by Diem, J. C.
“You could say that.” He smirked, which caused a dimple to appear in his left cheek. I’d almost forgotten how adorable he was. “The lawyers convinced the officers to interrogate me at home. They asked me a bunch of questions about how often you argued with your mother and if you were ever violent towards her.”
“They were trying to pin her murder on me.”
“Yeah.” The look he gave me was full of sorrow and sympathy. “I told them they were way off base and that you’d never hurt another human being.” I flinched slightly, but he didn’t seem to notice. If he knew the truth about what I’d turned into, he’d run away from me as fast as he could. He’d probably call the cops himself and turn me in. “One of them showed me a photo of your mother’s body,” he continued. “They were trying to shock me into telling them the truth.”
He went silent at the memory of what he’d seen. I didn’t need him to describe it for me. The scene was etched into my mind forever. “How did your father react to that?”
“He went ballistic,” he answered ruefully. “His lawyers threatened to sue the police force for mentally damaging a minor.”
“I never thought I’d ever say this, but I’m kind of glad that lawyers exist.”
He grinned, then continued his story. “When everyone calmed down again, I told them that I didn’t believe you were capable of stabbing your Mom. I told them that you must have witnessed her murder and that you’d run for your own safety.”
“That’s exactly what happened,” I said, grateful that he’d defended me even when there had been no proof of my innocence.
“Unfortunately, my father wasn’t as easily convinced.” He rolled his eyes at his dad’s stubbornness. “He promised the police that we’d notify them if you contacted me.”
“Is that why you have a bodyguard?”
He nodded and pulled me in closer. “Giles watches me like a hawk. That’s why I had to pretend not to know you when you approached me and later when we were in the coffee shop.”
“It sounds like you’ll get into a lot of trouble if your father finds out that I’m in town.”
He shrugged nonchalantly, but he couldn’t hide his concern. “We’ll just have to be very careful not to be spotted.”
Sam had been more accurate than he’d known. It seemed that Zach really was my secret boyfriend. We three were the only ones who knew that our relationship had been rekindled. I couldn’t deny that it was thrilling to have Zach back in my life. Keeping him from the others wasn’t going to be easy, but it would be worth it.
“Now it’s your turn,” he said. “What happened after you left your apartment that night?”
It was the worst night of my entire life and every detail was branded into my memory. I’d fled down the fire escape that I’d only climbed up a short while earlier after spending an hour in Zach’s arms while we’d watched a meteor shower.
Hearing the creatures that I now knew were demons coming down the fire escape after me, I’d sprinted down the street to the corner. Once I was out of sight, it had been easy to lose them. I’d lived in Denver my whole life and knew the streets like the back of my hand. I’d scaled a fence of a yard that I knew didn’t have any dogs and hunkered down low for twenty minutes. When I didn’t hear any pursuit, I’d crept over to the house and used their outdoor tap to wash my mother’s blood off my hands.
Even though I’d been deep in shock, I’d known that I couldn’t stay in Denver. The police would find me eventually and there was a good chance that they would be corrupt. I didn’t know who their master was or what he’d wanted with me, but I wasn’t about to let myself be handed over to him. I’d taken the backstreets to the edge of town and had begun walking.
Now that I knew exactly who was after me, leaving Denver had been the right choice. I couldn’t trust the legal system to protect me from the being who ran hell and the minions that he had at his beck and call.
I gave Zach a condensed version of that night, leaving out all references to demons and their master. If I started talking about celestial beings, he’d think I was crazy. It was safer just to pretend the cops were bad guys than telling him that I was being hunted by evil hell spawn.
“You’re so strong,” he said in admiration when I finished recounting my story. “Most people would have curled into a ball after going through that kind of trauma.”
“I did, eventually,” I said. “I walked until my body gave out and I collapsed in a field. I cried until I passed out then I got up and started walking again.”
“You can’t have walked all the way here, surely?”
He wouldn’t like it, but I confessed the truth. “I hitched a few rides.”
“You hitchhiked?” he said in tones of disbelief. “Don’t you know how dangerous that is for a gorgeous young girl like you?” I felt a thrill of pleasure that he thought I was gorgeous.
Bob had taught me a lesson about the dangers of accepting a ride from strangers. It was one that I’d never forget. “I know it was risky, but I only had one bad experience.”
“What happened?” His brow creased in concern even though I was obviously whole and well.
“I was offered a lift by a man who called himself Bob. I knew something was off about him, but I was exhausted and my feet really hurt.” It had been a pretty weak excuse to ignore my instincts. “He drove for a while then he started to pull over. I could tell by the look on his face that he was going to try something funny, so I jumped out and ran into a field where he couldn’t follow me in his car.” I wasn’t about to tell him that I’d crashed Bob’s car and had been saved from certain death by my guardian angel after being sent flying through the windshield.
“He didn’t touch you inappropriately, did he?” Zach’s eyes darkened in anger, as if he’d hunt the guy down and make him pay for what he’d planned to do to me.
“No. I didn’t give him the chance to.”
“Good,” he said darkly. “You’re my girl. No one gets to touch you but me.”
