Surrender Read Online Free Page A

Only the fact that his guard stood so close saved him from the thrust of the warrior’s spear. The unfortunate demon guard fell at his feet and evaporated. The Warrior’s grin told that he hadn’t made a mistake.
    The message was clear. If the killing machine had wanted Gerard dead, he would already be dead.
    The sharp tip of the demon’s spear was now aimed at his neck, cutting into his skin. It became obvious; Warrior demons had no qualms with killing their own kind, regardless of rank.  Dread reared its head, but Gerard refused to let the bastard know how affected he was. He forced a flat look and waited for the demon to speak.
    “The money will be deposited by noon tomorrow.” The leader’s red-rimmed eyes met his while his spear pricked the soft flesh under Gerard’s chin.
    For the first time in centuries, Gerard felt ice-cold tendrils of fear run down his spine. The only reason the Warrior demon did not kill him was the money he owed him.
    “I tell you what,” the Warrior told him, still maintaining eye contact. “We’ll stay an additional week—do one last sweep around the identified Protectors’ homes and haunts before we leave.” Lowering his blade, he motioned for the others to follow.
    They walked toward the door at a leisurely pace, confident that no one would dare attack them from behind.
    “Sire, we don’t need them,” Carlo, his second in command, who had remained quiet up until now, spit out once they were gone. “The fuckers haven’t done anything. Our own lower-levels can do as much as they have. What have they charged us so much for? We should just go ahead with our plans and move to Belgium. Our new compound is almost complete.”
    Gerard grunted in response. They were inside Inferno, a demon nightclub owned by a high-level incubus named Sebastian, whose loyalties were questionable at best.
    “Take the guards and return to the house. I will return momentarily,” Gerard instructed Carlo, heading to Sebastian’s office. Right now, he had more important things on his mind than the impending move to Belgium. He needed to find Josh. If the low-level was successful in finding the key, Gerard’s waning strength would be restored.
    Then and only then would he relocate to Belgium.
     
    When Gerard entered Sebastian’s office, the incubus looked up with a bland expression. “How did it go?”
    “It didn’t, but you know that already,” Gerard replied, motioning with his head toward a wall of monitors that showed video surveillance of different areas of the club.
    “To be honest, it would be best if the Warrior demons left. The humans are beginning to take note of the rise in crime. The Warriors are not exactly what I would call careful at keeping their kills low-profile.” Sebastian’s dark gaze flickered over him. “We’re the ones left to clean up their mess.”
    Gerard bristled at what felt like a barb aimed at him. “I don’t give a shit what humans think. They’ll explain everything away with their rationale.”
    “True, but just in case, I’ve planted fake evidence at several crime scenes linking one of our rogue demons to them.”
    “I find it interesting that you did not think to set up one of the Protectors instead. It makes me wonder where your loyalties lie, Sebastian.” Gerard used his mind-reading power and shuffled through the incubus’ mind, but nothing of interest jumped out at him.
    Sensing the invasion, Sebastian’s lips curved, but the smile did not reach his eyes. “You know me, Gerard. I owe loyalty to no one. A Master demon ordered my execution once. That can make one distrustful, wouldn’t you say?”
    Gerard shrugged. “The Protectors will lop your head off without a second thought. You are a demon and, therefore, their mortal enemy. It would behoove you to remember that they are not your allies either.”
    “In that, you are correct, Gerard,” Sebastian replied. “I have no friends, no allies. I consider myself a free agent.”
    “Is that