After Quinn waved his hello, Stone cleared his throat and caught Becca’s attention. “Oh, right. Forgetting my manners here. Guys, this is Stone. Stone, meet my friends Lillian and Raz.”
“An Ebony?”
“An angel?”
Raz and Stone stared at her as if she had gone from slightly mad to totally insane. It was quite funny, seeing as both men had probably more in common than either would have liked.
“Men!” Becca rolled her eyes. “Thanks for clearing up who’s what but…you two do remember what we are trying to achieve here, right?”
Their sheepish faces and mumbled grunts were answer enough. Properly chastised, Raz and Stone greeted each other with a sharp nod, but still looked like they wouldn’t touch the other with a ten feet pole.
Making a shooing motion, Becca ordered, “Come on, people. Let’s get moving.”
Once again they quickly made their way through the rain towards the van. When everyone was inside, Becca asked, “What you guys in the mood for?”
“Meat,” Stone and Raz answered in unison before looking at the other warily.
Biting her lip, Becca glanced at Lillian and Quinn through her rearview mirror. “Burgers?”
“Sounds great.”
“Good.”
With a big smile on her face and some encouraging words for Betty, she turned the ignition. It must be quite an unusual phenomenon - the creatures of Heaven and Hell sharing a ride in an old VW bus. A glance at Stone next to her showed her that his thoughts must have gone along the same lines as hers. He was frowning and a hint of bafflement glinted in his eyes as they met her own. It was the most expressive look she’d ever seen on him.
How things had changed in her life.
Fifteen minutes later Becca turned onto the parking lot of a roadhouse grill she had found herself glancing at a few times but never gone to. The flashing sign and warm lights inside now drew her like a moth to the flame. The five of them spilled out of her VW, reminding her of a pack of hungry wolves. Life had thrown them together and now Becca considered every one of them a friend, and even family.
The grill house was rustic, welcoming and filled with laughter - exactly the way Becca loved it. The moment they sat down, a young waitress floated towards them, a shy smile on her face that revealed she was fairly new on this job. After a quick glance at the menu they all settled pretty quickly on burgers and fries.
“Anything else?”
While the men wanted a beer to wash the food down with, Becca quickly decided she was in the mood for hot chocolate.
Stone raised his eyebrow at her, and Becca shrugged with a smile on her face that admitted proudly, “Yes, I’m weird that way.” Although being the spotlight of his attention made her stomach flutter, she still managed to notice Quinn trying to get the cute waitress to bring him a beer too.
Without taking her eyes off Stone, she took her brother’s hand in his. “Nice try, buddy.” To the waitress she added, “The coke will be fine, thanks.”
“Sure.”
Once the girl left, Stone remarked, “You’re tough on him, you know that.”
“I’m not. We decided to live a human life, and here the law says no alcohol for teenagers.”
Quinn’s hands tangoed in the air, a frown accompanying his words. Look around you. See any humans here? No. We’re demons, angels, Ivorys and Ebonys at one table. That’s our life, no matter where we go. Yes, we escaped hell to live a human life, but we can’t change what we are.
Stone nodded. “Whatever he said.”
Her brother raised his arms in a wide thank you gesture, while Becca stared at Stone. Seriously? If this was Stone’s way of getting into Quinn’s good graces, she didn’t appreciate it that much.
Facing Quinn, she said, “No alcohol for you. End of discussion.”
Quinn shrugged it off and grinned sheepishly. Was worth a try, though.
Becca rolled her eyes and ruffled his hair, knowing it would annoy him and make her feel better. Glancing at Stone, she decided it was better to talk with him later, in private. He gave the barest of nods that seemed to insinuate both understanding and apology.
Lillian nudged Becca in her side and pointed at Raz, “This charming angel here is into healthy food while he’s giving me the boot camp from Hell. I swear, sometimes I don’t know which is worse, the cramps in my stomach or the ones in my back.”
Raz didn’t flinch and looked straight at his Ivory with love in his eyes. “We eat exactly what you need to build up the muscle.”