“Is that so?” I said with my brows raised.
“Uh.” He sensed he was treading on thin ground. “Only if and when you say so, of course.”
“Nice save,” I said admiringly and he heaved a relieved sigh.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-One
We reached the jewelry store where a ring had caught my eye earlier and I glanced through the window again.
Feeling my slight pause, Zach stopped and turned us to face the window. “See something you like?” he asked.
I took a step closer and peered at the items that were on display. There were rings of all descriptions. All were beautiful, but the one with the red stone appealed to me the most. “That rectangular red one is cute,” I said, feigning nonchalance. None of the jewelry had price tags, which meant they had to be fairly expensive.
“Let’s go inside so you can try it on,” he suggested.
I stepped back so I could read the name that was emblazoned both above the door and on either side of it as well. I turned to him in horror when I saw it was the most expensive jewelry store in the whole city. Movies and songs had been named after this place. “No way! I can’t afford to buy their doormat, let alone anything that’s in there.”
His grin was wide as he dragged me inside. “It doesn’t cost anything to look.”
“Are you sure about that?” I hissed as a security guard glowered at me. He was positioned close to the door so he could tackle anyone who might attempt to make off with any of the goods. It wouldn’t surprise me if we had to flash our credit cards to prove we had the means to pay for the merchandise. If so, then I’d be out of luck. I didn’t even own a credit card.
Zach marched over to the counter where a beautiful young woman with dark brown, neatly coiffured hair waited. Her smile faltered when she took in my clothes. My jeans, hoodie and black faux leather jacket weren’t exactly Louis Vuitton, which we’d just walked past moments ago. Her red dress had to be worth more than my entire wardrobe. “Can I h
elp you?” she said in tones of supreme doubt.
“My girlfriend would like to try on one of the rings that are on display in the window,” Zach said with confidence that I’d never be able to duplicate. He was used to being treated with deference and respect. She probably would have laughed us out of the store if he hadn’t been dressed in a coat and trousers that looked like they’d come from one of the stores nearby.
Assessing his clothing and air of self-assurance, her smile brightened. “Of course, sir. Which ring would you like to see?”
“The one with the red stone in the middle of the second row.”
Leaving the counter, she stepped over to the display and retrieved the ring. “Is this the one?”
I nodded and she reluctantly handed it over. Zach plucked it out of her hand before I could take it from her. “Allow me,” he said with a grin. Taking my left hand, he slid the ring onto my middle finger. For a moment, I thought it was going to be too small, but it made it over my knuckle and ended up being a perfect fit.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured as I admired the large rectangular stone. Twisting my hand, I watched the light sparkle from the facets.
“Rubies that are set in platinum are always lovely,” the attendant said.
My assumption that it was a garnet that was set in silver was shattered. Realizing it was far more expensive than I’d even imagined, I immediately tried to take the ring off. Zach stopped me before I could get it back over my knuckle. “We’ll take it,” he said.
“I can’t afford this.” I didn’t even know how much it was worth, but I knew I’d never be able to pay for it.
“You’re not paying for it. I am. I know I’m a few weeks late, but happy seventeenth birthday, Violet.”
With a slightly sour look, the salesgirl returned to the counter. Zach handed over his credit card and she discreetly sapped it of funds. I turned away so I couldn’t see how much he’d just spent on me. The stone captured my attention again. I’d never owned anything so beautiful before and I was mesmerized by it.
I was in a daze as Zach guided me outside. “Do you like it?” he asked as he slid his arm through mine.
“I love it. It’s the nicest present anyone has ever given me,” I replied with great sincerity. In reality, my mother was the only person who’d ever given me gifts before. They’d usually been in the form of clothes and books, which were nice, but nowhere near as flashy as this.
“Is it worthy of a kiss, Your Majesty?” he asked. His expression was so hopeful that I couldn’t disappoint him. I went up on my tippy toes and he leaned down to meet me. The brief kiss that I’d intended was forgotten when heat ignited inside me. His hands came around my back and he pulled me tighter against him. I kissed him more deeply than I ever had before and wondered why I’d ever held back.
The moment lasted for an eternity, then was shattered when someone bumped into us hard enough to knock us apart. “Sorry!” a harried man said as he rushed past us. I caught a glimpse of his face, it was just enough to see that he was handsome. Then he disappeared around the corner. He’d been familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I’d seen him before.
Zach looked as dazed as I felt, then grinned happily. My heart was thundering so hard and fast that I was worried I was having a heart attack. Embarrassed that I’d let myself get so carried away in public, I glanced around and saw the salesgirl watching us through the window. She wore a smirk that was eclipsed when she morphed into an inky skinned, scarlet eyed creature from hell.
“What’s wrong?” Zach asked when I gasped.
“Nothing,” I said and took his hand. He’d just bought a no doubt ridiculously expensive ring from a demon. I wanted to take it off and return it immediately, but I knew he would be crushed if I rejected his gift.
“I could use some coffee,” he said and gestured at one of the seemingly hundreds of coffee shops that were on almost every corner.
“I’ll buy,” I said with a weak grin. “At least coffee is something that I can afford.”
