Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 89

**KACIA**

We pile into the car, and I start the engine, pulling smoothly away from the curb. The streets are quiet at this hour, lit in pools of orange from the streetlamps, the rest swallowed in shadow. Elias sits in the passenger seat with the stiff posture of someone not entirely sure that he’s making the right choice. I drum my fingers lightly against the steering wheel. 

“Hey, Elias, does your phone work?” I ask. He gives me an odd look, brows drawing together. “Yes? Why wouldn’t it?” He asks. I sigh like a tragic heroine who has suffered far too much at the hands of modern technology. “

It’s a long story. Let’s just say you’re lucky.” I tell him. Elias stares at me for a beat, clearly unsure whether I’m joking, then shakes his head. 

“Okay…?” He responds.

“Good.” I continue. 

“If I give you a number, can you call it and put it on speaker for me?” I ask. Elias glances down at his phone, then back at me. 

“Sure, I guess.” He replies I dictate Mikey’s number, and he taps it in with deliberate care, like there’s going to be a pop quiz on it later. He hits the call button, sets it to speaker, and we both listen to the ringing. It goes on long enough that I picture Mikey drooling into his pillow. Finally, there’s a answer.

“Hello?” He says. 

“Hey, Mikey!” I chirp in my most cheerful, sunshiney voice. There’s a pause. 

“Kaci? How are you calling me? And whose phone is this?” His voice has shifted from sleepy to confused cop mode in about two seconds flat.

“A new friend of mine.” I say, glancing sideways at Elias. 

“Sort of. He’s human enough to use an actual phone, which is more than I can say for myself. Speaking of helpful, it would be incredibly useful if you could drag your ass down to the police station. My new friend here needs to talk to you. Kind of urgently.” I point out. Mikey groans like I’ve just asked him to carry me across the desert. 

“Seriously, Kaci? I’ve only just gotten home. I was at work all day.” He complains. 

“That might be true, but think how good it’ll feel to bring in the entire blood-draining gang.” I say sweetly. I can practically hear him sit bolt upright. 

“What? How?” He demands. I smirk. 

“My new friend knows plenty about them and is ready and willing to talk. Right, Elias?” I confirm with him. Elias shifts uncomfortably in his seat, his voice small. 

“Uh… Yeah.” He agrees. Mikey doesn’t miss the name. I hear the pause, the subtle change in his breathing, but he plays it cool. 

“And how exactly does your friend know so much?” He questions. Elias goes still, like a rabbit hearing a fox in the bushes. His eyes flick to me as I answer. I keep my tone light but deliberate. 

“My friend was… Sort of a hostage. Working for them under duress. I decided to liberate him and… Encourage him to come forward.” I explain. Elias’s shoulders sag in relief. He mouths thank you like I just saved his life all over again. Mikey’s tone shifts into the kind of mock-seriousness that means he’s only half-joking. 

“Kacia Hunter, please tell me you have not kidnapped some poor man.” Mikey demands. I roll my eyes so hard I almost sprain something. 

“No kidnapping, promise. Although we are bringing his girlfriend and her kid along. Long story, but someone needs to keep all three safe until the gang’s behind bars. We’ll explain everything when we get to the station, which will be in about ten minutes, so I suggest you get moving.”I prompt. He groans again. 

“Kacia, one day you’ll be the death of me.” Hr grumbles. In the background, I hear him calling out.

“Babe, I have to head down to the station. Apparently Kaci has… A gift for me.” He informs her. Sarah’s voice drifts faintly from somewhere in his house. 

“That’s fine, dear. Angie and I have almost finished in the kitchen, then we’re going to start on the living room. Oh, and we were thinking we might need new shelves in there. Angie says it’ll stay tidier, and I agree. Can you help me pick some up tomorrow?” She asks. 

“Of course.” Mikey replies instantly, like a man who has long since accepted his fate. The sound of a door closing and a car starting filters through the line. 

“They’ve taken over.” He complains, his voice lower now, just for me. 

“I’m scared to touch anything in case I mess it up. This is entirely your fault, Kaci.” He accuses. 

“Oh no…” I deadpan. 

“Someone is cleaning your house for free. How will you ever survive?” I reply. He sighs, defeated. 

“Point taken. I’ll see you soon. Now get off the phone, you’re driving.” And with that, he hangs up. I glance at Elias, who is still holding his phone out like it’s a live grenade. 

“See?” I say, grinning. 

“Easy.” I inform him. Elias just gives me a look that says ‘define easy.’

Several hours and about four cups of coffee later, Oz and I are finally ready to leave the station. Mikey is arranging somewhere safe for Elias, Mandy and poor, tired little Mia to go for a few days while he rounds up the entire gang. Sadly, Elias’ brothers will both be getting locked up for a very long time which makes me feel sad for poor Annie, but on the bright side, she will still have Elias. And based on how Mandy keeps glancing sideways at him, she might end up with a daughter and granddaughter too, so maybe that will be a bit of a comfort to her at least. Meanwhile, I am absolutely exhausted while I drive Oz and I home. And sore, my ribs are aching and my head hurts. At least I don’t have to go get Angelo right now, since it’s so late, Sarah has apparently set him up in their spare room. I’ll go see him tomorrow and figure things out then. For now I just have to make it home so I can stumble into bed. I groan softly. 

“Talk to me Oz, I’m tired, keep me from falling asleep.” I demand.

“Uh… Mandy is planning to take Elias back?” Oz comments, his tone a question as if he’s asking ‘is this the kind of thing you wanted me to talk about?’ I nod. 

“Yeah, I suspected as much. She was barely even mad at him for leaving her. Mostly she just missed him I think. She seemed relieved to have some kind of excuse to feel that way.” I agree, stifling a yawn. 

“She told me that I’m a coward.” Oz remarks. I stiffen and my eyes fly open. 

“She said what?” I demand, offended on his behalf. 

“It’s not like that. She… Wasn’t entirely wrong. She seemed to have… Almost a certain level of respect for Elias’ decision to leave her, even if she doesn’t have the full story yet, because at least he made a decision, he didn’t leave her hanging or string her along.” Oz says quietly. I frown. 

“Are you implying that you think that’s what you’ve been doing to me? Stringing me along somehow?” I demand, glancing sideways at him while I drive. He shrugs. 

“Sort of, yes.” he finally answers. 

“That’s not true Oz. You were… Very clear about how you feel about our situation and what I should expect from you. It’s not your fault that I didn’t take no for an answer. That I keep fighting you on it.” I tell him firmly. 

“I suppose, but it’s not like I’m doing a very good job of standing strong and committing to what I told you.” He says guiltily. I frown. 

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re telling me right now. Are you telling me that you changed your mind? Or that you will never change your mind?” I ask, a little lost. Oz sighs. 

“I don’t know Kacia. I guess what I’m really trying to say is that I’m sorry.” He decides. 

“Sorry for…?” I prompt. He sighs again. 

“I don’t know. This entire situation between us, how I’ve handled it, or not handled it. I’m just… Sorry.” He finishes. I have no idea what to say. I don’t really understand where he’s coming from right now. But I feel like he's just getting further away.