Snooke(Demon Warriors 2)(20)
Snooke lay there until he knew Kane was asleep. He pulled away and got dressed.
He stood in the bedroom doorway staring at the sleeping warrior. It was his shame to bear. Kane was innocent in all this. Why should the warrior pay for Snooke’s sins? He shouldn’t, and Snooke was going to make damn sure he didn’t. Snooke would pay the price to keep the warrior safe. The price being his heart ripping out of his very chest.
He smiled as he saw Kane turn over, snoring loud enough to wake the dead.
His mate.
I love you. Snooke hung his head as he turned around and walked out.
* * * *
Hondo stepped into Malcor’s, Rainerio and Kane at his flanks. He looked around, taking in the busy restaurant. The place was somewhere you would take a date to show off or to entertain a large group.
Malcor’s had a nice atmosphere to it. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. There were couples laughing together, looking like they hadn’t a care in the world. Hondo was glad he and Chris had that kind of carefree relationship. It wasn’t easy, but they were finally back to the fun friendship they had shared for so long.
Hondo sniffed the air. The aromas wafting his way smelled tantalizing. He was ready to grab a seat and order.
“Over there.” Hondo nodded to a table with a very large man sitting there holding court with a half a dozen others. His brows shot to his hairline, and then he quickly masked his expression when his eyes and the elf’s locked together.
It was the same elf that had kept coming to Chris’s to warn that everything is not as it seems. He could see the fear pouring off the creature. Hondo wondered why the elf was sitting with these rough-looking demons, but kept the question to himself. If the elf’s eyes were anything to go by, the questions wouldn’t be welcomed.
The three warriors stepped to the table, Hondo averting his eyes from the elf as Kane spoke. “I’m looking for someone who has been seen here a lot. His name is Snooke. He’s about five foot six, blue eyes, and he has white hair.”
The large man chuckled, but not before Hondo saw rage in the depths of the bastard’s eyes. This guy knew something. He sat there looking smug. A man who thought he owed the world nothing, but the world owed him everything. Hondo hated people like that.
“I only eat here. What do I look like, the owner, a waiter? Go ask Malcor.” The man waved his hand dismissively, as if the warriors were a fly buzzing around his head. An annoyance.
Hondo grabbed Kane’s forearm when Kane lurched forward. He could see the rage on Kane’s face, and the warrior didn’t mask his. Hondo’s fingers itched to let Kane free, to see the smug look leave the bastard’s face. But they didn’t operate like that. The warriors were the good guys.
“Thank you for your time.” Hondo nodded, taking another glance at the elf before walking over to the bar. He asked Malcor, but the owner hadn’t a clue either.
“Why would Torky say Snooke hung in here if no one even knows who we are talking about?” Rainerio asked.
“I need to find that fucker,” Kane stated through clenched teeth as he pushed the door open and stepped out of the restaurant.
“Go calm him before everyone on the street is frozen. I need to make a phone call.”
Rainerio nodded and headed for the door.
Hondo pulled his cell out, watching the patrons in the restaurant.
“Panahasi.”
“It’s me. No one knows who Snooke is at Malcor’s.”
“Or that’s what they are saying. I have a feeling they do.”
Hondo shot a glance over at the table before looking away. “Remember that elf I told you about?”
“He’s there?”
“Yeah.” Hondo scratched his jaw as he looked from the corner of his eye. The elf sat rigid next to the large demon. He could tell the elf would rather be anywhere but at that table. Hondo headed for the door, knowing they had more pressing issues. It ate at him to leave the delicate creature behind. “I don’t know what to make of it. He’s sitting at a table full of men, looking scared shitless.”
“Leave that to me. Go to Bernard’s Buybacks. The owner says he has info on the crystal.”
“Will do, boss man.” Hondo pocketed his phone as he joined the other two warriors.
* * * *
Kane put on a burst of speed, leapt through the air, and tackled Torky. Their bodies rolled a few times before Kane shot to his feet and pulled the bastard up, slamming him into the wall. “Where the fuck is he?” he snarled.
“I told you. Snooke hangs at the Malcor’s.” The demon yelped when Kane’s fist hit the brick wall beside his head.
“He isn’t there, and no one knows who I was talking about. Try again or I’m gonna feed you to the troll down by the river.”