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

failed before you started. Get over yourself, Brother.”
    Aggravated, I pushed him from the door and stormed off to the bathroom.
    After completing my sinless shower and getting dressed, I went downstairs to find Gabriel and John playing cards at the kitchen table.
    “Feeling better, Brother?” I knew what Gabriel tried to imply, but I wouldn’t give him any satisfaction. I took a seat at the table across from John as he taught Gabriel the fundamentals of poker with breath mints as the bounty.
    “I’ll raise you three orange Tic-Tacs.”
    “I only have two left.”
    “Well, do you believe your cards are better than mine? I doubt they are, but you never know. If so, call it. If not, you can fold.”
    Gabriel studied his hand as he played with his remaining mints.
    “Now, Gabe, see how Ra is studying me? He’s looking for cues, little telltale signs I may be bluffing. Everyone has a cue that is a dead giveaway when they are lying. For some it may be as small as a twitch of their lips, a fidget of their hand, or maybe something more noticeable such as playing with their hair or shifting their glance.”
    “I’ll fold.”
    “What do you have?”
    “Three kings, two aces,” Gabriel replied.
    “That is what you call bluffing.” John tilted his hand to reveal a pair of twos, one three of clubs, a queen of hearts, and a ten of spades.
    “Ah, man.” Gabriel slumped in defeat.
    “Did you think I was bluffing, Ra?” John shuffled the deck of cards as he locked eyes with me. I knew exactly where this lesson was heading. I wouldn’t give him the gratification of his self-righteous speech about what might happen should I mess up.
    “I hope you had fun playing your game, but now we need to figure out what we’re going to do about money and a place to live,” I said to Gabriel, ignoring John’s question.
    “You two are going to need help getting set up. You’ll need IDs to get on and off base. I have some connections at D.E.E.R.S., but I won’t be able to get you military dependent IDs until Monday. Once we have those, we can get you a place to stay and you two can look for work. Until then, you’ll have to stay here. That will give you time to think of your cover story.”
    “Cover story?” Gabriel asked.
    “Yeah, where you’re from, what you’re doing here…details are key. Quantico is used to new faces every day, so you won’t stick out, but eventually someone is going to want to know more than your name.”
    “See, Brother, this is perfect. This will give you time with Etta.”
    “Etta is not to know you are staying here. No one is for that matter.”
    “And why is that?” I asked.
    “Not that it’s any of your damn business, but I am finally on the mend with my daughter. Should this ridiculous plan of yours backfire, I don’t want her trust in me tarnished in any way. Now, Rene has gone to the store to buy groceries for dinner tonight. Etta and Amy will be here as well. You will be on your best behavior, respect my home and my rules, and keep your prowess to yourself until you have your own place. I may have to accept the fact you are in love with my daughter, but I don’t need it thrown in my face. Understood?”
    “Why are you so against me being with her?”
    “You don’t have the best of track records, Ra. What happens to her when you fail?”
    “When I fail? So, you’ve already made your mind up I won’t succeed?”
    “That remains to be seen. Until then, you play by my rules or you’ll find yourself getting stonewalled from every direction imaginable. Do you catch my drift?”
    “You wouldn’t do that and go against Father’s orders? You know what will happen if you do.”
    “Tell me something, Gabriel. Based on my body language, do you think I’m bluffing?” John asked, never breaking our eye contact. In my peripheral vision, I could see Gabriel looking back and forth between us.
    “No. I don’t.”
    “There you have it, Ra. But if you want to know for sure, I dare you