Death's Door (Supernatural Security Force Book 3)
Page 20
When he was gone, Starla smiled brightly at me as if we hadn’t just fought for our lives against an all-powerful Nephilim. “May we speak in private?”
Adrik’s hand on my back tightened.
I turned to him, nodding reassuringly. “It’s all right,” I told him. “I won’t go far.”
He nodded reluctantly, and I led Starla to the far corner of the alley where Selaphiel had tossed me like a ragdoll earlier. Whatever numbing spell Z had done was still holding up decently enough, but I couldn’t help the small limp. When the numbness wore off, I was going to hate life.
“You exceeded my expectations tonight, Gemini.” Starla’s expression changed as she turned to face me. Relief, pride, and then uncertainty passed over her features. “You’ve built an incredible team here.”
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” I said, trying to figure out where this was going.
“Azrael agrees, which is why he saw to it that your team was taken care of.”
“Tell him ‘thank you’ for me.”
“His blood went into that spell, so I’d say you owe him more than thanks.”
“His… Oh. Well, what can I do?”
She cocked her head. “How would you like to work with your old team again?”
I blinked, confused. “My old team?”
“The SSF.”
I lost my breath as completely as if I’d been punched in the gut. “I don’t understand.”
“You’ve done impeccable work. Taken down a threat from the inside as thoroughly as any seasoned agent could have done. Better, actually. The agency would be lucky to have you.”
“But my arrest warrant. I’m wanted for—”
“All of that has been wiped clean. For you and for your friends.”
My eyes narrowed. “I think Raguel would disagree.”
“Raguel is not the majority.” Her eyes glinted sharply.
“Azrael doesn’t involve himself in the politics of the council,” I said.
“That’s mostly true,” she agreed slowly. “He prefers to go around the system rather than through it. But the council has voted, and thanks to a majority, your charges have been dropped. You’ll be reinstated to detective. If you want it.”
“Voted?” I echoed. “But how? When?”
“The moment Selaphiel left, there was a special conclave. In secret. A vote made contingent upon your success tonight.”
My jaw dropped. “So everyone knew what we were doing, and they didn’t come to help?”
“The politics of Nephilim are complicated. You had Jophiel. And Raphziel. And Adrik,” she added.
But not Azrael. Not really. Unless you counted Z.
And certainly not Raguel.
I wasn’t surprised.
“I’ve been put in charge of SSF operations indefinitely,” she added, which only made me more curious about all I’d missed while in hiding. No wonder Rigo had taken her orders. “You’d report to me, ultimately. And you wouldn’t have to hide that anymore. Although, I do still have a few assignments I’d like you to do off the books.”
Of course, she did.
“You’d be a detective,” she added.
“I . . . don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.” She shrugged. “Unless you have something better planned.”
For some reason, I felt like she meant Adrik.
But what did she expect? That we’d run off into the sunset together? Get married? Have two point five kids and a dog?
That future wasn’t mine.
Then again, I’d caught Dad’s killer.
Brought her to justice, in a sense.
And cleared my name. And his.
What was left for me at the SSF now? Especially knowing he’d never wanted me there in the first place.
“She’ll take it.”
Gran’s voice was loud in my ear as she landed on the brick ledge beside me.
“Gran, this is a private conversation,” I protested.
“Yes, and you were ruining it,” she shot back. She looked at Starla. “She’ll take the job.”
“No, I won’t.”
“The hell you won’t, child. Don’t be slow with me.”
“I’m not being . . . Look, Dad didn’t even want me to take that job in the first place. And now that his killer has been dealt with, there’s nothing for me there.”
“Bull shit,” Gran said. “Your father wanted you safe. He didn’t want you going to work for crooked people. He wanted better for you. And you’ve already made it better. Why stop now?” She glanced at Starla then back at me. “We both know there’s still corruption to be dealt with. And sometimes your father thought like a detective, but when it came to you, he thought like a dad. He would never want you in harm’s way—but if he were here now, to see what you’re capable of, he’d never tell you to walk away from what you’re meant to do.”
