The Faithful

by Wylde, Nora

  “Then you won’t care if I make friends with her?”

  Sam’s teeth clicked sharply together. Of course he didn’t care. But then why was he standing there facing one of the oldest archangels in existence with his full battle armor exposed, wishing the male would give him a good reason to strike him down?

  “Alexandros!”

  Daren opted not to use his legs, instead shifting his presence from the house to their side in the briefest of moments.

  “Whoa, whoa there! What’s the problem?” Daren said, eyeing them both but settling firmly on Sam. Alex stepped back when Daren inserted himself between them.

  “Seems our brethren is losing his head,” Alex replied. “I require your assistance tonight. He objects to my inviting your neighbor.”

  Sam’s fingers curls into fists, feeling like hooks as he drew blood from his own palms. Alex sniffed the air and grinned, meeting Sam’s gaze.

  “I’m assuming there’s trouble if you’re asking for our help. There is no reason to have the human involved in that,” Sam replied.

  “I’m not asking. I’m giving you an order. Be there tonight, and be ready,” Alex shot back.

  “We’ll be there,” Daren interrupted, pushing his way between them.

  A snide laugh issued from Alex’s lips as he peered down once more at Sam’s armor. He turned away from them with a shrug.

  “Fine. Don’t be late.”

  It was only when Alex was securely inside the car and the black Bentley pulled away from the curb that Sam let his armor retreat. It was painful when the shift occurred, taking him back to his lowly human form.

  “Did you really just pull out your armor on our leader? What the hell were you thinking?” Daren asked. Sam immediately shrugged off the hand Daren placed on his shoulder.

  “He’s a temporary leader,” Sam mumbled. He let the air rush slowly from his lungs as he stared toward Abby’s house.

  “You need to get your head on straight. I don’t know what your problem is, brother, but fix it. We don’t have time for this.”

  “I know. It’s over,” Sam replied. Despite the distance, he heard a door slam inside Abby’s house and the sound of Lee’s footsteps as the older man puttered into the living room. It was time for Lee’s favorite morning talk show, and the old man never missed it.

  “Good. I’ve never seen you act like this, and I sure as hell don’t like it.”

  Sam tilted his head to a rustling sound. He knew immediately whose head he was in, and despite his very specific knowledge of what was right and wrong he continued to eavesdrop on her. It had been a long time since he had seen life through her eyes, since he had let himself drift into her thoughts. In his defense, Abby screamed her thoughts as if she meant the entire universe to hear them; the woman had always been a banshee when it came to emotion. It took more work to stay out of her thoughts than to get into them. Even across the yard and through the walls of her house he could hear her as if he stood next to her in her very bedroom.

  Which, by the image he gleaned from her, would have been a very, very bad idea.

  At first the gleam of her bare skin reflected in the mirror caused his lower half to tighten uncomfortably, so much so that he turned his back on Daren and stalked back into the house. He could not escape her image that easily, since once he linked to a human’s mind it was not something that could be turned off like a switch. When he looked into the minds of other humans it had been a task of necessity, a need to know something important he could collect no other way.

  With Abby it was different. He had no good reason to invade her privacy, yet the pull was impossible to resist. His mind twisted with hers, tearing at the edges of her psyche, the fingers of their souls twisting into a seamless mesh. The physical image of her reflection as she stared into the mirror was startling. Dressed in only a sheer tank top, it looked like she had paused to sit down in the middle of changing clothes. Jesus, was she sitting in her underwear? Her arms were thinner than he recalled, but her skin was the same flawless tawny shade he recalled. In high school she had been beautiful.

  Now, sitting at her bedside table in nothing but a sheer piece of fabric clinging to her curves—well, she was stunning. Ethereal. As if she was meant for so much more than an earthly life could give her.

  She rested her face in her hands, staring blankly at herself with those haunted brown eyes. As quickly as his body rose in physical response to her, it responded in kind when he realized how distraught she was. Were those tears in her eyes? Why on Earth was she crying again?

