“You actually caught him going through my lingerie?” asked Angie.
“Red handed. It was hilarious, because he didn’t seem to be one bit embarrassed.” Gracie laughed.
Angie shook her head. She honestly doubted there was very much that did embarrass Lucifer. It was probably because he had seen it all. “You promise.” Angie shook her finger at her friend. “This is the last clothing store that we go to today.”
“Fine, this is the last store we go to today.” Gracie raised her hand. “I solemnly promise that we will not go to any more stores, but when we get home, you are going to do some internet shopping, because you need a lot more than what we’ve bought so far. And then we have to go shopping for winter clothes in a few months.” She then held out her hand to her friend.
“That works for me,” said Angie as she shook her friend’s hand.
Wyatt took a step back as he stared at them with wide eyes. “Why do I get the feeling a deal with the devil was just made in front of my eyes?”
Angie looked at Wyatt Hunter, Quinn’s younger brother, and started laughing. “Don’t be so silly.”
“I wasn’t trying to be funny. You two together are scary.” Wyatt shook his body in an exaggerated shiver.
“I’m sorry you got stuck being chauffer and body guard.” Angie patted Wyatt on the shoulder. “And I’m sorry you got stuck shopping with a couple of females too.”
“Guarding you two is not that bad. But your mates are a completely different story. I haven’t decided which of your mates was scarier this morning. I thought Quinn was overprotective of Gracie, but I think Sheriff Fitch has him beat by miles when it comes to you.” Wyatt shook his head and shuddered. “I know when Quinn is threatening me. But Sheriff Fitch is a lot scarier, because you have no idea to what extent his threat goes or if he is really threatening you. He just smiles at you the whole time he is talking to you. His smile is creepier than Hell.”
Angie bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. She knew exactly which look Wyatt was talking about. She had seen that look a few times, and was grateful she hadn’t been on the receiving end.
“Okay, let’s get the shopping done.” Gracie wrapped her arm around Angie’s and gave her a really huge smile. “And then coffee and chocolate chip cookies.”
Angie sighed. The sooner this was over and done with, the sooner she could get some much needed coffee boost and she could go home. “Lead the way,” she gestured toward the store.
Gracie looped her arm in Angie’s. “It won’t be that bad.”
“Right,” she grumbled. She felt as if she was walking into a torture chamber, except instead of being filled with knives and whips, this one filled with sales clerks and clothes she had to try on.
Gracie ignored the grumbles and pulled Angie into the store. “Look at this.” She stopped at a rack of sleeveless blouses and held up a white one. “This is cute. What do you think?” she asked Angie.
“I guess,” said Angie. She shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t sure what look her friend was going for. All she was sure about was that the blouse wasn’t exactly something she would have even looked at.
Gracie turned and looked at Wyatt. “What do think about this blouse?” She held it up for him to see.
Wyatt shook his head. “I don’t think that would look very good on me. White is not my color, and the cut is all wrong for my figure.”
“You goofball!” Gracie shook her head. “I was asking what you thought about this for Angie, not for you.”
“Next time, you need to be more specific. ‘Hey Wyatt, how do you think this will look on Angie?’ Or something like that.” Wyatt rolled his eyes at her. “Now, if you’re getting that for Angie, you need the sky blue one. That will make her eyes appear even bluer.” He pointed to a different section of the clothes rack.
“You’re absolutely right. It is just the perfect color for her.” Gracie held up the blue blouse. “Let’s grab a pair of denim leggings and then off to the dressing room.”
Angie glanced at Wyatt, who just shrugged his shoulders. She shook her head. She wasn’t going to get much help from him. Angie sighed and went after Gracie. By the time she found her, the little shopping whirlwind had several more articles of clothing in her arms. The woman was fast when it came to grabbing clothes off the racks.
“Take these and go to the dressing room.” Gracie shoved the huge stack of clothes into Angie’s arms. “If you need to a different size or color, let me know.”
