Another bounce of that Adam's apple. "Carl didn't see him well, and only caught a glimpse of the guy once, right before he found that damn note."
"What did he say about the guy?" Holly shifted from one foot to the other.
"He was tall. Had on a big coat." A helpless shrug. "That he'd kick the bastard's ass if he saw him again?"
Only he hadn't gotten to give the bastard that promised ass-kicking.
"W-we don't know any-anything else." Ted's voice was calmer now, but his eyes were pure black. Niol didn't take his hand off the guy's shoulder. Not yet. That demon was wrapped way too tight and ready to explode.
"Yeah, we do." Sean's eyes flickered between gray and black. "We know if we don't get our asses out of town, we're next."
"Why?" Holly's eyes narrowed. "Did you get one of those notes, too?"
The guy went even paler. "Not yet and shit, I'm not staying around to get one! Fucking death card. Found one at Julia's. She had one, Carl had one-you get that shit, you die. "
Holly turned her head and met Niol's stare. He could see the worry. The fear.
He released the demon. Caught Holly's shoulders. "Nothing's going to happen to me."
"Ah…shit." Sean's horror-filled whimper. "The guy's marked you, man? You? "
Niol glared at the punk. "I'm not scared of a human with a death wish."
" I am."
Yes, that was why the two had been breaking their necks to get out of town.
"Running isn't going to solve this problem." He didn't think the men were targets, at least not yet. Pity, he could have used some bait.
"It'll solve my problem," Sean snapped. "I ain't watchin' them bury my friend. I ain't gonna sit there and watch 'em lower his coffin into the ground-"
"Hell, n-no." Ted seconded and looked like he might vomit. "Not Carl. He was my b-best friend since we were s-six . I won't w-watch him-"
"Niol." Holly's voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear her. Then he glanced back into her eyes.
Saw the plea.
Aw, f**k.
Help them. Her lips moved, but she didn't speak.
Fuck.
His back teeth ground together. He'd planned to cut the demons loose, let them slink away as fast as they could, and get on with the hunting.
He'd put out the word to watch for the blond woman and see if anyone else had noticed her hanging around Carl.
But his money wasn't on the woman for the kills. Maybe she'd been a lookout. Maybe she'd been some kind of lure-
The killer Niol wanted was the man. He knew it. The way Carl and Sam had been taken down-
and even poor Julia-that much strength came from a man. The wounds had been too deep. Too hard.
Yes, it was the man he wanted and the man he'd find.
Only a matter of time.
Especially since it looked like he was next on the bastard's list. Looked as if he'd be the bait.
"Niol." Holly's whisper. A sexy sound, really. Breathy. One that stroked over his skin and made his c**k twitch. He remembered the feel of silk sheets against his flesh and warm, soft woman around his body.
He really didn't have time for this shit with the demon duo. Hell, what was he? The freaking guardian of the demons? He was looking for the ass**le who was slicing and dicing them but-
Her hand pressed against his shoulder.
He clenched his teeth and gritted, "I'll put guards on you. They'll get you out of town and to someplace safe." But that was all that he was doing for them. Big green eyes or not.
Thank you. Her lips moved quickly.
Niol grunted.
The duo blinked at him.
"Are you-are you shitting us?" Sean asked suspiciously.
If only. Niol shook his head.
"I-I thought y-you were g-gonna k-kill us…" Ted's stark voice.
Holly sighed. "Oh, come on, what gave you that idea?"
Sean glanced at the ropes near his feet.
"Hmm…let's just call that even, shall we?" She said brightly. "No need to dwell on a bit of, ah, miscommunication."
"Miscommunication, my ass." Sean's eyes were on Niol.
He could almost like the little prick. Kinda reminded him of Carl. Niol stared back at the demon, mouth shut. There'd been no miscommunication, but he didn't worry for a minute that these guys were going to go running to the cops. As a rule, demons didn't handle things that way.
"G-give us the g-guards…" Ted was still shaking. Despite his size, obviously he was the weaker of the two. "And I-I'll f**kin' f-forget everything!"
"Good plan," Niol murmured.
Holly's fingers tightened around him. "Niol…"
He caught her hand and pressed a quick kiss into the center of her soft flesh.
He heard the sharp inhalation of her breath, saw the flare of her pupils. He'd played the good guy for her. Hard, that. They'd just see how much she appreciated his efforts when they were alone and-
A heavy fist banged on the door upstairs.
"Niol! Problem!" Thomas's voice.
And Thomas didn't consider many things to be in the "problem" category.
He pointed to the male demons. "Stay here."
Their nods were instant.
His gaze slanted back to Holly. "And you-"
"No way." Her chin was up. "Whatever's happening up there, well, I'm gonna be by your side."
By your side.
When was the last time a woman had said that to him?
Fucking never.
He kissed her. Hard and deep. Lips taking. Tongue thrusting.
This woman was more dangerous than he'd thought.
"Niol! " Another punch with a fist, this time, it was strong enough that the door groaned as if in agony.
He broke away from Holly and took the stairs three at a time, and he wondered just what hell was waiting for him in Paradise.
The man moved too fast. Holly hopped up the stairs as quickly as she could, but she was still six steps away from the top when Niol shoved open the door.
She caught a glimpse of Thomas's tense face.
Uh, oh. The guy looked nervous and when a demon as big as he was got nervous, that couldn't be a good thing.
She scampered up the steps.
"What the hell is going on?" Niol's hands were on his hips. His gaze scanned the crowd and so did hers. Other than the two vampires who were enjoying a quick drink-Christ, but that skeeved her out-things looked, um, normal. Normal for Paradise, anyway.
"Picked up a call on the police monitor." Thomas's voice had her glancing back at him, her eyes narrowed.
The guy was sweating a bit.
He glanced at her. "There's trouble at Flash Five."