“I don’t care,” Keirah said. “I want him back. I’ve seen a side to him no one knows. He’s not all bad. He cares about me.”
“Oh, I know.” Burr started to walk around the desk, his hands in his pockets. “His feelings for you, however impossible they are, is what caused a war to break out between Heaven and Hell.”
“A war?” Keirah asked doubtfully. “I don’t see any angels or demons.”
“Sure you do.” Burr looked at her like she was stupid. “Who flies around Onyx with big black wings claiming to guard and protect Onyx?”
Keirah’s brow perked, her interest suddenly piqued. “Are you saying Black Wing is an actual angel?” she asked. “Is that why you’re after him, personally? Are you some sort of demon?”
The corner of his lips lifted into a semi-smirk, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Something like that,” he said. “Noir’s disappearance caused everything in this city to turn into chaos. There were five boundaries run by five Bosses who kept their people in check. Yes, they committed numerous crimes, but it was all organized. Crimes had a purpose. They sparked fear in the people of Onyx. Noir made everyone afraid of him in such a beautiful way that people forgot about the Bosses. No one believed Noir was capable of dying, of being caught, or being held prisoner. Somehow, someway, he always managed to escape, come back, and do something even worse than what he’d done previously.”
“So why is Noir different than these Bosses?” Keirah asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“He takes away hope.” Burr stated it simply, like it was a fact rather than an opinion. “He makes people lose faith in their police force, their detectives, and their city. Sometimes, that hope extends to God. And that helps the other side, because without faith in God, people are lost and aren’t sure who or what to turn to. Initially, they put their faith in Black Wing, but Noir was good at stealing that faith away.” He paused, looking at Keirah with such disgust, Keirah had to tighten her muscles to ensure she didn’t flinch. “He was keeping this war at bay. And then suddenly you show up. And somehow, he develops feelings for you. And people are still scared but their hope is not lost. Do you want to know why, Miss Shepherd?”
She gave him a dry look. “Why?”
“Because you make him human.” He paused. “As human as an Excom can get.”
Keirah shook her head. “Wait a minute,” she said. “You wanted to kill him before. You would have, if I hadn’t stepped in. And now you’re saying you want him back?”
“You are correct,” Burr acknowledged. “I did want him dead. I thought he was taking too much attention away from the Bosses and their districts. But I soon realized that the Bosses work better when the spotlight’s thrown on someone else. People don’t pay attention to what they do when they have to be concerned for what he does. He was a distraction that made people question their hope. He was perfect.”
“But you still don’t like me.” Now it was Keirah’s turn to make a statement rather than an opinion.
“My opinion of you doesn’t matter,” Burr told her. “Noir will listen to you. He will follow you. He may slap you around along the way, but it’s clear, even from my perspective, that he cares about you in his own way. I am unable to retrieve him, and even if I could, he would probably not respond to anything I said. You, on the other hand, are different. He will respond to you. Which is why it has to be you.”
“Will we be able to return from Purgatory?”
Burr shrugged. “Like I said, I’m only familiar with what I know, and I don’t know Purgatory.” He paused. “It would be in my best interest if you could return, but each place–Heaven, Hell, Purgatory–has their own set of rules. It’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself.” He paused, tilting his head to the side. “I have no idea what will become of you, really. No one chooses to go to Purgatory, especially when they’re alive and breathing. And certainly no one ever attempts to do it for a demon who terrorizes a city, instilling so much fear in people they lose their faith in God.”
“You can’t choose who you fall in love with,” Keirah said with a shrug of her shoulders. She knew that might have seemed dumb, that her words were typical and cliché for a girl her age, but she didn’t care. It was the truth. It was all she knew.
“If you’re certain,” Burr said with a nod. “Do you want to know why I sent you to Henry, Miss Shepherd? I wanted you to get the information I gave you about Noir from another source. I want you to be absolutely certain this is what you want to do because there might not be any coming back for you.”
