“So what does that mean? Should we pack up and go?”
He shook his head. “No. We stay. I’ll convince them that I had a good reason for what I did.”
“Will you explain that to them before or after they kill me?”
“I’m not going to let them kill you.”
“You’ll be using your amazing angel superpowers to prevent that, then.”
He smiled. “No. But they’re reasonable. They’re not going to come in with lasers blazing. Trust me, they’ll listen.”
“Uh-huh. I’d feel a lot better about that if we could do this whole ceremony thing before they got here.” She stood and began to pace in front of the bed, rubbing her temples as she walked. “Well, maybe. Maybe not.” She paused, turned to him. “Because if we do it, and it actually works, then you’ll leave. Shit. This sucks.”
He understood her feelings of ambiguity. He wanted it to work, too. And part of him didn’t because he wanted things to stay just as they were. “I know, babe.” He stood and grasped her arms, rubbed them. “I have to stay, to explain. I can’t be gone when they get here. I think we should wait.”
She tilted her head back, searched his face. “Oh, that’s right. Otherwise they’d only have my word. They’d never believe me.”
“I didn’t say that. If Lou were still alive, I think you’d have a really good shot at making him understand. He had an uncanny ability to sense things. He’d … know.
“But Lou is gone now. Given that, I think I’d rather stay and explain my reasoning. I’m the one who defied orders. I need to stand and face that. I need to make sure you’re protected.”
After he told the hunters all they needed to know, he and Isabelle would do the ceremony, which would hopefully work. Isabelle wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to handle her demon side. He’d at least be able to leave with some peace of mind about that. She’d be okay, be reunited with her sister. The Realm would take care of her. They’d have to, because he’d be gone, back where he belonged.
It’s what he’d wanted for so long, and it was within reach.
So why was he so damned miserable?
Michael sat with Derek, Gina, Ryder, and Angelique at a truck stop restaurant on the outskirts of Louisiana. He focused his attention on listening to Derek’s report, glad to have something to occupy his mind other than the sullen woman sitting next to him-the one who hadn’t said much to him all through the night.
When they left Florida, she’d tossed her gear in the SUV and tilted her seat back, promptly cutting off any conversation between them by going to sleep. Michael knew she needed the rest, considering what she’d been through, so he hadn’t bothered her.
Unfortunately, that left him alone with his thoughts, none of them good, most of them dealing with the master clusterfuck he’d started by having sex with one of his own team members. It got worse from there.
He’d stolen occasional glances at Mandy throughout the twelve-hour drive, but she hadn’t budged other than during the few stops they’d made to refuel, use the bathroom, and grab coffee.
Then she’d curled up and gone back to sleep. Or at least she’d feigned sleep. As restless as she’d seemed, Michael figured that was the excuse she used to keep from having a conversation with him.
They were going to have to talk-eventually. But for now, they had other things to deal with. Michael had given the rest of the team a full report on the demons they’d found in Florida, the testing, what the demon had told them, and how they’d killed it. Now it was on to another crisis: Dalton and Isabelle.
Derek had found Dalton. After Dalton called him, Derek had set to work with the Realm’s help tracing the call. It hadn’t been easy, but they’d pinpointed the call to Louisiana. After that, they’d relied on Angelique, who had finally been able to pick up her sister’s connection. Isabelle must have finally started opening up so Angelique could get psychic impulses, or whatever it was the twins exchanged. Between the two of them, Derek and Angelique had followed the trail into Louisiana with Gina and Ryder, confirming Dalton’s and Isabelle’s arrival in a small bayou town. So far the fugitives hadn’t left.
“So what’s our plan?” Gina asked.
They’d eaten breakfast and now sat drinking coffee while a vicious storm blew through, leaving gray clouds and wet roads in its wake. The sun had finally started to break through in pinhole points. There might be hope for the day after all.
“We’re heading straight to the house where they’re holed up,” he said.
Angelique frowned, worry etching her features. “We’re going to talk to them, right?”
“Yes, Angelique. Don’t worry. We’re not going in with lasers pointing at your sister. Dalton needs to explain why he took Isabelle there. I’m sure he had a good reason for it.”
“Any clue what that might be?” Ryder asked, stroking Angelique’s back.
Michael knew that Ryder was looking for assurances, for Angelique’s benefit. He had none to give her. “I have no idea, other than he wanted to keep Isabelle alive.”
“He believes in her, in the goodness in her,” Angelique said. “So do I.”
He supposed it would do no good to say that Angelique would believe in anything to save her sister. And that would only piss off Mandy even more. Not that it mattered whether she was angry at him or not. He should be used to that by now.
Still silent, Mandy cupped the ceramic mug in both hands and stared into it like it held tea leaves that would reveal her future.
“You’re quiet,” Gina said to Mandy.
Mandy lifted her gaze and attempted a smile. “Sorry. Tired.”
Gina arched a brow. “Evasive, too.”
Mandy shrugged. “It’s been a long few weeks.”
Derek slung his arm around Mandy’s shoulder. “We all miss Lou, honey.”
Her gaze shifted to the mug again. “Yeah. Sometimes I forget that there were other people who knew him as well as I did.” She turned her gaze to Derek, lifted her lips in a smile, then laid her head on Derek’s shoulder.
Derek had been with Lou for a long time. He was tight with Mandy like a big brother. They had all been close, like family. And devastated when Lou had been killed.
Which only served to remind Michael why getting close to Mandy would be a colossal mistake.
Of course it was a little late for that, wasn’t it? He’d already gotten close, closer than he’d ever expected to. Throughout all the arguing, all the bullshit, he’d discovered something about her-about himself.
He could feel again. And not just physically. The short period of time he’d been with Mandy, he felt more alive than he’d felt in years.
So why couldn’t they continue what they’d started?
Besides him being her boss-and that was a serious enough conflict right there.
Attraction could be deterred. He’d channel her energies in different directions. She had a natural talent for demon hunting, a zeal for adventure.
She also needed a life outside demon hunting, a chance to develop relationships with men, to explore her sexuality …
But the thought of that burned him inside with a rage that shocked him. He’d just had his hands all over Mandy last night. He’d been inside her.
He’d had her first.
The thought of anyone else touching her was out of the question.
And none of his business, considering the conversation he planned to have with her.
“Do you need a nap? Should we plan this surprise on Dalton without you?”
Mandy’s not-so-subtle elbow in his side nudged him out of his thoughts.
“Sorry. My mind was elsewhere.” He sidled a glance in Mandy’s direction. She quickly looked away but not before he caught the tinge of pink darkening her cheeks. He turned to the others, dragging a hand through his hair. “I drove all night so I didn’t sleep. I’m a little fuzzy.”
“You need to catch a little shut-eye before we confront Dalton,” Ryder said. “We all need to be sharp for this. I’ll drive your vehicle when we take off.”
Michael nodded. Based on the map they’d laid out, they had about four hours before they’d arrive at Dalton’s hideout. He could use a little sleep.
“I call shotgun,” Mandy said.