“I know, love.” To Becca she whispered with a smile touching her lips, “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
Laughing, Becca’s eyes went to Raz. He was quieter than usual and seemed a bit tense. He probably didn’t feel that comfortable with Stone next to him.
As their food arrived and the atmosphere relaxed more and more, Becca took pleasure in her banter with Lillian, watched the barriers of language drop away as the men joked around with Quinn and simply basked in the warmth of life and friendship blooming inside of her.
Not even Raz could take that away from her.
She was just on her way from the ladies back to their table when she almost ran into him.
“Careful there,” she said with a smile.
“Funny enough, I just wanted to say the same thing to you.”
When his face showed no sign of humor and stayed serious, she frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Stone. What do you know about him?”
The condescending tone in his voice made her spine straighten. “He’s an Ebony who saved Quinn’s life, and also Joshua’s. He wants to help us. That’s all I need to know.”
“He has secrets.”
Becca snorted at that. “Seriously, Raz?” She shrugged. “So what? Who hasn’t?”
Raz ignored her comment. “One of his secrets, and he has many, was very much at the forefront of his mind ever since he was introduced to me, and has been throughout dinner. He has too many secrets, Becca. Believe me.”
Shaken out of her comfort and taken abruptly into reality, she faced Raz. “Thank you for the heads up. But you, more so than anyone else, should know that we all have our secrets. And…” She smiled softly. “You don’t trust me fully yet either. So, sorry if I don’t make a big fuss out of this.”
Raz nodded. “Fair enough.”
“Good. Let’s go back to the others.”
Becca still enjoyed the rest of the evening. She meant what she had said to Raz. She appreciated his warning, but would not let herself be dominated by it and stuck by her own opinion of Stone.
Having Stone next to her on their way back made her realize how aware of him she was. Although she might not know a lot about him, she enjoyed how she felt when he was around. For some reason life seemed more exciting then, and yet she felt at peace at the same time.
Once Raz and Lillian said their goodbyes and flew off, Quinn hugged and thanked her for the lovely evening before he ran up the stairs, leaving Becca and Stone alone.
Nervousness rose, and not used to being so aware of someone else, she proposed, “Want a coffee or hot chocolate?”
“Coffee sounds good.”
She led the way into the kitchen, feeling his eyes on her. Or was she merely imagining it?
After switching on the light, bathing them in a soft golden glow, she prepared his coffee and her own dose of chocolate. Her kitchen was cream-colored with highlights of blue. Wood instead of stainless steel made it traditional to her, boring to others. However, it was a place she could call home, and that helped to calm her nerves.
Stone started talking out of his own accord - a rare thing. “I would never have thought that life could be like this, like tonight.”
Becca looked at him over her shoulder and lifted an inquiring eyebrow, although she already knew what he was referring to.
“Ivorys, angels even, and Ebonys sitting at one table and sharing a meal. Laughing.”
“I know wha
t you mean. You have no idea how much I wanted someone to pinch me, thinking it was all just a dream when I met Lillian and her guard for the first time only to get kindness instead of judgment.”
“In Hell…people don’t laugh a lot there. Sultry yes, but not freely. Not like here.”
Leaning against the counter, Becca turned and smiled. “True.”
“Quinn might be defenseless compared to other demons, but it’s good that he never had to go through the training down there.”
There was no hint of pain, no trace of regret or any emotion whatsoever in his voice, just clear fact, and it made Becca all the more curious. It tugged at her, and made her wonder what he had gone through. Before she had a chance to ask, he went on.
“Your life couldn’t have been easy.” His eyes were intense on her, making her fear that he could see more than she wanted him to. “Always protecting your brother.”
The quotas to fulfill, the souls she had to claim…The old ghosts wanted to resurface, but Becca only nodded and shoved them away with all her might.
As if he knew, Stone surprised her by changing the subject. “Would you mind if I started training Quinn?”