“Why do you care so much about me?” Keirah asked.
“Because if you succeed, you’ll greatly help my cause,” he replied. “And if you don’t, I’ll have to work harder to try and win this war. I may be corrupt, but not with every Boss. Even I have to pay my dues, Miss Shepherd.” He stopped. “So you’re certain, then?”
When Keirah nodded, Burr didn’t even hesitate. He pulled his right hand from his pocket where Keirah hadn’t even noticed a gun was located, aimed at her chest, and fired.
And then everything went black.
16
Andie was currently at her Pet Day for her animal shelter, which was located in a lush part of town. There were a good three acres devoted to the shelter; there was an office where potential owners filled out adoption paperwork, or turned in such paperwork, buy things for their pet such as shampoo or toys, and speak to a worker (or even Andie herself) about the prospect of adoption or donating. There were two different buildings that held cats and dogs respectively, a small grassy area that housed some pigs and chickens, and on the far end of the perimeter, there were stables that housed horses. The rest was simply greenery and trees, providing a good portion of land to walk the dogs and the horses.
As Andie surveyed the property, a warm smile touched her face. The shelter wasn’t overtly decorated, save for some balloons and banners here and there, but so many people were in attendance. Next to the stables, there were refreshments and small snacks that were, of course, free of charge. Music was thumping softly through speakers in hopes to entertain the guests without frightening the animals. People who scattered the lawn all seemed to be walking a different dog, while those in the stables and the buildings interacted with the animals in different ways. She didn’t care what Vanessa said regarding the peoples’ attention, making them want what they can’t have or whatever; seeing regular people take interest in different animals who needed a home because they were genuinely interested outweighed everything else.
“How are you doing?” Jack asked from beside her as he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close against him. His eyes followed hers, and a bout of pride surged through his chest. “Well, look at you, Andie.”
She smiled, before biting her bottom lip and looking up at him. “Only good can come out of this,” she told him.
“I’m proud of you, you know,” he told her, squeezing her side to emphasize his point.
“I’m glad you’re with me,” she told him in response. Her eyes studied him for a moment, a faint blush creeping onto her face. He could definitely wear a suit, that was for sure, but seeing Jack in casual clothing also sparked Andie’s interest. He was wearing a dark grey t-shirt that showed off a good deal of his large biceps, and though it didn’t cling to his body, it fit quite nicely. He was also wearing faded jeans that weren’t too tight, hugging his legs the way jeans should fit a man, and on his feet were an old pair of Nike shoes.
Jack immediately detected Andie’s change in eye color. The green had darkened a bit and her teeth had unconsciously grazed her bottom lip. He stifled a groan, knowing that though he wanted nothing more than to throw her over his shoulder and take her to the stables to have his way with her, he would have to wait. But she made it so hard when she was wearing what she was wearing. She currently had on a light blue flannel t-shirt that fit her perfectly. A couple of buttons were left undone, revealing a classy portion of cleavage. She was also wearing a pair of D
aisy Dukes, and flip flops on her feet. And just as he liked it, her wild red hair was free of any restraints and tumbled down her back. She was temptation incarnate; she had to be.
For the next few hours, Jack and Andie mingled with their guests. Not only were there simply citizens of Onyx, but Commissioner Jarrett and his wife, along with their year-old son were there, a few world-famous surgeons, and even a senator with his wife.
“How did you manage to tie down Jack?” Lily, the Onyx City assistant district attorney’s girlfriend asked Andie. She was definitely pretty, with rich, auburn hair and light brown eyes. “I swear, ever since your man has been off the market, Aaron seems to be taking his spot as Onyx’s Most Eligible Bachelor.”
Andie chuckled, glancing at her boyfriend, who was currently talking to Aaron about the last case the attorney had won before glancing back at Lily. “To be honest, I’m not exactly sure,” she murmured and then took a sip of her water. “You know, it took him a while before he completely won me over.”
