by Tamar Sloan
Gabby sighs. “Okay, okay. You’re right. Ari needs to stay away from all this.”
Arielle slams her hand over her mouth as she bolts to her feet. Silently she shoots up the stairs and to her room. There, she shuts the door and leans against it.
The right thing for her is to go to university tomorrow. It’s what her family wants.
And yet, what does she do if everything about that feels so wrong?
25
Reign
Crazy guy’s eyes leap in a way that tells Reign he’s about to attack. Reign locks his muscles, hoping this isn’t going to hurt too much. All he has to do is get a solid punch and this guy will be out cold.
“Everson! It’s your lucky day!”
Reign glances over his shoulder, unwilling to turn his back on the man snarling at him from a couple of feet away. He doubts he’s ever heard those words associated with his name.
One of the cops who brought him in ambles over, pulling the keys from his belt. “You’re free to go,” he mutters darkly.
Reign has no idea what’s going on, but he’s not going to question it. He quickly moves to the door. “About time. This place has bad feng shui.”
The cop opens the barred door and Reign slips through, keeping one eye on his cellmate. The guy goes to rush forward but the clang of the door shutting has him reeling back. He crawls back onto his thin mattress and curls up.
“May as well get clean, bro,” Reign says to him quietly. “It ain’t worth it.”
The man just curls up tighter, the weight of reality too much for him to bear. Reign sighs internally. He knows how that feels.
The cop grips his upper arm and Reign instantly flicks it off. “I know the way out,” he growls.
“Seems you know the way in, too,” snaps the cop.
They’re almost at the front desk when Reign sees who’s managed to get him out of this hell hole.
“Hey, Colt,” he says warmly. “Long time no see.”
Colt indicates with his chin, his body posture looking like he’s standing in the middle of a minefield. “Let’s go, Reign.”
“Stop!” comes Detective Kane’s voice as he strides down an opposite hallway. “This young man is under arrest.”
The cop who escorted Reign out moves a little closer to him, looking confused. Reign considers jumping the front counter and making a run for it, but Colt must sense it, because he imperceptibly shakes his head.
He levels his gaze on Detective Kane. “Reign is coming with me.”
Detective Kane’s nostrils flare. “He’s not going anywhere.”
“Reign is under legal age to be detained without a parent or guardian,” Colt states flatly.
Detective Kane’s hands clench. “He’ll leave. Once I’ve finished questioning him.”
“Questioning him?” Colt’s eyebrows flare. “A juvenile? Without a parent or guardian present? Is your superior aware of this?”
The cop beside Reign takes a step away. “Ah, I wasn’t there for no questioning,” he stammers. Spinning on his heel, he hurries away. “I’ve got paperwork to do.”
Detective Kane takes a threatening step toward Colt. “You wanna play that game, huh?” He crosses his arms as he smiles. “Only a parent or guardian is able to collect him.”
Reign stills. There’s no way Avril is going to come and get him out. He could spend days in here.
Colt slaps a piece of paper down on the counter. “I’ve been appointed his representative by his legal guardian.” He angles his head. “And I say he’s leaving. Now.”
Detective Kane snatches the piece of paper. Reign stays where he is even though he would love to see what’s on the document. Surely it has to be forged.
The detective slowly scrunches the piece of paper up in his hand. He turns a furious face to Reign. “I’m not finished with you yet.”
Reign recognizes the anger for what it is—impotent rage. He winks at Detective Kane. “But you are for now,” he quips.
Quickly making his way around the counter, he joins Colt. By unspoken agreement, they quickly depart. Reign’s tempted to glance over his shoulder, wanting to see Detective Kane’s tomato-colored face one more time, but he resists. Getting the heck out of here is what he should be focusing on.
Outside the station, a mass of dark curls launches at him. He catches Mac the moment she collides with him, hugging her tight.
After long seconds, she pulls back. “I was worried,” she says, the words full of accusation.
