by Jen Pretty
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next few days were a blur. Julian hired a private jet and took us home to Humber Falls. Sad eyes followed me around town as I walked from the airport. The guys took a rental car, but I needed a few minutes alone to think.
Old lady Gertrude shoved a casserole into my hands, so when I rounded a corner and bumped right into Derrek, I almost dropped the glass dish to the sidewalk.
"Whoa," Derrek said, steadying me. "Harlow. Are you home for the funeral?"
I nodded as a lump rose in my throat.
Derrek's arm slid around my shoulders, and he walked with me towards the pizza parlour. We were only a few blocks away now, and I wanted to stop in before the funeral, which would be held in the only church in town. Len would be buried in the graveyard beside the golf course. The golf club was hosting the reception. Everyone in town was heading towards the church. I just needed a few minutes.
"I'm so sorry, Harlow. I know Len basically raised you," Derrek said before greeting the sheriff who stood in front of the shop.
"Here's the key, Harlow," the sheriff said, handing me the little key ring that used to hang from Len's belt. They jingled, and the familiar sound nearly brought me to my knees. Derrek kept me steady as I reached out with a shaking hand.
"Thanks," I whispered before taking a deep breath and turning away from the men. I passed the for-sale sign that the Realtor had already posted, climbed the stairs and stopped, struck by the empty bench in front. Len would never sit there again. I strode forward, quoting Lens words again.
"Big bad demon huntress better not be caught crying over a foolish old man."
I unlocked the door and pushed through like I had a million times. The bell above the door chimed. I reached up and took it down from the hook. I was already dressed in a black dress and heels for the funeral, so I didn't have a hoodie pocket to tuck it in. I held it like a lifeline as I moved to the back of the store, stepping behind the tall counter that had worn smooth from years or decades of pizza boxes sliding across the laminate surface. I slipped Lady Gertrude's casserole into the empty fridge and shut the door.
My fingers trailed over the pizza oven. It was cold and dark. But the memories flooded, and the smell of pizza lingered as if it had just made pizza the day before. It was waiting to be lit, and pizza slid in. No pizza would go in that day. No dough sat in cloth on the counter. No fresh vegetables were waiting to be chopped.
"Harlow?"
I swung around to find Julian standing behind me.
I gave him a sad smile and bit my lip to keep those damn tears away. My lungs fought me for breath, but Julian's fingers trailed down my cheek and helped me calm down.
After a few moments, he asked, "You ready? The whole town is waiting for you."
I nodded and grabbed the can of Pam off the counter. "Yeah, I'm ready."
Julian took the bell from my hand, tucking it in his pocket, then took my hand and walked me back through town to the old church. People were so packed in that some had to stand at the back. I recognized every face in the building. Everyone came into the pizza shop from time to time, and they all knew Len.
The minister spoke for a long time, but I blocked him out and kept my eyes on the casket. It was closed, but I knew Len was in there. There were dozens of big flower arrangements all around the church. Len would have hated all this fuss. When it was my turn to speak, I stood and wobbled before steadying myself with a deep breath. I made it up to the podium somehow and set the Pam cooking spray on the stand so everyone could see.
"Len was the kind of man who cared about everyone," I said. I let my eyes trail away from the cooking spray to glance around the room. Almost all the familiar faces were wet with tears. Even my mother had graced us with her presence.
"Len believed that every person had value and just needed a chance. No matter how terrible they were or how big a screwup." I adjusted the Pam bottle. "He was a proud man."
"He didn't let anyone wallow in pain." I bit my lip. "He believed in spraying Pam on the pain and getting back to work."
Everyone laughed.
It was a metaphor for how he lived his life. No matter what happened, he let the past be in the past and keep moving forward. I was sure he had seen horrors in the war, but it hadn't jaded him. He got up every morning and made pizza.
"I think we should all live more like Len. The world needs more of that." I looked around. "More people willing to help someone just because they need help."
I nodded then grabbed the can of Pam and walked back down to sit beside Julian. He kissed my temple and squeezed my hand.
The minister spoke again for a while before a bunch of men stood, including Derrek and the sheriff. They each stood on a corner of the casket and carried it down the aisle of the church. I lost sight of it and panicked, but Julian ushered me out behind them, and the rest of the congregation flowed out behind us to the black hearse that huddled at the curb. They slid Len's casket inside and closed the doors gently behind him.
I stared at the doors for a moment before Julian pulled me towards the black rental car that waited for us. He settled me into the passenger seat as Rory and Steven got in the back.
I saw Nick hop into Derrek's car, and we all moved away from the church, heading out of town. It wasn't far to the cemetery, but it was as if I had blinked and we were pulling into the grassy lane that led through the gravestones. I realized the sun was shining. Len would have liked this beautiful day. He would have been sitting on his bench, watching the sleepy town.
I stepped out and tipped my head back to let the sun warm my face. My cheeks were tight from dried tears, but I couldn't help but feel like things would be okay.
