by G. K. DeRosa
His dark brows furrowed, and I could almost see the gears grinding in his head. I was right. There was something he wasn’t telling me.
The rickety white steeple appeared before us, putting our conversation on hold. I made a mental note to remember to pick it up again later. Something Nathanael had said had Declan out of sorts, and I was determined to discover what it was.
The black lettering over the door of The Church of our Savior had faded, leaving the name barely legible. I climbed the stairs, the old wood beginning to rot, and knocked on the door. A narrow slit appeared across the top and familiar blue eyes peeked through.
“Parker!” His name burst out louder than intended, and I clapped my hand over my mouth.
“Good to see you, sweetheart. Come around back. The shed’s open.”
I led the way to the dingy yellow toolshed with Declan stalking next to me. He was stiff at my side, his shoulder blades taut as a bowstring. “What’s wrong?” I whispered.
He gave me a sidelong glance, his gaze far away. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
I pried the wood doors open, the humidity making them stick. The old timber creaked loudly, and I instinctively surveyed the sky. Declan did the same, his ears perked up.
All clear.
I stepped into the darkness and down onto the first rung of the ladder with Declan right behind me. The musty scent of earth filled the narrow passageway. I jumped off the last rung, and my sneakers sank into the soft dirt.
Parker’s big arms wrapped around me, enveloping me in a big bear hug the second I turned around. “I was so worried when I heard you guys got nabbed by the angels.”
I gave him a reassuring smile. “Nathanael was actually pretty decent to us.”
“I’m sure he had an ulterior motive,” said Declan, stepping forward.
Parker patted him on the back with a loud thwack. “I’m glad you kept her safe, son.”
“Always.”
“Our little rebel angels have arrived?” Linc’s gruff southern drawl filtered through the dimly lit cavity. He shuffled forward and laid his arm across Parker’s shoulder. Seeing them side-by-side, it was clear Linc was the older of the two. Now that Parker’s leg was healed, it had taken years off his face.
“Thanks for letting L—us stay with you.” Declan gave Linc a tight-lipped smile.
Linc stepped forward squaring off with Declan. For an older man, he was in good shape. My nephilim still towered over him, but Linc stood proudly, his wide shoulders pinned back. “So this is the elusive half-angel…” He circled Declan like a lion stalking his prey. “Ya know, I was offered your blood once.” Linc’s gaze bounced from him to me, and I winced. Declan’s face remained impassive.
I never told Declan I’d almost sold him out in a fit of anger after he’d killed Asher. I could feel his eyes boring into mine, but I refused to look up. He wasn’t the only one that had kept secrets.
A big grin spread across Linc’s white whiskers. “Any friend of Parker’s is a friend of the Rural Renegades. I haven’t seen this guy in such good shape in years.” He bumped his brother’s shoulder. “Especially if that friend has the type of intel you’ve been feeding us.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Declan’s voice sounded cold and distant, and I wondered if I was the only one who noticed.
Parker cleared his throat. “Why don’t I show you two around?” He seemed to have detected the chill that had swept through the small space.
We nodded, and he led the way down a dark tunnel. My hand shot out searching for Declan’s. I was surprised when his warm fingers entangled with mine. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I couldn’t help the bad feeling churning in my stomach.
I should’ve been excited. Seeing the renegades’ hideout was an important step. We were officially in.
The tunnel opened into a large dimly lit chamber. Four huge shipping containers lined the space, one on each side of the square area. Each one was filled with people and furnishings. They were colorfully painted in reds and blues, artsy designs covering the gray metal.
One looked like a grocery store—shelves lined the metal walls filled with cans, cereal boxes and bottled beverages. A few people stood in line waiting their turn to get in. I walked around the center of the atrium, marveling at the little shopping center they’d created. Another container had pillows, blankets, towels and other home goods. The remaining two had tables and chairs set up where people sat and talked casually.
“This is amazing,” I breathed out.
“Yeah, Linc and his boys have really spruced up the place.” Parker walked toward the little café-looking container. “Do you want some water or maybe a soda?”
“No, thanks.” I wanted to see more of this place. Plus after two weeks at the angel tower we’d had more than enough to eat and drink.
“How many humans live down here?” Declan asked.
“We’re at just over two hundred.”
“Two hundred!” My brows shot up.
Parker pointed down four more tunnels stemming from each corner of the room. “The living quarters are that way and there’s another commerce hall like this further down. There’s a med ward and even a place to do your laundry.” He sat at an empty table, and we scooted in next to him. “About half of our residents are getting ready to move. Linc’s son, Jayse is taking fifty men and heading north to recruit and set up a second underground headquarters. Their families will join them later. The remaining men will help to free the slaves at the tower. And the rest are young mothers and children.”
“There are kids?” My heart lifted. Maybe there still was hope for our future.
“Yup. You’ll see them running around before long. We’re working on setting up a school next.”
“That’s incredible.” The renegades had been hard at work all this time.
“How did they get the containers down here?” Declan asked.
“They were already here actually.” Parker scratched at his scruffy chin. “The more they excavated, the more they found. It was like someone had buried them here just for us.”
