by Lori Sjoberg
For the sake of being thorough, he checked the bedroom and bathroom. Sure enough, the toothbrush and shower stall were bone dry and a fine layer of dust covered the dresser.
Before leaving, he went to the kitchen and attached a small listening device under the countertop. The bug was voice activated and highly sensitive, so when the bitch came back he’d know in an instant. It was only a matter of time before she returned to her normal behaviors. It was the way these creatures operated.
And when she did, he’d be ready. He and Elias had spent the last day and a half outfitting one of the rooms in the rental house. The restraints weren’t as strong as the ones back home, but they were good enough to get the job done.
“These shoes are too narrow. They hurt my feet,” Samuel groused from the passenger side of the truck.
Adam slanted a glare in Samuel’s direction. The boss hadn’t quit bitching about his shoes since they left the house. As it was, Adam had given him one of his best pairs of running shoes. But was that good enough for the picky son of a bitch? No, of course not.
In a way, he appreciated the distraction. If not for Samuel’s constant whining, he’d still be obsessing over what he’d done with Marlena and what he still wanted to do. He craved her in a way that stunned and scared him, and he had no idea how to handle it. Even now, his body ached with the desire to bury himself deep in her wet heat. He shook off the thought, focusing instead on tonight’s assignment.
They were parked along a quiet stretch of Orange Blossom Trail, not too far from the Gatorland theme park. The land along both sides of the road was undeveloped, leaving Adam without much choice other than to pull off onto the shoulder. He’d cut the engine only a few minutes ago, and the cab was already stuffy.
“When I’m done here, I’ll take you to Walmart and buy you a pair that fits.”
“Good. And while we’re there, you can also buy me suitable clothes.”
By “suitable” he meant expensive as hell. Like that was going to happen at Walmart. Samuel normally dressed in high-end suits finely tailored to fit his tall, slim frame. At first, he’d balked at the idea of wearing Adam’s clothes, but had given in when he realized the only other alternative was to wrap a sheet around his body like a toga. Buying off the rack might give him a coronary, but at least it should be entertaining.
Adam checked his watch. Ten more minutes before the scheduled time of death. A faint hum of mortality pricked the night air, a reminder of death’s insatiable appetite. An old, beat-up pickup pulled over along the opposite side of the road and killed the headlights. When a middle-aged man stepped out of the truck, the hum turned to a pulse in Adam’s veins.
“What’s he doing?” Squinting, Samuel leaned forward as the man walked over to a light pole with a pair of pliers in his hand.
“Stealing copper.” Thieves stripped the metal and sold it to scrapyards for pennies on the dollar. It had become a widespread problem in the Orlando area, with construction sites and abandoned homes the most common targets. But sometimes you ran into thieves who thought outside the box and pilfered metal from unusual places like light poles and household appliances. He saw a story on the news a couple days ago about a guy who cut the catalytic converters off over twenty cars at a dealership just so he could harvest the platinum inside.
The man forced open the electrical box and got busy with the pliers. Within seconds, the streetlight flickered and went dark, cloaking the thief in shadow. If not for the headlights of passing vehicles, he’d be impossible to make out. The pulse of death grew stronger as he tugged at the wires, pulling more and more metal from the box and dumping it onto the ground.
The thing about thieves was a lot of them didn’t know when to quit. Like this guy. He could have taken off while he was ahead, but no, he had to go and get greedy. And that greed led him to cutting a live wire and frying himself to a crisp.
Samuel chuckled when the thief’s lifeless body hit the ground. “Bet he won’t do that again.”
Adam glared at him. “You think that shit’s funny?”
“Yes, I do. Poetic justice, don’t you think?”
It was, but that wasn’t the point. Good Lord, would he eventually become that jaded over the loss of a man’s life? Biting back his disgust, Adam got out of the truck and darted across the street. The thief’s body lay in a heap beside the electrical box, the pliers still in his hand. Careful not to touch the dead man, Adam crouched down beside him. The thief’s soul had already severed its ties with the flesh but had yet to abandon the body.
“I’ve got you,” Adam murmured as he reached out with his mind. He made quick work of harvesting the man’s soul, mentally latching onto its essence and drawing it inside his own body. Once there, he corralled it into that special place designed to temporarily house the recently departed until he guided them to the afterlife.
