Angel Ink

by Siobhan Muir

  Glancing through the peephole, I groaned. Hell indeed. I opened the door to my brother Luke.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I might ask you the same thing. Aren’t you home a tad early?” Luke strode past me and toed off his boots as if he was getting comfortable. “Damn, it’s cold out there. Got any coffee?”

  “Seriously, Luke. What are you doing here?” I shut the door on the frozen night and crossed my arms over my chest.

  “I saw your lights on and wondered if you’d forgotten to turn them off.” Luke settled into the one of the Papasan chairs. “But then I saw your bike in the barn and thought I’d better check on you. What happened with this woman you were so hot for? Did you strike out?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “No, I didn’t strike out.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing home so soon?” His eyes widened. “Unless you were more of a sixty-second man. In and out like a thief in the night? Damn, son, I thought you’d have more class than that.”

  I growled and stomped right up to him. “I do have more class than that, you wanker. And keep your bloody voice down. She’s sleeping.”

  “You brought her here?” Luke rolled to his feet and slid past me. I grabbed for him, but he was more slippery than an eel and I couldn’t catch a grip.

  He paused at the bedroom door and peeked inside, he gave a low whistle. “I can see why you were all hot to trot over her.” He paused and frowned before he backed out of the doorway. “Why is she still dressed? Didn’t you get any?”

  I growled again and closed the bedroom door. “No, I didn’t get any, as you so crudely put it. She was tired, scared, and cold. I couldn’t take advantage of her.”

  “Why not?” Luke shot me a perplexed look.

  “Sod off, you prick.” I turned my back on him and headed for the kitchenette. “I’m not that kind of bloke.” I closed my eyes as I leaned on the counter and sighed. “Haley is…different.”

  He snorted. “Different? How different? Man, I totally sent you up to get your rocks off and get her out of your system. What the hell went wrong?”

  “Nothing went wrong.” I raised my gaze to his. “Haley is Angelina different.”

  His mouth opened into a large O as he lost his smirk. Angelina was Luke’s One-and-Only. The one woman he’d damn near given up his job for. No one had seen it coming, especially since she was an angel who’d chosen to stay in this realm and care for the humans in her little town. She ran a shelter in Three Lakes, Michigan, and Luke often traveled up there to see her.

  “Seriously?” Luke let his breath out and returned to the chairs. “So, what are you gonna do about that? Are you gonna woo her, ignore her, or let her go?”

  “Why in the Goddess’s name would I let her go?”

  Luke shrugged. “Because you’re the Archangel Michael and it’s what you do?”

  “Fuck off.”

  His eyebrows went up. “Whoa, okay. I guess you really are more serious about this woman.” He shook his head. “If you weren’t going to have sex with her, why the hell did you bring her here?”

  I frowned and turned on the kettle for tea just to buy myself some time. “I dunno. My gut kept screaming she was in trouble and going home would put her in grave danger. So I brought her here to give her a safe place to sleep.”

  Luke snorted but his brows creased. “What kind of danger do you think she’s in?”

  I shook my head as I leaned against the kitchenette counter and crossed my arms over my chest. “Something bigger than just a local rapist or junkie or thug. Turns out she’s a reporter. Maybe she’s stumbled across something someone else doesn’t want broadcasted.”

  “Wait, she’s a reporter and you still brought her here?” Luke gaped at me. “You do remember that a) we’re a biker club with less than legal dealings, and b) many of us are the Elder Races, races that humans don’t even know exist?”

  “So? What’s your point?”

  “My point is she’s a reporter, the nosiest human on the planet, and you brought her into a world full of dangerous secrets. You don’t see the problems with that?”

  Oh, I’d seen them, all right, and suspected they’d kick my arse. But though I could see and hear the oncoming train, I had my feet planted.

  I sighed. “Fuck, yeah, I see the problems. But there’s nothing I can do about it. She’s the one, Luke. I feel it in my gut like you did with Angelina.”

