15. Dante

Chapter fifteen

Dante

A ustin had fallen asleep the moment he’d crawled into bed. I’d showered, dressed, and went downstairs to the casino.

Conrad met me at the bar.

“Everything okay, boss?” He scrutinised my face. What was he looking at?

“Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“Your nose looks weird.”

It was still a little tender, no thanks to Austin, but there was no bruising.

“Anything new?”

“Nope. Same as always.”

“I can’t believe I’m sitting here day after day, night after night, doing nothing but watch a bunch of losers gamble away their hard-earned money.”

“What’s the alternative? It’s what you chose to do.”

“I need more, Conrad. This isn’t cutting it anymore. I think it’s time to make some changes around here.”

“Is that wise?”

“Are you questioning me?”

He shook his head vehemently. “Nope, not at all. I just thought seeing how you had a good thing going here.”

“Money isn’t everything. I’ve settled, Conrad. Settled for an easy, boring life. I’m the devil, for fuck’s sake, and other than the odd bit of mayhem here and there, what do I do? Prince of Darkness? I might as well not exist.”

“What about Austin? He’s brought excitement.”

The image of him on his knees appeared in my mind, and my cock twitched. I wanted to race back upstairs and fuck him into the mattress.

“It’s not enough. I’m done sitting around waiting for trouble to locate me. Do you know who came to find us earlier?”

“I didn’t recognise them, and I’ve put out a few feelers with some old acquaintances, see if they knew who it was. So far, no joy.”

I had my methods of discovering who they might be, but it might take another call to Mal.

“I want someone outside my apartment while I’m not here. Put one of your best men on it. I can’t have Austin slipping out again, nor do I want anyone sneaking in. The lift is fine, but anyone could walk up the stairs. We’ve become complacent, but no more.”

“Why are you so interested in him?”

“You heard what he said, and between you and me, Mal knew of a long-forgotten prophecy about a boy with a light in his heart. Remember what his mother said? If that’s him, I must be the Prince of Darkness. Until I know what’s going on, we keep him safe.”

How could I explain how I felt about Austin? How he’d interested me from the first time I’d seen him.

No, I’d keep that to myself for the moment.

“I’m going out. I’ll be back by morning.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“Stay here, watch the floor, have someone take care of Austin.”

I strode out the door and into the frosty night and called Mal.

“Sorry it’s so late.”

“No worries. Jason’s asleep, and I’m catching up with some paperwork. The lady we employed to replace Zeke still has a lot to learn. What can I do for you?”

“I’m looking for some men. Not sure what they were. Could have been demons, but pretty sure they were mercenaries. They found Austin today within minutes of him leaving the casino.”

“So, a tracker of sorts?”

“I don’t think so.” I thought about the chip but dismissed that, convinced it was protection from me, not anyone else. “The mark is broken. It has to be something to do with that.”

Mal tapped away on his laptop, swearing under his breath.

“Fucking computers. Hate using them.”

“Move with the times, my friend.”

He mumbled something and continued.

“I killed Austin, by the way.”

“You did what?” he shouted.

“Calm down. He’s fine. It was an experiment. He’s been carrying an amulet given to him by The Magic Shop owner.”

I didn’t need to explain to Mal who he was. Everyone knew of him and what he did.

“Start from the beginning.”

I’d already filled him in on the angel mark, and now I explained about the amulet and how I thought it was protection from me, that somehow our futures were entwined. I told him about the story his mother had told him. Mal listened without interrupting.

“I did warn you. Calista was a seer, and if she says that’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. You broke the mark. It was your destiny to do that. Austin carries the amulet to protect him from you until you complete the bond.”

“Bond?”

“Yes. The bond. Once that’s done, he’ll no longer need the amulet.”

“And the men who are after him?”

“Up to you how you deal with them. They’ll do anything to stop the bonding. They want you to bring hell back to earth.”

It was funny how all these things were happening now.

I recalled my recent conversations with Conrad about how I was tired of sitting still, that it was about time I went back to the old ways. The ways of the old devil who rained death and destruction on earth. Then Austin appears with his angel mark and amulet. The story of him and me, how he would bring about the light. These men were intent on killing him to stop that. Now I needed to stop them.

Everything happened for a reason.

“Where is he now?” Mal asked, still tapping away.

“In my bed at the casino. I can’t have him going home.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“A bit of both.”

“You’re already feeling something for him.”

“From the moment I saw him.”

“That’s what happened with me. You know what I’m like with humans. At least you got a part angel as your mate.”

“He’s not my mate.”

“Ha. Good luck with that.”

Before I could reply, my phone pinged.

“I’ve sent you the names of a few mercenaries in your area. Might be worth starting with them. Let me know how things go.”

“Thanks, Mal.”

“No worries. Go wreak some havoc. Business is slow.”

He ended the call, and I checked the names on my phone. A couple I recognised, but I’d hazard a guess these were of no consequence. But I might get more information from them.

My heart raced at the thought of doing something other than running a fucking casino. It had served its purpose, but it was time to up my game again.

I opened a portal and found myself in a pub not too far away. A handful of men sat at the bar, staring at me with their mouths hanging open. I clicked my fingers and locked the doors.

“So, gentlemen. Who paid you for that little stunt today?”

I knew no one would talk. They never did, and that made my job all the more enjoyable.