“Yes mom!” grumbled Angie as she walked into the dressing room. This shopping trip could be over soon enough.
*****
A couple of hours later, Angie, Gracie, and Wyatt finally made their way to the food court. Gracie kept stopping in front of various stores, but each time Angie reminded her of the deal they had made, and was rewarded with either a huff or a glare.
Tired from trying on clothes and arguing with Gracie over styles, Angie dropped all the bags she was carrying at an empty table as soon as they walking into the food court and plopped down into the chair. “Go get what you want, I’m not moving from this spot until I have to, and then it’s only to go to the car.” Angie waved at them with her hands. She really wanted some coffee, but she was just too tired to get up and go get it.
“Gracie, why don’t you stay here too? I’ll go get us coffee and cookies.” Wyatt put down the bags he was carrying, and walked over to one of the food stands before she could answer him.
“Are you okay?” asked Gracie as she sat down next to Angie.
“I’m just tired,” said Angie. She looked at all the bags surrounding them. She could hear her credit card wheezing from the workout it just had. In fact, it probably needed to be put on life support.
She thought about the credit card Lucifer had handed her that morning. He was probably going to be upset with her for not using it. Maybe he would understand when she explained about the online orders she wanted to do, based on the information she had written down about various brands and sizes she had seen at some of the stores. And then there was the laptop she needed to replace. That definitely wasn’t going to be cheap.
“And?” Gracie raised her eyebrows.
Angie stared at her friend for a few seconds as she gathered her thoughts. “I’m the target…not the library. I just don’t know who or why someone would be targeting me?” Angie crossed her arms over her chest. “There’s a lack of real clues, no fingerprints, or even any scents that stand out other than a whole lot of anger. The destruction of my stuff is personal. When you step back and look at everything, it all points to me being the target. But it doesn’t make sense.” She looked at Gracie. “The only person I can think of with that much hatred toward me is locked away in a maximum security prison.” Her shoulders slumped. “I just don’t know.” She leaned back in the chair.
“I got three black coffees, but here is sugar and cream.” Wyatt set down a tray on the table. “And a dozen chocolate chip cookies.” He sat down and looked from Gracie to Angie. “I didn’t interrupt anything?” he asked.
“I’m sure you heard everything we said.” Gracie rolled her eyes.
Wyatt shrugged. “My mom said to always let the female tell me what was wrong instead of jumping in head first.”
“Good advice,” said Gracie.
“So what’s wrong?” asked Wyatt.
“Wyatt!” Gracie raised her eyebrows as she glared at him.
“You didn’t interrupt anything. I was just talking off the top of my head. I sometimes ramble when I’m tired.” Angie took a deep breath. The rich aroma of the coffee called to her. She couldn’t resist any longer. “Come here you big, beautiful cup of coffee.” She reached for one of the coffees, and grabbed several of the sugar packets and containers of cream.
Gracie grabbed one of the remaining coffees.
Wyatt held his hands up out of the way. “Is it safe for me to pick up that coffee?” He looked from Angie to Gracie.
“Did you say something about cookies?�
�� asked Angie. She smiled at him, hoping he would forget about anything he had heard. She didn’t want to talk about the monster from her past.
Wyatt slowly opened the cookie box and slid it into the middle of the table as quickly as he could. “Here they are. Have as many as you want. If these aren’t enough, I can buy more.”
“These are still warm.” Gracie grabbed one out of the box and bit into it. Her eyes lit up. “And they are really good.”
Angie grabbed one out of the box and bit into it. A look of pure bliss crossed her face. “These are good.” She looked at Wyatt. “Aren’t you going to get one?”
“I’m just waiting until it’s safe to put my hand. You two are more than just a little scary.” He stared at them with wide eyes. “Maybe I should have bought each of you your own box of cookies.”
