Book was stashed there instead—but how much experience did Chaos really have navigating human cities?

Basically none, was the answer—at least not without Cooper at his side. Because, frankly, Chaos just wandering around the blocks, circling Cooper’s apartment for funsies, didn’t really count.

And now he was being stubborn and refusing to let Cooper order a car for him. When Cooper had suggested it, he’d wrinkled his nose and whined, “How will I enjoy the delicious disorder of the city from inside a vehicle?”

Cooper wished he’d thought to get Chaos a phone before now. He’d feel better with something connecting the two of them while they were apart. Obviously Chaos could handle himself when it came to any physical threats or danger, but there were just so many damn people in this city. Cooper couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Chaos was going to disappear like smoke out of Cooper’s life the second he let him out of his sight.

It was a terrifying thought. Cooper had only just found out he got to keep Chaos—he couldn’t go losing him now. And he couldn’t give Chaos his own phone and have him contact the apartment security desk if he got into any trouble, because Cooper needed the damn thing to connect with his contact, who still hadn’t told him the meeting location for the day.

The nerves and panic started growing, churning in Cooper’s gut, and then Chaos’s hot hands were on Cooper’s cheeks, his eyes boring into his very soul. Their yellow-gold color clashed with Chaos’s hair today, which was a bright tennis-ball green. It had made Cooper smile when he’d seen it upon waking up—at least Chaos would be easy to find in a crowd.

“Listen to me, puppy,” Chaos said, firm and clear, all his slyness tucked away for the moment. “I’m very clever, aren’t I? And strong. And not afraid of any of the silly threats of your realm. Your worries are sweet, and quite tasty on the air, but they’re foolish. Even if I got lost, I would track your soul via our contract.” He released one hand from Cooper’s cheek to tap at his chest, over his heart. Was that where he was holding a piece of Cooper’s soul? “You can never, ever hide from me, even if you want to.”

For something that sounded like it should be a threat, it was surprisingly reassuring. “Oh.” Cooper let out a breath as Chaos poked at his cheeks, as if to encourage him. “That’s good, then. Cool. Freaky but cool.”

“Yes.” Chaos nodded seriously, his fox eyes unblinking. “I am both those things.” He cocked his head, stroking his thumb along Cooper’s cheekbone. “But as for you, sweet summoner.” He tapped his thumb, the talon poking sharply at Cooper’s skin. “If you feel any distress on your errand—if anyone is unkind to you in any way—you’ll phone Ivan, and he’ll have Nix come get you.”

“He will?” Cooper asked, doubtful once again. That didn’t sound like Ivan. He was more likely to hang up on Cooper and then later fire him for the inconvenience of his interruption.

“He’d better,” Chaos said ominously. “Tell him I said so. Remind him of my teeth.” He grinned, displaying his fangs. “And my claws.” He tapped Cooper’s cheekbone again. “And fire.”

Cooper let out another breath. It would be a last resort for sure, but that was better than no resort at all. “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll call him if I need to.”

“Good, obedient puppy.” Chaos pressed a surprisingly chaste kiss to Cooper’s lips, then both his cheeks, and then finally his nose. He grinned impishly, his horns, wings, and tail disappearing and his eyes returning to an oddly dull brown, though his hair remained the same bright green.

“Time for thievery!” he cried and turned on his heel to bound out the front door, which opened for him as if Cooper didn’t have ten different locks engaged. The door slammed behind him, the locks somehow still in place.

And just like that, he was gone.

He’ll be back , Cooper reminded himself immediately when his stomach started turning over again. He might even finish his errand before I do. He could be waiting here when I return. Either way, he’ll be back.

He told himself the same thing over and over, breathing in and out slowly, until his phone finally dinged at him. It was a message from Smith—his contact for fake identification—with the address for the day. It was unfamiliar to Cooper, but that was normal. Smith switched offices regularly, sending Cooper a different address almost every time they met. He was a chill guy in the sense that he wasn’t a murderous mafioso, but he was pretty paranoid.

Cooper felt practically well adjusted in comparison.

He left his apartment building, wincing as the frozen outdoor air hit his face. Good thing he’d finally put a coat on over his sweatshirt. It had been a mild, dry winter so far, but the mornings were finally starting to turn bitterly cold.

Yet, coat or no coat, Cooper missed Chaos’s warmth already. If they’d been together right now, Chaos would be holding Cooper’s hand, swinging their arms between them, his skin burning hot against Cooper’s. He’d probably also be making a spectacle of them in some way, but Cooper wouldn’t mind—getting noticed by people wasn’t so scary when Chaos was around.