“How do you know I’m meant to do this?”
“Because I’ve watched you stand at death’s door and not even flinch. Hell, I’ve watched you walk right over the threshold. You get your crazy from me,” she added, and then more seriously, “Because you’re the bravest woman I know. And because even with half a dozen Nephs on this planet, you were the one that brought justice to your father’s legacy. Now it’s your turn to bring justice to someone else out there who needs it. Don’t waste that shit. Your father’s soul will understand.”
My heart swelled as I thought over her words.
Starla stood quiet as I mulled it over, but the answer came to me like a flash in the darkness. Gran was right. Not that I wanted to tell her so. Still, I couldn’t deny what I’d become. Besides, there were plenty more assholes in the chain of command to take down.
“Okay,” I told Starla. “I’ll do it.”
She smiled softly. “I’m glad to hear it. You can report Monday morning to the Delta building.”
“Thank you.” I started to turn away, a little shell-shocked by this turn of events. But Starla wasn’t finished.
“Gem, there’s one more thing.”
I turned back. “Let me guess,” I said. “My next assignment for the elusive Azrael.”
She nodded, but the pleasure had vanished from her eyes. Instead, she looked . . . wary.
“What is it?” I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the answer.
“As you know, the supernatural community has become quite stirred up by the recent rash of demon activity.”
“The demons are under control now,” I pointed out.
“Yes, but the aftermath of the threat they posed is not.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Gran.
“You can speak in front of her,” I said.
Not like Gran was going to leave if I asked her to.
“Very well. There is a small group of supernaturals who think the Nephilim have, shall we say, overstayed their welcome. That their very presence here is to blame for the demons who attack. There are whispers of an uprising. And we’re looking into several persons of interest who may be facilitating this uprising.”
“You’d like me to investigate these persons of interest?”
“Faith has a list of a few she’s already surveilling for us. There’s just one we’d like you to focus on for now.”
My belly tightened. “What’s the name?”
She hesitated, and that, more than anything, sent alarm bells ringing. Of all the dangerous, nefarious assignments Starla had given me, none of them had made her look quite so nervous.
“Starla, what’s the name?” I repeated, impatient to finish this and get back to my friends. To tell them the good news. To celebrate the fact that we’d lived through this night.
“His name is Jax McGuire,” Starla said. “And we’ll need you to spy on his every move.”
The End
For now
Book 4 coming soon!
Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She’s only sligh
tly socially awkward as a result. She writes romance of all kinds with plenty of abs and angst. Her most frequent hobbies are riding motorcycles, talking to her plants, and avoiding killer slugs.
You can find out more about Heather and her books at www.heatherhildenbrand.com.
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Other titles by Heather Hildenbrand:
A Witch’s Call
A Witch’s Destiny
A Witch’s Fate
A Witch’s Soul
A Witch’s Prophecy
A Witch’s Hope
Twisted Tides (Breck’s novella)
The Girl Who Cried Werewolf
The Girl Who Cried Captive
The Girl Who Cried War
The Winter Witch
The Spring Witch
A Witch’s Heart
Midnight Mate
Goddess Ascending
Goddess Claiming
Goddess Forging
Kiss of Death
Knock Em Dead
Death’s Door
Dead to Rights
The Girl Who Called The Stars
The Girl Who Ruled The Stars
Bitter Rivalry
Bitter Beloved
Bitter Truth
Dirty Blood
Cold Blood
Blood Bond
Blood Rule
Broken Blood
One Hour: bonus novella
Imitation
Deviation
Generation
Guarded by the Alpha
Alpha Undercover
Wilde Bear
River Bear
Protected By the Bear
The Badge and the Bear
Tragic Ink: A Havenwood Falls story
O Face
A Risk Worth Taking
A Bet Worth Making
Quarantine Crush
For a complete list of titles, visit Heather’s website.