Free Azrael's Light [Demon Runners of Unearth] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Amy J. Hawthorn

the staff’s hands, she’d made her assistant manager an offer he couldn’t refuse and sold it to him. Well, in reality, she’d practically given him the place. She’d moved to Capital City and started fresh with Hellfire. Of all the clubs and bars she’d owned over the years, Hellfire and its staff held a special place in her heart. She couldn’t figure out why. If anything, the club and the old brick warehouse that housed it and her apartment were a little rough and ragged around the edges.
    Truly, the only thing the club had going for it was its staff. They were unflinchingly hardworking, reliable, and loyal. Despite appearing to be no more than a gang of misfits, they had pulled together to make Hellfire a place they could all be proud of. The credit was as much theirs as hers.
    Just the thought of leaving it behind in a year or two dug a hollow place deep in her chest. She would not allow herself to open her heart next time. If she couldn’t keep her friends for more than a few years, it might be better to not have them at all rather than lose them over and over again. For an immortal living in the mortal world, ten years went by in the blink of an eye. As much as it pained her, isolation and the resulting loneliness was part of the price she had to pay for living on Earth. The only other option was loss, and she’d given up too much already.
    Leaving her crew behind at Hellfire would serve as a painful reminder of the stranglehold time and loss wielded over everyone, both mortal and immortal.
    Restless, she watched her city through the window. What sort of beasts lurked within its shadowed alleys? Was Azrael among them? She suspected he was, searching hard for answers. While her gut screamed at her to trust him, her brain urged her to play it safe.
    Was she smart in her caution or wasting precious time? Sadly, even if she wanted to cooperate, she didn’t have anything of importance to add to the search. She’d lived in the mortal realm for so long she’d become virtual a stranger to Unearth. But had she done anything about it?
    No. Nothing. She lurked in her apartment waiting and hoping her niece would show up. That wasn’t good enough. It was time for action. If only she knew where to begin.
    “Things are pretty quiet tonight, though I did find Cyril, hunting in the park.” Azrael’s voice spoke quietly just behind her. What did it say that his sudden appearance hadn’t even made her blink? “He said the number of demons fleeing Hell and Unearth have increased drastically. He suspects something big is in the works but doesn’t know anything more than we do. Have you heard anything?”
    She turned and faced him. “Nothing. I feel like I’m wasting time by standing around and waiting. I need to get out and look, but I don’t know where. If I had only made her stay in the bar with me for ten more minutes, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” A heavy blanket of guilt smothered her. She crossed her arms and rubbed them, then closed her eyes.
    Hard hands gripped her shoulders and pulled her into a wall of warmth. The feel of his soft T-shirt and the smell of old leather filled her with a peace she didn’t deserve. The steady thump of his heart beneath her ear lulled her into what she knew to be false solace. She had no business taking comfort in his embrace but couldn’t bring herself to pull away.
    “Do you blame me for not showing up ten minutes sooner?” His voice was quiet in her ear.
    “Of course not. I’m sure you came as soon as you knew, and it shouldn’t be your responsibility in the first place. I wish I could say that I’m surprised my sister did this, but I can’t even pretend to be shocked.”
    “Yes, I came as soon as Lilith left my sight.” His voice rumbled through his chest with low vibrations.
    A large hand ran up and down her back, while the other held her hips tight to his, a firm press of comfort running from her hip, along her belly to the cheek pressed to his chest. “Then