14. CHAPTER
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Dining with Mr. Heiss was a silent affair on Indy’s part because he was too busy stuffing his face to chat and Mr. Heiss chose to simply watch without comment.
He did look concerned when Indy dipped his steak into the paneer but said nothing.
When Indy was done, he said good night to Gammy and Dill, who were now watching the rest of season fifteen of RuPaul’s Drag Race even though they already knew who the winner was, and then went to bed.
Mr. Heiss bid him good night, kissed him on the cheek, and Indy went to sleep alone.
It was… nice.
The whole evening had felt oddly domestic, the silence comfortable, and there was not even one threat of physical violence.
It was weird, but Indy found that he liked it.
He didn’t spend a lot of time with his sexual partners once the act itself had been completed.
He could see himself enjoying this sort of companionship regularly, though he realized that the reality of his current circumstances made that impossible.
Dying, being hunted by monsters, and oh yeah, Mr. Heiss only wanted the ring on his finger and nothing else.
Right?
Maybe an occasional booty call situation could be worked out.
Mr. Heiss certainly had some unique kinks.
Might want a repeat performance.
Indy remembered the way Mr. Heiss had shuddered so beautifully when he’d pushed that salt into his open wound…
Fuck.
Indy woke up horny.
Of course.
He couldn’t remember his dreams, but he had a feeling they’d been pretty filthy. He was by himself, but that didn’t bother him much. It was the norm anyway.
But the smell of coffee…
That was new.
The scent was enough to make Indy lift his head from the pillows and sniff the air. “Mmm. Coffee.”
“You’ve quite the nose.” Mr. Heiss chuckled.
Indy opened his eyes to find Mr. Heiss standing by the bed with an iced coffee in his hand. Indy smiled, and it wasn’t only because of the caffeinated goodness coming his way. “Oh my God, you beautiful thing.”
Mr. Heiss rolled his eyes. “You’re talking to the coffee, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but I love that suit. Very cute. Take it off.”
Mr. Heiss held the coffee up as if he was going to dump it.
“Hey, hey, let’s not get crazy.” Indy sat up to retrieve the coffee, smirking as he very purposefully looked over Mr. Heiss’s current dark gray suit and lavender tie combo.
“You look great. Love that whole outfit on you and not on the floor. Serving businessman ready to buy lots of oil or something. Can I have my coffee now please?”
“I don’t recall saying it was for you.”
Indy narrowed his eyes. “I have a super powerful undead leshy and a fire woman. I will hurt you.”
Mr. Heiss smirked as he dutifully handed the coffee over.
“Smart man.”
“Demon.”
“Whatever.” Indy grinned, eagerly taking the cup so he could get a big slurp. “Mm. Yum.”
“Time to get dressed.”
“What wonderful adventures are we going on today?” Indy sipped loudly. “More kidnapping? More monster armies we can play with?”
“A few simple appointments and then a visit to a distribution center.”
“Distribution for what exactly?”
“Drugs.”
“Plan to elaborate on that?” Indy slid out of bed to approach the magical closet to access his clothing. “Or do I get to guess?”
“You can certainly try.”
“Stamina pills? You know, for that extra mmph. Oh! Is it the extending ones? Extendz or whatever they’re called? Oh, oh. Got it. The little blue kind?”
“How are you always this ridiculous so early?”
“I woke up hornier than usual. Really, it’s your fault. Mrow.”
Mr. Heiss sighed.
Indy chose a black lace camisole, a blue plaid skirt, black thigh-high stockings, and black platform boots.
He accessorized with studded belts crisscrossing his hips, a leather collar, and a pair of onyx hangers carved into the shape of ankhs.
He could feel Mr. Heiss staring at him, especially when he bent over to adjust his stockings, and he smiled innocently. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” Mr. Heiss snapped his fingers.
A black hoodie with a thick fuzzy collar appeared on Indy, zipped up all the way, and he groaned. “I swear to fuck if this is you slut shaming me—”
“You’re going to need it.”
“Huh?”
“Breakfast. Then we’ll go.”
Breakfast was—what else?—donuts. Indy stuck to his coffee, but he did get a kick out of how Mr. Heiss picked through the usual platter until he selected a chocolate donut with chocolate sprinkles.
Indy was curious about the pastry obsession, especially since he hadn’t actually seen Mr. Heiss eat anything else.
Well, other than ass.
Gammy fussed over Indy before they left, which mostly consisted of making lots of threats toward Mr. Heiss and promising to add even more banishing circles.
Mr. Heiss ignored her.
From there, they left in the limo to visit several businesses—a funeral home, two bars, a storage facility, and more.
Each trip was brief, usually involving only a quick chat with some non-human person pretending to be a human, and that was it.
Indy didn’t hear much about what was being discussed, though not for a lack of trying.