Julian guided me to the grave plot already dug for Len. There was no headstone, but I had ordered one, and they would deliver it in the next week.
The minister said a few more words, we all tossed a bit of dirt on the grave and people dispersed. It didn't feel like enough. Not enough time with Len, not enough time to say goodbye.
"Give me a minute," I said, my eyes fixed on the casket halfway down in the dirt hole.
"Sure, we will be at the car," Julian said.
I stepped forward and dropped to my knees to get closer. The cold earth was probably staining my knees, but that didn't matter.
"I'm sorry I didn't protect you the way you protected me," I rasped. I sat in silence for a moment, as if he would reply if I waited long enough. As if he would forgive me.
I knew he would if he was alive. He always forgave me when I messed up a pizza order or forgot my manners. He forgave me for screwing up and being broken.
I gripped the bottle of Pam and picked at the price tag on the side. "I'm going to keep this. In case something hurts." The tears welled again and slid down my cheeks. "This hurt." I gulped air to stop the sobs that wanted to break out. "But I don't think Pam will help."
I let the tears drop to the grass for a few more minutes.
"I'll be good. I promise."
Rising, I strode back to the car and slid into the passenger seat. I took Julian's hand, and he helpfully supplied his comforting mojo to take the burn away.
He drove us out of the cemetery and to the golf club where all the people who knew Len waited to give me their condolences.
When we walked in, everyone was there, giving me condolences and telling me how much they would miss Len. Most of the teenagers had their cool faces on, except a few of the girls who were crying and hugging.
"You take care of yourself in that big city," Derrek said, kissing my cheek and moving down so the next person in line could give me their condolences. Derrek was stranger than I gave him credit for.
He was a hunter. We were a different kind of person
"I'm sorry, Harlow," my mother said when it was her turn to talk to me.
"Yeah, well," I replied.
"Yeah." She nodded and turned to Julian, who had been holding me up for several minutes now. My legs so exhausted I was ready to collapse. "Take care of
her?" she asked him.
"Forever," he said, pulling me back to lean against his chest. "Always."
The rest of the town said their piece and then moved to the food table, which was heaped with finger foods and snacks.
"Can we go?" I asked Julian. I didn't want to eat.
"Yup," he pulled me out the doors and towards the car.
"What about Rory and Steven?" I asked.
"Lincoln will bring them back to his place. Let's go for a little ride." We passed the black rental he had driven, and I realized there was a motorcycle parked at the back of the lot. It was black and shiny.
"Where did this come from?"
He smiled and I almost melted. "I had it brought down, figured you might like to go for a ride."
"You figured right," I said.
Julian put my can of Pam in the saddlebag and popped a helmet on my head.
The sun beat down as I tried to position myself behind Julian so I wasn't flashing the entire world. I was definitely showing a lot of thigh, but to hell with it. The engine flared to life with a growl, and we were moving through the full parking lot and out onto the highway that led out of town. The rushing air and speed sent butterflies through my stomach. I pressed myself harder to Julian's back and let my mind find peace.
We passed a minivan full of kids, and I wondered where they were heading. I imagined they were going on a family vacation like a normal family. To the zoo or the beach or whatever. A little girl in the back waved at us. Julian waved back, making her smile.
This was exactly what I needed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Three months later
"Rory, get the hell up!" I banged on the door with the side of my fist. "I will get security to unlock this door."
I was about to turn away when the door swung open, and a stark-naked Rory stood there scratching his head.
I covered my eyes. "Put on some pants!"
"Okay, calm down, darlin'."
"It's opening day, I will not calm down. I have zero calm available."
"Fine, don't calm down." Rory's voice got further away, and I prayed he was getting dressed. I pulled his door shut and went back up the elevator to our suite, where I found Julian.
He was dressed in a suit, and I was wearing a pantsuit, too. The material was thin compared to my leather pants, but I wanted to look professional today.
"You look delicious," I told him.
He grinned and wrapped me up in his arms. "So, do you. Good enough to eat."
I blushed remembering the night before in bed with my half-demon boyfriend. But I didn't have time to linger on that thought. I knew that Steven would wait in the lobby for us. He was never late, unlike my first lieutenant.
Julian took my hand and kissed my knuckles before leading me back to the elevator. We had all decided to live in the hotel, despite how weird it was. Someday we could buy a house, but right now I had been too busy with my new project to worry about bringing a lawn mower or picking out paint colours for a kitchen.
"It's going to be great; you don't need to be nervous."
I was so tense; I could hardly move. "It has to be perfect."
"It will be," Julian chuckled.
The elevator stopped, and Rory stepped on, fresh scented, but hair still dripping. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but he wouldn't be in the photos, so it was fine.
We gathered Steven and took Julian's limo through the busy city to the Lower East Side.
A crowd surrounded a tall white stone building. Reporters and members of the press swarmed the front.
