Betrayal - A Demon Squad Story Read Online Free Page A

horror ever perpetrated on man, angel, or demon, was there to be seen, to be experienced in all its terrible grandeur. The first of the evil in the world, Lucifer was the epitome of it all, the entirety of it buried in his eyes. I looked away as the darkness churned in their depths.
    “ Did you recognize him?”
    I shook my head. “I was too busy running for my life to bother checking if he was cute.”
    “ Don’t be vexsome, Triggaltheron.” I could feel the weight of his stare on me, and simply nodded. At last I felt him turn his gaze away, the leather of his chair squeaking as he settled. Only then did I dare to look back. “It would seem Moran has found his own infernal assistance, though I can’t imagine who would be so foolish as to interfere in my business.”
    Neither could I. While there was an unwritten rule that those of the Demonarch—the demon realm—were pretty much expected to wreak havoc where they could, there wasn’t a demon still breathing who didn’t know better than to muck up Lucifer’s plans. If the big guy was cooking, you stayed the Hell out of the kitchen if you weren’t invited.
    Lucifer sighed. “Go and rest, boy, and send Baalth in on your way. I’ve another job for you in the morning, and I want you healed, just in case.”
    I didn’t waste any time. After I’d told my uncle’s lieutenant the boss wanted to see him, I made my way to my room. The stink of gunpowder and charred meat still clung to me. I crawled into bed without bothering to wash. Since I didn’t suspect I’d be getting screwed in any fun way in the morning, I didn’t figure it mattered if I stank.
    We’d all smell the same dead.
    ~
    Morning came around early. We rolled down North Clark Street, me squeezed behind the wheel of the nice new Cadillac sedan Lucifer had rushed into town overnight, headed for the SMC Cartage warehouse. While I wasn’t privy to all the details, I’d overheard some talk about Bugs and his demon flunky supposedly being there. Didn’t take much imagination to realize this wasn’t a social call. The shotgun Baalth was holding kinda helped.
    The demon lieutenant sat in the back with two of my uncle’s goons, another up front. Two of them were dressed like they were going to church, clean suits and ties, long jackets and nice hats, while Baalth and the last of them had on police uniforms. They all sat low in the seats, trying to be inconspicuous. There were too many unfriendly eyes on the street to be so transparent as to cover the rear windows. I’d just have to drive and hope for the best.
    Before I could worry about it too much, we were there. I pulled into an alley that led to the rear of the warehouse and parked, leaving the engine running. Baalth smiled at me and stepped out, shotgun in hand, motioning for me to wait. The three demons slithered out as well. The one in the uniform carried a shotgun like Baalth, the other two toted Tommy guns. Baalth led the way up a short ramp as a German Shepherd, tied to the bumper of an old truck in the parking lot, growled and barked at them. It knew what was coming, even if those inside didn’t.
    Baalth and the others slipped into the warehouse through the back door. Not five minutes later, after some muffled gunshots, the demon lieutenant and the other police-disguised demon came back outside, holding their shotguns on their own men, leading them at gunpoint back to the car.
    That was my idea. If anyone had heard the shots and was peeking outside for a look-see, all they’d remember is two cops taking away a couple of suited malcontents. Misdirection at its finest.
    Once inside the car, Baalth smiled at me. “Drive, Frank.” In his free hand, he held a bloody cloth with something wrapped inside. It seemed to pulse.
    I didn’t hesitate, tearing out of the parking lot, the screech of tires drowning out the dog that howled at our backs. Once we were on the road and across the north-south line, Baalth opened the package and showed it to me.