Evie was on adate with a demon. Whatever had possessed her to go out with ademon of all people?
To make mattersworse, he was one of the diabolical Rossini twins, renowned forhaving a penchant for preying on newbie angels, taking some sickpleasure in luring them into a world of sin.
Fury spearedthrough him like a white-hot poker.
Caleb scrolledthrough the messages, hating himself but knowing he had to find outwhere the leech planned to meet her.
There it was.Infinity; a nightclub in the dodgy part of town.
He leapt offEvie’s balcony and sped to the nightclub.
As heapproached the building, Caleb spotted her on the roof terrace,fighting not one but two demons. The Rossini twins. Other people,humans, mulled around the rooftop but appeared oblivious to Evie’sstruggle—no doubt the lowlife twins had them under their demoniccontrol.
His heartpounded in his chest, but his beautiful, feisty woman appeared tobe holding her own.
He dovedownwards with the speed of a peregrine falcon as Evie took out oneof the brothers with a powerful swipe of her wing; they’d be evenmore powerful soon.
Evie twistedher body and broke free from the other demon’s grasp.
Caleb continuedhis descent. Almost there. He swooped onto the terrace as Evie halfstumbled in the other direction and leapt off the roof.
By the awkwardway she took off, her wing looked damaged. She was in trouble.
As much as hewanted to beat the demon to within an inch of his life—and his twinalready slumped on the floor—and send them straight back to Hell,Caleb didn’t give the leeches more than a passing glance.
Caleb racedafter Evie, the powerful thrust of his wings causing a gust strongenough to blow the demon across the terrace as if he was nothingbut tumbleweed.
Taking flight,he glanced down.
Fear bit intohis chest.
Evie spiralledtowards the ground.
Folding hiswings close to his back, Caleb dive-bombed past her, zippedunderneath and caught her in his arms.
“Caleb!” Hervoice came out in an agonised gasp.
He extended hiswings and slowed their rapid descent. “It’s okay. I’ve gotyou.”
Her whole bodytrembled. One of her wings hung limp and useless behind her, ahand-sized patch of scorched, blackened feathers evidence of thedemon’s vile pawing.
She looped herarms around his neck and clung to him as he soared upwards again.“My wing…”
“Don’t worry.Everything’s going to be fine,” he assured.
In thatglorious, joyous moment, he believed it to be true. His heart andsoul burst with a happiness that made him want to sing from everyrooftop in the city. He kissed the top of her head, breathing inthe scent of her hair as the wind flicked it across his face.
Evie nuzzledher tear-dampened cheek into his neck and clung tighter still.
His life wascomplete.
Caleb yearnedto fly with her in his arms until the first light of dawn, but hetook her home, still carrying her as he landed on the fire escapeand climbed in through her window.
Standing nextto her coffee table, he put her down gently, noting her swollenankle and sexy high heels—an unusual choice for her since she’dmentioned she couldn’t walk in heels.
Her gazeflitted to the bottle of wine and two new glasses he’d forgotten heleft there earlier and then to him.
Her eyesflashed like a mini thunderstorm. She balled her fists.
Before he couldexplain, she punched his jaw so hard he staggered backwards.
Evie emitted agarbled scream, but he wasn’t sure if it was one of pain ordeep-rooted fury. Given the incensed expression sweeping across herfeatures, Caleb suspected the latter.
His worldcrumbled beneath his feet.
Everythingwasn’t going to be fine. It was all there in the turquoise depthsof her eyes, the accusation, the hurt, the betrayal. She wouldnever forget how he left her alone in her bed after they’d madelove. She would not forgive him.
Caleb ached totell her how sorry he was, but it would never be enough. What he’ddone to her was despicable, an act lower than even a demon wouldstoop to. He was no better than the Rossini twins. No, he couldn’tbeg for her forgiveness; he didn’t deserve it.
Tears prickledhot and angry at the backs of his eyes, forcing him to focus.
The last thinghe needed was to make an even bigger idiot of himself. He wouldgive her wings their golden feathers, and then she would never haveto see him again.
Despite theutter devastation dragging his soul into a black abyss, he forged asmile. Rubbing his jaw, he went for a light-hearted tone. “Wow, youpack quite a punch for a rookie. I was going to ask how you managedto fight off two demons, but I guess there’s my answer.”
ChapterTwelve
Evie ground hermolars. Her knuckles throbbed now, along with her swollen ankle andscorched wing, but she didn’t regret punching Caleb… Or maybe shedid.
Sheswallowed.
No, she’d beenright to punch him. He deserved it for what he’d done.
But he savedme from falling…
Caleb’s grin ashe rubbed his jaw did little to hide the sadness in his eyes. Itlured her in as if something inherent was calling to her soul.
Were his eyesglistening? She couldn’t be sure with only the moon casting a shardof light through her window.
No, she didn’twant his pity. Anything but that.
She hobbledacross her lounge, away from him. “Piss off, Caleb,” she yelled,pain and fury releasing themselves into her harsh words. “Thisisn’t some kind of joke.”
“You’re right.I’m sorry. I deserved that.”
“Damn right youdid.” She flicked on the overhead light.
Caleb squintedin the brightness. “I should have got to you sooner. I could havehelped you fight those demons.”
Evie shook herhead in disbelief. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been lyingnaked in her bed, and when she woke, he was gone. “I don’t careabout those demons. I hit you because what you did to me was farworse.” She narrowed her eyes. “I expected more from you, Caleb,and you treated me no better than the piece of shit losers I usedto hang around with.”
The more sheranted, the lower his broad shoulders sank. “If you think buying mewine and new glasses makes everything okay, you’re living in cloudcuckoo land.” Tears misted her vision. She blinked them away. “Anddon’t even get me started on why you thought you could waltz intomy flat and tidy around when I wasn’t here.” She didn’t give him achance to explain, but her flat did look good.
