Read Online Darker by Trina M Lee - Free Book Online Page A

wanted to believe Kale was alive. Going into FPA headquarters was dangerous. No matter what I told Briggs to get in the place, he still wasn’t going to let me search the building.
    “ Fine,” I relented. “I’ll try to get us in there, but let’s not do anything rash. I don’t want to give the FPA any more reasons to keep me on their watch list.” After my last experience inside the haunted old hospital that the FPA used as their local headquarters, I was reluctant to go back.
    I reached for the bag containing my laptop, itching to get cozy with Veryl’s secrets. Butterflies beat a steady nervous rhythm against my ribcage as the computer went through the start-up process. I looked longingly at the bar. Having a whiskey in hand would be nice. Staying alert meant staying alive, so I dismissed the thought immediately.
    “ The moment of truth, huh?” Jez fidgeted in her seat. “Think there’s anything on there about me?”
    “ We’ll find out in a matter of minutes.”
    I stared at the list of files, unsure where to start. So, I started at the top. Most of the folder names were random letters and numbers. Others had a name mixed into the mess. Kale’s, Jez’s and mine all jumped out at me right away. My palms grew moist as the first one opened.
    It was a brief bio on Falon, of all people. I was intrigued. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as juicy as I’d have liked. Falon took his leap of disgrace long after Lucifer’s exile. There was much speculation as to what drove Falon to it. Some believed it was a human woman. Other studies concluded that he’d strayed on the promise of power and glory. Regardless, his reputation had always been shady. Nobody but Falon knew why he fell. Whatever it was, it had made him a nasty thing alright.
    “ Can’t say I’m surprised Falon is documented as an asshole,” I commented after both Jez and I had read it.
    “ He makes my skin crawl.” She visibly shuddered and made a sour face. “There’s something really not right about him.”
    “ There’s something wrong with anyone that willingly chooses to embrace darkness after once being light.” The words left a bitter taste in my mouth; they hit a little too close to home.
    “ Open mine next,” Jez said in a hushed tone. “Wait, one sec.” She slipped out of her seat and went to the bar where she proceeded to pour white rum into a glass of ice. I’d never seen her go for a drink that wasn’t sparkly or fruity. She returned to the couch, took a long sip of rum and nodded. “Ok, open it.”
    With a small laugh, I clicked on the file. Like Falon’s, it was a rundown on Jez. For the most part, there was nothing in there I didn’t already know. Then, I reached the paragraph regarding her parentage. My eyes widened, and I quickly looked to her for a reaction.
    Another silent nod and then she drained the entire glass of its contents. “Looks like my mother’s dirty little secret isn’t really a secret at all.”
    “ So it’s true?”
    “ Yep. My father is a demon.” Her emerald green eyes downcast, Jez gazed longingly into the empty glass. “My mother was terrified I’d turn out just like him. She did her best to beat the demon out of me. I’m still not sure it worked.”
    I was stunned. Falon had referred to Jez being of mixed blood, but I never would have guessed what he meant. I’d known Jez had experienced abuse in her past, but the raw truth of it was horrifying.
    “ Jez, I’m sorry. I can’t imagine.”
    “ No, it’s cool. I’ve had years to get over it. I didn’t even know him. Sometimes though, I wonder how much of him is in me.” She met my eyes then and forced a smile. Raising her glass she added, “I hope that’s all Veryl had on me. I’m not sure there’s enough rum here for me to face anymore of my past. How about you? What does yours say?”
    I laughed nervously. “I’m afraid to look. I’m tempted to leave it for last.”
    “ Just get it over with. It’s going to drive you nuts