  “You never took the easy roads, did you?” Luke shook his head.

  “Look who’s talking. You’re the one who agreed to be reviled for all time.”

  He snorted. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He met my gaze. “It’s going to be hard. She’s a reporter and naturally curious, especially about things people are trying to hide. You better be clear that she’s the one you want because there are going to be secrets you either can’t tell her or have to ensure she keeps.”

  I ran my hands over my face. “I’m clear. She smells like sunrise and magic.”

  Luke hissed. “Shit. That’s it, then. You’re screwed.”

  I nodded. “I know.”

  “When are you gonna tell her? What are you gonna tell her?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’ll take it as it comes and hope inspiration strikes me when the moment’s right.”

  Luke raised his eyebrows. “You’re just gonna go with the flow?” He narrowed his eyes. “Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?”

  I shook my head but my lips curled into a rueful smile. “I’m not that bad.”

  “Not that bad?” Luke gaped at me. “To mangle the quote, you don’t take a dump, son, without a plan.”

  “Sod off.” The kettle hissed and I took it off the heat before it woke Haley. “But I was serious about the trouble she’s facing. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s there and something would’ve gone wrong if I’d let her go home tonight.”

  Luke nodded slowly. “I got nothing on my schedule, so whoever’s planning shit isn’t blaming me for it.”

  I knew Luke often got hints of things before they happened when folks were focused on how ‘bad’ something was. His position as the devil often gave him insights on future events. Hell, he’d been busy since the last presidential election.

  I nodded. “Whatever it is, it had to do with that party she was at tonight. Something happened there but she wouldn’t say what, and I suspect it got her on someone’s radar.”

  “You’re sure?”

  I shook my head. “Not a hundred percent, but ninety-eight.”

  He grunted. “I’d take an Archangel’s ninety-eight percent over a human’s hundred.”

  “Yeah, so that’s why she’s here. Or in there.” I pointed to the bedroom. “Sleeping. Alone.”

  Luke tsked and rolled his eyes. “After everything I did to get you to the right place at the right time? Sometimes you’re damn near impossible. What are you gonna tell Loki when he finds out?”

  I rubbed the back of my neck. “Do you think we could keep it quiet for a bit? Just until I find out what’s wrong?”

  Luke raised his eyebrows. “I’m not sure about that. You might have until the end of the snowstorm, but not much after that. He’s gonna notice you have a new woman when you go to the clubhouse to eat.”

  “It’s just until I can sort out what she’s hiding.”

  “Why don’t you just ask her?”

  I rolled my eyes as I sipped my tea. “She’s sleeping.”

  “Not at the moment.”

  I turned my head toward the bedroom and Haley stood there, sleep-tousled, hesitant and so damn sexy, my heart almost stopped. Glory, I wanted her and I forced myself to swallow my tea and find a smile.

  “Haley.”

  Chapter Six

  Haley

  I’d been to Thunder From Down Under and Chippendales shows in Vegas with my girlfriends. I’d seen male models do photoshoots for romance novel covers. Hell, I’d even seen the BUD/S classes running on the beaches of California
. I’d viewed my share of ripped, sexy men. And none of those experiences even came close to the two men in the living room of that cabin.

  They’ve gotta be brothers.

  Michael the dark to his companion’s light, they both had strong jaws, broad shoulders, huge biceps and thick thighs. Michael wore surprise and chagrin, while the nearly-bald man’s lips curled into an amused smirk.

  He rolled to his feet and held out his hand. “When my brother remembers more than your name, I’m sure he’ll introduce us. Name’s Luke.”

  His warm hand closed around me and some of my sleepiness faded as I looked into his blue eyes. There was wisdom and weariness in them along with the amusement, and despite his snarky attitude, I liked him.

  “Haley Michaels. Nice to meet you.”

  “Haley Michaels?” He shot a look at Michael with raised eyebrows before turning back to me. “The pleasure’s mine. I understand you’re a reporter.”

