Page 49 of Ramiel

“I’m going to have to search for my boss elsewhere,” Ramiel said.

“Are you sure your brothers aren’t hiding somewhere in the city?”Caterina asked.They’d slowed to a fast walk and were heading back to the truck.

“Amaros’ wards hide our base, but it would be too dangerous for them to venture outside,” he replied.“Rahab controls Manhattan.He has lackeys everywhere.My brothers are too smart to allow themselves to be trapped somewhere on Manhattan Island.Their base will be somewhere close enough to reach the battle ground without being caught coming and going.”He didn’t mention the knights would be able to teleport when enough of them had been gathered up by their boss.That was a secret he wasn’t supposed to share with anyone.

“Strategy really isn’t my thing,” Caterina confessed.“I’m more of a blunder around without any idea of what I’m doing kind of fighter.”

He chuckled and she grinned.“You did well while you were fighting the humans last night, female,” he reminded her.

“I learned how to use knives for my performances,” she said.“But I’ve never used weapons against anyone before.”

“Your acrobatic skills are just as impressive as your pyrokinetic talent,” Ramiel said in admiration.

“I’ve always been flexible,” she said with a sultry smile.

Tearing his gaze away, he automatically sent out his senses as they approached the house where he’d left the truck.“I can detect some humans,” he said when he picked up on four people.

“They’re trying to steal our ride,” Caterina realized when they saw the four men in the garage.“We should have closed the door,” she said with a scowl.It was obvious the truck was still usable, since the tires weren’t flat.

“Their souls are black,” Ramiel said and prepared himself for a fight.

“I’ve got this,” his female said confidently, then he felt magic emanate from her hands.

“What the hell?”one of the men shouted, yanking his hand off the door handle of the truck.He’d been trying to yank the door open.

“Damn it!”another male snarled, waving his scorched fingers.“What’s wrong with this truck?Why is it so hot?”

“I think it’s going to explode,” a third man said.He’d picked up a crowbar and had been about to smash a window open.

Backing away, all four turned and ran.They didn’t notice the knight and cambion who were crouched down behind a nearby parked car.“Good work, female,” Ramiel said.He would have cut them down, but it seemed she wasn’t in the mood for bloodshed.

“It was crude, but effective,” Caterina said, pleased with herself.She withdrew her magic and the truck rapidly cooled down.Thunder rumbled and she tilted her head back.“It looks like the storm will hit us soon.I hope it doesn’t have giant hail this time.”

“Is that what smashed so many windows?”Ramiel asked.He’d noticed a lot of vehicles and buildings had suffered from damage.

“Yeah,” she confirmed.“The weather has been crazy for the past few years before the Rapture.It’s starting to calm down a bit now, though.”

“Do you have any recommendations about where we should go to strategize?”the knight asked.

“I know a place where we should be safe for a while,” his cambion replied.

Ramiel followed Caterina’s directions.Raindrops began to fall when they were halfway there.An hour later, it was bucketing down and he was having trouble seeing the road.The wipers were working as fast as they could, but driving was treacherous.

“We’re almost there,” his female said just before he could ask.“Turn right just ahead,” she added.

Turning onto a muddy driveway, Ramiel drove up to a huge isolated house that was set back from the road.He parked beneath a huge carport and switched off the ignition.“What is this place?”he asked.He’d passed a sign, but it was raining too hard for him to read it.

“It’s a bed and breakfast,” Caterina replied.“I stayed here for the night once with a guy I met.”

Instantly jealous, Ramiel had to work to keep his expression neutral.“I can’t sense anyone inside,” he said.“I should scope it out, just to make sure it’s safe.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

Climbing out, the rain instantly soaked him to his skin when he raced over to the house.All of the doors were locked when he tried them, including the French doors on the wrap-around porch.Shouldering the back door open, he couldn’t smell any decay as he shut the door.“Why did she have to take us to a place where she slept with another male?”he muttered.He’d had sex with countless women, so he knew he was being an idiot, but his jealousy was still hard to banish.

The house had three levels and they were free of corpses when he checked each room.Unlocking the front door, he sprinted back to the truck.“It’s safe,” he said.“No one’s been here since the Rapture.”

“The owner was really nice,” Caterina said.“I’m sure she was chosen to go to heaven by God.”