Becca was baffled, and she needed a moment to ascertain that she hadn’t misunderstood. “What? Why would you do that?” She shook her head and raised her hand. “Don’t take me wrong.” When she wanted to explain, words didn’t come.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Stone nodded in understanding. “He was never trained as an Ebony, but his being deaf isn’t as much of a handicap as people might think. Quinn can and should still learn how to defend himself, so that situations like the one in the club won’t happen again…or at least not as easily.”
“I’m…kinda stunned.” She cocked her head, as if to make sure he was really there. “I always wanted to protect him from that kind of life…but I see your point. He should know how to protect himself. I guess…I was wrong on that one.”
“Don’t blame yourself. You wanted to protect him. But…”
“It’s like he said today…when we ordered. No matter where we go, we will be who we are.”
Stone nodded. “He’s an Ebony who escaped Hell, and you want to get Satan to change the rules of an age-old war. To be quite frank, the two of you need all the help you can get.”
Becca laughed at that. “Yeah, I guess so, if you put it like that.” Looking at him, she said, “Thank you.”
“No problem. I kinda like the boy.”
It made her smile and warmth hugged her like an embrace, realizing that finally Quinn would have someone in his life who actually gave a damn. Who accepted him and looked past his handicap.
As the water in the kettle behind her boiled, she turned around and said, “About tonight. To me it’s exactly what life should be about, what living should be about. Moments like this, a meal shared with friends, with laughter…no matter how much trouble they, or you, are in. It’s moments like these that give me the strength to overcome whatever is thrown at me. Just the hope to live them, that’s what made me fight for this life.”
When she turned around with their mugs in hand, he looked deep in thought, a frown creasing his brow. When he looked up, questions seemed to swirl in his eyes like a storm whipping up clouds. It was the most exposed she had ever seen him.
“Would you mind if I go and sit out on the porch?”
She understood his need for privacy and smiled. “Not at all.” Handing him his mug, she added, “I’m gonna head up to bed anyway. The chocolate will knock me out in no time.”
“Sleep well.”
“Thank you.”
As they looked at each other, she felt it again, a tug between them. A bond; now as thin and fragile as budding trust, but existent nevertheless.
“Good night,” Becca wished him and turned away before she did something foolish. Her mug in her hands, she walked towards the stairs and heard his footsteps disappear out the door. She couldn’t help it and looked back at him.
He stood at the porch railing looking out at something only he knew of. Strong and confident, and yet full of questions.
Her own thoughts blossomed and fought for answers as if they were as vital as sunlight.
He was an Ebony, capable and trained. Why had he come into her life? Was it just coincidence…or maybe more? If he had been sent to kill her, then why hadn’t he done so already? And if he was the one to damn her soul back to Hell before she could save Quinn, why did she still want to trust him? Why was it so easy to do so?
Why did his presence give her hope?
TWELVE
When Sam stopped their car, Ed was just about to climb into the old blue pick-up. Linda unlatched the hood and slammed it shut with a bang. Her eyes darkened when Abby and the rest of Sam’s guard got out of the car.
“You again?” Hand on her hip, she asked, “You guys stalking us or what?”
It was a legitimate question, since Linda and Ed had been called to a new hellhole near Baton Rouge. Abby and Sam had decided to hang in there, no matter what.
Sam replied calmly, “We need your help, Linda.”
“Help?” Linda snorted, an unlit cigarette dangling in her mouth. “If it’s your mission to get on my nerves, boy, then please do me a favor and do it while we’re doing our job.”
“Where you guys headed?”
Sam frowned at Abby, but she figured if it was the only way to speak to Linda she’d follow her anywhere.
Cupping her hands in front of her mouth to light her smoke, Linda mumbled, “Cemetery.”
For a moment Abby wasn’t quite sure whether it was the simple truth or one of Linda’s dry comebacks. When the woman’s gaze stayed serious, Abby nodded. “We gonna follow you there.”
A smoky exhale. “Peachy.”
Without another glance Linda got into her Ford and turned the ignition.
