Demon Warriors 1: Hondo (8 page)

“What the fuck?” Kane looked around the room.

“How the hell will Falcon know if something is missing? This room is trashed.” Hondo toed the debris on the floor, shifting it around. “We need a list of inventory and a maid service to figure this one out.”

“Until I know if anything is missing, I’ll call it an attempted robbery,” Falcon said from the doorway.

“Why didn’t you just tell us someone trashed the place and you don’t know if something is missing until you go through it all?” Hondo asked.

Falcon waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. “I’m quite sure nothing has been stolen. None of the alarms sounded to indicate anything was being taken from this room.”

“If your alarms are so foolproof, how did the perpetrator get in?” Kane asked smugly.

“My alarms aren’t set up to detect break-ins, only to detect if something is removed.”

“Sounds ass-backward to me.” Hondo placed his hands on his hips, blowing a breath out at the mess they had to sift through. “Guess we should get started.”

“Unnecessary. I’ll have my people clean it up and let you know if anything is missing.” Falcon took a step into the room, his stance challenging.

“No can do. Panahasi wants us to get this done, and when boss man issues an order, we listen.” Hondo bent down, pushing aside papers to see a familiar case lying open on the floor.

“I’ll see about that.” Falcon turned on his wingtip heels and stormed from the room.

“Does this look familiar to anyone?” Hondo held up the empty case.

“Fuck.” Kane exhaled. “Better call the boss.”

* * * *

“So what’s Kane like?” Snooke asked as they walked back to Chris’s house.

“Why?” Chris’s steps slowed as he waited for Snooke to answer him.

“Are you going to start, too? I don’t have a motive, Chris. I’m just like everyone else, curious about the warriors. If you don’t trust me—”

“No, I trust you. I guess Hondo is starting to rub off on me.” Chris began to walk again, sipping loudly on his Slurpee. “You want to go get something to eat at King Wings?”

“Now that sounds like a plan.” Snooke chuckled. “Best wings in the demon realm.” They both recited the commercial and laughed.

“So what do you want to know about Kane?” Snooke popped a handful of candy into his mouth as he shrugged.

“Don’t know.” He chewed and then swallowed. “Is he always so playful?”

Chris nodded as he took another sip. “Yep, never knew him to be serious.” Chris bounced in front of Snooke, placing his hand on Snooke’s chest. “Hold on. You like him, don’t you?” Chris giggled.

“Snooke likes Kane,” he sang.

“Do not.” Snooke laughed as he pushed Chris’s hand away.

“Maybe.” His cheeks flushed as he looked away from Chris.

“I can hook you up. I’m cool with him, you know,” Chris boasted.

He waved his Slurpee around as he talked with his hands. “Oh, we can double date. Me and Hondo, you and Kane.” Chris jumped up and down excitedly.

“I don’t think Hondo would like that. For some reason he thinks I’m a spy.”

Chris stopped jumping and growled. “You let me worry about my mate. He promised to behave, so I don’t see a problem with it.” 

“I don’t know. How much fun can double-dating be with tension between two people? Maybe I can go to the warriors’ apartment building and talk to Hondo, make him see that I’m not a spy.”

“I can take you. I know how to get in.” Chris giggled into his hand. “This is so cool. I never had a friend to hang with besides the warriors. I like it.”

“Me, too.” Snooke smiled at Chris. “Me, too.” He clapped Chris on the back as they walked to get some food.

* * * *

“Are you sure?” Panahasi asked as he paced his living room.

“We searched the whole room. The crystal is gone.” Hondo sat back on the couch, wondering what Chris was doing right now. He was amazed how quickly he adjusted to the idea of Chris being his.

It no longer felt odd to cross the line from friendship to lovers, but not having the exuberant man bouncing around him bothered Hondo.

He missed him.

“Then we need to find out who took it and get it back.” Panahasi stopped at the large window in his living room, looking down over the city in concentration.

“If whoever took it knows how to use it, we’re fucked.” Kane ran his hands through his hair, looking, for the first time ever, worried.

Hondo’s eyes wandered over to Takeo, the warrior watching their leader intently. His face pulled back into a mask of rage, and then he blinked and looked around as if just realizing where he was.

Panahasi nodded at the window. “Go, Takeo.” Takeo bowed and swiftly left the apartment.

“Where is he going?” Kane asked.