A sign hung above the double front doors that read "Len's House."
I stepped out of the limo and walked up a red carpet to the doors where reporters had clipped microphones to a podium.
Julian stood at my shoulder, lending me strength as I made my announcement.
"Hello," I said, and the crowd hushed.
"Thank you for coming today," I said. I had memorized my speech but still felt shaky.
"Len was a man of few means, but he gave everything he had to those in need. Today we open Len's House. A home for troubled youth and families. A place where anyone in trouble can come to get their feet back under them. We offer a place to sleep, education, training, work placement, and mental health and addictions counselling. This is a place people can feel at home and find a family."
The mayor stepped up beside me, holding a big pair of scissors and someone strung a red ribbon across in front of us. The flashes of a million cameras blinded me, probably causing permanent eye damage. I blinked away the white spots, and we cut the ribbon, officially opening Len's House.
The crowd clapped, and I turned back to Julian, who smiled broader than I had ever seen him. He clapped, too, until I stepped over and hugged him. It had been his encouragement and business savvy that helped me get this idea off the ground.
He was my family, along with my half-demons and fellow hunters of New York.
While the mayor spoke to reporters, Julian handed me the bell I had saved from Len's parlour, and I climbed a small stepladder to hang it inside the front door.
Moment of truth. I pulled the door open. The bell rang, and the image of Len's face was strong in my mind -- his wrinkled smile and dancing eyes. I took a deep breath to fight back the tears and spare the make-up I had put on for this occasion. It was a happy day.
"So, what's next, Leader?" Julian asked. I still wasn't comfortable in my role as the leader of New York, but Julian wouldn't take the city back, so I was stuck. Thankfully, he agreed to co-lead with me, so I didn't have to make all the decisions for the half-demons.
"Now, I think we should go get lunch because I forgot to eat breakfast."
He laughed. "Pizza?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
He kissed my temple, and we hurried past all the reporters, leaving Steven to answer their questions. I had put him in charge of the day-to-day running of Len's House. No more hiding in the shadows for my little friend.
He shot me pleading eyes, but I just laughed and slid into the car, Julian right behind me.
His hot lips fell hard on mine as the car pulled away from the curb. I crawled into his lap, straddling his hips.
He undid the buttons on my business jacket and slid it off my shoulders. "Thank God," I moaned. "That jacket was very restrictive."
"What's this?" he asked, glancing down at my shirt.
I wore a light pink blouse under the jacket, but it was almost sheer, so I had pulled on a t-shirt first. The design and words on the t-shirt were visible through the blouse with the jacket off.
He made short work of my blouse, ripping the front open, so buttons pinged against the windows of the car.
"Exercise your demons," he read before pulling my t-shirt so he could see the rest. There was a picture of a horned demon with a dumbbell and ripped muscles. He chuckled, and his eyes flipped up to mine again. "You are a strange person, Harlow."
I grinned back at him. "Too late, no returns or exchanges."
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me tight to him. "I guess I'll keep you, then."
"I guess you will." I let my lips fall back to his and kissed his brains out till the car pulled to a stop back at the hotel. It was the only place to get a good pizza in New York since it was the only place that followed Len's recipe.
I glanced up at the gargoyles that sat on a ledge on the third floor. Still as statues in the midday sun. Then I ducked my head and walked through the door, Julian held open for me and into the beautifully appointed hotel. Five stars, absolutely recommend.
"You ready for your first day?" Julian asked as we rode the elevator up to the penthouse.
"I think so," I smiled. A local college had accepted me to a business course. I was sure Julian had some influence on their decision, but I didn't ask. As the leader of New York, I had a bunch of businesses. Including the goth club, I inherited from shit-head. I was overwhelmed with jobs, but that was tomorrow Harlow's problem.
I planned
to spend the rest of the day in the hot tub with Julian because four am came early, and the next day I was heading back to work part-time as a gargoyle huntress.
It was gargoyle hunting time.
Authors Notes
Originally this was the end of Harlow’s journey, but recently I have felt a pull to write more about my favorite heroine.
Thank you for reading Harlow’s story so far, and stay tuned for more adventures coming in 2020.
In the meantime, check out some of my other books.
Black Crow Chronicles
One for Sorrow
Two for Mirth
Three for a Funeral (coming early 2020)
Re-Vamping Las Vegas
Goddess Durga Series
And a Meadowlark Sang
A lark in the Night
Mourning Lark
Wings of a Lark
Origins of Morgana Le Fay
Darkness Sleeping
Darkness Deceiving
Darkens Creeping (coming early 2020)
Alexandra Everest Series
Fae Magic
Fae Power
Fae Queen
Fae Magic Box Set
Harlow’s Demons Series
Gargoyle Huntress
Half-demon Huntress
Demon Huntress
Harlow’s Demons Box Set
Demon Huntress Copyright © 2019 by Jen Pretty. All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Cover designed by Drop Dead Designs
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