“What?” Lily’s brow rose greatly as a conspiratorial smile slid onto her face. She, too, cast her freckled eyes at the billionaire before leaning in like a schoolgirl, anticipating a secret.
“I just wasn’t ready to be a part of his world,” Andie told her. “It would always frustrate him. I don’t think he ever had a woman say no to him.”
“Do you always say no to him?” Lily asked with definite insinuation.
This time, a smirk littered Andie’s face. If she could leave for even fifteen minutes, she would drag Jack along with her and find a secluded area to make love to him. “Would you say no to him?” she asked in return, once her eyes caught Lily’s.
Somehow, among the large crowd, the couple managed to get separated. Andie wasn’t surprised, and figured Jack was talking to a group of football players that had shown up with their families about the upcoming season. As such, Andie mingled with the regular population, taking pictures and signing autographs (though she had no idea why people would even want her signature), as well as answering questions about animals and her shelter. Any personal comments directed her way, she managed to brush off with politeness and a smile.
“Andie!” a voice called, so similar to Jack’s that she turned, thinking it might be him.
It was Lucas Burr, still dressed to the nines in a too-expensive suit despite the sunny June day.
“Ah, Mr. Burr,” Andie said with a smile as he approached her. “I’m glad you could come.”
“Yes,” he said as his eyes took in the sight of her. Andie swallowed and shifted somewhat uncomfortably. Unless it was her lover who looked at her so provocatively, she wasn’t comfortable being studied with that sort of intent. “So am I.” When his eyes finally met hers, he slid a smooth smile onto his face. “Anyways, I have to run, but I wanted to talk to set something up. My apartment is too neat to allow pets in it, and as you know, I’m always busy. But I did want to make a contribution. How about we set up a dinner meeting sometime next week? Dorsia’s. Say eight o’clock on Thursday?”
“I have to check, but I’m sure that will work,” she told him with a smile. “Thank you again for coming, Mr. Burr.”
“It’s not a problem,” he told her. With that, he disappeared into the simmering crowd.
Now Andie wanted to reunite with Jack, but as her eyes searched for him, she saw someone she wasn’t expecting to see at all. Was that -
As she began to make her way over to him, she saw that it most definitely was him. He wasn’t as tall as Jack, maybe a few inches shorter than her lover was. His jet black hair was still cropped, his eyes were still blue, and he still caused her heart to beat once painfully. Of course, she never expected to get over her first true love because he was her first. He never loved her back; it wouldn’t have been appropriate, but she still felt that there had been a connection between them. For someone who was thirty-four, he looked amazing. Now, though, things were different, and she was irrevocably in love with Jack.
“Mr. Foreman?” she asked when she finally reached him.
“Andie!” he exclaimed, and pulled her into a tight hug. Oddly enough, any sparks she had felt when he touched her had disappeared. “It is so good to see you! You’ve got an excellent gathering here, and all for a good cause. And how many times have I told you to call me Simon? We’re not in high school anymore. I am not your teacher.”
“Right,” she said as a blush touched her face. “Simon.”
He smiled at that and she grinned back.
“Oh, and congratulations on your relationship,” he told her, a genuine spark in his blue eyes. “Is he here?”
“Oh yeah,” Andie said, nodding. “He’s somewhere in the crowd.”
“Andie, I would love to stay and chat,” Simon told her, sincerity making his tone sound almost like velvet, “but I have to get going. Why don’t we catch up sometime next week? Go and grab lunch together or something?”
“Absolutely,” Andie told him. “I would love that.”
When Simon left, Andie maneuvered through the crowd with the sole intent on finding her boyfriend. She didn’t know why, but she had the sudden desire to be close to him, to enjoy his presence before Vanessa took him away from her next week. At least the wretch had to decency not to show up today.
Andie found him still talking to those football players, and without fully comprehending what she was doing, she walked right up to him and pulled him into a kiss midsentence.
