Authors: Mary Abshire
“I need some time to think.” I shifted my gaze to Jonas. “We need to get going. I don’t want to be late.” I looked at the warlock. “It was nice to meet you, Zander.”
“Make sure to shut the door on your way out,” he said before he grabbed more popcorn.
“Shelley,” Boss said, and I looked into his eyes.
“I’m going to work. Don’t try to stop me.”
He shifted his gaze to Jonas. “I’ll stay with her,” Jonas said.
Boss’s face tightened as he gave Jonas a nod.
I stomped on the first few steps, anger still burning within me. Damn Boss for making me mad. I definitely needed to get away from him and cool down, and I was certain it would help him concentrate more on the investigation. Midway up the staircase, I glanced over my shoulder at Boss.
Don’t do anything rash, Shelley.
I ran up the rest of the stairs without responding.
Chapter 16
Large drops of rain smacked the window and were swooshed away by the superfast windshield wiper blades. Loud thunder followed the multiple lightning flashes. I sat with my elbow resting on the side of the door, cheek pressed to my palm. My head ached, and the constant, heavy patter of the rain with the thunder intensified the throb. Before starting my shift, I needed to down at least ten aspirin to deaden the pain.
The more I thought about the conversation with Boss, the more I believed we needed time away from each other. His focus should’ve been on research and gathering evidence, not looking for ways to help me get my memories back. His heart was in the right place, but I feared any similar well-and-good intentions might lead to his extinction. The thought terrified me.
My sentiments for Boss matched those for Jonas. I didn’t want to lose him either. Billy stabbed him once and cost him a trip to the hospital. What would happen next? A bullet to the head? My heart would break.
Bottom line, I needed some time from both of them for safety reasons, theirs, and so everyone could focus on the investigation. But how could I hide from them? They were a team. We were a team. They had money, safe houses, access to people and resources. I didn’t have any of what they had. Where could I stay for free, or with an IOU? Who wouldn’t mind putting up with a part demon, vampire, human and angel? Friends? The only other friends I trusted currently were the werewolves.
“What’s wrong?” Jonas asked.
I lifted my head. A second later, a gust of wind rocked the car slightly. Gallons of rain poured over the window. Why couldn’t the storm have waited until I got to work? Even though I only had to walk a short distance to get inside the building, the heavy rain would drench me.
Jonas gripped the steering wheel. “You haven’t said a word since we left.” His eyes never strayed from the front window.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I said softly.
I considered asking him for a bit of extra money so I could hide out somewhere, but Jonas was smart like Boss. He’d figure out my intentions and stalk me. The best way for me to get away was to act my normal self. At work, I’d plan the details of my escape. Escape? The word made it sound as if they chained me to them.
“I guess Tabby never told you I’m really good at smelling lies.”
I began to smile, but stopped. This was not a happy moment.
“You want to know what’s wrong,” I said with annoyance in my tone. “I have a fucking headache from everything and the damn storm isn’t helping.”
Jonas glanced at me. “What else?”
I crossed my arms. “I’m so sick of Galluzzi and her minions. The God of the Underworld might pop in for a visit any night now. I can’t use my demon or angel shifting skills because of a fucking charm that’s itching my ankle. I had to send my best female friend away, and I miss her greatly. Oh, and let’s not forget money-hungry demons are looking for me to rip my heart out. Is that enough for you?”
His nostrils fanned and chest expanded. For a brief moment, I wondered if he could really smell lies, but I hadn’t given him any.
“We’re a team. We can handle this,” he said.
“Have you ever had to face so many people eager to kill someone?”
He hesitated. “Boss and I–”
“Have been shot and stabbed before. I get it. You know how to fight. But you still didn’t answer the question.” I stared at him, watching him blink and peek at me from the corners of his eyes.
“I’m not afraid, and neither is Boss. We can protect you.” His confidence sounded as solid as Boss’s.
Jonas slowed the car as he steered around a corner. The storm continued with heavy rain and large gusts of wind. I dreaded opening my door when I had to leave.
Jonas found a spot next to one of the government center’s entrances. As he shifted the gear to park the vehicle, a touch of anxiety rose within me. I had to walk away from him, but I didn’t want to. We were a team. Safety in numbers, the voice in my head reasoned.
