Page 11

Chapter 11

Dex

“ I have a job for you.”

Dex didn’t say anything as he stood in the boss’s office, wondering what it would be this time.

“The politician we paid off to get us the contract is dragging his heels.” The demon gave Dex a sharp grin. “I need you to speed it up. We have too much business to take care of for this bullshit.”

“Congratulations on the expansion,” Dex drawled. “I take it you want me to take care of this now?” He gave Agmos a sharp grin that promised the violence his own demons thrived on.

“No better time than the present.” Agmos came around his desk and slapped Dex on the shoulder hard enough it stung.

But by now, he was used to it. Agmos was the only parent Dex knew after all.

“I’ll get it done.” He tilted his head to one side, and then the other. The cracks and pops relaxed him as he considered how he was going to approach this. “Anything I should be aware of?”

“I’d rather you didn’t kill him.” Agmos shrugged. “But human politicians are easy to buy. So, if there’s no other way, do whatever you have to.”

“Should be a good time.” Dex clicked his tongue and gave Agmos one of his infamous finger guns.

“That’s my boy.” Agmos went to the small bar and Dex waited, sensing there was something else. “How are you doing?”

He twisted his tongue in his mouth, tapping the piercing against his teeth as he considered how to answer that question.

Dex had made sure every sign of those four wolves had disappeared from the universe—like they’d never existed.

Nova seemed to have disappeared as well.

There was no scent for him to follow to hunt her down, and he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of her for days. It was as if she’d been nothing more than a fever dream, except her number was in his phone.

She hadn’t called or texted, and neither had he.

Dex knew it was safer for her if he left her alone. The last thing she needed was someone like him in her life.

He just couldn’t stop thinking about her though and it was starting to piss him off.

“I’m fine, just doing the usual.” Dex shrugged like it was no big deal, but sometimes his life was boring as hell. “Businesses are running smoothly. There haven’t been any issues along the borders.”

“Good.” The demon poured a small glass of scotch and swirled it around. “Keep an eye on our newly acquired territory for the next few weeks. We want to be careful about our movements. Anything too drastic will start to garner the wrong kind of attention.”

“No worries, boss. I got you.” Dex smirked again and slid his hands in his pockets. “You got the address?”

“It’ll be in your email before you leave the building.” Agmos took a sip and smiled at him over the glass, eyes blazing with hellfire. “Make me proud, son.”

Dex nodded and left his office, already feeling his fingers twitching for the violence he craved every second of every day.

He didn’t know what was worse – knowing it came from his angel side, or that it amplified his impulse control issues and cravings for chaos on his demon side. Dex had problems with controlling the rage and wrath that were constantly at war within him.

Taking the stairs, he went on autopilot. He had everything he needed to make this job happen. It would be simple enough, and then he could chill along the border and people-watch.

Maybe he would see her again.

Fucking fuck .

Dex slammed the door open and it nearly busted off its hinges. He stopped, breathing hard as he tried to cool down the wrath. Closing his eyes, he focused on his heartbeat and counted backward from a hundred.

His shoulders ached and he stretched his neck again. It had been too long since the last time. He’d have to release them soon.

Sounds started to filter in again and Dex took a deep breath, cooling the fury that lived in his veins. When he was sure the hellfire and wrath were gone from his eyes, he opened them to see the security guard staring at him.

“Boo.”

The guard jumped and Dex rolled his eyes.

It was so fucking boring how terrified everyone was of him.

Everyone except her.

Fuck .

Dex went through the front doors of the office building and headed for his motorcycle. It was parked illegally but no one ever dared tell him off about it. He grabbed his helmet and slapped it on.

He needed to get her out of his damn head.

It didn’t help that every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were her lips and eyes framed by those soft curls.

Swinging his leg over the bike, he checked his guns to make sure they were secure. With everything in place, he kickstarted the bike and let the roar settle into his bones. He pulled out his phone and studied the name and face that went along with the address.

A list of family and friends was under the main photo, and Dex sneered at the human. They were so easy to be bought. Agmos rarely needed him for this shit anymore. Thanks to his reputation, he was used more as a terrifying guard dog these days than anything.

Dex turned the bike, letting the tire squeal before taking off.

The office of Chad Williams was only a few blocks over. He could have walked but the borders were far enough away it would just be easier to ride.