“We are not that bad.” Gracie rolled her eyes. She popped the rest of the cookie she was eating into her mouth. “And we do know how to share…at least, sometimes, but only with certain things.”
Between the three, the cookies disappeared in a matter of minutes. Wyatt gathered the trash and disposed of it. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“I am.” Angie stood up and started gathering the bags. “I’ve had enough shopping for one day.”
“What about the rest of the stuff you need?” Gracie asked as she picked up several bags with each of her hands.
Angie shook her head at how quickly Gracie had forgotten their deal. “I’m going to go online and order a few things.” She held up her cell phone. “I made notes on several things I liked so I can look them up later.”
“Make sure you get a couple of pair of boots to go with the leggings, and maybe some sandals too,” suggested Gracie. “If you want me to come over and help, just let me know.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll call you if I need any help,” said Angie. She stood up and stretched before she picked up several shopping bags. “I need to talk to Lucifer about using his computer until I can get a new laptop.
“All right ladies, let’s go home.” Wyatt grabbed the rest of the bags, and they made their way out of the mall and to the parking lot.
*****
Wyatt turned off the state highway onto the farm-to-market road leading to Briary Creek. He glanced again in the rearview mirror and frowned. “Do either of you recognize that black dually truck with the huge cattle guard behind us?”
Angie and Gracie both turned around and looked at it through the rear glass.
“I haven’t seen it before,” said Gracie. She looked at Angie.
“Me neither.” Angie turned back around and leaned forward. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe I’m just being a little too paranoid.” Wyatt glanced in the rearview mirror again. “But it’s been following us since we left the mall.”
Angie and Gracie exchanged glances.
“Make sure you’re seatbelts aren’t too loose.” Wyatt frowned. “I don’t know who they are, but they are speeding up.”
“Maybe they’re just going to go around us,” Gracie’s voice trembled. She heard the worry in Wyatt’s voice.
Angie turned to look out the rear window of the SUV. “Oh crap! They’re going to hit us!”
The words were barely out of her mouth when the huge, black dually hit the back of the SUV, throwing it forward. Wyatt struggled with the steering wheel, but kept the SUV on the road. “Hang on!” he shouted as he pushed down hard on the gas pedal, hoping to put some distance between them and the black dually.
Angie pulled out her cell phone. Holding it tight in her hands, she found Lucifer’s number and pressed call.
On the second ring, he picked up. “Angie, what’s wrong?”
“We are about three miles from town, but we have a large, black dually with one of those heavy cattle guards trying to run us off the road. They’ve already rear-ended us once. Wyatt managed to keep us on the road.” Her voice trembled.
“Hold on, they’re going to hit us again!” yelled Wyatt as he glanced out the driver’s side mirror.
“Angie, I will be there in a couple of seconds,” said Lucifer. The line went dead.
Angie stared at the phone.
“What the fuck!” Wyatt jerked the steering wheel, forcing the SUV into the center of the road.
Angie’s eyes widen as she stared out the front windshield.
“What the hell?” Gracie stared with her mouth hanging down.
Out of nowhere, Lucifer suddenly appeared in the left lane and another huge man appeared in the right lane. As soon as the SUV passed them, Lucifer and the other man stepped together and calmly walked toward the oncoming dually truck.
Angie screamed as the black dually headed straight toward Lucifer and the other man.
Before the vehicle ran over Lucifer and the other man, the engine compartment of the black dually crumpled as if it hit an invisible wall. It flew up into the air and landed on its roof. The crash was deafening. The truck skidded across the pavement on its roof with a horrible scraping noise, until it came to a stop at the edge of the pavement.
Wyatt slammed his foot down on the break causing the SUV to skid to a stop. “What the fuck did I just see?” His eyes looked huge in his pale face. “Angie, where are you going?” He glanced at Gracie. “Stay here. Do. Not. Get. Out. Quinn will kill me if you do.” Wyatt jumped out and started to go after Angie, who was already out of the vehicle.