“You should’ve been,” Reign says lightly. “That’s the cleanest bed I’ve seen in a long time. I was tempted to stay!”
Mac slaps his shoulder. “You almost did if it wasn’t for Colt.”
Reign turns to him. “Thanks man, I owe you one.”
Colt glances around, clearly uncomfortable that they’re still out the front of the station. He starts to stride away, glancing over his shoulder. “That makes us even. You called out earlier when I was fighting those men and one tried to shoot me.”
“Great, we’re counting,” Reign mutters as he and Mac quickly catch up. He glances at Colt as he falls into step beside him. “How did you pull that off? You demons good at forging signatures or something?”
They reach a parking lot and Colt stops beside a cool looking black car. Reign’s eyes pop open. “You drive a Mustang?”
Colt nods, a glimmer of pride in his dark eyes. “A 1967 GT.”
Reign lets out a low whistle. “Nice.”
“Oh wow,” Mac says with an eye roll. “It has four tires, an engine, and a whole bunch of metal, just like every other car on the road.”
Reign shrugs apologetically. “Sorry, she’s not a believer.”
Colt grunts as he unlocks the car and climbs in. “She obviously hasn’t been to this church.”
Mac rolls her eyes again as she climbs into the back seat. “You two disciples can have the front.”
Reign climbs in, appreciating the dark leather and well kept interior. Colt starts the engine, and a deep roar throbs around them. They pull out of the parking lot, and Reign’s a little disappointed that there was no squealing of tires or fishtailing rear ends.
Colt glances at him. “We’re in a police parking lot. Now’s not the time to let this baby loose.”
Reign grins, deciding that although Colt obviously has a sensible streak, he likes him. Then Colt’s words remind him where they’re leaving. “So, how did you get me out of there? Have you just committed forgery?”
Mac’s head pops between the seats. “Nope. That document was a hundred percent legit.”
“Avril signed it?” Reign asks incredulously.
“Yup. I called Gabby, who had Colt come and pick me up from Arielle’s. He took me straight home.”
The way Mac says home shows exactly what she thinks of the term. As if it’s a dirty word.
Colt takes a corner, glancing at Mac from the corner of his eye. “Law is a bit of a personal interest of mine. I knew that you’d need a legal guardian to get you out.”
“And when he saw how cray-cray Avril is, he started telling her that he wants to help your troubled soul.”
Reign huffs out a half-laugh. “Good luck with that.”
Mac slaps his arm again. “He said anyone could be saved, he’s seen it.” She giggles. “He said he was worried you were starting to hang out with demons.”
“She would’ve signed that piece of paper quick smart,” Reign says, impressed.
“Every single one of her chins were wobbling, she moved so fast,” hoots Mac.
Colt’s lips twitch. “There were certainly a lot of chins.”
Reign realizes they’re almost back at Colt’s apartment. “Well, like I said. Thanks. I’m not on Detective Kane’s favorite people list.”
Colt pulls up at the curb, frowning as he nods. “I noticed.” He turns the engine off. “Let’s talk about it inside.”
They all climb out and head for Colt’s basement. Inside, Gabby leaps to her feet from where she
was sitting at the table.
She beams as she rushes to Colt. “I knew you’d get him out.”
Reign’s not sure, but he thinks he sees Colt’s cheeks flush pink. The guy doesn’t like too much attention on him. “He was there unlawfully.”
“My soldier of justice,” Gabby says quietly, her eyes softening as she looks at him.
“Yours, period,” he murmurs back.
Mac glances at Reign, making a gagging motion. He grins, pretending to choke himself.
“That’s enough from you two,” Gabby huffs with her hands on her hips. “One day, you’ll find love and you’ll be exactly the same.”
Reign and Mac glance at each other again, this time bursting into laughter.
“Not in this lifetime,” chortles Reign.
Mac shakes her head. “I’m pretty sure that level of puke-inducting connection is reserved for angels and demons.”