  He heard a knock on her bedroom door and watched as she pulled on a long flannel robe and tied it at the waist. When Lee came in she flew into his arms, sending a burst of pain through Sam’s skull with the force of her despair. It seared the backs of his eyes and traveled down through his body, gripping his chest and that hollow thing inside it with force enough to shatter his every thought.

  “What’s this all about?” Lee asked, hugging her.

  “I just love you, Dad. That’s all,” she answered.

  Sam let the tendrils linking his mind to hers drift slowly apart. The things stuck together, trying to maintain the connection, even as he urged them to disperse. Finally, when he was alone in his own thoughts, he sat down hard on a kitchen chair and buried his face in his hands.

  He was the one causing her misery. In a few short weeks he would take Lee’s life. He would take her happiness, and there was nothing that would stop him from completing that task.

  “You gonna tell me what your problem is?” Daren asked.

  Without lifting his head, Sam shook his head.

  “In your time here as a mortal, have you felt all emotions?” Sam replied.

  “I think so. That’s part of the fun of being mortal, brother. You’d know that if you ever tried to enjoy it.”

  “I don’t find it enjoyable. It’s…torture.”

  Daren laughed.

  “Torture? So you’ve got a thing for the girl next door. Bang her and see how enjoyable being mortal can be. I swear, man, you’ve been missing out on a lot in our time here—”

  “It’s not that. It’s something else,” Sam snapped.

  “Then what is it? Whatever it is, get the fuck over it. You’re an archangel, for Christ’s sake!”

  Sam looked up at Daren, who leaned back against the countertop and stared down at him.

  “It…it’s regret. Regret for what I will do.”

  Daren uttered a long sigh as he reached for the fridge. He pulled two long necks out and popped the tops on the edge of the counter, handing one to Sam before he sat down next to him.

  “Well. Yeah, that sucks. Sorry to hear that, bro.” Daren tipped his bottle toward in Sam in mock salute. “That, my friend, is one of the unfortunate parts of being mortal. I think that’s why they drink this stuff so much.”

  Sam took a long swing, then another.

  Nope. Nothing yet.

  Chapter 4

  Abby

  “ARE YOU SURE you’ll be okay?”

  Abby placed a steaming mug of tea down in front of her father. He cupped both hands around it as if he gleaned warmth from the vessel, staring up at her with a curious half-smile twisted on his face.

  “I managed just fine while you were at college, kiddo. I think I’ll be all right for a couple hours,” he said. “Go on. Have fun. Tell Sam I said hello.”

  She bit down on her lip instead of offering a sharp retort. She was well aware he’d been going through his chemo treatments alone, and she blamed herself for not seeing through his flimsy excuses. Although he had not outright lied, he had omitted the fact that his cancer had returned. It was only when she failed to find a job and decided to come home that he admitted the truth, and by then he could not hide it from her.

  “What is it with you and Sam, anyway? New best friends?” she asked. She knew her voice was clipped, and whether it was jealousy or feelings of inadequacy, she was not certain. It hurt to know her dad had turned to the neighbor in
stead of asking for her help. She wondered how long he would have continued keeping the truth from her if she had not come home, and if Sam would have been his accomplice in his scheme to keep her in the dark.

  “He eats what I cook and he doesn’t complain, unlike one bossy woman I know,” Lee replied. “Besides, he likes football.”

  “I don’t complain,” she said.

  He grinned.

  “Sure you don’t.”

  “Whatever. I’m leaving. I won’t be late,” she snapped. She planted a soft kiss on his upturned cheek.

  “Yeah, well, have fun.”

  As she put her hand on the back door she heard him clear his throat.

  “Hey, Abby?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Is this a date? I think he should pick you up if it’s a date.”

  “Dad!” she hissed. She slammed the door behind her, ignoring his peals of laughter as she stalked across the yard.

  “Long time no see,” Daren commented as Abby slid into the front seat of the Chevelle.

