Misty

"Okay, you're a beacon to this thing," Nixon said.

"A what?" Nash asked.

"A beacon like Maggie's locket." Nixon pointed to the locket around my neck. "Except yours differs from hers. Where Maggie protects her and alerts us to this thing, your energy senses its increasing rage. While it's growing in strength, so are you."

"How do you know this is what's happening?"

"It's something Castiel said to me."

"And that is?" Nathan asked.

"You need to ask the right questions. I didn't understand what he meant until Nash started blowing up inanimate objects. If you think about it, he blew out windows when he confronted Banks."

We thought about Nixon's words. When Nash destroyed Banks, energy exploded around us, causing windows to shatter.

"And remember what happened to the Diaz house."

"That house was intact when we left it," Nathan said.

"But it wasn't after that demon showed up. It left behind massive destruction."

"How do you know for sure? We weren't even there when it happened," Noah said.

"No, but the same thing happened at that store in West Virginia when that thing trapped Nash and Maggie inside."

The cousins exchanged glances as their brows furrowed.

Nixon looked at Nash. "What happens when you're getting ready to expend energy?"

"My appetite increases. It's like I'm starving."

"How often does it happen?"

"This is the second time. Why?"

"Expect our grocery bill to increase rapidly."

"Great." Nash sunk into his seat, unhappy with this turn of events.

*******
Valentino

I thought getting a second chance with Mags would be simple. I showed her that I had changed and that we would live happily ever after. Nope, life couldn't be that easy with a demon added to the mix.

"Man, this is like the other woman trying to sink her claws into you and not letting go," Noah said.

"What are you babbling about now?" Nathan asked.

"Instead of Nash's stupidity about his sort of relationship, we have a demon causing issues."

I glared at Noah while Mags snickered. "Do you need to bring up my past constantly?"

"Well, it doesn't help you vomit the words like you would do  after eating Aunt Bailey's cooking."

We glanced at Nolan to see if he would defend his
Ma.

Nolan looked at us and swallowed his food. "What?"

"You won't jump on Noah for bashing your ma's cooking?" Nixon asked.

"Why would I jump on him for speaking the truth? My ma can't cook for shit. I'm sure she and Aiden's ma took the same cooking course and flunked it."

The others snickered.

It was a known fact Aunt Bailey and Aiden's folks couldn't cook. If it weren't for the family, they would all starve. How Nolan and Aiden survived is beyond me.

"Get back to your other woman theory," Nix said, waving his hand at Noah.

"Why?" I asked.

Nix looked at me. "Because Noah's onto something if my theory is correct."

"And what's that?"

"I'll tell you after Noah explains his theory." Nix turned back to Noah and held out his palm to him. "Go on. Dazzle us with your theory."

Noah rolled his eyes before leaning on the table with his elbows. "Okay, when another girl is interested in a guy, she doesn't care if the guy has a wife or girlfriend. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. It doesn't help the guy is dumb as a box of rocks and falls for her bullshit. It's the thrill of getting caught."

"While that theory sounds somewhat like bullshit, how is this thing like the other woman?" Nathan asked.

"It wants to sink its claws into Nash just like the other woman," Nix said.

Our faces snapped to Nix.

Nix leaned into us. "Nash has enough energy for this thing to latch onto him and live. While we have energy, we have nothing like what Nash has."

"Why Nash of all people?" Nolan asked.

"Who has the epic love in this story? And what is greater than hate?" Nix's lips curved into a knowing smile.

We exchanged glances, realizing Nix was right. We needed to ask the right questions, which we haven't done until now.

******
Emilio

I finished my shift and met with Karlene for her tutoring session at the library. When I arrived, she was waiting at a table. I sat down beside her and pulled books from my backpack.

"Sorry, I'm late. The bakery was busy," I said.

"It's fine. I was getting my stuff ready." She smiled.

I looked at Karlene and noticed her dimples when she smiled. "So, what do you want to work on first?"

"Math."

I nodded and showed her easy steps to help her with her numbers. Karlene worked on the problem while I studied her. Her dark hair was in a messy bun on her head, revealing her slender neck that sloped like a swan. Her high cheekbones accentuated her face with her button nose. My eyes trailed to her pouty mouth. She would push her lips out when she was working on the problem. I couldn't keep my eyes off her lips. I wonder what it would be like to kiss them.