Reign’s laughter dies away as he realizes there’s someone missing. “Where’s Arielle?”
Gabby’s face falls into somber lines. “At home. Where she should be.”
Colt takes her hand and squeezes it. “Where she’s safe.”
Reign feels his brow furrow. “So she’s out?”
Why doesn’t he like the sound of that?
“I should never have involved her,” Gabby says. “This is getting too dangerous.”
Reign doesn’t point out that it seems like she’s trying to convince herself just as much as them. He mulls over what she just said. Arielle’s been the poster child of grace under fire throughout all of this, and it’s her mother who’s missing.
At the same time, they saw Colt kill someone. They were held up at gunpoint in her house. Shit’s getting real. If Arielle has a chance to bow out, now’s the time to do it. He’s about to ask if that’s what she wants, when Mac nods sharply, as if she’s just reached a decision.
“The best thing we can do for Arielle is find her mother.”
Gabby smiles, looking relieved. “Exactly. Which is what we’re going to focus on.”
Reign crosses his arms, understanding their logic, but unsure how he feels about it. Choice is a privilege life hasn’t afforded him very often, so he knows how it feels for others to decide your fate for you. But at the same time, the thought of Arielle getting hurt is like a sledgehammer to the gut.
“Although we still don’t have any leads on the white vans used in the abductions,” says Colt.
Reign nods sharply. “We were on our way to see what we could find out when the cops turned up at Avril’s. We’ll get back onto it.”
“Hang on a sec, buster,” Mac says. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Reign frowns ferociously. “Of course I—”
“You can’t,” Colt says flatly. “Like you said, Kane has it in for you. Right now, you need to lie low.”
Mac nods. “We got you out once, I doubt that will be so easy the second time.”
Reign’s jaw clenches so tight his teeth hurt. Dammit, they’re right. He’s no good to anyone if he’s back behind bars. And there’s no guarantee that his new cellmate will be as pleasant or easygoing as his last one.
“It’s just until things settle down,” Gabby assures. “And they don’t know you’re here, so you’ve got yourself a place for as long as you need.”
Mac skips over and gives him a hug, probably aware that she needs to get going before Reign changes his mind. The threat of trouble on his tail has never stopped him before.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve found something,” she promises.
She’s gone before Reign can even grunt a response. Conscious he’s now in a basement with two people he’s met in a pressure cooker, he wonders what he’s supposed to do now. The thought of curling up somewhere and getting some shuteye sounds quite appealing.
Gabby frowns at the closed door. “Can we trust her?”
Defensiveness shoots down Reign’s spine, any thoughts of unwinding instantly gone. In fact, he was an idiot to have even thought of relaxing. He barely knows these people. “Of course we can trust her!”
She glances at Colt. “It’s just that I detect…something about her.”
“That she’s tough? That she’s smart enough to have known about this stuff before you even rocked up?”
Colt ignores Reign, keeping his gaze on Gabby. “Detect what?”
“I can’t put my finger on it,” she says, frowning slightly. “She’s…different.”
“And in your white bread world, that’s a bad thing, isn’t it?” Reign demands. He storms to the door. “Screw this.”
Colt is between him and the exit before Reign can blink. His face twists with anger, reminding Reign exactly what Colt is. A demon.
“Gabby’s an angel, you fool,” says Colt. “She’s spent her life being different. Have you thought of losing the chip on your shoulder?”
Reign glares at him. “No. I like it there.”
To Reign’s surprise, Colt relaxes. Even smiles a little. “I noticed.” He crosses his arms, leaning against the door. “I thought you wanted to help Arielle.”
“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”
He owes her after almost mowing her down.
“Good,” Colt grins. “Because staying here is how you do that.”
Reign grinds his teeth, not liking that Colt’s right. He spins on his heel and stomps to the table, flopping down in a chair. “I’m giving Mac twenty-four hours to get some answers,” he growls. “If she can’t, then I’m outta here.”
He’s not spending any longer in this basement than he has to.
