Read Midnight Craving: Midnight Vice, Book 1 for Free Online Page A

and sad. She took
    note of all the kids running around in front yards. Involving the public in these supernatural disputes was a
    huge no-no. They’d have to be super careful.
    “Yeah, I see ’em,” Jace said as if reading her mind. “I doubt we’ll have many, if any, normals around
    the house we’re heading to. Notice the fences?”
    Strands of garlic and the occasional cross decorated the chain-link fences of the houses they passed.
    Most front yards sported shrines to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the ceramic statues dripping with roses and
    candles burning in the tiled alcoves. Isla smiled. “Just like my people to be prepared and defensive.”
    Jace snorted. “Your people?”
    Isla grinned at his teasing tone. “Well, the non-demon half of me is Latina. Daddy’s family boasted a
    long line of extremely powerful brujas and curanderos .”
    “Oh, I know.” Jace turned left onto a dead-end street. “I remember your dad’s healing touch rather
    well.”
    “I always forget you were with Midnight Vice when Daddy was on the squad,” she murmured, fond
    thoughts of her father dancing through her mind. Not wanting to get emotional, she quickly changed the
    subject. She gave Jace an impish glance. “Damn, you’re old !”
    “Hey!” Jace protested loudly. “I was maybe twenty when I worked with Inigo.”
    “Yeah, like, seventeen years ago.”
    Jace tapped the brakes hard enough to make her lurch forward in her seat. He fixed her with a feigned
    glare. “Would you like to walk?”
    She shrugged. “I’m young. My hips can handle it.”
    Shaking his head, Jace grunted and continued driving. “You’re really insufferable sometimes.”
    “I try.” Isla winked at him, enjoying their playful banter. The lightened mood was nice and helped
    lessen the stress of their surreal situation. Unfortunately, it didn’t last.
    “Second house from the end. Yellow trim,” Jace announced.
    Isla surveyed the surrounding houses. They were all abandoned, their yards overgrown with brown
    grass and weeds. Broken doors hung from hinges. Torn window screens flapped in the wind. “Nothing like
    the bad vibe from vampire lowlifes to run off the neighbors.”
    “Apparently,” Jace muttered, pulling up to a sidewalk. He put the Tahoe in park and shut off the engine.
    His eyes flashed amber. “This place feels wrong to me.”
    “I’ll second that.” Isla opened her door. The wind kicked up and buffeted her face. It carried the stink
    of demons. She glanced at Jace. “You smell that?”
    He nodded, his aura bristling. “I’m having a feeling of déjà vu.”
    “Oh, yippee!” Isla’s sarcasm brought a tiny smile to Jace’s face. “You can breach the door. I’ll hang
    back.”
    “You’re so kind,” Jace grumbled and headed toward the gate. “Keep your eyes open.”
    Isla walked backwards as they proceeded down the cracked sidewalk. She had the irksome sensation of
    being watched. It didn’t sit well with her. When Jace started up the rickety stairs, she turned around and
    stayed an arm’s length behind him, her hand raised defensively, energy tingling at her fingertips. The door
    sat slightly ajar in its frame. Murmuring voices could be heard.
    Weapon in hand, Jace cast a quick look over his shoulder before kicking in the door and storming
    inside. “Hands in the air!”
    Jace’s authoritative shout startled Isla as they burst into the rundown house. When he tapped into his
    archangel powers like that, accessing the righteous voice of God, it made her head swim. The demon in her
    revolted, snarling and snapping and begging for release.
    A trio of young men threw themselves on the floor, hands over their heads. She’d never seen subjects
    surrender so quickly. When one of the young men looked up, she understood why. His bloodied face
    displayed a broken nose and busted lip. Black fluid oozed from the wounds. The smallest hint of a fang
    peeked down from his fat upper lip. His irises were pink.
    “Baby vamps,”