“Do you have a job?” he asked as we ambled past a gigantic black skyscraper that stood right next to the jewelry store. It dwarfed the other buildings in the area. I angled my head back to see it soaring high into the air. It boggled my mind that humans felt the need to build edifices that were so large.
“The woman I’m living with gives me an allowance,” I said. It wasn’t really a lie. Sophia gave me enough cash from time to time to buy whatever I needed.
“Tell me about her,” he said.
“Her name is Sophia. I don’t know her exact age, but she’s somewhere in her forties. She’s tall, slim and has been really nice to me since I turned up on her doorstep unexpectedly.”
That part wasn’t exactly true. She’d known I was coming and had sent Leo and Brie to retrieve me.
“How did she know your mother?”
We reached the coffee shop and I was thankful for a brief reprieve as he opened the door for me. It gave me a few seconds to think of a plausible lie. “They used to work together before I was born,” I said when we were inside.
“I guess they must have kept in touch?”
I nodded and shuffled closer to the counter. “We’d get Christmas and birthday cards from her every year. That’s how I knew her address.” I hated lying, but it was far more believable than the truth.
“She must be a good person to have taken you in like that.” He hesitated then leaned in close so he wouldn’t be overheard. “Does she know about what happened to your Mom?”
“She knows everything.” My answer came out bleak and I forced out a smile. “Like you, she didn’t believe that I could ever hurt my Mom. She’s been a godsend. Without her, I’d be living under a bridge like some kind of troll.”
He smiled at that. “You’re far too pretty to be a troll,” he teased.
“What’ll ya have?” a bored voice asked, breaking into our conversation.
I gave the barista our order and forked over the money then we shuffled down the line to wait. The staff were efficient and we didn’t have to wait very long. The coffee shop was full, but we managed to grab two stools at the counter just as a young couple left.
Shifting his stool closer to mine, Zach lifted his drink in a toast. “To us,” he said.
I lifted mine in return and we touched them together as if they were made of fine crystal. “To us.”
“May our relationship be long and fruitful.”
I sniggered at his pompous tone. “Fruitful? I’m not an apple tree.”
Slinging his arm around my shoulder, he kissed me on the temple. “I have a feeling life will never be boring with you around.”
“I can be a handful,” I warned him playfully. “I have a mind of my own and I’m not afraid to voice my opinion.”
Heaving a sigh, he looked deep into my eyes. “That’s one of the things I love about you the most. You don’t pretend to be someone you’re not just to impress me. You don’t care about my Dad’s wealth at all, do you?”
“Money doesn’t mean much to me,” I shrugged. With the future I was facing, wealth was low on my list of priorities. As long as I had clothing, food and a roof over my head, I was happy.
“I’ve never met anyone like you before,” Zach said. His expression was serious and he’d lost his teasing tone. “Girls have been throwing themselves at me for years, hoping to catch my attention.”
“I see that you’ve cultivated quite an ego in the process,” I said dryly.
He smirked before continuing. “When we moved to Denver, I was prepared to fend off a new batch of hopefuls once they learned how rich my father was. Instead, I saw you sitting there at a table all by yourself. You were so tough, yet so alone. From the moment we introduced ourselves, I knew you wouldn’t be like the other girls. You’re real and you don’t care what anyone thinks of you.”
“I care about what you think of me,” I confessed.
“You have nothing to worry about there. I think the world of you.” He smil
ed and I was drawn into his dark eyes. Nathan’s face tried to pop into my mind and I ruthlessly shoved the image away. If I managed to fulfil the task that Fate had set for me and I saved humanity from annihilation, Zach was the one who I’d have a future with. I cared about my guardian too much to let him get close to me. I couldn’t put him at risk of being banished from heaven permanently.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-Two
Time passed in a blur and it ran out far more quickly than I wanted it to. We’d both had two drinks to prolong our date. It was nice and warm in the café even if it was far from private. At least I didn’t see any demons in the vicinity. Sam appeared briefly from directly across the road. He waved to draw my attention, reminding me that the others would expect us back soon. He immediately became invisible again as he blended in with the building behind him. Cops didn’t like it when people loitered and he didn’t want to draw attention to himself.
“We should probably go,” I said reluctantly.
Zach nodded in agreement, but he was just as unwilling to part as I was. We stood and our stools were snapped up almost before we stepped away from them. We wended our way through the crowd to the door.
“When can I see you again?” he asked as we stepped outside. It had grown windy while we’d been inside the café. He stepped in front of me to block the chilly gusts.
“Is tomorrow afternoon too soon?” I joked. Mornings were out due to my daily training schedule.
“I wish I could,” he said regretfully. “My Dad has plans that will keep me busy all weekend. How about Monday afternoon? I can skip my last class and meet you here at two.”
“It’s a date,” I said and leaned in to kiss him. The moment our lips touched, fire ignited inside me again. All thought fled and I was consumed with the need to be close to him.
He pulled away with great reluctance and held me by the shoulders to keep me at bay. “You’ve changed,” he said with a dazed smile. “I think I approve of the new you.” With a final quick kiss, he turned and jogged away.