Mr. Heiss could simply mute a conversation so that only he and the other person could hear it, and Indy could not.
Handy for illegal demon mafia shenanigans but annoying for nosey humans.
When they stepped inside the refrigerated section of a food processing plant, Indy understood why Mr. Heiss had told him he’d need the coat. It was absolutely freezing in here, and he glued himself to Mr. Heiss’s side with a grumble.
Mr. Heiss smirked and wrapped his arm around Indy.
There was instant warmth, as if a blanket fresh out of the dryer had been draped over him, and Indy sighed in relief. “Thank you.”
“The sound of your teeth chattering is annoying.”
“You’re so sweet.”
The warehouse was dark, dank, and cold. So very, very cold.
It was difficult to tell what exactly was packaged here, but there were plenty of giant rolls of plastic wrap, lots of tape guns, empty pallets, and dozens of conveyor belts with sorting machines.
Everything was clean and free of dust, but it was completely empty.
Maybe everyone had simply taken the day off.
A narrow door on the far side of the building led into a simple office, and Mr. Heiss ushered Indy inside.
Azazel was there with a skinny green imp who was bloodied and lying in a heap on the desk. Azazel had one hand on the imp’s neck, pinning him down, the other holding a cigarette.
The scent of blood and clove was not a combination Indy ever wanted to smell again.
He cringed, trying to retreat.
“Stay,” Mr. Heiss said firmly.
“I’d rather not see whatever this is about to be.” Indy made a face. “Because ew.”
“Then close your eyes because you’re not leaving.” Mr. Heiss steered Indy into the chair at the desk.
Indy whined. “Come on!” He yelped as Mr. Heiss pulled the chair away from the desk and rolled it off to the side, turning him to face the wall. “Now what? Plug my ears and hum?”
“Yes.”
Azazel chuckled, pausing to take another drag from his cigarette. “Hey, boss.”
“Has he been cooperative?” Mr. Heiss kept a hand on Indy’s shoulder as he spoke to Azazel. “Or does he need some more… persuasion?”
“Nah, he’s fine.” Azazel laughed again.
The imp yelped in pain.
“Go on,” Azazel said firmly. “Tell Mr. Heiss what you told me.”
“The, the Smiths.” The imp wheezed. “It’s one of them.
Uh, Liam? I think? He’s been working out of that abandoned Walmart.
The one, the one they were gonna turn into a homeless shelter but corporate wouldn’t sell the property?
He’s there. Okay? He’s there and, and he was bragging that he killed a demon. ”
“Who?”
“I don’t know!”
There was a wet smacking sound.
The imp whimpered. “Look, some were told me! Tony! His name was Tony. And he says that Liam’s been telling everybody he got one of Minnie Moore’s scales and he can do whatever he wants now.”
Mr. Heiss grunted in what may have been annoyance. “And he’s at the Walmart? You’re sure?”
“Yes!”
“That’s Lou’s territory,” Azazel said quietly.
“It would be very kind of us to check on a potential threat for him, wouldn’t it?” Mr. Heiss chuckled. There was a rustle of fabric, perhaps his hand reaching into his coat.
“Very kind,” Azazel agreed.
“Wait, wait!” the imp pleaded. “Don’t—”
“Indy, you might want to cover your ears now,” Mr. Heiss said calmly.
“No!” The imp’s pleas rose to a scream. “No, please, please—”
“What? Why?” Indy looked back and gasped when he saw Mr. Heiss holding a gun. “Whoa, whoa, how about we not—”
Mr. Heiss grabbed the top of Indy’s head, forcing him to turn away before he fired.
Indy grabbed his ears, but it was too late. The gunshot was miserably loud and rang in his head until there was nothing but a high-pitched whine. He groaned and closed his eyes, wishing he could will the feeling away. He thought he was going to be sick, and the smell of blood was thick and heavy.
He knew the imp was dead.
Murdered a few feet away from him.
Great.
Fabulous.
Mr. Heiss helped Indy stand and then walked him out of the office. “Get Underwood and Tanze.” His voice sounded weird and echoey. “Now.”
Azazel was right behind them. “But, uh, he’s still not—”
“I said now!” Mr. Heiss roared.
Heard that loud and clear.
Indy continued to hold his ears as the plant vanished, his stomach rolling.
They were standing in the overgrown parking lot of a decrepit Walmart, recognizable only by its shape, as the official signage had been ripped away quite some time ago.
Mr. Heiss had switched to his human form, probably for the best since they were out in public, and he hadn’t let go of Indy.
Indy had seen monsters killed in battle, a few even by his own hand in the heat of the moment, but that…
That imp, helpless and struggling.
Begging.
Mr. Heiss squeezed Indy’s shoulder to help right him as he teetered. “Take a breath and—”
“Fuck off!” Indy struggled and tried to push away. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Excuse me?” Mr. Heiss didn’t let go.