Chapter 43 Ruckus, Chaos, and Handcuffs
Ruckus, Chaos, and Handcuffs
“Ijust wanted to scare him, I didn’t think he’d pass out like a little punk-ass bitch,” Malachi complained with heavy judgment in his tone.
At Chuck’s glare, he tossed his long hair over his shoulder and held up his hands, tipped with wicked talons.
“Alright, so I hoped he would, but he hit me!” He gestured down at the prone form of Jaxon as he lay on the floor where he’d fallen like a sack of potatoes after his eyes rolled back in his head.
Staring down at the man, Malachi shrugged.
“Okay, so maybe I could have eased him into my demon form, but again, I reiterate, he sucker-punched me.”
Sighing in annoyance, Chuck waved him off and grumbled under her breath about showing off.
Grinning, Malachi leaned down and tapped her shoulder. As she glanced up, his smile grew larger, and he let his hair slide silkily over his arms so it would brush hers, knowing she wouldn’t be able to resist it. “But you love me,” he reminded her quietly.
Wrapping a lock of his hair around her wrist, she pulled him lower so she could place a soft kiss on his mouth.
“I do,” she whispered, before raising her voice.
“Which is why I’m going to forgive you, but earlier you were in a hurry to confront this other demon, and now we have to wait for Jax to wake up to tell us which apartment it was.
You can’t just go bang on other doors looking like that and not cause a ruckus.
” She waved her hands to indicate his demon form.
Pointing at his chest with indignation, Malachi arched an eyebrow. “Demon. Ruckus is practically my middle name. I live to create chaos.”
Shaking her head, Chuck groaned. “No, not anymore. You’re team ‘good guys’ now, remember?”
He opened his mouth to protest, then thought better of it. If you promise to handcuff me later tonight, I promise I’ll avoid causing any ruckus until then.
Watching the slow rose color creep up her neck while her halo flashed red, he cheered in his head at the success his deal was gaining. He realized the advantages of being ‘good’ could bring him even better rewards than he originally thought.
“Deal,” she whispered with a sultry smile. Her attention then turned back to Jaxon as he moaned and stirred.
“What happened?” Jaxon muttered and blinked slowly at Chuck.
“Oh damn, Chuck, are you alright? I had the weirdest…” his voice trailed off as he caught sight of Malachi in his demon form looming over her shoulder.
Scrambling back against the foot of the sofa, Jaxon’s breathing sped up, and his eyelids fluttered again.
“D-de-demon!” he pointed with a trembling finger.
Crouching down from his considerable height, Malachi leaned towards Jaxon and snapped his massive fingers in the other man’s face.
“Stop it!” he ordered, pushing some of his influence into him.
“Man the fuck up right now, Raifson. You’re a cop, and you can handle seeing a demon in the flesh.
Now sit up, take a deep breath, and tell us which unit that bitch Amaryllis is in. ”
Sitting quietly, Jaxon’s trembling stopped, and his shoulders rolled back with the confidence Malachi had given him. Nodding once, he answered, “Right. Sorry. She was in the unit just to the right of the stairs. Apartment 2112.”
Smirking, Malachi patted him on the shoulder. “Good job, Jaxon. And look, are we square on the pissing on the shoes thing? You did have it coming, and well, I was a dog then. Haven’t pissed on you since I got my other forms back.” He shrugged.
“Yeah,” Jaxon mumbled. “We’re good. Just uh… don’t do it again, huh?”
Holding out his massive hand, claws and all, Malachi flashed his fangs as he offered to shake on it.
Gingerly, Jaxon reached out and took it, shaking on the deal. His eyes grew large then, and he paled. “Oh shit, did I just make a deal with a demon?” Snatching his hand back as if he’d been burned, he studied it, turning it this way and that, looking for any indication he’d been marked.
A booming laugh filled the room before Malachi clapped him on the back.
“You did, but don’t worry, I won’t claim your soul this time.
” Rising back to his full height, he rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck.
He extended his wings as far as they would go and flapped once.
“Alright, let’s do this!” Turning to the door, he started towards it, then paused.
He glanced back at Chuck. “You know I believe in you, but you must also know you can’t come with me.