A tall young man with a close cut shave approached. His bright blue eyes landed on me then moved to Declan where they remained. “So it’s true, my father let an angel into our den.”
“Jaxon,” Parker hissed.
He raised his hands. “I know. I know. Pa already warned me.” He tore his gaze away from Declan to face me. “I didn’t think we’d be seeing you again.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d be seeing me again either.” I shrugged. I still wasn’t sure what to make of Linc’s sons. I guessed now that we’d be staying here, I’d discover their true nature.
“Anyway, Pa sent me to escort you to your new living quarters.”
“Great.” I stood and Declan and Parker followed. I still couldn’t believe how well Parker was doing. He didn’t even limp anymore.
We trailed behind Jaxon as he led us down another tunnel, the ground taking a downhill slant. This place was a maze. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find my way out.
Hard packed mud made up the walls, nothing more to bolster the earthy corridors. A wave of claustrophobia hit me as images of a dirt avalanche caving in on us flitted through my mind.
As if reading my thoughts, or maybe it was just my expression, Jaxon motioned at the earthen walls. “Don’t worry, they’ll hold. We’ve been down here for months and have never had any problems.”
Luckily, we weren’t on the west coast, and earthquakes weren’t an issue. A rockslide would bury us all alive. Jaxon took another turn and then stopped in front of another passageway. It was just tall enough for the big men to pass under. It opened into another atrium with more containers spread across the expansive space. He pointed to the one at the far left. Lively blue and yellow flowers covered the gray metal, giving it a bright and cheery feel.
“That one’s yours. I hope you don’t mind sharing.” A smirk pulled at his lips as he ticked his head to Declan and me.
“It’s fine, thanks,” I
said, shooting him a good eye roll.
“Great. We’ll let you get settled in.” Parker squeezed my shoulder with a smile. “Dinner’s served at six in the main hall. Just follow your neighbors if you get lost.”
“Thank you, Parker.” Declan shook his hand rather officially. “I know this is your doing. If it weren’t for you, there would be nowhere safe for Liv.”
Parker responded with a smile. “Anything for my girl.”
His words tugged at my heartstrings. I blinked rapidly to push back the unexpected emotion.
Declan put his arm around my shoulders and turned me toward the colorful container. “Come on. Let’s check out our new home.”
Chapter 5
I pulled the thick white curtain aside, revealing our new living quarters. The shipping container was much larger on the inside than I’d imagined. A full size bed stretched across the back wall taking up nearly the entire width of the structure, but it still allowed for a few feet of room at the front. A small circular table with two chairs rounded out the remaining space.
“Quaint,” said Declan as he walked in and put the duffel bags down.
“It’s no modern suite like at angel tower, but it’ll do.” I sat on the bed, testing out the mattress with a couple of bounces.
He scanned the space. “Hot running water is a bit of a tradeoff for privacy, but at least my father won’t be walking in on us.”
A chill skirted up my spine as Nathanael’s icy blue eyes filled my vision. I was beyond happy to be far away from the intimidating Archangel. Declan folded into the small chair across the bed, his dark brows knitted. He regarded me for a moment, his gaze reminding me of his father’s cold stare.
He wrung his hands together, and I could almost see his thoughts churning. “So you were going to sell me out to Linc?”
Crap. I curled inward trying to shrink into myself. “Declan, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you—it was after you killed Asher,” I muttered.
He grunted and stared at his clasped hands. His knuckles had whitened from his tense grip.
“I’m really sorry. It was a moment of terrible weakness, and obviously I didn’t follow through with it.” My fingers ached to reach out to him, but I was too scared he’d pull away.
A heavy silence permeated the tight space making it seem even smaller.
“Please, say something.”
He opened his mouth then closed it. Raking his hands through his hair, he drew in a long breath. “Man, it sucks being lied to.” A bitter chuckle tumbled from his lips.
A pang of guilt stabbed me in the chest at the hurt darkening his handsome face. Declan may have kept many things from me, but he’d never betrayed me.
He shook his head and sat forward. “I forgive you. I know I’ve done a lot of things I wish I could take back. I don’t want to waste our time together fighting. Who knows what’s coming next.”
I released the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and gave him a smile. It almost seemed too easy. “Thank you. You know I would never do anything like that now. I don’t know what I’d do without you—you’re pretty much my everything.”
He stalked toward me, and my breath caught. His dark eyes danced mischievously, and my insides turned to goo.
Declan stopped right in front of me, his knees brushing against mine. He bent down and cupped my cheeks. “In the spirit of being honest with each other, there’s something I need to tell you.”
His words were like a punch in the gut. That’s why he’d been so forgiving. Nothing ever good came after that phrase. I squirmed my face free from his hands and leaned back, waiting for the knockout blow. “What?”
He sat beside me and sighed. “I was going to wait until tomorrow to tell you, but I don’t want you to accuse me of keeping things from you.”
What now? I didn’t think I could take any more of Declan’s secrets.
“My father wants me to go with him to the summit next week.”
My shoulders sagged forward. I knew he’d been keeping something from me about his meeting with Nathanael. “Okay, and what does that mean?”
“That means I have to go back to the tower.”