K-pop music filtered through his helmet and he nodded his head in time with the beat, weaving in and out of cars as he sang along to Blackpink. He stopped at a light, busting out the moves. Why was this shit so catchy?

The nape of his neck prickled with awareness and he noticed the car next to him full of teens.

One of them pulled the same move he did and the other grinned, reaching over to blast their radio until Blackpink was blaring loud enough for everyone on the block to hear. Dex grinned, enjoying the anonymity his helmet gave him.

They danced together to the song, hitting the choreography hard until the light turned green and he pointed two fingers at his eyes and then at the teens, making them all shout and yell. He grinned and blasted off.

Dex took those moments every chance he could.

It was the only time he ever felt like a part of something—when no one could see what he was or what he wasn’t.

Dex pulled up behind the parking structure and climbed off his bike.

He took a deep breath and tipped his head back, letting the weight of the helmet pull his head all the way back. Closing his eyes, he filed that memory away for when he needed to remember he wasn’t always a monster.

Then he stood and walked into the building with his helmet on. It was easier than pulling all the security footage of him after it was done.

No one tried to stop him, but he sensed the flurry of activity as he took the stairs two at a time to the right floor. The door was locked when he got there and Dex grinned, feeling all his violent delights sit up and take notice.

Okay, so this was going to be a game then.

He kicked the door and it blasted off the hinges. Dex walked in to see an empty office. Expected after hours, but there were a few people still in the building, up above him. Mostly security and janitors.

It took a second to refocus his wrath, so it didn’t lash out at anyone he didn’t want it to. The angel side of him didn’t always care who it hurt. Emotions were human problems and humanity was a disgrace.

“Daddy’s home,” Dex crooned, stalking toward the politician’s office. The stench of fear nearly drove him wild and Dex stopped just outside the door, breathing hard as he held it all in. “You gonna let me in, sweetheart?”

The secretary trembled, but she didn’t try to run, thank fuck. She just nodded and buzzed the door open.

Dex focused on the man he could sense inside and calmly opened the door. He stepped through and let it close behind him. Locking it, he pulled off his helmet and let the politician see exactly what he was.

“Look, I’m trying,” Chad told him, hands up as if that would stop Dex. “I’m going as fast as I can.”

“Not fast enough,” Dex growled.

He rolled his shoulders back and let his coat fall to the floor, revealing the leather holster that wrapped across his chest and down his waist. The number of guns on his person was unnecessary, but Dex knew humans were terrified of them.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Chad’s voice trembled with each word. “I promise.”

“Promises, promises.” He stalked forward and enjoyed the way the man cowered before him. “You said it would be done by Friday. It’s well past Friday.”

Chad slid off his chair to his knees and begged. “Tomorrow! I promise it will be done.”

Dex fisted his hands, trying to hold back despite how badly he wanted to smell blood. “I suppose I could be fine with that.”

The way the human slumped in relief left a bad taste in his mouth.

Dex was across the room so fast Chad didn’t even have time to flinch. He gripped Chad’s hair and yanked back, exposing the man’s throat. “I have to leave a reminder, you know, in case you forget again.”

“Please,” he begged, tears escaping him. “Please don’t hurt me.”

“I like the way it sounds when you beg,” Dex growled in his ear, feeling the urge for messy violence, but that wasn’t what this situation needed. “Be a good boy and do as you’re told.”

He yanked a knife from its sheath and flipped it before drawing it across the man’s throat with lightning speed.

Chad’s scream sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine and Dex dropped the man.

The smell of blood was delicious. Dex licked it from his blade as he watched Chad grip his throat, trying to understand how he was still alive. The line across the human’s neck was so thin, so fine, there were only a few drops of blood.

It would be scabbed over in a few hours and on its way to healing, even for a human.

“If it’s not done by tomorrow night, I’ll do it for real.” Dex chuckled and patted the politician’s head. “You’re cute when you beg.”

“It’ll be done,” Chad promised, his entire body quivering.

“Good, because if it’s not, you’re not the only one I’ll be hunting.” He winked and spun the knife before slipping it back in its sheath.

Dex grabbed his coat and his helmet, yanking them both on before leaving the office. He gave the secretary a two-finger salute as he left, grinning at the shocked look on her face.

Some days, he loved his job.