by Mary Abshire
“We’ll talk later,” Troy said to her before he strode down the sidewalk to catch up with the lawyer.
Emily turned to Andrew. The happiness she’d seen earlier began to return on his face. He lowered his arms and stepped closer to her.
“Welcome back,” he said, standing inches from her.
She tossed her arms up. “Do I get a hug?”
“Do you want one?”
“Do you?”
“Hell yes I do,” he said, arms at his sides.
She thought it strange he hadn’t embraced her yet. What was he waiting for? Her permission?
“Stop waiting and hug me, damn it,” she said.
He bent and enclosed her in his arms before she’d finished her sentence. When he lifted her off the ground and swung her around, she laughed. She had her freedom and her two friends. Life was good and it would get better after she took a shower.
Andrew set her feet back on the ground. “I can’t begin to express how happy I am to have you back.”
Grinning from ear to ear, she slid his hand into his. She noticed his bare arm and twisted it slightly. The ink showing Michael’s name had disappeared.
“Take me back to the apartment,” she said.
“Your wish is my command.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Andrew sat next to Emily in the back of the taxi. Air blew inside the vehicle from her lowered window and brushed her bangs away from her eyes. She stared outside. Her lips held a slight curve to them. She looked content. Her happiness to be out of jail had been quite evident when she stepped out of the building and more so when she’d hugged him.
He’d enjoyed having her in his grasp and hearing her laughter. The minute he’d seen her walk out of the police station he wanted to run up and kiss her. He knew he couldn’t and he’d struggled not to act on his impulse. He’d given her time to chat with Troy. It stunned Andrew to see he didn’t want to embrace her. So what if she appeared unstylish in her clothes? So what if she stank? Which she didn’t. Andrew would hug her regardless of anything as long as she wanted him to. All he needed was her approval. When she’d given it to him, he’d pounced. He would’ve enjoyed carrying her to the cab, but he didn’t want to smother her with his happiness. He’d been able to hold her no matter how briefly and hear her joy. That was good enough for him. Sure, he wanted more. He’d always long for more.
Andrew hoped the next few days would be quiet and calm. Emily needed time to rest and settle back into her normal life. He longed to hear about her time in jail, but he’d let her spill all the details when she was ready. She deserved to relax for a while and enjoy her freedom. Andrew welcomed the opportunity to spend some R and R with her. If they were to benefit from any break, now was their chance. He had no control over when the next tattoo would appear on his arm. After he’d destroyed the first one, a new name had appeared within twenty-four hours. The powers that be were definitely monitoring him. Once the name of the third demon appeared, they’d have to hit the road again.
The matter of Troy had yet to be resolved. Andrew had a good idea what Troy would say to Emily during their chat in the morning. He believed Troy would make the same high-dollar offer to Emily as he had to Andrew on Saturday. Troy’s stance against him had reached a new level that had surprised Andrew. One mistake shouldn’t damn a person. Andrew hoped she would give him another chance.
Emily remained silent during the drive. Given the events of the last several days, Andrew decided to keep hush-hush. Curiosity gnawed at him to ask what she had on her mind, but he didn’t want to pry. He respected her privacy. He figured if something troubled her, she would eventually talk about it.
The taxi stopped in front of the apartment building. Emily exited the vehicle while Andrew paid the driver. She waited for him on the sidewalk in front of the door.
“I’ll warn you now, not much has changed,” Andrew said. “It still stinks on the main floor.”
“I don’t care. It’s not like we’ll be here much longer,” she said before she entered the building.
Andrew followed her up the staircase. Unlike other times, she took each step one at a time. He was tempted to carry her up the three flights so she could save the little energy she had left.
“Did you get much sleep in the slammer?” Andrew asked.
“I think I might have got five hours total since my arrest.” She paused. “No, since the night before my arrest. What day is it?”
He stepped around her and stopped at her side. “Monday afternoon. Would you like me to carry you?”
She continued up the staircase. “Thanks, but I’ll make it.”
Her answer hadn’t surprised him. Since he’d known her, she’d always pushed herself until she couldn’t go anymore. But he’d figured it couldn’t hurt to ask her.
He passed Emily and climbed to the top floor. Since he couldn’t carry her, the least he could do was unlock the door for her. He withdrew the key from his pocket as he walked down the hall. A woman in the apartment next to theirs gasped repeatedly. Her voice steadily grew louder. Andrew turned the key in the lock to their apartment and twisted the knob. Inside their studio, thuds against the wall rattled the dishes in the cabinets. He tried not to laugh while he held the door open for Emily.
“Welcome home,” he said as she entered the studio.
She released a heavy sigh. “It’s better than sharing a five-by-five room with fifteen other women.”
Andrew closed the door as she headed for the lawn chairs. Her point of view made sense. Having to spend almost three days in a crowded room with other women who were criminals had to be difficult. He found it surprising she only had swollen knuckles. She sat in the red chair, dropped her purse on the floor, and stretched out her legs.
“Want a beer or something else to drink?” He recalled she didn’t care for beer, but offered it anyway.
“Beer please.”