They zipped past before Abby had a chance to climb back into their car. She noticed a muscle jumping in Sam’s jaw. Turning the car around in a quick maneuver, he remarked dryly, “Remind me again why I agreed to this?”
Abby chuckled. “To help all that is good?”
“Right.”
Sam did his best to catch up with the old Ford without breaking too many traffic laws and attracting any raised eyebrows from the people of this lovely small town. After a short while, they saw Linda’s pick-up ahead, turning right, although a sign announced the cemetery to the left.
Sam looked at Abby, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t look at me. I have no idea what goes on in that woman’s head.”
They followed and Abby couldn’t help but wonder whether coming here had been such a good idea. Yes, Linda and Ed were the oldest of the Ivorys and held a certain sway over the others. But were they wasting too much precious time hoping for a miracle? Could they have convinced others without the old Ivory’s help already?
Regrets wouldn’t help them now, she reminded herself. Linda and Ed turned left onto a small road. Abby straightened in her seat, trying to find out where they were headed. A little sign pointed the way, Rest in Paws.
“A pet cemetery?”
Wes laughed his head off. “People in the South are weird, man.”
Dave snorted. “Says the guy from California.”
“Seriously, would it have been too much to ask of her to clarify that little tidbit?” Sam shook his head.
His mood must have showed when he climbed out of the car. Linda, leaning lazily against the hood of her Ford, smiled wickedly. “Oh, come on, Sammy. I knew you would figure it out.” With a laugh that reminded Abby of a mischievous pixie, she added, “Sooner or later, anyway.”
For Abby it was a first to see Sam so close to losing his cool. It seemed that Linda knew what buttons to push.
In an attempt to get back to more solid ground as far as their mission went, Abby asked, “Will you finally listen to us when we are done here?”
“No, sweetheart, I won’t.”
After a grunt from Ed who was busy taking
of his jacket and strapping on an extra dagger or two, Linda added, “You better be good at multi-tasking. Fight and talk. Or do I look like I have all the freaking time in the world?”
Gritting her teeth to keep herself from snapping back, Abby reminded herself that this chance, however small, was all they needed.
“You look hot.” Wes chirped in, not hiding the fact that he was looking Linda up and down.
Linda reached into her car, muscles flexing in her arm, and took out a gun which she strapped to her hip. “Am I wearing the spots of a cougar, boy?”
“No.” Wes frowned.
“Good. Then stick with your own age group.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Dave chuckled at that, while Abby was thankful that the situation had relaxed somewhat. With a sweeping gesture of her hand, she invited Linda to lead the way and shared a triumphant wink with Sam as his guard fell in step behind the older Ivorys.
The pet cemetery was a lush, green oasis, and to Abby it appeared more looked after than some intended for humans. The air was fresh, moss swinging softly in the breeze and no gravestone or sculpture showed even the slightest stain. Flowers and treats lay here and there, showing the fresh evidence of remembrance. It was nothing new; she’d seen women more worried about their little Yorkshire than their own husbands on more than one occasion. Still, the thought saddened her.
As they made their way across the cemetery and towards a section of thicker trees, Sam didn’t waste any of Linda’s precious time and took the opportunity to explain their case.
“Things have happened lately that made us question what we’ve been told.”
While Sam’s soothing voice rang out, Abby kept an eye on Linda, wondering whether the fellow Ivory was even listening. It was hard to tell, seeing as the woman’s focus was elsewhere. Well, Abby admitted to herself, Linda had told them they could talk but she had never agreed to listen.
“Lillian was attacked…by an angel. By one of our own.”
“I don’t necessarily count those winged pricks as my own, but anyway. Even the nicest flower bed grows weeds.”
So Linda was listening. Unfortunately Abby couldn’t cherish the news as she noticed a slight movement out of the corner of her eye. A humanoid demon with green reptile skin that blended perfectly with the surroundings crouched on a branch up in a tree.
Ebony Fight (The Guard Duet Book 2) Page 8