“Aw, shit. Did I cut the wrong wire? I knew I should have brought a flashlight! This sucks. The cops are gonna find me, and then it’ll be all over the fucking news. What’s my daughter going to think when she finds out? Oh man, oh man …”
Adam squeezed his eyes shut while he closed his mind off from the thief. It was either that or experience the soul’s final thoughts, and he’d already had enough of those to last a lifetime.
As soon as he finished, he sprinted back across the street and climbed into the truck. He needed to get away from the scene before anyone happened to pass by. Later on, when he had both privacy and time, he’d complete the second half of the job and guide the man’s soul to the hereafter.
Samuel was still sitting on the passenger side, his hands folded on his lap and a bored expression on his face.
“Can we get my shoes now?” he asked.
Asshole. He was so looking forward to Samuel’s reaction when the snob set foot inside Walmart. “You got it, boss. I’m sure you’ll love the selection.”
Chapter 10
While Marlena waited for her kickboxing class to start, she took a few swings at the heavy bag. The impact of her fist against the leather sent a jolt up her arm and echoed across the large room. But no matter how much she kicked and punched, she still felt an underlying sexual frustration she simply could not shake.
Stupid reaper, she thought as she completed a roundhouse kick. Even now, she tasted his kiss on her lips and felt the heat of his hands on her body. To be fair, her restless night wasn’t totally his fault. She could have stopped him at any time, but did she? No, of course not. She’d let him do whatever he pleased, and she’d loved every damn minute of it.
She drew up her leg and pivoted, nailing the heavy bag hard enough to make it swing wildly from the chain. Whoops. She glanced around the room to see if anyone had noticed. Humans her size didn’t have that kind of strength, and she tried not to draw unwanted attention.
Luckily, the group of women in the room was too busy chatting to notice, so she steadied the bag and resumed her warm-up routine.
Her thoughts tracked back to Adam as she punched at the bag. What on earth was she going to do about him? For starters, she needed to put distance between them while she got her head screwed on straight. She’d left the house early that morning, well before ten, when he’d promised to stop by. But evasion was only a short-term solution. Until Cassie figured out how to remove the dark magic from his friend, she wouldn’t be able to totally avoid him.
And to be honest, she really didn’t want to. She wanted to know the man Christopher had become, and she prayed he was someone she could love.
Whether he could love her in return was another question entirely.
The door to the workout room opened and a tall, well-built man strode inside. He greeted students as he crossed the room and took his place at the front of the class. Marlena fell in line with the other men and women, looking forward to burning off the excess energy buzzing in her blood.
At the end of class, she was tired and sweaty, her mind clear for the first time in hours. She hit the showers, and by the time she exited the
gym, she felt like her old self again. Cool. Focused. In control.
And then she saw Adam leaning against her car, and her brain turned to mush. Today he wore jeans and a midnight blue shirt that fit a little snug across his chest. His hair was combed back in dark smooth waves, and his jaw was freshly shaven. When he saw her, his mouth stretched into a sensual grin that she felt all the way to her toes.
“Ah, there you are. I was starting to wonder if you snuck out the back and took the bus home.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. If she’d known he was outside waiting for her, she might have considered it as a viable alternative. “Now why would I do something like that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you’re trying to avoid me?” His gaze lingered on her lips before flicking back up to her eyes. “You weren’t at Cassie’s this morning.”
“You left last night before I could tell you I had a kickboxing class at nine thirty.”
One side of his mouth tipped up. “Kickboxing?”
“Does that surprise you?”
“No, but it puts me on notice not to piss you off. Well, that and the whole Wolverine claws thing.”
She breathed in the spicy fragrance of his aftershave, the smell warm and familiar, soothing and exciting. Less than a full minute in his presence, and he’d already knocked her off-kilter. She adjusted the strap of her gym bag, hitching it higher on her shoulder. “Is there something I can do for you today, reaper?”
“Not in public.” With the grace of a predator, he pushed off against the car and bridged the short distance between them. For a split second, his features shifted, confusion clouding his handsome face. He lifted a hand and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “What is it between us, Marlena? Why can’t I keep you out of my head?”
She shivered in spite of the ninety-degree heat. “I don’t know what to tell you.” Hell, she didn’t know what to tell herself. Four hundred years of wishing for his return, and now she didn’t know what to do with him. With a shake of her head, she dug her keys from the side pocket of her gym bag. “I have to go. Cassie’s expecting me back at the house.”
When she tried to walk past, he stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Have lunch with me.”
“It’s barely eleven.”
