Runaway Devil
47

The truck was packed and ready to go before Hank caught us for breakfast. The morning sun was refreshing and I met it with a smile. I closed the tailgate of the rusted truck Hank was saving for Alec. Balan perched on the top of it, right next to my hand.

"Where have you been?" I pet his head and grinned at him. He chirped and closed his eyes, leaning into my fingers.

"That's quite the bird you've got, Miss. Kara," Hank said, resting his elbow on the side of the truck. He donned his beat-up trucker hat, as I suspected he did every day. His friendly face had a warm smile on it.

"Yeah, he is." I returned his smile. I felt light, for once. The weight on my shoulders and tightness in my chest was not as unbearable. It was easier to smile and I felt far less irritated with the world.

"Well, I've got breakfast ready out back," he gestured over his shoulder. "Come on out when you're ready." I nodded and finished with our inventory. Hank refused to send us off without an ungodly amount of snacks. He made sure we were all set and asked multiple times if we needed anything else. Every time he asked he would look at Alec knowingly. Alec later explained that he was asking if we needed anymore firepower. The image of Hank wielding a gun was a strange one. But I, of all people, knew not to judge a book by its cover. Hank may have been friendly as all hell, but I didn't know what he was capable of.

I found Hank around back, preparing a lovely little table on a patio. It was connected to his office and led directly into the back of the building. He had the back door propped open with a brick that looked like he had been using it for years. Hank smiled upon my entrance and presented his work. I grinned and complimented his breakfast spread. Eggs, bacon, coffee, and pancakes covered the table.

The patio furniture was placed so we had a beautiful view of the evergreens that bordered his property. Alec was already seated, enjoying a cup of coffee. He smiled at me and my chest warmed. I didn't know that sleeping together would have such a dramatic effect on me. I knew I was touch starved but I needed to get a hold of myself.

I sat next to him and poured my own cup of coffee. Hank joined us and invited us to dig in.

"So how'd you sleep?" I paused mid-sip and looked at Hank over the lip of my mug. "I hope you enjoyed the room," he said. I felt my face heat up and glanced at Alec. He stopped and bit his lip to keep from smiling.

"It was fine, thank you," I said with a tight smile.

"Just fine?" Alec asked silently, I could hear his smirk. Hank had said something but I didn't hear him

"Oh, shush."

"So, Alec, I haven't seen you in a while. What have you been up to?" Hank asked while collecting eggs on his fork.

"Odd jobs, here and there. I've been hanging around this one for a bit," Alec gestured at me with his elbow.

"Yeah? Do these odd jobs have something to do with the increased angel and demon population here?" I stopped and stared at Hank, a piece of bacon halfway in my mouth. I put it down and hardened my expression. I knew that Hank had a level of awareness but I wasn't used to a human being so outright with it. Alec didn't miss a beat. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Something like that."

"Hank, how long have you known about us?" I asked. I couldn't keep the curtness from my tone. Hank's nonchalant attitude put me on edge, he was careless. He looked at me with a face I couldn't read. He had been friendly and inviting up until that point, I had no reason to mistrust him. His genial attitude disappeared as he rested his gaze on me.

"Ever since my wife got caught in the crosshairs. Your wars haven't just affected you," he put his mug down and sat back. Alec quieted, his movements soft and respectful. "Some fighting had spilled onto human soil. I could have died along with her, but someone thought my life was worth saving," he glanced at Alec. Hank smiled, taking me by surprise. I had never known someone to smile when speaking of war. "I've maintained the relationship I have with Alec, I'd like to think we're friends."

I didn't feel the need to pry further, so I nodded respectfully and remained silent. We continued eating in comfortable silence, listening to the world wake up around us. I heard squirrels, chipmunks, and other small creatures scurrying along the ground. Balan left his perch to pursue some.

I had forgotten how good human food could be. I was accustomed to raw animal meat, but cooked meat was on a whole other level. I managed to fill my stomach and settle into comfortable contentment.

"So, how do you know Alec?" Hank asked, trying to get a feel for the situation. He had seen more angels and demons around, and now Alec was hanging around me.

I looked at Alec out of the corner of my eye. He didn't seem alarmed or tense at the question. "I'm helping him with the pest problem," I said, referring to the supernatural presence on earth. Hank nodded and smiled, his warmth returned as if it had never left.

"Well, that's nice. He's been alone for so long, I worried he would never find anyone." He sounded like a father who was concerned about his son. I hadn't thought of myself as Alec's companion. We were working together, we were a team. "I couldn't count the number of times he's stumbled in, covered in blood, needing a room. I've patched this one up plenty of times." I wasn't fully paying attention to what Hank was saying. My chest tightened at the thought of being someone's companion, partner, lover. I couldn't stop the flood of guilt along with the image of Dusty from my mind.

Before I could stop myself I was comparing my 'relationship' with Alec to what I had with Jareth. I felt safe and taken care of with Dusty, he was my safe place. We were constantly in dangerous positions, we needed something to keep us grounded. We worked like a finely oiled machine, we knew each other as we knew ourselves. We were parts of a whole. But I wasn't sure what I was with Alec. Certainly not just a part of something.

"You guys following that group that passed through here the other day?" Hank asked while sipping his coffee. Both Alec and I stopped, our eyes flicking up to him. He stood and said something about getting more coffee. My legs tensed under the table, ready to spring into action. But before anyone could do anything, blood poured over the table.

Hank had taken a hunting knife through the back of the neck, piercing through his throat, and spilling blood from his mouth. His eyes froze, looking confused, and alarmed. I watched the question leave his eyes as he choked once, before dropping like a sack of meat.

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