He was also glad his mate wouldn’t be around his father. The guy was a piece of shit, someone Donny had very little respect for. Men like that didn’t deserve to have such a sweet and caring son. Thank fuck Getty hadn’t turned out to be a loser like his old man.
“Just like that,” Getty said. “I’m agreeing to go with you. After all, you saved my life, and you’re not human. I’m bonkers for even considering this, though. You could get me to you lair and do evil things to me.”
Donny slid his tongue over his lower lip. “Oh, you can bet I have some very wicked things in mind.”
There went that fiery blush again.
“You’ll have to stay here. I don’t want my dad all up in my business.” Getty headed toward the driver’s side of his car. The male had no clue that what Donny had done last night was teleportation. He could be in Getty’s backyard before his mate even made it home.
He touched Getty’s arm. “All you have to do is shout my name and I’ll be there, wherever you are. I just want you to know that.”
Getty shook his head. “Mind blown again.”
He let his mate get into his car and drive off. Donny had a few minutes to spare before he took off to Getty’s to ensure his safety.
Donny walked over to Cadeym. “Can you handle patrolling on your own for a bit? There’s something I need to take care of.”
“I’ll call Deandre,” Cadeym said. “I know he’s out of the game, but if we need him, he’ll be there.”
Donny bumped fists with Cadeym before he went into the bathroom at Bistro and let his corporal form fade. He walked outside, Cadeym the only person who saw him, and used his teleportation to get to Getty’s.
Keeping invisible, Donny watched as Getty pulled into the driveway and headed for the front door. Donny followed him inside.
* * * *
Cadeym needed to pull his head out of his ass. So what, he was single. Big deal. It wasn’t as if there was a lack of willing men in his life. And who needed to be pinned down with a mate?
He gave a low growl and pushed away from the building he’d been leaning against, using the nearby trashcan to toss his cup into. It was obvious that Donnchadh was digging the human. He’d never seen the brother act this way, so focused on someone.
Cadeym needed to set his sights on someone, too. Work off a little steam. After all, his life revolved around being a demon warrior, taking down the assholes of his world. He didn’t have time for any commitments.
Deandre had found a mate with kids, and that had totally screwed up the warrior. He wasn’t even in the game anymore unless he absolutely needed to be.
And Cadeym wasn’t calling him. He could handle a patrol on his own.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Cadeym looked to his right. The male was tall, lithe, and had stunning blue eyes. His dark hair fell in waves, and he was dressed in a business suit, polished shoes, and had a low-trimmed beard.
He was also a hellhound.
“Do I know you?” Cadeym pulled himself up to his six feet four inches, a full head above the hound.
The guy stuck his hand out. “Hello, Cadeym. It’s good to see you again. I’m Ari Gray.”
Red-hot rage rolled through Cadeym. If they hadn’t been in public, he would’ve killed Ari where he stood.
Ari shoved his hands into his front pockets when Cadeym wouldn’t shake and smirked. “Now do you remember me? It took me a while to get back to the human realm after you and your dejected warriors killed me.”
Cadeym cursed under his breath. They’d killed plenty of hellhounds, and although it was difficult, a hellhound could make it back with a new body.
This was the guy who’d bitten Donnchadh, who had nearly cost the demon warrior his life. Cadeym wanted to repay the favor, only he’d make sure Ari stayed dead this time.
“Come with me and I won’t unleash my friends on this pretty little town,” Ari said. “I have plenty of men here, and you wouldn’t want a bunch of humans bitten, would you?”
Cadeym curled his lip. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
The hellhounds were using some component that counteracted Phoenyx’s ability to heal. That was how Donnchadh had nearly died. If he went anywhere with Ari, Cadeym knew he wouldn’t make it out alive.
Ari stepped closer, narrowing his blunt brows. “I’m going to kill every last demon warrior for what you guys did. You ruined my great plans, but I can always start over. You and your brethren, however, won’t. This time I’ll make sure Panahasi can’t save you guys. Now come with me, or this town will pay the price.” He curled his lip. “Call out for help and they’ll be a dozen dead humans before that help arrives.”
Electricity crackled inside Cadeym. He wanted to blast the bastard with lightning bolts so badly that he could taste the need.
A mother and her little girl passed between them, the woman excusing them as they walked by. The girl couldn’t have been any older than two or three. She had an ice cream cone in her hand, and her dark pigtails waved back and forth as she walked.
Ari looked at them and smiled. “How about I start with those two?” He jerked his chin toward the park where a young couple was pushing a stroller. “Or them?”
A man Cadeym hadn’t seen was seated on the bench. He smiled maliciously at Cadeym before he got up and followed the couple. The hellhound got so close that Cadeym was surprised the couple didn’t turn around.
Humans were so damn oblivious to their surroundings, a false sense of safety in such a small town. The woman bent and brushed a loving hand over the infant’s head, and Cadeym’s stomach clenched.
“Why do you need me to come with you?” Cadeym asked. “You could kill me right here.”
“Oh no.” Ari shook his head. “And give the warriors a chance to rescue you? I don’t think so.”
The hellhound touched the guy’s shoulder, and the couple stopped. They looked at him, and the woman appeared to be on the verge of crying.
That was what hellhounds did. Drained all the happiness out of someone.
“One nod and Ezekiel will kill them, along with their child,” Ari said.
Grinding his teeth, Cadeym agreed to go with Ari, the humans unaware of the sacrifice he was making for them and the others in Maple Grove who had no idea how close they were to dying a painful death.
Chapter Five
Getty’s jaw dropped when he walked into his house. There was shattered glass everywhere, and Bimbo was screaming at the top of her lungs at Getty’s father.
“You worthless piece of shit! You can’t even support me! I should’ve never gotten with you, you broke-dick bastard!” She slapped her hands on the dining room table.
That was something Getty didn’t want to know about. “What in the hell is going on?” he demanded.
It wasn’t as if they were breaking their own things. From the pieces on the floor, Getty saw that his only wine glass set had been destroyed. They had been a gift from his mother.
His father gave a deep, throaty laugh. “Support you? Why in the fuck should I take care of you when you’re opening your legs to any man who’ll pay you? Do I look that big of a fool to you, Amanda?”