“We don’t know what you’re talking about.” A beefy guy stood.

“Oh, I think you do. You could help yourselves out and tell me who it was, or you can die an unpleasant death. What’s your choice?”

Several men looked nervously at each other. A few joined the man standing at the bar.

Okay, we were doing this, then.

I could have made it quick, but where was the fun in that? And as much as the odds appeared to be in their favour, they never were.

Six men faced me, with four behind, and when they lunged, I simply side-stepped, grabbed the nearest one by the throat, and lifted him off his feet. Another advanced from the right. I pointed to his chest, and he dropped like a stone, always a pleasurable sight. He crumpled, and the skin slipped from his face, revealing muscle and bone, then dissolved. Another joined the ranks below.

One or two faltered, but it was too late. I wasn’t about to stop now.

Normally, I liked to draw out my game, but as each one came close, I killed them where they stood until only two remained. One I had dangling by his neck, his face turning a delicate shade of purple.

He appeared to be the ring leader and most likely to give me the information I required.

I summoned a chair and he collapsed onto it but restricted his ability to move.

I did the same with the other and circled them, enjoying the sight of them struggling to free themselves.

“Let’s start again. Earlier today, you visited a house, looking for someone. Tell me who sent you and why. And please don’t even think of lying to me. I’ll know. Believe me, I’ll know.”

“We received a text. That was it. A ￡50,000 reward for anyone who could kill the guy.”

“How did you know who to look for?”

“They sent a picture with the text.”

“Where is it?”

“I don’t have the text anymore. They disappear after twelve hours. No record on anyone’s side, then.”

Damn it.

“And you don’t know who sent it?”

“I told you. We’re all mercenaries. We get paid to do a job. We don’t ask questions. We get paid once the job is done.”

“How do they know you’ve done the job?”

The talkative guy shrugged. The other stayed silent.

“I don’t know. The money just appears in our account once it’s completed.”

“Have you any idea who you’re dealing with?”

“You’re the guy who runs the casino. The one with the fake horns.”

And there it was. No one knew the real me. I was just that guy who ran the casino.

“They’re not fucking fake,” I shouted. “Do fake horns do this?”

Had Conrad been here, he would have stepped in, but he wasn’t.

My horns had grown, and my face contorted.

Shouts from both men confirmed they now knew who I was.

“I’m the fucking devil, and you will show me the respect I deserve.”

“Y-y-yes, master.”

Seriously, I didn’t think I was going to get much more information from them, and once again, I was getting bored with the whole thing.

Even a torture session could no longer hold my interest. What on earth was wrong with me?

Pissed off and tired, I ended their lives and left them tied to the chair. The remaining bodies had all disappeared. Only a few blood splatters here and there indicated that something had gone down here.

The two men tied to the chairs displayed no outward signs of torture, but their insides would be liquid, their organs pulverised.

I’d perfected this torture many years ago, and I was quite proud of it.

Scared the hell out of the coroners when they opened them and everything oozed out onto the table.

Some people deserved everything they got.

I returned to the casino just as it was closing.

“Good night?” Conrad asked, knocking something off my shoulder.

“Eh, could have been better.”

“You’ve got some blood in your hair. You might want to get rid of that.”

Fuck, and I thought I’d avoided it. I’d best have another shower before going to sleep. Couldn’t have Austin waking up to see me with blood splatters. Not that he’d bother. He’d caused it earlier with his well-aimed headbutt.

“Wanna tell me what happened?”

“Nope, but let’s just say we won’t be bothered by the thugs from earlier.”

“Ah, I see. Do I want to know? Any clean-up needed?”

“No, you don’t want to know, and no clean-up needed. A message needed to be sent. Do I think they’ll stop trying? No, I don’t, not with the money they were offering. I’m going to bed. These days seem to run into one, and I need some decent sleep.”

Except with Austin in my bed, it was unlikely I’d get any.

“See you later, boss.”

The elevator ride to the apartment was swift. I nodded to the guy outside the door and let myself in.

It was silent. I checked the bedroom.

Austin lay sprawled on his front, his arms and legs outstretched, barely covered.

I took a moment to admire him, the defined muscles in his back, the elegant hands with long fingers. Things I would never normally notice in a man were front and centre.

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as he slept. Yeah, I was being creepy, but I didn’t care. Mystery surrounded him, a mystery I was determined to solve.

His mark, his amulet, his luck.

He stirred in his sleep and rolled onto his back, revealing the angel mark to me.

It was definitely darker than before. I reached out, hovering my hand a few inches away, tempted to touch it again.

Or maybe it was an overwhelming urge to touch him again.

Either way, I pulled back my hand and brushed a lock of hair out of his face.

He sighed, his eyes darting from side to side behind his lids, his limbs jerking. Was he having a bad dream?

He quieted, and his breathing evened out. He needed his sleep as much as I did. I was sure he’d seen more violence these past couple of days than he ever had.

I wasn’t exactly making a good impression, but then could he blame me? I was no paragon of virtue. I’d committed some heinous crimes in my lifetime and regretted none of them.

My only regret was allowing myself to be comfortable with the humans of this world as time had progressed, and now I’d lost my identity.

No one remembered me as I had been. So many books and movies were written about me, but not one depicted the real me.

Maybe it was time I reminded them who and what I was before we were lost to a world of nothingness and complacency.