  I shrugged as he released me. “Of fluff pieces mostly, but I won’t be doing that forever. What do you do for the Concrete Angels?”

  He flopped back into the chair he’d left. “Odd jobs here and there. I’m their nomad and I go all over.”

  I nodded. Michael still hadn’t said anything, but his intensity had ramped up as soon as his brother shook hands with me. When the silence stretched, I cleared my throat and pushed the hair out of my eyes.

  “I’m just gonna get my phone and call my friends to let them know I’m okay.”

  There was a pause as Luke looked at Michael, but my guardian angel seemed to be keeping his silence.

  “Uh, yeah, good plan. We’ll let you do that.” Luke rolled his eyes as Michael just watched me kinda like a deer in headlights.

  Great, now I’ve stupefied him.

  I nodded and headed back to the roll-top secretary. The phone sat fully charged and didn’t seem to be messed with. Of course it had been dead and he didn’t know my passcode to get in. Not that he couldn’t have hacked his way in. Stop living in the 20th Century.

  I snagged the phone and powered it up, trying to ignore the two silent men in the room. Why weren’t they talking? What had they been talking about before I came out? Why don’t you ask her? That had been the last thing Luke said before Michael turned around. Ask me what?

  “Looks like it’s fully charged.” I held up the phone and gave them my patented polite smile. “I’m gonna call from the bedroom.”

  “Yeah, good.” Luke had gotten to his feet again and elbowed Michael.

  “Uh, right. Good.” His words came out in staccato bursts and I wondered why he’d suddenly lost his ability to speak.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  I nodded as I hurried back to the bedroom, closing the door behind me. I shook my head and sat down on the bed with a large flower print against a white background. Seemed like an odd choice for the VP of a badass biker club, but somehow it fit Michael’s personality as far as I knew him.

  Which isn’t at all and you need to call Tori or at least Jeff to let them know you’re okay.

  I’d call them both. I took a deep breath and clicked on Jeff’s contact number in my phone, grimacing at how late it was.

  The phone rang twice before a groggy voice muttered, “Hello?”

  “Jeff? It’s Haley.”

  “Haley? What time is it?”

  I shook my head even if he couldn’t see it. “I dunno. Some time after three, I guess. I’m sorry to call you so late but I wanted to tell you I’m okay.”

  “Okay?” His voice sharpened and rustling sounded in the background as he sat up in bed. “Why would you need to tell me that? What happened?”

  I didn’t want to mention the murder I’d witnessed just in case the killers came looking for me. “Carl went off with someone else—several someone elses—and left me hanging. Then the cops showed up and this guy gave me a ride to his place.”

  “Are you fuckin’ crazy, Haley?” Anger and fear threaded through his voice. “You went home with some random guy?”

  When he put it like that, it sounded worse than I’d thought. “Yeah. Uh, he saw me come out of the building and gave me a ride to Jitters. But then I slipped and fell in the street and he saved me from getting hit by a car, and—”

  “Holy shit, Haley. You’re not hurt, are you?” More rustling came from his side of the phone. It sounded like he’d gotten out of bed.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Okay. Hold on just a little longer. I’m on my way.”

  “No!” I bit my lips, the word coming out far more harshly than I intended. “No, that’s okay. I’m fine, really. And there’s a raging snowstorm going on out there. No need to get yourself in an accident over this.”

  “It’s barely flaking out there. Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.”

  “Jeff, seriously, I’m safe where I am and as soon as the storm stops, I’ll be able to come home.”

  “Where are you, Haley?” When Jeff used that tone of voice, it saved a lot of pain and suffering to just answer him.

  “I’m at the Concrete Angels’ compound in the mountains.”

  A long ominous pause came from the other side of the phone. I could tell Jeff was still there by his breathing. Thank goodness he was still breathing because I’m sure I stopped his heart with that little piece of information.

  “Oh my glory, Haley. Those people are criminals! Have you lost your damn mind?”

