The Daughter of Zion
Page 41
“I’m going to scare him.”
“You’re scaring me.”
Nathan was attempting his stern-dad face. “That boy needs a healthy dose of fear if he’s going out with my daughter.”
I laughed and tilted my head toward the shotgun. “Is that thing even loaded?”
His mouth opened. Then he closed it. “That’s beside the point.”
I put my hands on his shoulders. “You are not allowed to embarrass her today. And this”—I let my eyes drift up and down—“is embarrassing.”
“This is me making a statement.”
“Well…” I clapped my hands slowly. “Mission accomplished.”
“Mom, Warren and Fury are here!” Luca called down the hallway.
I snapped my fingers at my husband. “Pants. Now.”
Nathan caught my hand, pulled me to him, and twirled me under his arm.
“You’re a crazy man,” I said, laughing.
“You knew that when you married me.”
“That I did.” I walked to the bedroom door and pointed at him. “Don’t make me regret it.”
He winked. “Like you could ever regret all of this.” He gestured down the length of his body.
I laughed as I walked out of our room. The end of the hall opened into the foyer of the living room/kitchen/dining room, and Luca was opening the front door.
My nose involuntarily scrunched when I saw Fury first on the other side of it. Bygones were definitely bygones, but she was still one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen in real life. She wore suction-tight jeans with a black spaghetti-strap tank, an outfit I hadn’t been able to pull off in…ever.
She smiled when she saw me—something I still wasn’t used to—and she gave a small wave.
“You made it,” I said, walking over as they came inside. I greeted her first with a hug.
Beside her, Warren had taken a departure from his nearly solid black wardrobe. He wore dark jeans and a navy T-shirt. His hair had grown long enough to tuck behind his ears in the couple of months they’d been back on Earth.
“For the house.” He offered me a bottle of champagne as he pulled me in for a side hug and a kiss on the temple. “Love the new place.”
I stepped back and looked around the tall, open living space. “Yeah, it’s a bit of a work in progress, but we like it.”
“It’s not underground, so that’s an improvement,” he said.
“So true. Come on in. Luca, go tell your sister they’re here.”
“Yes, ma’am,” my son replied.
“Where’s Nate?” Warren asked.
I led them to the kitchen island, where I’d set out a few finger foods. “Hopefully getting dressed.”
Fury laughed. “Hopefully?”
“Yeah.” I rolled my eyes and put the champagne in the fridge. “Long story. One you definitely don’t want to hear before dinner.”
“Now, I must know,” Warren said.
“Let’s just say, he’s being a bit overdramatic about Iliana’s first date.”
Fury squeezed Warren’s bicep. “We don’t know anything about that, do we?”
My head tilted. “Not you too.”
Warren had the look Nathan gets when he thinks I’m being ridiculous. “I wasn’t being dramatic.”
Fury leaned against the bar. “I had to make him leave the sword at home.”
I held up a hand. “You don’t even want to know what I hopefully stopped.”
“Men,” Fury said with a smile.
“Where’s Jett?” I asked.
“He’s meeting us here,” Warren said, shaking his head. “Probably stopping on the way to buy condoms.”
“Warren!” I felt my cheeks flush with heat.
Fury backhanded his chest. “Stop it.”
A door opened and closed behind them. Nathan walked out of the hallway, miraculously dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt. He always wore a double shoulder holster, but if I’d learned anything in seventeen years of marriage, it was to pick your battles. This one, he could have.
“I’ll behave,” he announced as he crossed the living room.
I laughed and shook my head.
Nathan shook hands with Warren and pulled him in for a one-armed hug. “Welcome back again. How’s your dad?”
Warren slapped him on the back. “Glad to not be in prison.”
Exonerating Azrael had been easier than Enzo had expected. The American government was happy to keep the whole thing as quiet as possible. They even went so far as to create a mythical enemy that the Claymore Army had so bravely defeated in Asheville.
“Azrael got some more good news right before we left,” Fury said.
Nathan’s brow lifted in question.
“The government is putting Enzo in charge of Claymore,” Warren said.
Nathan’s jaw went slack. “Shut up.”
“That’s amazing,” I said.
“Yeah. They gave him a decent settlement too, despite everything.”
“Are they still talking about moving back here?” I asked, hopefully, clasping my hands beneath my chin.
Warren nodded. “Fury and I are looking for a place of our own so they can move back to the mountain.”
I excitedly clapped my hands together. Then I quickly covered my mouth. “I mean, I’m really sorry you guys have to move again. I’m just—”
A wave of Fury’s hand cut me off. “We always knew the move was temporary.” She looked up at Warren. “Besides, I’m kinda looking forward to finding something that’s ours.”