In fact,”—he spun to Glenda—“get her out of here. If this goes south, and I die, I need to know Amaryllis won’t immediately kill Kelly. ”
His words were met with a cacophony of protests from everyone in the room. They all quieted down when Chuck stomped over and grabbed one of his wings, yanking him down to her level.
“Ow… Ow… Ow…” Malachi complained. “Dammit! I’d rather have your sharp elbows instead. Feathers are tender, you know?”
“No. I don’t know. Because I haven’t had time to learn more about this side of you yet.
And I fully intend to. So, you better not fucking die, Malachi.
Also, I’m not going anywhere, because if you do die, I’m going to go down fighting to avenge your death.
I love you. I won’t do this alone anymore.
Not when I’ve finally found you. We go together or not at all.
Got it?” Chuck crossed her arms under her breasts and snapped her teeth on the last word.
Fury radiated off her small frame, and she practically vibrated with anger.
Under it all, Malachi could see the fear.
Streaks of yellow and black were zipping through her glow.
She was terrified. His heart swelled, and he went warm all over.
Dropping to his knees, he pulled her against him and rested his forehead on hers.
“Kelly, you stubborn, beautiful, perfect creature.” Lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her gently.
“I love you, too. So, I agree. Together.” He entwined their fingers and stayed there for a moment, breathing her in.
The mechanical racking of a rifle drew their attention across the room.
“As cute and really weird as this is, and you better believe I’m sending you my therapy bill,” Jaxon deadpanned.
“I’m not leaving my friend undefended. You may be a demon, but I’m a damn good shot.
So is Nathan. Although I’m still a little confused why you’re here when your son tried to kill Chuck, but I’ll let that go for now.
” He handed the gun to Nathan, who bobbed his head once in thanks. “Chuck, you good?”
At her silent and surprised nod, he continued, “Glenda, do you need a weapon?”
The witch merely grinned and held up her hands, fire springing forth from her palms. “Locked and loaded, baby.” She winked at Nathan, who was staring at her in open interest now.
“Witches are real, too. Check,” Jaxon murmured and shook his head. Clearing his throat, he jerked a thumb to the open gun safe. “Last call for anyone wanting additional weaponry.”
“Jax,” Chuck called softly. “Please don’t. This could ruin your career. I don’t want you to be involved in this. I’m in too deep. So is Nathan. Glenda’s a civilian, and no one outside of this room knows about Malachi. So, sit this one out. It’s not worth your life.”
Moving next to her, Jaxon smiled softly.
“Kelly, do you remember graduation day? How your dad pinned my badge because I didn’t have any family to do it?
You and your dad were all I had; you became my family during the academy.
And when he passed, that left me to live up to the promise I made him that I would always look after my little sister.
I loved you too, you know? For the longest time, I wanted to be more than big brother Jax.
” He glanced up at Malachi’s growl. “But I know we weren’t meant to be.
How were you meant to be with a demon? I don’t get that, but that’s another story for another time.
The point is, I do love you. You are my sister, and I made a promise to big Chuck that I fully intend to keep.
So no, little Chuck." He laughed softly as she punched his shoulder. “I will not sit this out. I’m all in.” He turned his gaze to Malachi. “All in,” he repeated firmly.
Wrapping an arm around the man’s shoulder, Malachi smiled genuinely. “You know, I take back most of the references to you being a douche and dumbass. I like you, Jaxon. Although… do you have a middle name? Because that one…” he waggled his hand in a so-so gesture.
“Byron,” Chuck declared with undisguised glee. “Jaxon Byron Raifson.”
Eyes wide, Malachi choked down the nausea that engulfed him. “Ew, fuck no. Okay, Jaxon, it is.” He turned towards the others. “Let’s do this.”
Malachi’s body shook with the need to barge up the stairs and storm through the door—Hellfire blazing, of course.
His hands practically itched with the desire to be coated in blood.
But the need for stealth when surrounded by humans was not lost on him, so they quietly crept up the stairs under the cover of his and Glenda’s quieting spells.
At the top of the landing, he rolled his shoulders and faced the unassuming door for unit 2112.
There was a pleasant welcome mat and a wreath announcing how joyful fall was.
The area was clean of leaves and other detritus that tended to collect around people’s entryways.
A simple brass knocker invited the visitor to announce their arrival in a basic way.
No fancy cameras or video doorbells here.