Lucifer and the other man turned around and stared at the black dually truck before turning the attention to the SUV. They casually walked toward Angie as if they were out on a Sunday stroll in the park.
“Lucifer!” screamed Angie as she started walking toward him, but the closer she got the fast she walked until she was running. As she reached him, she leaped into his arms, wrapping herself around him. “Are you okay?” she sobbed.
Lucifer held her tight in his arms, breathing in her scent. “I’m fine,” he whispered in her hair. He tilted her head up and pushed her hair out of her face. “Are you hurt?”
Angie shook her head. “I’m not hurt…just extremely terrified, especially when I saw the truck coming straight at you.”
Lucifer tightened his hug and kissed her. He closed his eyes and rested his chin on top of her head. “I now understand why Father is the way he is about Mother.”
“What do you mean?” asked Angie.
“Father is always trying to find ways to keep Mother tied to their home in order to keep her safe. I think it’s time for me to do something like that to keep you safe. I think I aged a hundred years when I heard you on the phone.” Lucifer kissed the top of her head.
Angie snorted. “Don’t even think about keeping me locked away somewhere. It won’t work.” She pushed back so she could look into his face. “If you try, you will regret it because sooner or later you have to sleep and I will have complete access to your body. I could start by waxing your chest and the work my way down south.”
“I like her. She’s not afraid to get back at you,” said the man standing beside Lucifer. “You could put green or purple dye in his hair. I’ve got some stuff that will take him forever to get out.”
“I don’t need you giving her any ideas,” warned Lucifer.
The man laughed.
Lucifer shook his head. “Angie, this is Phoenix, one of my brothers.” He gestured toward the man. “Phoenix, this is Angie Gunner, my lifemate.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Angie as she looked up at Phoenix. He had similar build and similar facial features as Lucifer. Even his eyes were green. The only difference was that Phoenix had red hair instead of blonde.
“And it is good to meet you, Sister. I would hug you, but I don’t think my brother is going to let go of you anytime soon.” He smiled at her. “If you need anything, come to me and I will help you, especially if you’re getting back at him for something he’s done.”
Lucifer glared at his brother. “I don’t need you giving Angie any ideas.”
“After all thes
e centuries, I finally have a baby sister,” said Phoenix.
“She’s my lifemate, not your baby sister.” Lucifer frowned at his brother.
“You may have claimed her as your lifemate, but I’m claiming her as my baby sister. I’m going to spoil her rotten every chance I get.” Phoenix grinned and winked at Angie. “And when you do things to make her mad, I’m going to give her all kinds of ideas as to how to get back at you.”
“No. Absolutely not. I don’t need you infecting Angie with your insane ideas.” Lucifer shook his head. As far back as he could remember, Phoenix constantly came up with one crazy idea after another. Most of which got both of them into serious trouble with their parents, even though Lucifer was usually the recipient of Phoenix’s pranks. But even though Phoenix and his other brothers were often royal pains, Lucifer knew they would all be there to help him when he needed them. “No infecting Angie with any of your crazy ideas.” He shook his finger at Phoenix.
His brother laughed as he turned his attention to Angie. “Don’t worry about anything. I’ve got your back. What Lucifer doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
“Phoenix, I’m warning you.” Lucifer growled at his brother.
“I’m so going to love having a baby sister.” Phoenix’s eyes lit up as he spoke.
Lucifer rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “Brothers. I can’t do anything with them.”
Angie laughed. “I won’t get infected with any of Phoenix’s insane ideas, but only if you don’t try to lock me away. I don’t care if you think it’s for my protection. If you pull a stunt like that, all bets are off, and I will get a list of ideas from your brother to add to the ones I already have.”
“I definitely like her.” Phoenix punched Lucifer’s shoulder. “You are going to be in a lot of trouble with Angie, and you’re not going to know what hit you by the time she’s through with you.”
Lucifer (Brimstone Heat Book 1) Page 10