Read Online Crossfire (Book 1) (The Omega Group) by Andrea Domanski - Free Book Online

forward and struck out with
a sidekick that succeeded in firmly planting the stumbling Kako on his butt,
followed by a straight kick to his chin that knocked him unconscious.
    Breathing deeply from the exertion, Mirissa turned to see
her father fist pumping the air in celebration and Greco smiling proudly as his
student passed her first test. She couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them
acting like she’d just won a spelling bee instead of a fight with a demon.
    Pulling her blade from its sheath, she looked to Greco. He
simply nodded his head and waited. All of the joy drained out of Mirissa at the
thought of cutting the Kakodaemon’s head off. She knew, intellectually, that he
was a demon and the only way to kill him was to remove his head, but that still
didn’t make it easy for her. He looked, and felt, human.
    She knelt beside his prone form and held the blade across his
neck, working up the courage to push it down. Her father came to her side and
placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, silently lending his love and
support. She looked up into his eyes, trying to feed off his strength, but
couldn’t make herself drive the knife through the Kako’s neck.
    Just then, the demon opened his eyes, saw the knife, and
grabbed Mirissa’s arm, pushing the knife to the side and pulling her down next
to him. Opening his mouth wide enough to flash his elongated canine teeth, he
lunged for her neck with an animalistic growl.
    Steve pushed forward to put himself between his daughter and
the demon determined to kill her, but just as he reached the pavement, the Kako
let out a short scream and exploded into ash, leaving Mirissa holding her knife
where his neck used to be. She’d beheaded her first Kako.
    “Are you all right sweetheart?”
    Mirissa looked at her father sprawled on the pavement,
knowing he’d been seconds away from sacrificing himself to save her. “I’m
sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have hesitated like that.”
    “Are you kidding?” Steve said with a huge smile plastered on
his face. “You did great! I’m so proud of you.” Then he wrapped his arms around
her in a bear hug.
    “Thanks, Dad,” Mirissa whispered as she reveled in the
safety of her father’s arms.
    Exiting the alley onto the busy street a few moments later,
Mirissa was struck by the complete lack of fear in the crowds of people
wandering around her. They had absolutely no idea what just transpired only a
few yards away and were gleefully ignorant of the dangers that surrounded them
every night. It occurred to her that she had been just as ignorant only a few
months prior.
    It was then that the reality of Mirissa’s situation finally
sunk in. She was responsible for all of these people. Their safety, their
gleeful ignorance, was dependent on her. She made a decision right then and
there that she would absolutely never hesitate to kill a Kakodaemon—ever again.

Chapter 14
Present Day
    Myrine simply sat in her chair behind her desk, speechless,
as she stared at her daughter. They looked so much alike. Mirissa had the same
long chestnut brown hair waving down her back, minus the gray streaks that had
crept into her own over the last few years. Her hazel eyes and high cheekbones
were an exact match to Myrine’s, and the expression on her face was one that
Myrine had seen in the mirror many times.
    She’d imagined this reunion with her daughter so many times
over the years, and dreamt about the warm, loving hug they would share. She had
played out this scene in her mind and practiced everything she’d wanted to say,
but now that it was finally happening for real, her mind went blank. She said
the only thing she could think of. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
    “Seriously? That’s all you have to say to me?” Mirissa spat
out the words.
    OK, so maybe the warm, loving hug would come later .
Myrine knew that her daughter had every right to be angry with her. After all,
she’d just been kidnapped by a mother she thought abandoned her as a