“Heard any whispers about the end of the world?”
“There are always whispers. Especially since this.” She jabbed her thumb in the direction of the empty space. “The spirits have been restless. There’s a lot of evil going on, and it seems to be getting worse with every passing day.”
Chavez and I exchanged glances. That would follow if there were new and old demons being released at an unknown rate.
“He said the apocalypse is coming,” Chavez murmured.
“He’s probably right.”
Samantha refused to let Chavez and me take her home. “I have too much to do here. We need to be prepared.”
“You really think the end is near?” he asked. “They’ve been predicting that for centuries.”
“Sooner or later, they’ve gotta be right.”
When she wasn’t speaking with Satan’s voice, Samantha made a lot of sense.
“Could I talk to you privately, Chavez?” Samantha tilted her head in my direction—though slightly to the left.
“Sure,” I said. “I’ll just be”—I glanced around the depressing cement walkway—“over here.”
I hadn’t gone very far when Samantha began to whisper furiously. Chavez’s deep tones answered with equal fervor. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but not for lack of trying.
“Hello.”
I jumped. Heart thrumming so loudly I could hardly hear, the beat slowed at the sight of the tall, slim, beautiful blond woman near the fence. I must have been too preoccupied with Samantha and Chavez to notice her.
“Hi,” I returned. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You weren’t. It’s lonely out here.”
“I’ll say.” This place had given me the willies, even before Satan showed up.
“He’ll kill you.”
I jumped again. “Wh-what?”
She indicated Chavez. “He’s a warrior. He understands that sometimes one must be lost for the good of many.”
My eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
She smiled, and the familiar low, thrumming sexual need began—the need that was brought on by a demon.
“I don’t do women,” I said.
“You will.”
She was probably right. I opened my mouth to shout for Chavez.
“He’s obsessed. Ever since the unfortunate incident.”
My mouth snapped shut. Did I really want to know this?
Uh-huh.
“What incident?”
“Possessed by a demon. Poor baby.”
I glanced at Chavez, who was still speaking with Samantha. If he looked my way he’d only see me talking to what appeared to be a harmless woman.
I remembered what Chavez had said to Satan. “Possession drives humans insane.”
“Exactly.”
“You’re saying he’s crazy?”
She shrugged. “Crazy is a relative term.”
Not in my book.
“What happened?”
“He was possessed. His mother did everything she could think of to drive the demon out.”
She licked her lips and gave an “mmm” of pleasure. I gritted my teeth against the response that tugged in my belly.
“She was quite creative.”
My eyes narrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Have you seen his tattoo? She gave it to him herself when he was fifteen.”
I frowned. “And then?”
“She whipped him, starved him, locked him in the basement. The usual things people do to get rid of the devil.”
“Sounds like the things people do who are the devil.”
“Ignorance. Fear. They’re my master’s domain.”
“He had Chavez possessed so his mother would hurt him?”
“That’s what he does.”
My fingers curled until the nails bit into my palms. The pain eased both the anger and the infuriating sexual arousal. “How did they get the demon out?”
“Exorcism.”
“Those are still done?”
She scowled. “Every damn day.”
I found that hard to believe, but what did I know?
“Once Chavez was clean, he became the most feared of all the hunters. He was young, but he was thorough. He’ll do anything to defeat one single demon. He hates us.”
“News flash—everyone does.”
“Not you.”
“When you aren’t messing with my head I do.”
“Messing with heads is in my job description.” Her gaze swept over me. “Among other things. He will kill you, you know?”
Chavez’s face was fierce as he listened to Samantha. He did seem capable of anything. Even murder.
“And you won’t?” I asked.
“I didn’t say that. But you’ll die happy. I promise.”