by Ford, Lizzy
“I do what I need to.”
“That’s it? This is me asking for your help.” She approached him, taking his face in her hands. “There’s one life, Nathan, standing between us and keeping the door to Hell closed. You’ve taken hundreds, thousands, of lives of that didn’t pose a fraction of a threat that this one does.”
It was the same rationale he’d thought when Maggy first told him about the situation. A few days earlier, he might’ve hesitated but not spared Kaylee’s life. Then he met her, slept with her, learned she was meant to be his.
“I know,” he said finally. “But there’s got to be another way.”
Zyra searched his face in disbelief. “You won’t reconsider? Even if we disagree about this case, are you refusing my cause altogether?”
“Yeah, I am,” he replied in the same hushed tone.
“Nathan, how do you think a problem like this should be handled?” She dropped her hands.
“It’s not a problem, Zyra, it’s a life.”
“Which is why I’ll make it swift, painless and with the greater good in mind over the life of one person!”
“I think you’re on the wrong track. I believe you mean well, but this isn’t the right way,” he said. “I know I’ve killed, but only when there was no other choice. You want to take lives without exploring alternatives, because it’s easier to do. It’s a slippery slope.”
“You are nothing like the man I remember,” she said.
Irritation crept through him, more so because he wasn’t certain his decision was for the greater good. He never hesitated, yet for the first time in his career, he didn’t know what the right thing to do was. He was emotionally compromised and trying hard to put distance between himself, Kaylee and the situation with Shadowman.
“Whoever is anchoring Shadowman to this world has to die. Do you know how many people were killed yesterday?” Zyra continued. “He’s already threatened one of the key holders.”
“Key holders?” Nathan echoed. “You mean Amira.”
Zyra’s gaze sharpened. “So … either they didn’t tell you or they don’t know. Amira is one of three people who hold the keys to the gateway. Shadowman needs all three of them and all three of the keys they hold. Amira can find the others, which is why …” She stopped herself, as if she’d revealed too much already
Nathan was silent. Did Maggy know? He was certain Pedro did, and now, he understood why 3G was after Amira. But what exactly did the woman before him want with the key holders like Amira?
“Nathan, he needs to die,” Zyra continued. “Even if you fight me on every other thing I stand for, you can’t deny that the only way to get rid of Shadowman is to kill his anchor.”
She was right. He knew it. Kaylee had to die, even if only temporarily.
He couldn’t entrust that mission to Zyra, though. Maybe not even to Maggy, who might be too tempted just to walk away once Kaylee was dead. It was so easy to take a life and so much harder to try to get it back once it was gone.
Nathan’s eyes lingered on Zyra’s lips. Life had a way of getting super complicated, super fast.
“On another topic, why did you wait three thousand years to talk to me?” he asked. “You could’ve asked me anything that’s in the file, but I’m assuming you collected the information clandestinely.”
Zyra’s staunch insistence wavered.
“What? Suddenly got nothing to say?” Nathan crossed his arms. “Were you counting on me falling head over heels for you again and just doing whatever you asked?”
“No,” she replied. “I hoped to have the upper hand by surprising you, but nothing I know about you or in your file says weak.” She sighed. “Nathan, it’s complicated.”
He laughed.
“You weren’t … the first I pulled into the guide corps by seducing you. But you were the only one I loved,” she admitted. “I think that scared me, especially when Pedro wouldn’t let me retire.”
“You freaked out and ran.”
“I thought I was protecting you. I didn’t think you’d take their offer when I left you.”
“I had nothing when you left. Nowhere to go. I didn’t even want to live.”
Her face grew pink. “I know. I felt the same. I didn’t know you had joined for many years and then, I assumed you’d want nothing to do with me.”
Her words struck him hard. She appeared to be truthful, and he could imagine what she went through. It was the same line of thought he had about wanting to protect Kaylee. If he walked away, didn’t he save her from the pain of being dragged further into his world?
It hadn’t worked that way for Zyra.
“So I didn’t try to find you,” she finished. “You can hate me for it, but I never meant to hurt you. And, if you have a free evening, we can sit and talk. Politics aside.”
“I don’t think that’ll happen,” he said quietly.
Emotion flashed in her eyes before the stoic mask returned. “It was worth a try, right?” she asked. By the faint tremor in her voice, she’d truly hoped he said yes.
How could he? Did he want to? He didn’t know. Usually, when he was emotionally distressed he walked away.
Nathan leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. He lingered then stepped back and went to the stairs leading into the house. He clicked the remote to open the garage door.
“Nathan, if you won’t kill the anchor, I will. I didn’t want to have to issue an ultimatum. I wanted us to work together.”
He was quiet for a moment. While he was the only who could get near Kaylee, Zyra’s people could kill Kaylee from afar. A bullet to the head, an explosion.
Kaylee didn’t have a chance, if he didn’t do what Zyra wanted.
“Give me two days, Zyra,” he said. “I’ll kill the anchor. If I don’t, I’ll back off and let you handle it.”
