Demon's Trust (The Chronicles of Arcayos #1) - Raven Dark Page 0,72
the deal, and he drove better than most guys I’ve seen on the force. One of the fake IDs I had to make for him was a driver’s license. I’m beginning to regret that now.
“Give me my keys, Hawk.”
“No. I am not having a woman drive me around.”
His eyes flick to the busy lot again. No one is bothering to look at us now, but I see what he’s getting at. We can’t draw attention to ourselves.
“I hate you.” I climb in and he shuts the door, throwing back his head and laughing.
Even in his much less bulky disguise as Hawk, he still looks crammed into the front seat. The top of his head brushes the roof of the car even though he’s sitting hunched, and those massive shoulders look even bigger and wider next to me. He sets the case files on the seat between us.
“So, where to first, partner?” he asks, rubbing his hands together.
Partner. God, how did I get myself into this mess? I yank my seat belt on. “If you get so much as a scratch on this old girl, I will end you.”
“Understood.” He starts the car. Under normal circumstances, his excitement would be adorable, but now it’s pissing me off. I need to get him out of my life pronto.
I shake my head and say nothing.
“You work with some great people. I like Colburn. I wish we didn’t have to lie to him like this.”
“Do you have to be so perfect?” I snap.
He snorts, looking taken aback. “What’s the problem? This is going exactly as we planned. Everyone’s buying it.”
I sigh, glancing sidelong at him. “Okay, look. I’m thrilled that no one’s figured it out. Everybody seems to like you, and I guess that’s a good thing. But this isn’t the real you. It’s all an act.”
“A necessary one.” He does up his own seat belt.
“Yeah. But you’re manipulating my friends and my boss. Just like you did with me. It’s hard not to feel like we’re playing them all for fools. And like I’m helping you do it. If they ever find out, how will they feel? These are people I care about, and they’ll feel duped. No one likes being lied to. Forgive me if I don’t feel great about that.”
Arcayos nods. Then he sets his hand on my shoulder. “I get it. But this is part of being the Champion.”
“What, deceiving people?”
“If I want to save the world from demons? Yes. Saving the world is what I do. The mission is the most important thing. I do what I must.”
“So you don’t care if people get hurt? You don’t care if you have to use them or trick them or lie to them?”
“I care,” he says gently. “I don’t like it. I wish that fighting evil was…” He pauses as if groping for words. “… was all… sunshine and roses? Is that how they say it?” He waits until I give a curt nod. “But it isn’t. What we are doing is for the greater good. I do what must be done.”
I sigh and nod. “We’d better get going. And I need to stop at a bank first.”
He wheels expertly out of the lot.
We pull up at a bank not far from the stationhouse a few minutes later. There are a few people in line behind me when I get up to the machine. Arcayos leans against the brick wall, looking away while I key in my pin number. It bugs me how easily be blends in, how gorgeous he looks as Hawk, with his pale-blond hair glowing like a halo in the bright afternoon sun, his lazy smile, his casual stance. He has his arms folded, causing the muscles to ripple, stretching the sleeves of his blazer.
“Hey, what are you doing? Let me go!”
The sudden scream has me turning to look over my shoulder.
Two men are dragging a woman down a narrow alley between the two shops right across from the bank. She’s twisting in their grips as they march her toward a black car parked farther down the passage.
A kidnapping in broad daylight?
“Shit.” I shove the money that’s just come out of the slot and my bank card into my back pocket, meaning to take off across the street.
Arcayos is already way ahead of me. He races across the street. My car is parked right in front of him, with a line of others in front and behind, and he leaps over my hood in one bound.