Looking at him, looking at her, it was clear: they really were perfect for each other. “Me too,” he said with a smile.
“How does Jett feel about moving again?” I asked.
Fury shrugged. “He and Rogan are counting down the days until Rogan turns eighteen and they can get an apartment.”
I laughed. “That’s shockingly normal.”
“I know,” Fury agreed. “He’d move out now, but you know Shannon won’t have it. She’s hanging on every second that she can now that Rogan’s back at home.”
“Poor guy,” I said.
“Poor nothing. I think they should both stay at home.” Nathan wagged his finger between Fury and Warren. “That way there’s two fully armed, responsible adults there to chaperone.”
Fury grimaced. “But they’re about to be adults, so…”
I shrugged. “And not to mention, Jett’s already lived—”
Nathan’s finger shot toward me. “You promised we weren’t going to talk about that anymore. He’s just a normal seventeen-year-old boy. That’s what you said.”
I chuckled and put my hands up in defense. “You’re right. I take it back.”
Nathan nudged Warren with his elbow. “So how are we going to play this? Good cop, bad cop?”
“I prefer outright threats,” Warren said.
“Did you bring the sword?”
Warren jerked his head toward Fury. “She wouldn’t let me.”
I crossed my arms and looked at them both. “You want her to move in with Jett and Rogan? She’s eighteen too, ya know?”
A deep crease formed between Nathan’s eyebrows. “You and I have issues today, woman.”
“Just trying to keep you from doing something all of us will regret, my dear.” I lifted my wineglass and hid my mouth behind it. “As always.”
Fury tried to stifle a laugh and failed.
Feet pounded the stairs on the other side of the house.
“There’s my girl,” Warren said, opening his arms.
Iliana ran to him, jumping into his arms. He twirled her all the way around before returning her to her feet. Holding her hands, he took in the full sight of her. “Wow, you look—”
“Too damn pretty.” Nathan stepped over beside him and pointed toward the stairs. “Go change. Right now.”
Iliana rolled her eyes. “Dad.”
“You do look really pretty,” Warren said quietly to her.
She smiled and did a
twirl in the pink sundress. “Thanks. Mom picked it out.”
Nathan whirled toward me, horrified. “You’re responsible for this?”
“Paid for it with your credit card,” I said with a wink.
He put his hands on his hips. “Issues,” he said again.
“When did you get back?” Iliana asked Warren and Fury.
“We made a pit stop at the house but then came straight here.” The corner of Warren’s mouth tipped up. “Couldn’t miss your first official date.”
Iliana rocked back and forth on her heels. “You sure you’re OK with it?”
Nathan opened his mouth to speak, but I gave him the look. Frustrated, his lips snapped shut.
“It’s a little weird.” Warren put his arm around Fury. “But Jett comes from good genes, so I can’t object too much.”
“And Jett really cares about you,” Fury added with an approving nod. “Which is what matters most to all of us.”
Nathan’s mouth opened again.
“He jumped in front of a bullet to save her,” I snapped to shut him up. “And if you don’t simmer down, I’m going to let Iliana use her power to lock you in the bedroom.”
Stunned, Nathan laughed along with everyone else. Then he zipped his lips closed and pretended to toss away a key.
Our daughter flashed me a grateful smile, then walked over to Nathan and cupped his face in her hands. “It’s going to be all right, Dad.”
He frowned but hugged her. “I just love you so much. No one will ever be good enough.”
“I know.” She kissed his cheek. “I love you too.”
When she stepped away from him, I reached for his hand and pulled him to me. He pressed his lips against my hair, and I heard him sniff as he fought back tears. I put my arm around his waist—and felt another handgun tucked into his waistband.
The doorbell rang.
Nathan started forward, but I held onto the back of his shirt. I noticed Fury also had her finger hooked in Warren’s back pocket.
Iliana went to the door. This child, who’d battled demons and saved mankind—for the first time in her eventful life—looked nervous. She blew out a shaky sigh as she reached for the door handle.
My heart fluttered for her.
Jett walked inside with a handful of wildflowers. Purple bee balm, pink swamp milkweed, goldenrod, and white wood astor. His face brightened when he saw her. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Iliana bit her lower lip.
“Oh. Here.” Jett offered her the flowers. “These are for you.”
“Guess we know why he was late,” Fury whispered to Warren.
“Umm-hmm,” Warren replied with a smirk.
Iliana held the bouquet to her nose. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“So are you,” he said quietly. His eyes darted nervously in our direction. His dark hair was neatly combed, and he was more dressed up than I’d ever seen him. He gave an awkward wave. “Hey, guys.”
