Demon Ryder

By Tamara Hunter

Retrieving an unauthorized alien from Demopolis, the demon city which lies beneath the streets of downtown Chicago, shouldn’t be a problem for Agent Camille Stevenson - not when she’s a former police officer and a telepath. But as soon as she sets foot underground, she discovers her first solo assignment will not be an easy one. Throw her ill-timed attraction to a secretive, sexy stranger in the mix and she’ll be lucky to escape with her life – let alone her heart.

Head of the peacekeeping force in Demopolis, Ryder Endemar has enough problems policing demons while making sure U.S. citizens remain unaware of the other world beneath their feet. A headstrong agent who believes she can handle herself in any situation is the last thing he needs – especially when she’s the boss’ s daughter and hot as Hell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tamara Hunter
• Release date: Sep 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466056473

Tamara Hunter

Tamara Hunter lives in the warm southeast region of the U.S. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, sewing and people-watching. When not indulging her active imagination, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

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DEMON RYDER

by

Tamara Hunter

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * *

Copyright 2011 by Tamara Hunter

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Chapter One

Agent Camille Stevenson braced herself as the steel stairwell door closed behind her with a reverberating clang, shutting out the fluorescent-lit offices and hallways of the Galactic Agency and sealing her fate. First day on the job and her assignment was to locate an alien. She was accustomed to having a partner and going solo wasn’t what she expected, but as a law enforcement officer she was taught to be prepared. She patted the newly-issued laser gun secured in a shoulder holster beneath her navy cotton blazer, needing its reassurance.

Recessed lighting along the concrete wall yielded enough light to observe her surroundings. In front of her, loomed a seemingly-endless flight of stairs leading to the city of demons beneath downtown Chicago’s bustling streets.

Silence greeted her ears and the fleeting sensation of being locked in a tomb rushed over her. She stomped her feet against the floor to shake off the jitters. She’d chased down suspects, taking down and handcuffing men larger than she.

You can do this! Taking a deep breath, she began the trek. Each footfall against a stair sounded like a gong, but she didn’t stop.

Camille was determined to make a name for herself at Galactic. As a CPD officer, her father’s position as Deputy Chief caused whispers of nepotism and veiled disparaging comments among the boys in blue at her precinct. It wasn’t the looks, whispers or comments that drove her crazy, it was the thoughts that weren’t verbalized, yet Camille heard them loud and clear. The desire to teach her harassers a lesson, nearly led her to expose her gifts which would put her father’s career in jeopardy so she’d opted to resign.

Five flights later, despite a drop in temperature, a trickle of sweat wormed its way from the base of her neck down her back. Without touching a hand to her head, she knew her previously sleek ponytail was now riddled with frizz. Thank goodness she opted to wear a cotton tank beneath the blazer instead of a long-sleeve shirt.

At the base of the stairs, a retractable door blocked the entrance to the cavernous city known as Demopolis. Though the area existed for centuries ever since the destruction of the demons’ home planet, federal officials decided only a decade ago to supply the residents with a few of the amenities enjoyed by humans. In exchange, the demons declared their allegiance to the U.S. Government.

She inserted the key card given to her by Silver, head of the Galactic Agency. She waited as the door slid open with a whoosh. Camille stepped through the doorway and heard a splash. She retrieved the flashlight attached to her belt then switched it on, angling the circle of light downwards. The thickness and color of the water reminded her of car oil. Crap. She would’ve worn boots instead of her favorite navy leather loafers had she known about this assignment beforehand. She stepped beyond the wetness, onto the dry stone floor.

The pungent odor of mildew clung to the back of her throat like a thick film of mucous. She moved the light upward, revealing craggy concrete walls. In pockets created by the unevenness of the surface, bulbs the size of a car’s tail light, burned.

Camille retrieved a map from her pocket. She studied the hastily-drawn diagram and confirmed her destination lay to the east.

Since the alien wasn’t registered with the U.S. Government as required by standard tracking policies, ferreting him out was the only sanctioned manner of locating him. She didn’t know how citizens of Demopolis looked, but surely an alien from another planet would stand out among them.

She returned the map to her pocket as she headed toward the border gate. Here, the light was more plentiful so she switched off her flashlight then hooked it on her belt.

Camille displayed her identification card for the guard to verify. The Government offered demons areas to live beneath its cities, but it couldn’t guarantee the protection of its own citizens if demons mingled topside with humans. Few knew of the demons’ existence and those that did guarded the knowledge as if part of some international secret society. Who knew what type of mass hysteria would ensue if the truth were known. Movies and television shows about paranormal entities were one thing, but knowing your neighbor was other-worldly was an entirely different matter.

Stay in the safety zone and do not venture beyond Byway 3. The young guard, sporting a blond crew cut, wore his Army uniform with the ease of a seasoned soldier.

She frowned. Byway?

He grinned. That’s what we call the pathways between tunnel sections. Not wide as a street, but wider than a sidewalk.

What’s beyond Byway 3?

He glanced around then leaned closer as if sharing a secret. Some of the demons are cool, you know? Get along fine with us and vice versa. But rogue demons have their own idea of what life in Demopolis should be. And it doesn’t include music, neon signs and having fun. If you run into one of them, run the other way.

His warning sent a chill over her. "How will I