He headed to the fridge, wondering if her time in prison had hardened her. She typically preferred fruity alcoholic beverages. Or maybe she simply needed something to help her relax. He grabbed two Molson Ice bottles from the top shelf and then removed the caps.
“I bought a six pack the night after you were arrested,” he said as he walked toward her. “I had three hoping they would help me sleep. They didn’t. There’s one left if you want it.” He handed a bottle to her.
She pressed the tip of the long neck to her lips and took several gulps. Andrew sat in the blue chair next to her. Half the alcohol had vanished from her bottle before he’d taken his first drink. He’d never seen her down so much so fast, especially a drink she didn’t typically care for.
“I want to take a hot shower, shave, brush my teeth, and then go to bed and stay there,” she said.
“Can I help you with anything? I’ll be happy to wash your back.”
“That’s very tempting,” she said, nodding. “Very. But I’ll pass.”
He grinned in delight to see she kept a positive attitude considering everything she’d gone through.
After she drank more beer, she set the bottle on her thigh. “So, what’s going on between you and Troy?”
He took a few gulps of his liquor. Where did he begin? He set the bottle in the cup holder. “I told him the truth, that it was my fault you were in jail. He arrived Saturday evening with the poison. We talked. He hit me. He offered me a million dollars to walk away.”
“He didn’t.”
“He did. And I declined it. I told him wouldn’t leave you.”
Emily set her bottle in the cup holder. She rubbed her eyes.
“I fucked up, Emily. I’m sorry.” He didn’t like to use the F-bomb often, but he thought the word fit with his statement.
“It’s not your fault.” Her hands fell into her lap.
“It is. You wouldn’t have talked to those men if I hadn’t encouraged you to do it.”
“Okay, it’s partly your fault. But you didn’t know they were going to give me money.”
She h
ad a point, but it didn’t change anything. One event led to another.
“I deserved this,” he said, pointing to his bruised eye. “But now he seems to think I’m a total loser and I’ll end up getting you hurt.”
She shook her head. “He rarely gives second chances. If you fuck up, you’re on his shit list and he won’t have anything to do with you.”
“I get it. He wants to protect you. But so do I.”
She lifted the bottle and drank the remaining beer.
“I care about you, Em. I really do. I think we make a good team and we complement each other. When I’m done here… I want to see you happy in the afterlife. I don’t want you to spend eternity miserable. You deserve better. You’re a good person. I can get you to heaven if you trust and have faith in me. I’m not perfect, but I can help you if you let me.” He felt better having said what he had. He meant every word.
She set the empty bottle on the floor. “Yeah, I know.” She rose from her seat. “Everyone wants to help and protect me. I’ve heard it enough from both of you. Maybe I’m better off on my own.”
The beat of his heart quickened. Her words had stunned him to the point he couldn’t look at her. “I’ll respect whatever decision you make.”
As much as he wanted to help her, he realized she had the right to choose what she wanted to do. If she decided to move on without him, he would let her go. It would sadden him greatly, but he would never force her to do anything against her will.
“I’m not deciding anything right now.” She stepped out of her shoes before she headed for the bathroom.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. “I can go get a bite to eat or stop at the convenience store to fix something.”
She paused at the door. “Lo mien sounds good.”
He stood and dug the key out of his pocket. “I’ll go get it.”
“Andrew,” she said, stopping him before he reached the door. “Don’t let him get to you.”
“I’m not afraid of Troy. I know he’d kill me if he could. He’s told me so. I’m not afraid to die again.” But he feared losing her. “Take your time. I’ll be gone for a while.”
Andrew locked the door on his way out. Dread consumed him with the thought she would leave him. He’d said all he could to dissuade her from leaving. In the end, it was her choice and he’d have to find a way to go on without her if he ever wanted to get back to heaven.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Emily stood under the hot shower. The sea scent of her shampoo hung in the air and soothed her. She’d scrubbed her hair and body and had decided to let the water soak into her skin. Her fingertips and toes had turned into prunes. She didn’t care. Her entire body could shrivel up and she wouldn’t mind it. She was finally clean and that’s what mattered.
Her time in jail had made her realize how much she missed things like personal toilets, showers, toothbrushes, and razors, just to name a few items. She’d grown up in Chicago and never had to go without basic necessities. She’d never considered herself spoiled, but she’d been raised with the basics and had been taught the value of good hygiene. The days incarcerated had been enough to show her she could never last in prison.
The confines of a small cell also revealed how much she enjoyed her freedom. She could choose to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. She could eat what she liked. She could dress however she cared to dress. She had control of her environment for the most part as a free woman. In jail, it was a struggle to stay alive twenty-four hours a day. She’d never understand how anyone could survive in prison. Moreover, she knew she couldn’t. The system would break her down and chew her up into tiny pieces. If the Chicago police ever caught up to her, she’d rather die than spend life behind bars.