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. If I didn’t go, one of them would end up seriously hurt, or worse, and then I’d lose all focus on the investigation. I couldn’t let any of that happen.
I looked at Jonas. His beautiful, gray eyes beamed with self-assurance, wisdom and warm-heartedness.
“I’d give you an umbrella if I had one,” he said.
I glanced out the front window. Strong gusts blew the rain sideways. “In this weather, an umbrella wouldn’t help.”
He raked his fingers through his short hair. “Maybe the storm will move on soon. Seems like it just popped up.”
I chuckled. “Well, it’s not moving quickly enough. I’ve got to go to work.”
“You don’t
have
to. You could stay here and keep company with me for a while.”
Nice try, but his effort to keep me from working wouldn’t work. I reached for the handle on the door. “Keep an eye on Boss for me.”
Before he could get another word out, I opened the door. The violent wind and rain hit me full force as I stepped out of the car. Moving fast, I slammed the door and jumped onto the sidewalk, holding my small purse above my eyes. My hair blew in front of me and stuck to my face. I dashed to the entrance as fast as I could, but my feet weren’t quick enough. By the time I made it inside, my clothes clung to my body and raindrops rolled down my arms as if I’d stepped out from a shower.
Shaking the excess moisture from my arms, I slowly moved closer to the two security guards. The demon guard’s gaze wandered down my body, suggesting impure thoughts swam in his mind. His puckish grin further supported my belief.
“Evening, ma’am,” the demon said, his gaze pointed below my navel. “A little wet tonight?” He emphasized the T at the end of wet.
Clearly, the demon thought with his dick instead of his head. I quickly dug inside my purse for my ID. Once I found my badge, I flashed it to the guard and then walked past him. I headed for the end of hall with quick strides and the sudden urge to take a real shower.
From the main level, I rode an elevator to the basement. As I walked through the tunnel, toward the capital, clusters of government employees passed by. Unlike the other days when I came to work, men and women wore suits and chatted with serious looks on their faces. None of them carried lunch bags in their hands. I wondered if they’d come from a meeting or were going to one.
I reached the elevator to get to the subbasement and hit the button. While I waited for my ride, I scanned the area around me. The empty hall showed no signs of trouble and the voices of those who’d passed recently faded. I breathed in a relieving breath, finding myself alone and safe.
The
ding
of the elevator alerted me to its presence. The doors opened and a crowd of men and women in professional attire walked out. I stepped aside, staying clear of their path.
“Good evening, Shelley,” said an evil voice from behind me.
Since I had vampire hearing and hadn’t heard her approaching, the bitch must have misted to appear near me. My blood boiled with anger. I hated the charmed bracelet on my ankle preventing me from utilizing my demon and angel abilities.
With my jaw clamped so tight my teeth could’ve chipped, I glanced over my shoulder. She stood alone and dressed in a red suit.
“I didn’t hear you coming,” I said in a rude tone.
Her lips formed a devilish smile. “You won’t.”
Heat flamed within me, causing me to perspire. My clothes, damp from my dash through the rain, began to feel even wetter. The demon in me wanted out, wanted to rip her to shreds. Fortunately for her, the angel in me held the demon back.
After a few nods from the people passing, I strode onto the empty elevator. The bitch followed me and stood at the opposite side with her arms crossed. Alone with the Senator, I picked up her demon scent mixed with some other citrus type of perfume. The two odors mixed with the sight of the Senator made my stomach churn.
Once the doors closed, we faced each other. She had a feral look in her eyes, but I felt no fear. I had zero doubt I could kill her with my bare hands. She knew I could too, given she knew I had vampire strength. Her charmed bracelet couldn’t freeze all supernatural abilities.
“I’m surprised you decided to show up this evening.” Galluzzi smirked.
I clenched the strap of my purse tighter. She obviously knew about the attack on me at Boss’s house. Did she think she could provoke me?
I stepped closer to her and stood a foot from her face, glaring at her. “I’m not easy to get rid of.”
Emotion drained from her face. “No, you’re not, but I have my ways.” She lifted her chin, displaying her arrogance. “Setbacks are normal in life, but I always win.”