Panahasi rubbed the short stubble on his jaw. “Helping out a friend.”

Hondo looked behind him when the apartment door opened. Two warriors, Phoenyx and Rainerio, strolled in. Phoenyx closed the door quietly as they joined the group.

Panahasi turned from the window and snapped his fingers, pointing them at the two warriors who had just joined them. “I want you to find the reporter who wrote the story about the break-in.” He walked over to the bar and picked the paper up, his eyes scanning over it. “Sexton Fenton. And find out how he found out about the break-in.”

“No problem.” Rainerio nodded, leaving with Phoenyx.

“Someone needs to guard the Black River. If whoever took the crystal truly knows how to use it, then we need to catch them in the act,” Hondo pointed out.

“I’ll send over Ace Boogey and Torky. That should keep the two out of trouble for a while.”

Hondo shook his head as he snorted. “Sending two hoodlum brothers to watch for something as valuable as the crystal, are you sure that’s wise?”

A knowing smile broke across Panahasi’s face, his eyes sparkling in the dimly lit room. “They know that if they cross me, I’ll blink them out of existence.” The leader winked at Hondo.

Hondo would rather have Panahasi raving mad than see him so calm and playful. The boss man was lethal in this mood. He had no doubt Torky and Ace Boogey would think twice before crossing the Demon Warrior leader, but whether they still do it was the million dollar question.

“Where’s Chris?” Panahasi asked as he took a seat at the bar.

“Hondo let him go out on a date,” Kane offered as he flipped through a magazine from the coffee table.

Hondo shot daggers at the instigator.

“I didn’t know you were so freethinking.” Panahasi raised a brow in surprise.

“I’m not. They’re just friends.”
They better be, or Snooke was
gonna wish he was never hatched under a rock.

“I’ll have the three-piece special.” Chris leaned against the counter and fit his fingers together, waiting for Snooke to place his order. His eyes moved over the dining area, watching the mystical beings of the demon realm enjoying their meals.

Although this was technically called the demon realm—because of the Demon Warriors—it was inhabited by a variety of paranormal creatures who visited here, most deciding to call it home. But only the demons were born with supernatural powers.

“Here you go.” The vampire behind the counter slid Chris’s paper boat of chicken across the counter. Once Snooke had his, they decided to walk back to Chris’s house instead of eating in the dining area.

“God, I love these wings,” Chris said as he bit into his tender chicken. It wasn’t often he came here, preferring home-cooked meals, but it was a treat when he did.

“I practically live out of that place.” Snooke chuckled as he licked his fingers. “What do you want to do now?”

“We could head over to Bernard’s Buybacks and see what used video games or movies they have.”

They both turned on their heels and headed toward the used video store. “So is Kane seeing anyone?” Snooke asked as he dropped the ravaged chicken bone and picked up a fresh one. “That you know of?” he added on as he took a bite.

Chris grinned at the way Snooke was trying to sound casual. He’d never played matchmaker before. This could be fun. “I haven’t seen him with anyone. As far as I know, he’s single.” Chris caught the look of sheer joy on Snooke’s face before he hid it.

“That’s cool.”

Chris had to swallow his mouthful before he choked on his food from the giggles. “You are a terrible actor. Admit it, you want him.” Chris bumped his shoulder against Snooke’s, teasing him to no end.

“He likes long walks across the street from his apartment in the basketball court, sunsets that never happen, and meaningless relationships.” Chris stopped walking as peals of laughter erupted from his belly.

“You are such a shithead.” Snooke wiped his mouth, laughing along with Chris. He liked having a friend, someone who he could relate to. Although Chris loved his band of warriors, somehow Snooke seemed more on his level. He didn’t feel like the runt of the group, but an equal.

“Let me guess. Hondo likes long walks down to the detention cells, setting things on fire, and driving everyone around him insane.” Snooke’s laugh was deep, warm, and rich. He’d be perfect for Kane, Chris thought. Snooke and Kane both liked to laugh. That was one thing they had in common so far.

“Ah, hell.” Snooke’s laughter died as he dropped his paper boat, his eyes filled with fear. “Run, Chris, now.” Chris didn’t ask any questions. In the blink of an eye his food was on the ground and he was running next to Snooke. He could use his super speed, but didn’t want to leave Snooke behind. Chris hadn’t learned how to use his supernatural powers while carrying someone.