  I wanted to argue the point about the Concrete Angels being criminals, but I didn’t have any proof that they weren’t. We’d all heard the rumors and seen some of the news reports. And hell, the FBI and Marshals had been investigating them for years. That can’t be good.

  But Michael had done nothing to hurt me and he’d saved me twice tonight. Whatever else the Concrete Angels were, they weren’t completely evil. They were the ones to bring in all those kids and women who’d been sexually assaulted like Jeff.

  “I promise I’m safe and I know what I’m doing.” I didn’t remotely know what I was doing, but I didn’t want Jeff to come up here in the storm. “As soon as the storm is done and the roads are safe, I’ll call you to come get me.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Yeah, I am, Jeff. Trust me, will ya?”

  A loud sigh gusted through the phone. “You’re the only family I have who cared about what happened to me. Everyone else swept it under the rug and tried to ignore it. I can’t lose you, Haley. What if something happens to you and I did nothing?”

  “I promise to come back in a dream and tell you it wasn’t your fault.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  “It was kinda funny.” Apparently not enough to make him snort. “I’ll be fine. The guy who brought me here has treated me well and my gut says he’s a man of his word.”

  Jeff snorted. “That famous gut of yours. You keep telling me about it. Has it ever been wrong?”

  “Not as of yet.”

  He sighed again. “Okay, Haley. But keep your phone charged and handy. And if you need me, I’ll be there, snow or no snow.”

  I smiled at his vehemence. “I know you will, Jeff. Thanks.” I took a deep breath. “How are you doing these days? Things starting to improve?”

  Yeah, it was three in the morning. Yeah, I asked him these questions every other day. But I wanted to be present when the positive change happened.

  “No, not really, and you’re not going to distract me from this. I’m serious about coming to get you.”

  “I’m not trying to distract you.”

  “Then why do you ask me the same questions over and over?”

  I shrugged even if he couldn’t see it. “Because I love you and I want to make sure you’re okay. And I want you to know I’m thinking about you, sending good thoughts and blessings, and hoping that your breakthrough will be sooner rather than later.”

  He sighed. “Thanks, Haley. I love you, too. But I don’t know if there’ll ever be a breakthrough. We might have to concede that this is the
new normal and the best it’s gonna be.”

  “I don’t believe that.” I knew it was a senseless and stubborn thing to say, but despite my jaded reporter’s exterior, I was a romantic at heart and believed in happily-ever-after. “I know it won’t be like this forever. Of course I don’t have the magic bullet to kill your demons, but my gut tells me you’re gonna find your balance, Jeff.”

  “Your famous gut again, huh?” He sounded weary but reluctantly hopeful.

  “Damn straight.”

  He sighed again. “All right, then. Keep yourself safe and watch your back. Lock the bedroom door or something. And call or text me in the normal morning hours so I know you’re still fine.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t going to pull the ‘white knight’ move and come up to the compound in the storm.

  “I will. Get some sleep and sorry I woke you.”

  “I’m glad you did. Take care of yourself and I talk to you in the morning.”

  “Okay. Love you, Jeff.”

  “Love you, too. Good night.”

  “Night.”

  I ended the call and sighed. I really needed to get some sleep, but it seemed rude to ignore my host and his brother outside in the living room. I set my phone on the bedside table and headed back out to the main room.

  The room sat in darkness and Luke had gone. I found Michael asleep in his Papasan chair, his feet propped up on the coffee table with a pillow under his heels. He snored softly, his chest rising and falling at an even rate. His arms lay crossed over his chest as if trying to stay warm.

  I found a throw blanket draped over the other chair and picked it up to spread over him. It was the least I could do since he’d given me his bed. I made sure the blanket covered him from neck to knees but paused before I left him. Jeff was right to be suspicious of the Concrete Angels, but my gut said Michael was one of the good guys and I was safe with him.

  I made sure the door was locked and the security chain was latched before I headed back to the bedroom. I didn’t want anyone surprising him before we were both awake enough to deal with it.