Free Touch of the Angel (Demons of Infernum, #3) by Rosalie Lario Page B

she could. “How long have you been working for Asmodeus?”
    “A little over six months.”
    Ronin turned to pace the room. “Is there any pattern between the men you’re assigned?”
    “Not that I could see. Although...”
    Ronin stopped. “What?”
    “They were all powerful and successful among their kind. Gifted in some way.”
    “Maybe Asmodeus has been cleaning up the streets,” Dagan said. When Amara gave him a blank look, he explained, “We’ve experienced a decrease in bad guys to catch. What if he’s targeting fugitives?”
    Asmodeus? Catching fugitives? The thought was ridiculous. She shook her head. “No. No, if Asmodeus is cleaning up the street, as you say, then it has to be accidental. He doesn’t have an altruistic bone in his body.”
    “You’re certain?” Dagan asked.
    “Not a doubt in my mind.” A man who could rape, torture, and kill without losing a second of sleep wouldn’t give a damn about how many other bad guys were out there.
    “So then we’re left with him targeting men for their power,” Keegan said.
    “As best I can figure.” When no one said anything further, she asked Ronin, “Are you the ones who will capture Asmodeus?”
    It was Keegan who answered. “Yes.”
    She nodded. “I trust you’ve found a way around his shield, then.”
    “No.”
    “No?” She sat forward, a hint of panic stirring in her stomach. “Then how are you going to get to him? There aren’t many hours left until daylight, and it will be a nightmare to take him into custody during the day with all the humans around.”
    “You misunderstand.” Keegan raked a hand through his hair. “We’re not moving forward immediately.”
    “ What? ” A sharp ache hit her chest and she placed her shaky hand over her heart. It raced at triple speed, forcing her to suck in every breath. She stood, the panic bordering on hysteria now. “How long do you plan on waiting?”
    Ronin came to a stop in front of her, towering over her. “As long as it takes for us to figure out exactly what he’s up to.”
    “No.” No. She couldn’t leave Asmodeus alone with her . He’d kill her. Or worse.
    “I have to go.” Amara brushed past Ronin, racing toward the door. She managed to make it halfway there before Keegan grabbed her arm and jerked her around. He wrapped his other hand around her shoulder.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “Let me go—”
    “Back the fuck off,” Ronin snarled, elbowing him out of the way. He closed his hands over her shoulders far more gently than his brother had. His face radiated calm and, amazingly, she relaxed into his touch. “You okay?”
    “Yes.” Her heartbeat slowed to a more manageable pace and a cool rush of energy spread throughout her body, loosening her muscles. Amara stared at Ronin. “What are you doing to me?”
    He stilled. “What do you mean?”
    “I...nothing.” It had to be her, not him, and she didn’t want him to know her reaction to him was so strong.
    “Listen,” Ronin said, “I want to know why the thought of Asmodeus staying free sent you running.”
    His gorgeous eyes bored into her, as if willing her to reveal all her secrets. And to her surprise, she wanted to. Even though something about him made her long to confide in him, she couldn’t reveal the whole truth. Not right now. Not to him. Mostly because she didn’t think he’d understand. But also because she was ashamed.
    “He’ll be so angry when morning comes and I haven’t returned,” she found herself whispering. That much was the truth.
    Ronin set his jaw. “So what? Is he really so important to you that you’d care about something like that?”
    If she didn’t know better, she’d say he sounded jealous. Could he actually have feelings for her beyond disgust?
    “You don’t understand. I’m tied to him in ways I have no control over. There’s no telling what the consequences will be if I fail to return.”
    He stared at her for a long moment before shaking his