"I think I got it." Karlene turned and looked at me with hope swirling in her crystal blue eyes.

My breath caught in my throat when my chocolate-brown eyes locked with hers. I cleared the lump in my throat and checked over her work. "Yep, you answered correctly."

"Yay!" She threw her arms around my neck, surprising me with her enthusiasm.

Before I had a chance to feel her body against mine, she pulled away from me. "Sorry. That wasn't professional of me to hug you. You're my tutor."

"Uh, yeah. We should get back to work." Disappointment flooded me as we continued our tutoring session.

*******
Karlene

I couldn't believe I got the answer correct. I was so excited that I hugged Emilio before realizing he probably wanted to keep things professional between us. I retracted my arms and apologized to him.

We worked on my current assignment while he showed me how to answer the problem correctly. His steps made it easy for me to understand the material better, so I didn't feel like a complete idiot now.

After Math, we moved to English. Emilio worked with me to understand the material. He didn't scold me when I stumbled but showed me how to slow down and take my time. We worked on sentence structures.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.

Emilio looked at me and knitted his brows. "It's not to ask me if I'm gay, isn't it?"

I pulled my brows together in confusion. "Uh, no."

"Thank god," he groaned. "Everyone keeps asking me that."

"Why?"

Emilio looked at me and sighed. "It's a long convoluted story. What's your question?"

"Why don't you have a girlfriend?"

Emilio stared at me and blinked.

I threw my hands up to stop him from jumping on me. "It's not because I think you're gay."

He arched his brow before his lips quirked into a smile before he rested his chin in his palm. "Oh, this should be good."

I shifted in my seat and fiddled with my fingers. "Well, you're smart and attractive. It surprises me that you don't have girls throwing themselves at you."

He lifted his head and looked at me. "I didn't have much time for a girlfriend between studying and working to help my family. My mami got sick and couldn't work. Papi has been working extra shifts at the factory to pay her medical bills and provide for my siblings."

"How many siblings do you have?"

"Four. Two brothers and two sisters. My brothers work part-time jobs to help, but it's not enough. My sisters help my mami, especially after treatment."

"What kind of treatment?" I knitted my brows in concern.

"Mami has breast cancer."

I furrowed my brows.

"She had surgery but needs treatment to help. Treatment isn't cheap. So we do what we can to help." He shrugged.

I nodded but didn't say anything. Emilio doesn't need my sorries. It doesn't mean he can't have my support.

When we finished our tutoring session, I headed home and called the one person who could help me with my issue.

The person answered after the second ring. "Hello?"

"Hey, Grandpa Deacon."

"Hey, sweetheart. How's school going?"

"It's okay. I have a tutor to help me, but that's not why I'm calling. I have questions."

"Shoot."

"How serious is breast cancer?"

"It depends on the stage it is."

"Is treatment expensive?"

"Yes, even with insurance. Why?"

"My tutor's mother has breast cancer. He has to work to help his family with her treatment. Is there any way we can help him? I don't want him to stress about his mom."

"Karlene, is there a reason you want to help this boy? Usually, you aren't interested in someone you barely know."

"Emilio is sweet."

"Ah, so he has a name. Do you like this, Emilio?"

I played with the hem of my shirt. "He doesn't treat me like I'm dumb."

"Karlene." Grandpa sighed.

"Emilio has been nice to me, unlike most guys who only want to get into my pants. But I doubt he sees me more than as someone he tutors."

"Sweetheart, give yourself credit. The right guy will see the full package, not just the pretty wrapping. If this guy is worth it, he'll prove it. But to return to your earlier point, let me see what I can do. What's his last name?"

"Vasquez."

"Okay. Focus on your studies, and I see what I can do for your new friend."

"Thanks, Grandpa. I love you."

"I love you, too. Don't forget to call your parents and uncles."

"I won't." I ended the call and called my parents and uncles, who were hanging out together.

My dad put me on speakerphone. "Hey, baby girl."

"Hey, Dad."

"Hey, sweet pea," Uncle Dyson and Uncle Dixon said.

"Hey, Uncle Dyson and Uncle Dixon." I spent the next hour catching my parents and uncles up on what was happening. I left Emilio's name out of the conversation. I didn't need them to drive her and scare him since they would. Plus, I doubt Emilio likes me in that way.