This chapter is dedicated to Carolyn_Hill . Her ONC entry Don't Look Back is an amazing second chance story with quite a unique character list. Go and check it out.

Stopping the motorcycle in front of section K, I get off the bike. Cass hesitates, but then follows my lead without giving me any hassle.

Good.

I had enough problems for one day.

We head toward the building; she stops after a few steps and takes a deep breath. "So this is it. This is where I'll be until I find redemption."

I don't correct her.

Let her think there's hope.

Otherwise, she might panic.

The last thing I need is for her to make a dash for it and I having to chase her.

I try to produce a smile that somewhat resembles encouragement.

She takes another deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready."

Marvelous. Someone who welcomes their doom.

I push the door open and step inside; she is right on my heels.

Too close.

Her breath fanning my shoulder blades is irritating.

Give me some space, hun.

The guard at the desk looks up and cringes. For a fleeting moment, dread reflects off his face. I rarely bother to check on this section and forgot his name. Halting in front of him, I grin. "Checking in Cassandra Wallace. Her name was at the top of this week's sinner list."

Behind me, Cass rocks back and forth on the balls of her feet.

Stop that, hun.

She's driving me nuts.

The guard opens a file and scans over the intake form. "Let's see here. We got an accidental killing while under the influence, death by suicide, and she is classified as hazard level red." He cranes his neck to look around me. "No offense, but she doesn't look that dangerous."

"She is good at camouflaging her true nature. I tracked her down at the Resting Point, where she was hiding out. Usually, the barkeeper is good at sending people on their way, but with this one"—I click my tongue—"she had him wrapped around her little finger. He even lied to protect her and had a conniption when I took her away. He feels we should go easy on her."

The guard chuckles. "Anchor is a little bitch. Too soft for his own good."

I narrow my eyes. "Just to be clear, you are talking about Anchor Morningstar, right?"

The guard gulps. "Sorry, I forgot he is your brother."

I glare at the little punk. Usually, I could look past such a minor infraction, but after the fucked up day I had, I need to blow off some steam. "I can see how such a trivial detail could have slipped your mind."

Without putting too much effort into the task, I tighten my hand slowly to a fist. Squeezing the energy-fused air from his lungs. Watching him squirm and wheeze. Only when his eyes are pink from the busted blood vessels and bulge as if they are ready to pop out of their sockets do I ease up.

I drop my voice to a low growl. "But Anchor is still family, so you'd fare well not to forget it again."

He nods, gasping and gulping.

Cass leans closer. "You are one scary dude."

I smirk. "Thank you."

The guard has regained control of his breath and casts his gaze to the ground. "I need you to sign the intake form."

"That's not a problem." I glance around. "Who's on today?"

"Yammon will attend to her."

The pen freezes over the signature line. Of all the demons on hell's payroll, Yammon is by far the most vicious and sadistic. In the human world, they would go so far of calling him psychotic. If he gets his hands on Cass, she'll be a goner within an hour. "On second thought, I should make sure there wasn't a mix-up with her assignment."

"Why would there be a mix-up?"

"I heard they had an administrative glitch in heaven the other day, so I need to double check that this week's sinner roster wasn't impacted."

"With all due respect, boss, but there hasn't been a glitch in . . . ever."

"Well, there's a first time for everything." I give him a curt smile. One more word and I'll have Yammon flatten his stay-out-of-my-business nose. I turn to Cass. "Chop-chop, hun. Let's get out of here."

Her face mirrors confusion. "But I thought—"

I raise my brows and she eats the rest of her words. "I. Said. Let's. Go."

Like any good human, she plods behind me without making a further fuss, although her annoying curiosity returns as soon as we are out of earshot of the guard. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"Then tell me at least why that demon called you boss?"

"Because I run things around here."

"Are you the devil's right hand or something?"

I halt in my tracks and turn to face her. "Excuse me?"

"Well, everyone knows that the devil rules hell, so if you say you are running things, you must be some sort of deputy."

Laughter bursts out of me. "Hun, I am the devil."

I feast in the shifting emotions on her face.

Fear turning to horror.

Eyes growing larger with every hitched breath.

Cold sweat mixing with the metallic scent of blood as she bites open her bottom lip.

"But—but I thought your name is Lou."

"Technically, it's Lucifer, but the name has gotten a bad rep, so I go by Lou." Patting her hand, I give her a fake subdue-smile. "Breathe, hun. It's gonna be fine."

"Then why do you look so normal?"

Oh! "Go on. How am I supposed to look?"

"The devil is meant to be ugly. With red, glowing eyes, leathery skin, and sharp, pointy teeth. And horns." She nods. "Definitely horns."

This time, I laugh until tears swim in my eyes. "Hate to break it to you, but those are old wives' tales to scare little kids."

"You are serious. You are the devil."

"That would be correct."

"And Anchor is your brother?"

"He is indeed."

"Fuck." She buries her face into her hands. "I rode a motorcycle with Lucifer and had sex with his brother. Can I please die?"

Oh, lordy, she is such a little cutie that I just can't. "You're already dead."

"Uhm, that was just a figure of speech."

When I meet her gaze, my breath stutters. The fear has been replaced with a joyous glow that draws me closer. Much closer. With zero control over my own body, I leap forward for a kiss. Her soft lips part with a surprise gasp.

Taking a step back, I put a safe distance between us. "Sorry, I don't know what has gotten into me."

"It's—it's fine."

For the first time in my life, I can't hold a human's gaze. Staring down at the tip of my shoes, I kick a stone to gloss over the awkward moment. The silence stretches like a rubber band about to snap.

Finally, I manage to clear my throat. "I want to show you my penthouse, but before we go, I need to do one more thing."

She nods with her lip tucked between her teeth.

An odd sensation flickers down my spine. Everything about her is so jarring that it is almost amazing.

I crack my neck to focus on the task at hand. Flagging down a demon takes no more than a couple of snaps of my fingers. He is young, no more than a few centuries old, and eager to please the boss.

"I need you to go up to the Resting Point, it's one of the taverns on the sub-level, and deliver a message to the barkeeper, Anchor Morningstar. Tell him he has twenty-four hours to straighten out the issue with Levinia."

"No problem, sir."

"And stress that it's twenty-four hours, and not a second longer."

"I'll let him know."

Glaring at Cass and then at section K, I'm tempted to call him back. I have my orders and shouldn't question them. Yet, the mere thought of handing Cass over to Yammon raises my anger by a few notches. And I have an urge to protect her.

By the Heavens, what is this girl doing to me?

Total WP word count: 8,470 (second milestone)

Alrighty, Lou is the devil (I'm sure some of you already figured it out) and for some unknown reason, Cass has gotten his attention. Any guesses why she has such a hold over our Morningstar brothers? All comments/guesses/theories are welcome, and please consider giving this chapter a vote if you enjoyed it.

Tomorrow, we will jump back into Anchor's POV and you will meet the mysterious Levinia. Hope to see you then :)