Not with two people he’s yet to decide whether they’re friend or foe.
26
Arielle
“I can do this,” Arielle murmurs to herself as she stares at the steps leading up to Mercy City University. “I’ve done this every day since enrolling in my generic social sciences major. Today is no different.”
She’s about to take a step when she glances at her phone for the gazillionth time. Nothing. No text from Gabby. No news about Reign.
Which is how it was every other morning of her life. No one would need to message her about angels or demons or angry men with guns or detectives who make her skin crawl.
But then again, that was when Arielle could sleep, knowing nightmares weren’t waiting to be unleashed. Gabby was human. So was her boyfriend. Reign wasn’t a part of her life.
And her mother would’ve dropped her off instead of Aunt Shell. Because she wasn’t missing.
Back when Arielle only had an inkling of how overwhelming feeling lost and confused could be.
“Sure,” she says under her breath. “Just another day in the burbs.”
Pushing down the anger and the hurt and the confusion, she stomps up the stairs to the main entry. Staying out of danger is what her mom would want. It’s what Aunt Shell and Gabby are trying to desperately do. If that’s what Arielle needs to do, then that’s what she’s going to do.
Heading to class, she acknowledges the odd person who smiles or says hello but doesn’t stop to talk. Arielle’s never been an outcast, but at the same time, she’s never really felt like she’s fitted in. She has people to sit with in most lectures, a group she hangs out with at lunch, but she never really connected enough to invite them over. Gabby was always the BFF she had sleepovers with, giggled with as they messed around with bold shades of lipstick, whispered what they imagined their fathers would’ve been like.
Arielle tucks her head down, frowning. And Gabby was the one who lied to Arielle her whole life.
She turns to enter her classroom and slams into another body, almost dropping her books. “I’m so sorry!” she exclaims. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
The girl she just bumped into reaches out an arm to steady her. “No, it’s all my fault. I was hurrying.”
Arielle takes in the blonde across from her. Tall and pretty with perfect hair, she’s wearing enough makeup to enhance her fabulous b
one structure, but not enough to look made up. Arielle’s definitely never seen her before. “Hey, I’m Arielle. I’m guessing you’re new?”
The girl nods, tucking a sleek lock of hair over her shoulder. “Lizzie, and this is my first day.” She indicates toward the door they tried to enter simultaneously. “I’m hoping this is my history lecture.”
Arielle smiles. “Sure is. And it looks like we have it together.”
“Well, that’s one way to make friends,” Lizzie says, rolling her eyes. “Tackling them in the doorway.”
Arielle’s smile broadens. “You’ve certainly made an impression. Did you want to sit together?”
Lizzie lets out a breath. “That would be great.”
Leading her in, Arielle takes her usual seat toward the back, conscious of the looks they’re getting. Lizzie’s beauty is sure to turn heads wherever she goes. Lizzie slides in next to her, seemingly unaware, but Arielle suspects she’ll make friends easily. Maybe she’ll introduce her to some of the others over lunch.
Mr. Rodriguez enters, striding to the front of the class. “I have the results of your papers,” he announces, all business like he usually is. “Some of you obviously worked hard on this, others appeared…to have other commitments.”
A few people flush guiltily, whilst several look hopeful. Mr. Rodriguez works his way around the room, handing them out, making the odd comment.
He reaches Arielle and passes hers. “Good job, Arielle.”
She glances down, seeing the B plus. “My mom helped with this,” she says, then quickly bites her lip at the flash of pain that sears through her. That normal world feels so long ago.
Mr. Rodriguez leans forward, his face crinkled with concern. “Any news?”
Arielle shakes her head, her gaze back on the essay. Aunt Shell told her she’d notified the university and her lecturers, but dealing with the sympathy is harder than she thought it would be.
“Well, if you need some time off, let me know. We can work something out.”
Arielle’s hands grip the paper. “It’s fine. Mom would want me focusing on my studies until she’s back.”