“Why are we running?” Chris cried out as they rounded the corner and took off down Broadview Avenue. This was no way to end a nice evening.

“Just keep going. Whatever you do, don’t stop.” Snooke grabbed Chris’s shirt and pulled him around the corner, passing Trenton’s Dry Cleaning. “This way.”

They were almost to Chris’s street when Snooke went flying through the air, tackling Chris, both hitting the concrete. “Snooke!” Chris screamed when the slim man’s body didn’t move.

He pushed him off of him and rolled to his feet, grabbing Snooke’s arm, when he heard a loud crackle behind him. Chris would know that sound anywhere. It was the sound of someone using supernatural powers. Taking a chance, Chris looked over his shoulder to see an unfamiliar face contorted with rage and heading their way.

“We have to get out of here.” Chris pulled Snooke’s half-conscious body up and draped the limp arm over his shoulder. “Come on, Snooke, you have to help me,” Chris cried as he struggled to get his friend moving. “Please be okay. You’re not supposed to get hit, remember? You can neutralize it.” Chris sobbed as he pulled Snooke along.

Chris heard the crackling again, looking over his shoulder in time to see a charge coming right at him.

* * * *

“I can’t believe Panahasi wants those two imbeciles to guard the river. It’s like sending a dog to babysit a cat. No good can come of that situation,” Hondo griped as he and Kane made their way down Broadview Avenue.

Once again Hondo started thinking of Chris. He was trying his best not to run to the movie house and yank his mate out of there. If he couldn’t trust Chris, then neither of them had a leg to stand on.

And if Snooke tried anything, he wouldn’t have any legs to stand on.

“I think I’ll hang out in the shadows and watch the two imbeciles.

It should be good for a laugh.” Kane chuckled beside him.

“That’s if you can understand them. Have you noticed that when those two get together, they have a language of their own?” Kane held his side as he laughed. “You mean you can’t understand them?”

“Don’t even try that with me. You can’t either.” The side of Hondo’s mouth pulled up into a smile.

“You’re right, I can’t.”

Hondo slowed to a stop when he heard the crackling in the distance. “Someone’s at it again.”

“Do you want to go check it out or go find Torky and Ace Boogey?” Kane asked.

“I think finding the brothers is more important right now. We’ll take care of that quickly and then go see who is fighting,” Hondo said just as his cell phone began to ring. “Hondo, here.”

“People are calling in to complain about a fight.”

“I know, we can hear it.” Hondo picked up his pace. “Kane and I are near the area. As soon as we talk with the brothers we’re going to head over there.”

“I sent someone else to handle those two. You need to go stop the fight.” Panahasi’s voice sounded strained, making Hondo’s hairs stand on end. “I don’t know how accurate the information is, but the callers are saying Chris is invol—” Hondo hung up, racing down the street toward the commotion. If Leam came after him again, he was going to dedicate every waking hour to finding that fucker.

“What’s wrong?” Kane asked as he ran next to Hondo.

“Chris is in that fight.”

“Shit,” Kane cursed, both running as fast as they could. He would use a shadow to walk through, but he wasn’t sure where the fight was taking place and every minute counted.

“There.” Kane pointed to a pair running down the street. No, one was running, the other was being pulled.

“Chris!” Hondo shouted as he began to ignite. When his mate looked back and Hondo could see his tear-swollen face, anger consumed him. Raising both arms, he hurled fireballs at the man chasing them as he put on a burst of speed.

The demon ducked out of the way of the fiery missiles, managing to fire a ball of electricity toward his mate. Hondo was so filled with rage, he hadn’t noticed everything stop. The electricity ball hung in midair mere inches from Chris’s beautiful brown hair.

“Chris,” Kane shouted as he ran over. “Stop running, you’re safe.” Kane ran to the demon that was frozen in time, pulling out his neutralizing cuffs and slapping them on the man. He laid the guy down onto the concrete on his stomach and then ran toward Chris and Snooke.

Chris crumbled to the ground, Snooke falling weightlessly beside him. “Help him,” he cried.

Hondo finally managed to make it to his mate’s side, assessing the damage quickly with his eyes. Chris seemed unharmed, but he wanted to be sure. “Were you hit, baby?” He banked the flames and grabbed Chris from the ground and lifted him up, checking his body for injury.