Because Cooper might be going unnoticed right now—walking alone by himself, his hood up and his head down—but somehow he felt more vulnerable than ever.

He’d gotten used to the comfort of his demon beside him.

Still, he took the subway rather than use any of Ivan’s drivers. Smith didn’t like any more outsiders than necessary to know his location. The station and the subway cars were as crowded as ever, but everyone was minding their own business, so Cooper did his best to breathe out his anxiety.

He distracted himself by trying to figure out which of humanity’s little quirks on display would tickle Chaos the most. After three stops, he gave the honor to a guy carrying a dog that looked like some sort of husky mix in an oversize tote, technically in compliance with the rule that all dogs be contained in carriers on the subway. The massive dog was absurdly calm and well behaved, clearly used to this method of transport.

Yeah, Chaos would definitely get a kick out of that. Although, he’d probably like it even more if there was another, rival dog—maybe a really tiny one—and the two dogs started barking at each other and then leaped out of their respective carriers, jumping all over each other and all over the passengers and generally causing a terrible commotion.

Yeah. Cooper smiled to himself. Chaos would probably like that best.

He got off at the stop closest to his destination and walked the last block, his head down and his gaze focused on his feet once more, the nerves from being away from Chaos giving way to a new sense of anticipation. This meeting would be quick enough, and then…

Then they were going to bond. Today. As soon as Chaos could get back with the Book.

Chaos had told Cooper he didn’t want to wait. “No take backs,” he’d reminded him as soon as Cooper had opened his eyes that morning, as if Cooper being a flight risk was a real possibility.

Maybe it should have been. This was the kind of life-altering decision that Cooper would normally think and rethink and rethink again until he’d talked himself out of any course of action.

Instead, this would be the second time in his life he’d acted completely on impulse. The first had been offering himself up to Dimitri in place of his father. Maybe not the smartest thing he’d ever done. But if he hadn’t done it—if he hadn’t inserted himself into the Mafia world—he never would have come across that Book in Ivan’s office, would he?

The rough, lonely road he’d traveled had led him to Chaos.

It was a comforting thought. Cooper didn’t believe in fate—if it existed, it was a real bitch for taking away his mother the way it had and leaving his dad in such despair—but he could pretend, for just a moment, that he’d always been meant to belong to Chaos. To be his friend. His anchor. His human mate.

And that would mean Chaos, in turn, had always been meant to be Cooper’s. To be his friend. His lover. His wily, tricky, wonderful demon.

Cooper stopped in front of the address that matched the message on his phone. It was a narrow, nondescript building, with little placards at the entrance for each office inside. A good number of them seemed to be empty, but there was one for a lawyer and one for a personal accountant. The office number Cooper had been given didn’t have a business name next to it, but then, Cooper wouldn’t expect it to.

The main door was unlocked, no buzzer needed for entry, and Cooper walked down the narrow, dimly lit hallway until he came to the last office on the first floor. He knocked, but there was no answer. He tried the handle—unlocked.

He walked inside to find himself in what seemed to be an abandoned waiting area, with a few busted chairs and an open doorway leading to some sort of inner office.

“Smith?” he called out.

Silence.

The door to the back room was open, though, and Smith liked to use noise-canceling headphones while he worked sometimes. He never sat with his back to the door, but it wouldn’t be the first time he hadn’t heard Cooper come in.

Cooper tried again anyway. “Smith?”

Nothing.

He approached the open doorway, looking through to a small, windowless office with an empty desk and no chair. There were a few boxes with the lids half off, filled with what looked to be old paperwork. There were none of Smith’s usual accessories. There wasn’t even a computer.

Cooper checked his phone again. He had the right address and the right office number. And Smith was meticulous with communication—it would be unlike him to give Cooper the wrong information.

Hey , Cooper texted. Any chance you changed locations?

Maybe Smith had given him an old address after all. Unlikely didn’t mean impossible.

He saw the three little dots that meant Smith was typing out a response, but then the softest whisper of a footstep had Cooper raising his head, ready to turn.

Before he could, something sharp jabbed into his neck. He lifted his hand to swat at it—had he just been bitten by something?—but his arm flopped only halfway up, heavy and useless.

Cooper’s head swam. He tried again to turn, but he couldn’t get his feet to cooperate. He couldn’t get his knees to lock either. He was falling, the floor rising up to meet him.

And then nothing. Only darkness.