Nathan grunted.
“Hi, Jett.” I walked over with my husband right on my heels and held my hands toward Iliana. “Can I put the flowers in some water for you?”
“Thanks, Mom,” Iliana said, handing them to me.
“Are you ready to go?” Jett asked her.
When I turned back toward the kitchen, Nathan stepped in. “Just a minute.”
Oh boy.
“Where are you two headed?” Nathan asked.
Jett looked like he was in front of a freight train. “Um…to the movies?”
“You don’t sound so sure.” Nathan crossed his arms.
“Yes, sir. To the movies.” Jett swallowed hard. “And for pizza at the Mellow Mushroom.”
“Pizza?” Warren walked slowly forward. His brow couldn’t have been any more scrunched. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Iliana covered her face. “Appa…”
Nathan elbowed him. “Do your light-ball thing.”
“Dad!” Iliana shrieked.
Fury slapped Warren’s arm as he conjured his power into his hand. “Hey! That’s my son.”
“Thank you, Fury,” Iliana said.
Jett was standing a few inches behind her.
I put the flowers on the counter. “Ignore them. Illy, what time will you be home?”
“Midnight?” she asked.
“Eleven,” Nathan corrected her.
“She’s eighteen,” I reminded him.
Nathan frowned.
“Eleven-thirty?” she asked with a hopeful smile.
He huffed. “Fine.”
With an excited smile, she turned back to Jett. “Let’s get out of here before he breaks out the high-Z cuffs.”
Jett laughed and opened the door.
“Oh! Wait!” I pulled my phone from my back pocket.
“Mom…” Iliana groaned and rolled her eyes.
I put a hand on my hip. “I could’ve let your father come out here in his underwear with a shotgun.”
Her face twisted. “Ew.”
“Right? So smile like you mean it.” I tapped the camera button on my screen and held up the phone.
Jett put an arm around her, and they both smiled as I snapped a photo. “Can we go now?” Iliana asked.
“Have fun,” I said, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
“But not too much fun!” Warren shouted after them.
Iliana waved before closing the front door behind them. My husband dramatically crumpled over the counter, burying his face in his hands. “I hate it so much.”
Walking behind him, I patted his back. “Come on. We’ll drown your sorrows in a glass of champagne.” I took the bottle out of the fridge. “Nathan? Want to do the honors?”
His face was buried in his hands. “I don’t feel like celebrating.”
I slipped the cold bottle under the front of his shirt.
“Whoa-ho-ho!” He bolted upright. “Holy shit, woman!”
Warren and Fury laughed.
I handed him the bottle. “Pop the cork. The sound of explosions always makes you feel better.”
“Yeah, it does.” He gripped the champagne by the neck, twisted off the metal cage around the cork, and pointed it away from us. With his thumbs he pressed, and the cork fired across the living room with a loud pop!
We all clapped, and I got four glasses down from the cabinet. Nathan poured them full and passed them around.
Fury lifted hers into the air. “To your new life, and hopefully, the beginning of a bit of peace and quiet for all of us.”
“Amen to that,” Nathan agreed.
Warren raised his glass, smiling at me. “And to our little girl, who’s every bit as brave and beautiful as her mother.”
I felt my cheeks flush.
Nathan clinked his glass with all of ours. “And to all of us. Who’d have thought it would take a bunch of humans to save the world?”
My arm froze midair as something deep and existential stirred inside me.
Warren must have registered the look on my face. “Sloan? You OK?”
A chill rippled my spine. “Do you think he knew?”
“Who knew what?” Nathan asked.
“The Father. He’s the only being in existence with omniscient power,” I said.
“What?” Fury asked.
I looked at Nathan. “Humans were created after the angels. And even the good ones, like Azrael, have never been happy they were made to take care of us. The Father never gave them a reason for it either.”
Warren put his glass down and raked both hands through his black hair. “He always said omniscience was a curse. And he said, he was responsible for bringing me and Sloan together.”
Fury touched his arm. “And if you hadn’t jumped in front of those Yahweh bullets, the hydrogen necroxide would have killed Iliana, and the Morning Star would have won.”
“Fury’s right,” I said. “Warren, you’re the only angel or human that could have saved her.”
A hush fell over the room, all of us lost in thought, our mind
s traveling through time and between worlds. Everything finally made sense.
Everything.
The silence was shattered by the sound of Nathan’s laughter. “Sloan, where’s your phone?”
My head snapped back. “What? Why?”
“I need to call Azrael. You can bet your ass, he’s never going to hear the end of this one.”
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