Though Jack was surprised, he kissed her back. When she pulled away slightly, he saw something in her eyes that made him pause. A microscopic sparkle that reflected desperation shone in her eyes at that moment. Was this what she was hiding from him? Was this what Beverly meant?
She didn’t know why she was feeling off, but at that moment, she was. “I love you,” she murmured against his lips before pulling back slightly. “I just wanted to tell you that.”
Once Jack and Andie returned home, Beverly already had dinner on the table for the couple. Since both were comfortable in their casual clothing, neither went upstairs to change. Instead, Jack took his usual place at the head of the table, and Andie took a seat at his left.
Dinner was absolutely delicious. Andie usually wasn’t quite fond of chicken, but whatever Beverly cooked, Andie craved. Her lips curled up as she took another bite of her mashed potatoes, and then downed it with a cool glass of milk.
“You did absolutely amazing, Andie,” Jack said, between bites of his own food. He cast a look over at her and gave her a proud smile, causing Andie’s heart to flutter. Though she and Jack had known each other for several months, he still managed to cause her senses to work overtime. “There were so many people there, and many seemed really interested in either adopting or donating.”
Andie smiled warmly before taking another sip of her milk. “I know,” she murmured demurely. “I couldn’t believe how many people were there. I ran into a bunch of people I couldn’t even imagine I would meet there. Gabe came-”
“What kind of name is Gabe anyways?” Jack drawled, giving Andie a lazy look.
“It’s biblical,” Andie retorted, clearly knowing the tone of his voice. “Anyways, a few of my friends from high school were there, along with their families. Actually, I couldn’t believe how many people I knew there had families…” She frowned at this, pushing her brows down. “Anyways, that’s beside the point.” She faltered a bit, not exactly sure if she should go on about running into both Lucas Burr and Simon Foreman and scheduling meetings with both of them next week. She looked down at her nearly empty plate, deciding not to, just yet. She wanted to make sure she said it the right way in hopes to avoid eliciting Jack’s anger. Instead, she tried something else. “I didn’t see Vanessa there.”
Jack’s lips curled up as his eyes flashed in amusement. “I know,” he said, glancing down at her. “I definitely could not see her being there anyways.”
“She doesn’t like me very much, does she?” Andie asked before taking another drink.
“That’s not what I meant,” Jack quickly amended. “Vanessa never really liked big crowds of the general population. She was okay on campus because she figured the students were the elite, you know? She favors expensive places, knowing regular guys and girls can’t afford to be there.” He paused as a frown touched his face. “I don’t think she’s grown out of it.”
Andie pressed her brow high up, and bit back a quick retort. The two just had an amazing day, and she didn’t want to ruin it with her jealousy. However, she was suspecting Jack had no problem to do just that with his, especially if she mentioned Burr and Simon. She knew she had to tell him; it would be worse if she decided not to and go to the meetings, only to have him find out from somebody else. She inhaled deeply, her brain trying to quickly process what, exactly, she should say, and how to say it.
Before she could say anything, however, Jack took a sip of his dry martini, and after swallowing asked, “Were Reese and Carey there?”
“Yeah, we spoke for a bit, but it was too busy for us to socialize, you know?”
Jack pulled Andie closer to him so her head was resting on his chest, her arms coiled around his neck. She reveled in simple moments like these, where they didn’t need to speak. Neither had anything to prove to the other, and both were comfortable in sharing the silence. Sometimes, the eyes and the fingers said much more than the lips could ever say. And since moments like these were so rare, Andie tried to hang on to them as much as possible. Her fingers began tracing random patterns on the back of his neck, without even realizing it.
Jack noticed it, and he knew Andie well enough to know that whenever she did that, something was usually on her mind. It all depended on the environment the two were occupying at the time. The kitchen seemed to be one of those places where he knew she had something bothering her.
“Andie,” Jack murmured, pulling back slightly so he could meet her eyes with his. “What are you thinking about?”
Sacrifice: Book 3 of The Dark Paradise Trilogy Page 12