The Human Side (The Demon Side Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hurled the decapitated head at me. “Does someone want to tell me why my daughter just ripped the head off of a stuffed toy and threw it at me?”
    What could I say in response to a seething father who had his daughter go berserk on a helpless toy and chuck its remains at him?
    I glanced over at Gabriel hoping he’d give me the answer, but he simply stood there shaking his head. Knowing I needed to speak quickly, I opened my mouth and prayed whatever came out wouldn’t add to John’s already flaring temper. Before a single syllable had a chance to exit my lips, John marched back into the house and slammed the door behind him. I winced.
    “It’s started,” Gabriel replied.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    I sat alone on the porch for what seemed to be an eternity, doubting the decision I had made. At the time, it seemed to be my only option. In retrospect, maybe I didn’t think it through.
    “Grubs up.” John scuffed his shoe against my thigh. When I walked into the house, I was met with a death glare from Etta as she sat at the dining room table. Everyone had already assembled, leaving one chair available opposite her. No sooner had I taken my place, a hard thump hit my shin, causing me to jerk, knocking my knee under the table and spilling a few drinking glasses of water all over the lace tablecloth.
    “I’m so sorry,” I exclaimed, reaching for the cups. Etta and Amy shared a snicker.
    “It’s quite all right. I’ll get that. Sit back down,” Rene insisted. After Rene cleaned up the mess I made, everyone passed food around the table. I had seen some pretty heinous things in my life, but nothing compared to the meal before me. The aroma of the roast smelled off and the peas were drowning in a thin, white liquid. You could have thrown my baked potato at a car door, and I am sure it would have blown a hole right through it.
    “Hungry?” Amy asked Gabriel. Glancing over, I almost choked. His plate brimmed with meat, peas, bread, potatoes and atop it all, a whole stick of butter.
    “Yes, ma’am.” Nervously, Gabriel glanced at our plates. I waited for a retort from Amy, but instead she met my brother with a coy smile.
    “Let’s bless this mess before it gets cold,” John said. After which he released a prayer longer than the Dead Sea scrolls. He blessed everything from the nuclear meat to Rene’s sobriety and thanked her for preparing the meal I was sure would send us all running for the commode.
    The group sat in silence as the clatter of knives and forks scraped against the ceramic pink plates. As I gnawed on a piece of what may have been rock disguised as a pea, the girls softly giggled. Etta glanced at Amy with a sly grin. As she returned her attention to her plate, she noticed me watching her. Her eyebrows furrowed, scrunching up her freckled nose. And with that, I did what any other gentleman would do. I sent a return kick into her shin under the table.
    “Ow! Mother…fudger!” Etta slammed her knee into the table and jolted up out of her chair. I couldn’t contain my laughter as she hopped around on one leg. Gabriel released a laugh that resembled an asthma attack.
    “That’s enough. Etta, sit down. Ramen, keep your feet to yourself.” John banged his fork onto the table. We all resumed eating in silence.
    “So, Etta, do you and Amy have any plans for tonight?” Rene asked.
    “We were thinking about going to the movies.”
    “Perfect. You can take the guys and show them where the base theater is,” John added.
    “Um, well, we weren’t going to the one on base. We thought we’d hit up Potomac Mills.” The girls shared a glance, telling me they were lying about their plans. Based on John’s glare, he knew it, too.
    “Even better. I am sure the guys would love to see the mall.”
    “Oh, I doubt they want to tag along while we try on clothes.”
    “We’d love to escort these ladies to the mall.”
    I wanted to smack my brother, but not for offering us up for a night out with the