Sweat trickled down the back of my neck. What would happen if I killed her in the elevator? Every bit of me wanted to see her dead now, instead of hung out in front of the world as a criminal. She deserved far worse. She deserved death.
The ring of the elevator brought me out of my malevolent thoughts. I stepped away from her, feeling excessively hot and with my upper teeth aching. I glided my tongue along the front and discovered my fangs had lowered. Not only did the demon in me want her dead, so did the vampire.
I rushed out of the elevator without giving the Senator another look or word. My heart sped as I strode fast through the cold, concrete maze of the subbasement. I wanted her death more than anything, even if it labeled me a criminal. Why waste time searching for evidence when I could simply break her neck or stab her with my blade? Ending her life would end the risk of harm to Tabby, Jonas and Boss. The positives outweighed the negatives of killing her. So why wait?
Drawing near the door to the room where doctors had given me an extra uterus, I slowed my pace. Galluzzi had started everything. She’d spent time creating Project E, me. She’d devoted months, no, years. She’d carefully planned to end my existence and successfully murdered thirty people. Her reign of evil had lasted over two decades. Why should I let death claim her quickly? I couldn’t.
I passed the horrific room and continued down the hall. Thoughts clear with purpose, I strolled into the cage. A small line extended from the counter and the powerful scent of demons thickened the air. I wondered if Sal had sent them to search for evidence. Though I didn’t trust Sal, his eagerness to help me was a blessing I wouldn’t discount. I stopped at the gate and waited for the buzz.
Lizzy glanced up. Seeing me, she hit the button, granting me entrance. While she spoke to the demon at the counter, I followed my usual prework routine.
“Can you show Bryce the records for 1980?” Lizzy asked as I stopped at her side.
“Sure.” I slid my hand under the counter and pressed the button. “Come on back.”
The African American man strode around the counter, closing the gate behind him. Average in build, he wore casual jeans and a polo shirt. Thin glasses sat on the bridge of his nose.
“Follow me please.” I offered a kind smile before I led him down the aisle.
As we passed rows of records, I noticed several people searching files. The burning scent associated with demons remained thick.
Bryce remained silent behind me. I considered asking him if Sal asked him to search through the records, but I didn’t want to appear nosy. I had no idea how much Sal had told his people, if anything.
I slowed my gait and leaned closer to Bryce. “Is there a particular document you’re searching for?”
“I’m looking for some college transcripts and old newspapers from colleges during the eighties.”
“Oh.” My curiosity raised a notch. “Any college in particular?”
“Indiana University.”
Galluzzi had attended IU. I wondered what Bryce hoped to find in college transcripts and newspapers. Was Sal also trying to provide a link for Billy and Galluzzi? Had he instructed Bryce and others to find one? Perhaps I should’ve arranged a meeting between Sal and Jackson to organize our search efforts.
Finding the label marked 1979 through 1980 I proceeded down the aisle, then stopped a quarter length from where we’d come from. Another man stood on a ladder near the end of the row.
Bryce stepped past me with his attention fixed on the shelf. “Ah, here we go.” He removed a box from the shelf and set it on the floor. Squatting, he peered up at me. “I’ll be here a while. Thank you for your help.”
“Sure. If you need anything, I’ll be around.”
I left and headed toward the back of the warehouse, searching the rows for Jackson or Tom. In the far back, I spotted Jackson midway in an aisle, sitting on the floor with a box in front of him. He smiled and lifted his head in acknowledgement.
“Having fun?” I asked as I drew. Instead of wearing the uniform, he wore jeans and dark t-shirt. Large muscles protruded from underneath the thin layer of cotton.
“Not nearly as much as I’d like.” He shoved an armful of papers back into the box.
“Where’s Tom?”
“He’ll be by later. He had to put in a few hours at work.” His gaze scanned the length of my body. “What happened to you?”
I raked my fingers through my damp hair, tugging the strands stuck to my skin and holding my hair up in a ponytail behind me. “What, the wet look isn’t in style?”
He gave me a naughty smile. “You should know by now, I don’t mind a wet woman, especially if it’s you.”