Page 25 of A Leaner Meaner Midlife

Slapping myself in the forehead, I giggled with fake embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. We’ve just come such a long way to see the dragon become Immortal, I was hoping someone could tell us when the festivities begin. You four look so strong and capable, I assumed you were in charge. My bad. Come on, friends, we’ll find someone more important along the way.”

I ushered the gals and Gideon to follow.

“Not so fast,” a shorter Demon snarled, stepping in front of me. His feral grin was as sickly as his body odor. The stench of sulfur was real. It was all I could do not to hold my nose or gag. He glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby. The area was deserted, and he believed he had the upper hand.

He was about to fuck around and find out.

“You’re not a Demon,” he said monotone as he poked my shoulder with a thick finger and threw me off balance. “Can’t figure out what you are. I don’t like it when I can’t figure it out. Makes me wanna kill something. You know what I mean, lady? You got a nice neck. Sure would love to snap it.”

His cohorts laughed. I joined them. They were a little confused.

I crossed my fingers and prayed that Gideon wouldn’t lose his shit. I could take care of myself if need be. The stinky asshole invading my space would be dust in two seconds if I chose to end him.

“I can’t figure out what I am either!” I laughed like I’d just made the funniest joke in the world. Honestly, we just needed to get out of here. They were not going to be of help and blowing our cover after being here for only fifteen minutes wasn’t a good plan of action. “It’s just nutty. Well, sorry to bother you. We’ll leave you be.”

They sneered and looked me up and down. My little family of five was now surrounded my odiferous asswipes, who had no clue who they were messing with.

“You have money, bitch?” a third asked with a leer on his face. “Or maybe you’d like to sell one of your Nephilim? I could do with a little half-Angel, half-human poon right now. Little sex. Little death.”

“You got that right, buddy,” the big guy said with a grin that made my stomach churn. “I’d suggest you move along and leave the Nephilim here. If that doesn’t work for you, we can kill you and your guy first. Either way, we get the Nephilim. Capiche?”

Jolly Sue, Lura Belle and Dimple quickly moved to Gideon. I could tell he was about to go Grim Reaper on their ugly asses. This was going south fast. I shoved my sparking hands into my pockets. I scanned the area for other Immortals. None, thank, Heavens. I practically squealed with relief.

The Demons were repulsive and stupid. If they made another move toward the sisters, they wouldn’t live to make another lurid remark.

As if by silent agreement, the bigger of the assholes, shoved me into a stone wall, and the others lunged for the girls.

Playtime was over.

“Keep them safe,” I said to Gideon as the demon pressed my cheek against the cold stone. I was itching for some retribution. I knocked the jerk holding me back several feet, pleased with the look of surprise coloring his expression. I gave him my own feral grin and winked at Gideon. “I’ll take care of these stank-breath idiots.”

“My pleasure,” he replied in a venomous tone that gave the Demons pause.

I made a come-at-me-bro gesture, my grin never wavering.

Silly Demons didn’t stop long enough to wonder why I wasn’t afraid of them. Instead, like the raging idiots they were, they came at me like derailed freight trains on a crash course into the Darkness. It seemed they were in the mood to die. In less time than it took to blink, three of them were dust at my feet. All it had taken was a clap of my now flaming hands. The remaining dickhead tried to run.

He was out of luck.

Gideon was on him so fast I barely saw the Grim Reaper move. My other half shoved the waste of space into a dark alcove. He put his knee on the disgusting Demon’s chest and his hands around the dude’s throat. The Demon’s eyes were bugging with shock and fear.

Jolly Sue, Lura Belle and Dimple stood watch as I approached the simpering fool who’d tried to harm my people.

“Name,” I ground out as Gideon held him down with ease.

“Who are you?” he demanded of both of us.

“Not important,” I snapped. “Give me your name.”

Gideon hissed and squeezed the Demon’s neck harder. “His name is Ragon. He’s wanted by the Goddess of the Darkness for deeds so heinous and repulsive I hesitate to speak them aloud. I say we deliver him to her… in pieces.”

“Hmm…” I smiled coldly at the now very fearful Demon. “Not sure how that would work. If I remove his appendages and beat him senseless before I decapitate him, wouldn’t all of his parts turn to dust before they arrived to the Goddess of Darkness?”

“Interesting,” Gideon said in a polite and conversational tone. “Fine point. Well made.”

The Demon paled considerably. “I’ll tell you anything,” he choked out since his airway was being crushed by Gideon. “Anything you want to know.”

“Isn’t that sweet,” I said, squatting down and getting as close to his face as I could without gagging on his breath. “Aren’t you the one who wanted some Nephilim poon?”

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