Omens (The Dark in You #6) - Suzanne Wright Page 0,15
the entity. In effect, it had cornered and captured its prey. She just didn’t know it yet.
CHAPTER THREE
Later that day, Keenan knocked on the door to Knox’s main office within the Underground. Hearing the Prime’s bid to enter, Keenan walked inside and then closed the door behind him.
Knox sat at the executive desk, shuffling papers. The printer on his left whirred as it fired up. A glass of what looked like gin and tonic sat next to the hi-tech computer, along with stationery and a block of memo notes.
The Prime wasn’t alone in the office.
Sitting on the sofa near the large window that overlooked the combat ring, Larkin briefly peered up from her laptop and said, “Hey, Keenan.”
“Hey,” he returned, watching as the harpy’s fingers deftly ran across the keyboard. When Knox needed access to private information of any kind, he set the female sentinel on it. She was a whizz with computers.
Standing in the corner of the sleek, modern space while talking into his cell phone, Levi merely tipped his chin at Keenan in greeting.
Keenan gave the reaper a short nod and then strolled toward the desk. He flicked a brief glance at the wall-mounted security monitors that provided CCTV footage of the goings-on within the Underground. There was never any real peace there—it was full of demons, after all. They had to be watched carefully.
“You investigated the complaint?” asked Knox, leaning back in his seat.
Keenan sank into the chair opposite him. Like the rest of the ample seating, it was cushioned with rich Italian leather and comfy as fuck. “Yes. It was legit.”
The Prime was as merciless as they came, but there were always demons who rebelled and earned themselves a punishment. Knox’s Force handled the smaller matters, but there were times when the sentinels needed to step in. Like when someone from their lair complained that a member of the Force had not only roughly detained them without due cause but had also physically assaulted them—something that would not be tolerated.
Only Knox and the sentinels dished out physical punishments. No one else had that right. To take such a liberty came close to challenging Knox’s authority—another thing that wouldn’t be tolerated.
“I locked the asshole in the Chamber so you can deal with him at your leisure,” said Keenan, referring to the basement beneath Knox’s prison filled with dozens of torturous implements.
People who wronged Knox—whether they be members of their lair or outsiders—were taken there to endure punishment. Depending on the severity of the felony, some were then released; others were incarcerated.
“Good,” said Knox. “This is the second time he’s crossed a line. I warned him that he’d lose his position on the Force if he abused his authority again. Replace him.”
“It’ll be done.” Keenan twisted his mouth. “I wanted to pick your brain about something. How long does a Lazarus demon take to fully regenerate?”
Knox pursed his lips. “Three or four days, depending on how powerful they are.” He narrowed his eyes. “You think Enoch might make a reappearance?”
“Maybe. He wasn’t ready to accept that his daughter’s gone. In doing whatever they did, Jolene and Khloé forced him to accept it.”
“And you’re worried for Khloé.”
“She doesn’t have any sense of self-preservation. Nor does she have an anchor who watches out for her well enough.”
“Khloé won’t accept you acting as a bodyguard, Keenan, if that’s what you’re hoping.”
“Tanner guarded Devon when she had people looking to kidnap her.”
“That was different. Jolene’s lair was up against outsiders, so our lairs banded together to deal with it; we were presenting a united front to others. This problem exists within Jolene’s lair. She has to deal with this herself. If she doesn’t, she’ll look weak to her lair members and then someone might challenge her for her position.”
Keenan snorted. “I can’t see anyone being stupid enough to try to steal Jolene’s position from her.”
“Perhaps not. But Harper already tried to convince Jolene to involve us; she refused. She did, however, promise to keep us in the loop and to ask for aid if she felt she truly needed it. Of course, Harper and I will quietly do what we can to locate Enoch, much as Jolene often quietly tries to contribute to our lair issues. But that’s all we can do. Anyway, you could be wrong. Enoch might not have any intention of seeking revenge on them.”
Keenan wished he could agree with that, but his gut told him different. Or maybe his concern for Khloé clouded his judgement—he couldn’t be sure.