  “Been awhile,” she admitted with a smile. Daren had always been the more outgoing of her two childhood friends, ready with a crooked grin and quick wit in any situation. She could not help but notice he had grown into quite a different man in the time since she had last seen him. Surely he was at least twenty-five, since he was two years her senior, but he looked nothing like the college grad type she was accustomed to. With a thin gray tee shirt stretched across his chest and a pair of faded blue jeans hugging his wide thighs, he looked fit enough to start bench-pressing his own Chevelle.

  “You got rid of the braces,” he said.

  “Three years was enough,” she replied.

  He grinned. “Ah, well, you look okay without them.”

  “Thanks. You look kinda different yourself, neighbor.”

  The camaraderie they once shared trickled back to the surface, and it was not long before she felt comfortable with Daren again. He certainly had changed on the outside, but he was still the same old Daren on the inside.

  “Is Sam coming or what?” she asked. Daren wiped his fingers over the spread of the newly restored dashboard and peered at the house.

  “Yeah. Buzzkill will be out in a sec,” he replied.

  “Buzzkill?” she laughed.

  “Just wait. You’ll see. He doesn’t go out much. Maybe you’ll be a good influence on him.”

  “Don’t count on it. He didn’t seem too happy about me joining you guys tonight,” she said. “So who’s that guy Alex? Friend of yours?”

  She saw Sam step out onto the porch. As he locked up the house, Daren shrugged.

  “Alex? He’s just…he’s our boss. Sam and I have been doing some security jobs for him.”

  “Like bodyguard stuff? Or watching video camera stuff?” she asked, intrigued by the idea.

  “It varies. Odd jobs now and then, no big deal.”

  Sam pulled open the car door and slid onto the bench seat beside her. She tried to give him more room, but being shoulder to shoulder with the two men left little leeway for movement. Thankfully Daren did not seem to mind her elbow jammed into his side, and if the close quarters bothered Sam he did not let on.

  “How’s your dad?” Sam asked, barely glancing at her as he spoke.

  “He had a good day today. I think he gets worn out pretty easy, though. He fell asleep on the couch this morning, but he was up when I left.”

  “Good,” Sam muttered. He turned his head to stare out the window.

  Daren continued to chatter on the short ride into town, but Sam contributed little to the conversation. He had always been a quiet sort of guy, keeping to himself while he observed from the sidelines. Abby could not recall him ever playing any sports in high school or participating in…well, anything. Daren and Sam spent most of their free time working on cars together throughout their teenage years, and once Abby left for college they had all gone their separate ways. Even though it was been a long time since they hung out as friends, she felt surprisingly at ease sitting crammed between them. The night out was turning into a welcome distraction from reality.

  Swedesboro was not a town known for its fabulous night life. The bar had been there since she could recall, changing owners frequently and getting a makeover too many times to count. She was surprised to see the latest incarnation was quite popular, with the parking lot packed to overflowing on a Wednesday night. It was an eclectic mix, including a BMW parked next to a pack of motorcycles, so she was curious to see what sort of people frequented the place.

  She followed Sam and Daren inside. Daren offered her an empty stool at the bar and took a seat beside her, but Sam did not sit down. Taking Daren’s offer of a bottled lager, she glanced at Sam as she sipped.

  As casual as he dressed one might think he would blend right in with the other men, but there was something about him that stood out that night. Apparently he had cleaned up after working in the garage, his skin fresh shaven across his jaw. His brown hair was still damp, with scattered waves curling at the nape of his neck and on his forehead. Dressed casually like Daren, he wore a faded pair of blue jeans that hung from his hips, neither too tight nor too loose. A black tee-shirt topped him off, snug enough to hug his considerable width, but on his feet were a scuffed pair of work boots. Even with his standoffish attitude, she had to admit she’d give him a second look if she met him in a bar.

