Page 22 of My Saintly Demon

Faking a smile, I place my hand on the door handle.

“Oh, I’m not staying in town or I’d take the help. That’s kind of you to ask.”

The one closer to me with the knife lunges and twists my arm behind my back.

“Just give us yer wallet and keys and I won’t leave ya here bleedin’ out.”

“Let him go.”

In my panic, I’d forgotten I wasn’t alone. Dave steps within distance of the man with the knife.

“This don’t concern you, man. We just want the money and the car.”

“Don’t make me ask you twice.”

The tip of the knife presses with more force against my side and the burger I enjoyed threatens to make a return appearance.

“Not another step or he gets it.”

Dave sighs like it’s the biggest inconvenience and what happens next will be seared into my brain forever. Dave’s hand flies out, yanking the man off me with the ease of a child tearing tissue paper. His eyes burn red. Two molten balls of fire that don’t even resemble eyes, as he tosses the man aside before turning his attention to the second threat.

“What the fuck are you?”

The second carjacker stumbles and falls on his ass in his haste to put distance between him and Dave. But Dave isn’t having it. He picks him up by the throat and drags him to where his friend still lies, moaning on the ground.

“I’m your worst nightmare. And you picked the wrong person to fuck with today. Nobody threatens what’s mine.”

Tossing the man to the ground with his friend. Dave doesn’t look back. Instead, he strides toward me. Jaw set, he runs his hands over my body. “Are you hurt?”

Shaking my head, I push him away and vomit on the pavement before slumping against the SUV.

Voices of others penetrate through my fog as I’m carried to the passenger side. He settles me in the seat and buckles me in. Brushing the hair away from my forehead, he squeezes my leg before closing the door and rounding the front of the vehicle.

Without another word, he pulls away from the parking lot and the crowd gathering.

And I pass out.

CHAPTERTEN

DAVE

The entire drive to Mike’s house, Charles remains asleep. He’s not unconscious. I think he was initially, but he’s been fluttering his eyes and talking in a fitful sleep the entire time.

Fucking carjackers. What would have happened if I wasn’t there? He’s so kind and naïve and as much as he wants to put on that tough mask, I know he’s not. He’s just as soft as me, and this arrangement will not go as planned. I’m not willing to walk away either. Handbook and rules be damned.

Charles needs someone in his corner. I don’t mind it being me.

When he finally opens his eyes, we’re parked in a carport next to what I assume is Mike’s house.

He groans as he wiggles and sits up.

“I hope they have a bathroom here. I need to piss.”

“We have to wait for Mike before we go in.”

He’s silent for a few minutes, leaning his head against the window.

“Did you break another demon rule at the Burger Barn?”

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