Page 33 of Demon
He didn’t ask, but watched her with one brow quirked, wondering if she would volunteer what he wanted to know.
She shook her head.“Gavin was two when I was born.He couldn’t say Veronica, and I wasn’t yet big enough to insist on being called something else, so he shortened it.He called me Rica.”She lifted one shoulder and let it fall.
“That’s cute.”
“Glad you think so.”She rolled her eyes.“You’re not the one getting called Rica.Every time someone hears it, they assume my name is Erica and then I have to explain the whole thing.”
Demon held both hands up as if he was showing that he was unarmed.It was a lie, but that wasn’t the point.
“No judgement from me.You already know my name issues.”
“Name issues?”Gavin asked.
“Your sister didn’t tell you about me and my cousin?”Demon asked with a lifted brow and a glance in her direction.
Gavin didn’t answer right away, instead his gaze skimmed down Demon’s body, taking his time as he took in Demon’s kutte and boots.From his expression, it was clear Ronnie’s brother didn’t think much of him.That was okay.Demon was used to it.Not that he cared.It wasn’t her brother’s opinion of him that mattered to Demon.Nor did he care about the other man’s trust.
The only one he needed to trust him was Ronnie.
“Gavin came to tell me that our dad is up to something.”
“Veronica!”Gavin’s tone was chastising.“You don’t share family business with strangers.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Demon said automatically.He didn’t close the distance between them and pin him to the wall to teach him better manners, but he wanted to.
“I’ll talk to my sister any damn way I please.”
“No.”This time Demon stepped forward, though he was careful not to touch him.He wasn’t looking to escalate the situation, only to show this guy that he was not going to stand by and watch someone mistreat Ronnie.Even if it was her brother.“No one gets to talk to her like that.No one.Treat her with respect or you can go home.Maybe go stay with your dad instead.”
Ronnie snorted, drawing his attention to her.
“Problem?”
“He’s not going to stay with Dad.He’s been trying to convince me to leave Tucson for years, if only to get farther away from daddy dearest.He found out that Dad’s mixed up with the same club your cousin is and came to warn me.”
“That true?”Demon turned his gaze back to Gavin.He watched the man in front of him carefully.He used all his training, both from the Marines and with his current employer to take in all the clues.From the way the other man stood, his posture, the way he spoke, his mannerisms and every little twitch of his eyes and face to try to read what the man was thinking and if what he was telling him was true.
“That’s true.But I can’t tell you more.My source is classified.”Gavin folded his arms across his chest.
Demon could tell by the way he stood that he wouldn’t budge from this.
“You said you work for the government.What agency?”
Gavin stared at him for several seconds.
“I’m with the DEA, though I’m not sure why that matters.”
Demon couldn’t help the smile that crept across his face.He could have made it warmer, but he didn’t bother as he held his hands out, showing they were empty.
“Firecracker, do you have a pen and paper I can use?”
“Yeah, just a sec.”She slid off the stool and moved away, he wanted to watch her but didn’t want to look away from her brother.
“Why do you need paper?”Gavin asked.
“I’m going to give you a name, I want you to reach out to your office, get his number and call him.”
Gavin frowned.“Why?”