  Yet it did not matter what she thought of him. She had no time for frivolous flirting, or any relationship for that matter. The very thought of moving on with life while her dad was sick felt like a betrayal. How could she welcome the future when he might not be around to see it?

  “Hey, isn’t that your friend over there?” Abby asked. She spotted Alex across the bar. He was in a partially lit hallway toward the back, leaning against the wall as he spoke with an attractive young woman. Daren took a swig of his beer and nodded.

  “Yeah. Don’t worry, he’ll be over here soon enough. He knows we’re here,” Daren answered. He glanced at her with his head cocked slightly to the side. “You like him or something?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Hardly. Not my type.”

  “Good. He’s not the kind of guy I’d set you up with, so don’t ask. I won’t do it,” Daren said.

  “Warning noted,” she replied. He lifted his bottle and she tapped hers against it, sealing their agreement with a toast. “So fill me in on what you’ve been up to. Still working on cars, I see?”

  “Yeah. We make decent money at it, and we both like it. It’s a good way to pass the time.” She noticed he looked over her shoulder at Sam, who stood a few feet away talking to the bartender.

  “Is it temporary? I mean, just a hobby or something?”

  The corner of his mouth turned up in a grin.

  “You could say that,” he replied.

  She picked at a basket of chips on the bar as Daren swirled around on his stool. Although her head was down, she could see him from the corner of her eye and she wondered what on earth he was doing. Suddenly he sat straight up, his fist seeming to aim across the room at a pretty blond who was talking with her friends. He flicked his wrist and grinned, and if she didn’t know any better she would have thought he threw something.

  “Did you just throw something at that girl?” she hissed, grabbing his wrist. “What are you, five years old?”

  He started to laugh but then his amusement abruptly dissipated. He looked at the hand she had closed over his, then back up to her face as if he was searching for something he did not understand.

  “You saw that?” he asked.

  “Of course I did! So did everyone else!” she replied, annoyed beyond measure at him. She had not signed on to hang out with a juvenile idiot who was going to throw stuff at pretty women at the bar. All she had wanted was a relaxing night out, a few hours to forget about her troubles.

  “How is that possible?” he whispered to himself as he shook his head. “It’s not possible.”

  “C’mon. W
e need to meet Alex,” Sam interrupted. Abby saw Sam notice their linked hands, and suddenly his face was no longer impassive. His green eyes flickered from Abby to Daren, then settled on where Abby rested her hand on Daren’s.

  “Wait a second. She saw me,” Daren said, his words erupting in a rush. Daren stood back, nearly upending the barstool, and put a few paces between them.

  “What do you mean? She can’t see you if you don’t want her to,” Sam replied.

  “Hello?” she interrupted. “I’m standing right here. Did you think I would miss you acting like an idiot? You did it right in front of me!”

  “You didn’t have your shield up. Be more careful around her,” Sam snapped, glaring at Daren.

  “Sam, what—” she said. Sam abruptly cut off her plea.

  “Abby, look at me,” Sam growled. He placed his hands on her upper arms and turned her to face him. She was too stunned to argue and completely enthralled by the way his eyes leaped to life. Once a soft green, they were now black orbs devoid of any white. He stared at her with those obsidian eyes, his fingers digging into her skin to the point of pain. Despite the discomfort and the growing intensity in his face, she was unable to look away. It was if he willed her to look at him and she could not disobey.

  “I’m looking at you,” she whispered.

  “Daren and I have business to discuss. You will sit down at the bar and wait for us to return. You will forget seeing that idiot—” he shot a castrating glare at Daren, “You will forget seeing Daren throw a dart. And you will forget this conversation ever happened.”

  Her mouth felt dry but her palms were sweaty. With her vision in a swirling haze, she let him sit her down on a stool. Sam nodded to Daren, who still had a perplexed look on his face, and then the two men left.

  The back door to the bar closed behind them.

  “I will sit down and wait? I’ll forget?” she muttered. “Just who the hell does he think he’s talking to?”

  She tossed a twenty on the bar and went after them.