“You’re serious?” she asked, a small smile crossing her face. “Nathan, together we can –”
“There is no we. I don’t agree with what you’re doing, but I know that Shadowman can’t be allowed to hurt others. Think about what you’re doing, Zyra,” he urged. “You’re right this time, because the situation is very black-and-white. But what happens when it’s not, and you take the wrong life?”
“Come with me. You could decide what to do in the grey areas,” she replied quickly. “You and I could run 3G together. We were always a good team.”
God, it’s so tempting! The only woman he ever loved, combined with the power to do what Pedro wouldn’t allow him to now, all to make the world a better place.
If not for Kaylee appearing, he’d walk out of the garage with Zyra, no questions asked.
He turned away. “See you around, Zyra,” he called over his shoulder.
“Two days!” she reminded him.
He walked into the house and closed the door behind him.
“So,” Maggy said. She stood a few feet away, arms crossed and features grim. “How’d it go?”
“Anticlimactic,” he quipped. “I need a cigar and a drink. Then we’ll talk about why you didn’t tell me there are three people like Amira with keys to the gateway, and I’ll tell you how we’re going to handle Kaylee.”
Chapter Sixteen
When Kaylee awoke to find Nathan gone, she began to feel the familiar weight of dread in her gut again. She dressed and searched the house in the morning light, the heaviness growing.
She had a feeling he hadn’t just run out for breakfast. She stood in the living room, gaze on the empty driveway. She’d slept better in his arms than she had the past month. Even waking to the familiar presence of Shadowman, she felt good after Nathan’s attentive, consuming lovemaking. He managed to take her mind off everything but where he’d touch her next. She hadn’t expect the abrupt man determined to remain isolated of being capable of sensitivity of any kind, let alone aware of how to please a woman in bed.
He’d been gentle but assertive, guiding her body, savoring every inch of her, and taking her to climax with intensity she never
experienced before. Sleeping with him had been incredible, intoxicating, overwhelming. His heat melted her from the inside out, his passion making her feel like the most cherished, worshipped woman in the world.
And now he was gone, once again the man she didn’t trust. No matter how irritating his approach to her was, he had gone out of his way to help her more than once. She tried to convince herself of this, unable to understand someone who seemed full of contradictions.
“I don’t understand that man.”
Confusion was fed by anger, and she suspected he hadn’t planned on last night happening. She definitely hadn’t.
What was clear: he didn’t stick around.
“It doesn’t take law school to know he was looking for a one nighter.”
Kaylee went to the kitchen. She had no idea whose house this was, but she was hungry enough that she’d eat their food. She made herself scrambled eggs and toast then sat at the kitchen table. The house was too quiet. Normally, in her apartment building, someone else’s alarm woke her in the morning before hers went off, and the sounds of showering or creaking floors were constant until she left for work. When she got home, someone’s television was always up loud and the scents of others’ cooking drifted in via the vents.
Now that she was alone with herself, she missed the sounds she’d grown accustomed to.
It was eight. She’d slept in and caught herself tensing up, afraid someone at work would miss her, if she were too late.
Except there was no work to go to. The finality of yesterday’s events grew even clearer. She had absolutely, positively nowhere to go and no one who would miss her when she didn’t show up. Nathan ditched her and her family was never an option. All she had was Shadowman.
“Could you leave me alone for a few minutes?” she snapped at the invisible creature. “I just need to freakin’ breathe for a minute.”
He ignored her, and she sighed, slumping at the table.
The doorbell rang.
Kaylee straightened, surprised. Neither Nathan nor Shadowman was the type of person who knocked. If not them, who was here? The woman named Maggy? Someone else Nathan sent?
She stood and pulled her hair back loosely in the scrunchie she had around her wrist. Walking to the door, she paused to glance out of the picture window overlooking the front lawn and driveway.
She didn’t recognize the late model, dark colored car in the driveway.
She waited for a moment to see if the person just left.
Another ring.
Uneasily, Kaylee cracked the door open.
A man she’d never seen before stood outside the door. He was handsome, tall and dressed all in black with piercings lining one ear. Spiked blond hair tipped with black, tattoos on his neck and arms, striking blue eyes, a black metal pendant with the pentagram symbol. He was good-looking in a scary way, with a direct gaze and the strange stillness of a predator, reminding her of Nathan.
Definitely not a Girl Scout.
“Um, yeah?” she asked.
“You’re Kaylee.”
“Why?”
A look of awe or incredulity crossed his features, and he smiled broadly, revealing a row of bright, straight, polished teeth.
“It is such an honor to meet you,” he said. “You have no idea how seriously I’m taking this. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity.”
“Do I know you?” she asked.
“Not officially. I’m Edgar. You can call me Eddy. Your … friend contacted me. Asked me to help out. Can I come in?”
“Oh. Um, sure.” She opened the door. Maybe she shouldn’t be surprised that Nathan had such a weird range of friends or colleagues.
Eddy walked in and went to the table. He set down his backpack and pulled out what looked like a huge jewelry roll. Setting it on the table, he returned to his backpack.
“You hungry or thirsty or anything?” she asked, clearing her plate.
“No, thanks.”
