Demons Prefer Blondes by Sidney Ayers

had since she bought them. The floor sparkled. The tiles were so clean she could’ve eaten off them if she wanted. Every fixture in the shop seemed to glow.
    “Rafe? Is that you?” The voice, low and sultry, sent a bolt of jealousy streaking through her. Dang, she had it bad for this man.
    Emerging from the back office, she smiled. Her dreadlocks hung around her face in myriad reds, purples, and blues. A silver ring jutted from her lower lip and more dotted her eyebrows. Her ears were concealed by the mop that topped her head, but it was safe to assume they were equally decorated. She flung her rainbow hair to the side, revealing a tight purple and black lace bodice.
    Her cups ran over—big time. Her black leather miniskirt gave way to ripped fishnets and huge honking-heel buckled combat boots. Not to be outdone, beautiful vines of ivy and flowers snaked up her arm and down her chest to hide beneath her bodice. Lucy wasn’t one to get ink, but she did admire the art. This was some of the most beautiful inkwork she’d ever seen. No wonder Frankie and Gerardo flipped a lid.
    “Enjoying the view?” Kalli asked with a cute chuckle. For all her dark facade, her smile radiated friendliness. She took Lucy’s hand in hers and shook. “You must be Lucia. Nice to meet you.”
    “Thanks,” was all she could mutter. “My shop looks great. Where are Frankie and Gerardo?”
    Goth girl beamed. “It was nothing. A lot easier to fix than most Rafe’s other messes.” She flashed him a wicked smile.
    Rafe crossed his arms and snorted. “I didn’t do this.”
    “True, but why did I find demon blood out there on the street? Old blood too.” Kalli wrinkled her nose and clucked her tongue. “I could smell it for miles.”
    Rafe’s jaw tightened, clearly irritated by her interrogation. “Lamia ambushed me before I could intercept the chest.”
    “Lamia? What’s she doing here?” Kalli muttered something in a language Lucy didn’t recognize. Greek maybe? “For God’s sake, why didn’t you say anything?”
    Rafe clenched his fists into tight balls, his jaw throbbing harder. “It was late and my only concern was…” His voice drifted as his gaze drew Lucy in. “…the chest.”
    The chest? What about this “I’m here to protect you” baloney he rattled off earlier? She should’ve known. He was a man after all.
    Lucy’s heart sunk and a lump formed in her throat. “Your precious chest is fine, Rafe. You can go back to Hell now.”
    “Smooth move, ex-lax.” Kalli shook her head. “Still the same. You’ve got a real way with words, Rafe.”
    Rafe narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. “I can’t bring the chest back until the loosed demons are rounded up, and we can’t do that without Lucy.”
    Hello! She was standing right there. Was she supposed to wave her hands to get attention while they verbally sparred? From their intense glares and gazes, that answer would be yes. No way would she let this be an A and B conversation, so she would C her way in—one way or the other. “So how do I get the demons back in?” Obviously not with chocolate, that would be too easy. If only she had an easy button. Damn those TV commercials for making things look so simple.
    “I need to guard the chest.”
    The door swung open. The ape-faced imp from earlier waddled in. “Nope. Rafael Deleon, you’ve been summoned,” it said, sounding like Joe Pesci on helium. “The Fore-Demons request your presence. I’ve been ordered to watch the chest.”
    No one would believe this crap. “A talking monkey? I’ve officially seen it all.”
    “What? An imp guarding the chest?” Rage boiled in Rafe’s eyes. He clenched and unclenched his fists.
    Grinning, the imp handed Rafe a piece of parchment. “Not just any imp. Your imp.”
    “Bloody hell,” Rafe muttered. He crunched the fancy paper and threw it against the wall. “Can things get any more complicated?”
    “Complicated?” The imp scratched its head then moved to its