I shook my head back and forth. “That’s why he let us go…” It suddenly all made sense. “You told him you were dropping me off somewhere?”
He nodded. “I made him believe he’d convinced me that it would be safer to hide you like he hid my mom.”
I grunted. “And look how well that turned out.” The moment the words were out I wished I could take them back. The hollow look in Declan’s eyes nearly broke me. “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean…”
“It’s fine. I know you didn’t.” He squeezed his eyes shut and when he reopened them, they were clear once again.
“Please stay here with me.” I hated the sound of desperation tingeing my tone.
He took both my hands in his and squeezed. “Britton was right. It’ll look better if neither of us is there when the breakout happens. If I’m with my father, it’ll be the perfect cover. And you’ll be safe here.”
“What if something goes wrong? You don’t know what Zeke is planning for the summit. It could be a trap to kill your father and his generals.”
He ran his hands through his unruly hair, tucking the wayward curls behind his ears. “It’s a risk I have to take.”
I pinned him with my steeliest gaze. “I’m not okay with that.” I scooted closer, clasping his fingers tightly. Trinity’s vision sprang to mind—Declan dead on the battlefield. “I can’t lose you.”
He released one of my hands and brushed his thumb over my cheek. “I promise you won’t. I’ll be back in a few days, and I’ll come for you. Once the humans are freed from the tower we can devote all our attention to finding the shield. It’ll be just you and me back on the road.”
I couldn’t help the smile that flitted across my lips. “And Duke?”
He grinned, highlighting that cute dimple. “Sure, we can get the dog too.”
“Why can’t we go now? Let everyone else deal with all of this.” As soon as the words were out I knew I hadn’t meant them. I couldn’t abandon Parker and Linc. We all had to work together if we had any hope in surviving.
“I think you know the answer to that.”
“Declan, please don’t go.” I moved quickly, straddling him. It was a dirty move, but I couldn’t stand the thought of losing him. I wouldn’t survive it. His deep maroon eyes widened as I leaned in and brushed my lips against his.
The kiss went from zero to sixty in three seconds flat. His fingers fisted in my hair as he angled my head. His mouth traveled from my lips to my neck, his tongue trailing over the sensitive skin. I gasped, his light touch igniting a fire in my middle.
Why had I pushed him away for so long? Everything felt so right when I was in his arms.
“Oh man, I missed this,” he whispered, his words getting lost between our lips.
I pulled back and met his eyes, crimson swirling in the profound maroon. “Promise me you won’t go.”
He inched closer and nipped my lower lip.
“Declan.” I placed my palms on his chest to halt him.
“Okay, I promise,” he growled.
I smiled and pulled him toward me, crushing my body against his. His lips continued their gentle assault and all thoughts evaporated, leaving only the steady strum of our beating hearts.
The clang of a sharp bell vibrated across the container, ricocheting off the metal walls. I jumped, shooting straight up. It took me a second to place the unfamiliar surroundings.
The ringing fell away, and I realized it was too quiet. My snoring bedmate was gone.
“Declan?” Fear bubbled up in my chest.
I leapt out of bed and searched the room. His duffel bag was missing. Beside where it used to be, a piece of paper lay atop my bag.
No. No. No.
I skimmed the note as my throat constricted.
I’m sorry, Liv. Please don’t be mad at me. I didn’t break my promise
—technically, it didn’t count since it was taken under duress. Your kisses are lethal magical weapons ;).
I can’t risk your life and staying at my father’s side is the best way to keep you safe. I’ll be back for you as soon as I can. I miss you already.
XOXO Declan
P.S. If anything goes wrong, I flashed Parker’s car with enough angel light to get you far away from here. Be safe.
I crumpled the paper into a tiny ball and threw it on the floor. Jerking the curtain aside, I ran out of my room to find a crowd of people gathered in the atrium. They stood in line blocking the tunnel, the only exit I knew of. I pushed my way through the masses, muttering apologies. Apparently it was dinnertime, and I was right smack in the middle of rush hour.
I slipped through the first tunnel, garnering evil glares from nearly every single person I squeezed by. “Sorry, I’m trying to find someone,” I called out over my shoulder as I moved. I would’ve never found my way back to the main hall if everyone hadn’t been headed in that direction.
Finally, I reached the commerce hall and smacked right into Linc.
“Where are you going in such a hurry, darlin’?”
I stopped and took a breath. I hadn’t even realized I’d been panting. “Have you seen Declan? I need to find him.”
Parker appeared and stood next to his brother. I searched his smoky blue eyes and found my answer.
“No…” I was too late.
Parker placed his hands on my shoulders and gave me a sad smile. “He made me promise to look after you, Liv.”
I bit down on my lower lip to keep from crying or screaming. I wasn’t sure which. Crossing my arms against my chest, I wriggled free from his hold.
“Come on. Let’s get some dinner.” Parker steered me back toward the hungry crowd.
My legs moved without my brain telling them to. How could Declan do this to me? “He never planned on staying, did he?” I glanced up at Parker as we followed the others toward the dining hall.
He shook his head. “Declan’s where he needs to be for now—and so are you. He’ll come back for you. I know he will.”