While Eddy looked scary, he sounded cheerful and much friendlier than Nathan had ever been.
When she returned to the table, the jewelry roll was laying open across the table. She sank into the seat nearest him without getting in his way and gazed at the line of weaponry. Knives, throwing darts, stakes like those she’d seen used for tents. He was checking all of them expertly with large, strong hands.
“Wow. You came prepared,” she said, reaching out to touch one. The black steel was cold and smooth.
“That’s sorta my job,” he replied. “I’m an assassin. Supposed to protect you.”
Sure. Why not.
“I bet you’ve had a lot of issues.”
“Too many,” she replied. “What is this for?” She picked up a spike, frowning at it. “Looks like what they use on television against vampires.”
He laughed. “Yeah, it does. You stab someone then …” He took it from her and held it up. He tapped the top, and spikes popped out along the stake. “I save these for people who piss me off. Kind of painful.”
She grimaced.
He continued checking everything then began placing the weapons in discreet sheaths around his body. What weapons remained he rolled back up and replaced in his backpack.
“I don’t know how you all can be so used to this,” she murmured. “Killing, death.”
Eddy gave her a small smile of understanding. His movement stilled, and he studied her.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like, being Shadowman’s host. You aren’t what I expected,” he admitted. “You’re … nice.”
“He took out three hundred people yesterday, and I can’t kill a spider.” The admission caught in her throat, and the last words came out choked.
“I guess there’s no reasoning in how these things work.”
“You’re not afraid to be here?” she asked curiously. “Even with him here?”
“Is he here now?” Eddy looked around.
“Yeah. He comes and goes but he’s here now.”
“Not afraid. Honored.”
She frowned, puzzled by his choice of words at being in the presence of a demon.
“Take this.” He pulled free one of the knives he’d placed at his calf. It was smaller than the rest. “Just in case something happens, and I can’t get to you.” He pushed it into a small sheath and set it before her. “Pointy end goes in attacker.”
“Sound so simple.” She took it uneasily.
“Well, since we’re housemates for now, I’m going to pick out a room,” he said and stood. “If you want to grab some food or anything, we can go out in a bit.”
“I’m allowed to leave?”
“Sure. As long as I’m with you.” He smiled. “Nothing will get near you.” He hefted his backpack and left her in the dining room to scout out his room.
Kaylee sighed. Not only had Nathan left her this morning without an explanation but he’d sent someone else to babysit her. If that wasn’t a sign he didn’t want to be involved, nothing was.
Eddy’s rustling was a welcome sound in the house she found too quiet minutes before. A faint buzzing sound reached her ears as well, and she paused. He didn’t answer the ringing phone. She wondered if it was hers. She didn’t recall having it when they arrived yesterday, but she’d been too distraught to pay much attention.
She walked to the master bedroom and looked around to find the source of the sound. The ringing stopped and then started again a moment later. Following it, she knelt and spotted her cell phone just under the bed, half covered by her underwear. She grabbed the phone and leaned back.
Nathan’s name crossed the screen.
She took a great deal of satisfaction out of hitting the red button to hang up on him. The feeling faded and was replaced by a combination of sadness and guilt. Why was she hoping there was more between them than one night?
“Kaylee?” Eddy called.
“I’m here.” She rose and tucked the phone in her pocket. “Just … making the bed.” She hurried to follow through with her words. When she was
done, she left the bedroom.
Eddy was poking at the locks on the windows in the living room. “I’m going to secure everything. Keep the windows and doors locked, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” She sat down on the couch and listened as he made his way slowly through the entire house.
Her phone buzzed. She was angry with him. But the idea Nathan texted was too intriguing. She pulled it out.
You okay? He had messaged her.
She considered, wanting to tell him to go to hell or ask him why he’d left and sent someone else to do his job. Or simply tell him that last night was a mistake and never to talk to her again.
Unless he wanted to sleep over again.
She cursed herself and kept her response short.
Yep. Awesome.
Satisfied, she lowered the phone and grabbed the remote to the television. She clicked it on, needing a distraction from Nathan. His response was quick.
Good. About last night …
She glared at the phone. Her heart was hammering, her gut twisting at the anticipation of what he’d say. She wasn’t going to let him break it off first.
It was a mistake. I know. She texted back.No worries. I get it.
“And if you believe that, you son of a bitch…” she mumbled under her breath. She flipped through a few channels until finding a crime show marathon, waiting for his response.
Agreed. No hard feelings.
She gave a sound of frustration and threw her phone at the chair, barely missing Eddy as he walked in.
“Whoa,” he said, leaning back with lightning reflexes. “Everything okay?”
“Great,” she retorted.
He chuckled. “Just checking the locks on the door. Don’t throw anything.”
“Sorry, Eddy. It’s not your fault,” she replied. “It’s been a long week.”
“Shit happens,” he said cheerfully. He opened the door and tested the lock. The deadbolt was stuck and didn’t budge. He knelt and set down a small took kit, retrieving a screwdriver to take a part the lock.
“You do this often?” she asked. “Act as a bodyguard?”
