Chapter 44

10.9K 748 88
                                    

Red.

Red.

The nickname echoes in my head.

TJ doesn't call me Red. Kieran calls me Red.

'Not everything is what it looks like, Red.'

The man I'm looking at isn't TJ, it's Kieran. Which means the man they killed... wasn't Kieran.

"Get Rose!" he says in a hushed command. "Sam, go now! I'll keep you clear."

My heart pounds and I leap to my feet. I don't have time to think, just run. I sprint over to Rose, who is sobbing on the floor.

"Come with me!" I say. "We have to go, now!"

She reluctantly nods and rises to her feet. A few demons seem to notice us and start to head our way, but they're launched back by TJ—er, Kieran—with a flick of his wrist.

"That way!" he says, pointing to the closest door to our left. He's launching demons in all directions and pelting them with fire. The sounds echo through the warehouse, bouncing off every metal surface in a way that pierces my eardrums. Rose yelps in panic as I tug her through and out of the building. The heavy metal door slams behind us and I nearly run into a large man.

Without thinking, I panic and hold up my hand to push him away. He flies backward and skids along the gravel.

"Bloody hell, love!" he curses, rising to his feet and dusting off his jeans. "You pack a hell of a punch."

Oh shit—it's Zane.

A car pulls up beside us and I recognize the driver as Finn.

"We're the getaway car," Finn says, leaning out the window. "Are you two okay?"

"I'm okay," I say, looking at Rose. "This is Rose."

"Hello, Rose. We're here to take you home."

She looks at them with fear, like she's not sure who to trust. I don't blame her. She has no idea who we are.

Zane reaches out an open palm and she reluctantly puts her hand in his.

"You're safe now," he says. "You can trust us, we're your friends."

His words seem to have an instant effect. She stops shaking and lets out a ragged breath, nodding. Zane opens the back door for her and she gets in.

"That... wasn't Kieran, was it?" I ask.

"He and TJ swapped."

Something hits the metal door with a loud clang and I jump.

"We've gotta go," Zane says, closing Rose's door and circling the car toward the passenger seat.

"I... I can't," I say, before I even realize that I've made the decision.

I can't leave Kieran here to fight them all on his own.

Zane reaches into the car and reappears with a large iron club in his hands.

"We know. Catch." He throws it over the car to me and I catch it with both hands. It's so heavy it nearly pulls me down.

He hops in the car and closes his door.

"Kieran said you'd want to stay and fight," Finn says. "Good luck in there, love. Bring our boy home, eh?"

I nod and turn around with the club in hand, taking a deep breath before heading back inside. I hear the engine sounds fade away in the distance.

Here goes nothing.

The Demon King of LustWhere stories live. Discover now