The spray hit the back of her shoulders and relaxed her. She wanted to forget about all her worries, but she couldn’t. Troy and Andrew were a problem. Both men had good hearts. They meant well. Troy was a very focused person who saw things as black and white. To him, failure meant weakness. He expected certain things and if he didn’t get them, then the person wasn’t worthy of his friendship or attention. It was easy to see why he didn’t have many friends but had plenty of connections. Trust and loyalty went along with Troy. Andrew, on the other hand, didn’t have high expectations. He learned from mistakes and improved. He had a journey and a future, even if it was one that resulted in his death and an afterlife in heaven. Troy’s mission was to survive and enjoy the time he had. Two different men, but both willing to do whatever it took to help her.
Their stories had started to annoy her. She understood why Andrew wanted her to work with him. His reasons were justified. But Troy had a valid argument. Working with Andrew meant she risked getting hurt or getting caught by the police. She’d nearly been raped by the first demon. The most recent pursuit to destroy Michael had landed her in jail. She’d thought she’d understood the danger involved when she’d agreed to help Andrew, but she’d been wrong. Could she keep going knowing that she would eventually get seriously injured or stopped by the cops?
Both men cared for her, which warmed her heart. She equally admired them. And since she held them with deep regard, she didn’t want to disappoint either of them. But she couldn’t be a ringleader and there was no way she’d choose one over the other. She enjoyed working with both of them. Why couldn’t they reduce the testosterone and get along?
The water began to cool. She rinsed her hair one last time before she turned off the faucet. As she stepped from the tub, she noticed the bathroom looked more orderly from the last time she’d been in it. She’d noticed the blankets on her inflatable mattress had been folded after she’d walked into the apartment. Andrew must have spent time cleaning and organizing. She rubbed a towel over body while wondering what else he’d done while she was gone. Since she’d forgotten to bring clothes with her, she took the white robe off the hook on the back of the door. As she slid each arm through the sleeve, she stared at her reflection. Dark circles under her eyes revealed her weariness. She felt as bad as she looked, but she wanted to eat before hitting the bed.
She stepped from the bathroom with her dirty clothes from the jail. The studio was quiet. Andrew hadn’t returned yet. She dumped her ripped gown, underwear, and t-shirt in the trash. She didn’t want to keep anything from her time incarcerated. Since she had the apartment to herself, she decided to put on a few clothes. Normally, when Andrew was around, she’d have to take her clothes into the bathroom to dress. It was a little silly on her part considering he’d seen plenty of women naked before. But she didn’t want to be like most women and she wouldn’t be. She refused to casually show her body to any man.
Stopping in front of the closet, she parted the bi-fold doors. Her nightclothes had been neatly folded and placed on the shelf at the top. She snatched a pair of shorts and then let the robe fall from her shoulders. As she slid the shorts up her legs, the lock on the front door clicked. She hurried to finish dressing. Keeping her back to Andrew, she snatched a shirt from the shelf and rushed to put it on.
“You’re back sooner than I thought you’d be,” she said as she turned to face him. She picked up the robe and carried it with her.
Andrew stood in front of the kitchen counter with one of his arms in a brown sack. “I made it there before the dinner crowd.”
She set the robe evenly over the back of her chair so it wouldn’t fall over. The lawn chairs had worked out great for temporary furniture, but they couldn’t handle much weight on the backs or armrests. As she approached Andrew, the aroma of the food grew stronger. He set a carton on the counter and then dug into the bag again.
“I got you lo mien and two egg rolls,” he said as he withdrew the clear bag with the rolls inside. He handed them to her.
“You know me well.”
For the first time in days she felt really hungry. She’d been too anxious in jail to eat. She’d picked little bites during meals to keep her moving. The only decent food she’d eaten while incarcerated had been the breadst
icks. Egg rolls, carton, and fork in hand, she headed for her chair.
“Do you want the last beer?” he asked.
“Yeah, if you’re not going to drink it,” she said before she sat. She put the carton between her legs and the fork on top. Behind her, she heard Andrew removing the cap from the bottle.
She took one of the rolls out from the bag and then bit into it. The crunchy roll crumbled and bits of the shell fell on her lap. Although it wasn’t homemade, the food tasted ten times better than what she’d had in jail.
“So what did you do while I was gone?” she asked. “I noticed you cleaned up the place.”
Andrew set the bottle in her cup holder. “I worked out mostly, jogged and exercised here. I couldn’t sleep, so I tried to stay active. I walked around the city some too.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. At least you got to move around and explore,” she said as he sat in the blue chair.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s lonely without you.”
Andrew could’ve gone anywhere and any lady would’ve given him attention. He had the looks and charisma to charm any woman.
“You could’ve went back to the club and picked up a lady. I’m sure someone would’ve loved to keep you company.” She took another bite of the egg roll. As he stared at her, she noticed he didn’t have any food. “Didn’t you get something to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
That was a first. The man usually had a hearty appetite.
“Here, take this other roll.” She handed the bag to him.
He lifted his palm. “Really, I’m not hungry.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Sure. I’m just not hungry.”
She set the bag back down on her thigh. Something had to trouble him to refuse food. Maybe he worried about what would happen if she left him. He didn’t have any money, car, or resources to help him locate demons. Did he think she would leave him bone dry? She wouldn’t do that. She’d give him enough cash to get through a few months. After that though, he’d have to find a job and figure out his own way. He was smart. He could do it.