“Okay, an early lunch.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
The question raised her hackles. No way would she admit she didn’t trust herself around him. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“After what happened last night, I think you do.” He leaned in close, his breath a warm whisper against her skin. “Are you going to give me a reason, or do I have to make a scene?”
Marlena shot him a glare. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.” A wicked grin split his mouth.
Two women wearing workout clothes walked past, one of them brazenly checking out Adam’s ass. He paid them no mind, his focus still riveted on Marlena. “I’m waiting, kitten. Yes or no?”
“Stop calling me that. I’m not a kitten; I’m over four hundred years old.”
If her age fazed him, he didn’t let it show. Instead, his grin widened. “Ah, a cougar, then. I’m a big fan of experienced women, but I’m still calling you kitten.”
Although her resolve began to crumble, she let out an exasperated huff. “Don’t you ever give up?”
“Not when it comes to you, sweetheart. Now, are you going to lunch with me or not?”
“I already said no.”
“Then you give me no choice.” He threw his hands out in a pleading gesture. “Baby, please!” he shouted. “Just give me another chance!”
An old guy loading groceries into the back of his SUV gawked at them, curiosity plain on his face.
Marlena cringed. “Jeez, will you knock it off? People are staring.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” he replied, clearly enjoying her embarrassment. “I can do this all day.” Raising his voice again, he shouted, “Come on, baby! I can’t live without you! Please! I said I’m sorry! I’ll do anything to get you back!”
To get to her car, she’d have to shove him out of the way. And while the idea held a certain appeal, she didn’t want to make any more of a scene. She went to the gym three or four days a week, and she didn’t want to answer questions the next time she worked out. At least that was what she told herself.
“Fine,” she ground out. “If I agree to lunch, will you leave me alone for the rest of the day?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die,” he said as he drew an X over his chest with his finger.
She huffed out a sigh. “All right, let’s go.”
Despite her best efforts to remain indifferent, she felt desire curl low in her belly. This was going to be one really long lunch if she couldn’t keep her hormones under wraps. She drew a deep breath, let it out slowly, and her composure slipped back into place. There, much better. In control.
When Adam started toward his truck a few parking spots away, she stopped him with a hand on his upper arm. “Oh, no,” she said. “I’m driving. You’re paying.”
“Have you ever eaten here?” Marlena asked Adam as she pulled into an open spot in front of a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that billed itself as Costanzo’s Italian Delicatessen.
He didn’t come to this part of town very often, preferring to eat at places closer to his house. “No. I take it the food’s good?”
She grinned. “The best.”
He beat her to the door and opened it for her, and she gave him a smile of appreciation. There was nothing sexy or sensual about it, but it still managed to make his body burn.
On the inside, the deli didn’t look like anything out of the ordinary. It had the usual meat and cheese display case along the left side and a scattering of dining tables on the right. A map of Italy was painted on the wall behind the counter and the required licenses and permits were tacked up by the cash register. A kid in his teens was busy making subs at the prep table while a man in his late forties rang up a sale.
The guy was tall and built like a bear, with chiseled features and a ruddy complexion. His life force contained a hint of the otherworldly—like Cassie, but not nearly as strong. Warlock, if he had to hazard a guess. A thick mustache covered the man’s upper lip, and his black hair had gone white at the temples. His eyes brightened with more than a passing interest when he caught sight of Marlena. “Hey, micia! Where you been? I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Been busy, Tony,” she said as she breezed past the counter with Adam a few steps behind. A few customers glanced up as they passed their tables but then quickly went back to their meals. “What kind of soups you got today?”
“Minestrone and sausage tortellini.” Finished with the sale, Tony rounded the counter, wrapped his burly arms around her, and lifted her right off the ground. “Thought you could sit down without giving me a hug first?”
She hugged him in return, but then slapped him hard against the back when he palmed her ass. “Knock it off, Tony. I’m here with someone.”
He dropped her like a hot potato. “Sorry, you should have said something.”
Adam bristled at the shift of blame. He stepped closer and placed a possessive hand at the small of Marlena’s back. “It’s not her job to tell you when it’s okay to molest her. Show some respect and cut that shit out.”
In a flash, Tony went from friendly mauler to overprotective parent. His gaze swung to Adam, sizing him up, a sneer curling his upper lip. “What’s this? You’re hanging with reapers now? I thought you had more class than that.”
Adam ignored the dig. “What do you mean? She’s nothing but class.” His eyes locked with Tony’s while he mentally projected a heightened sense of foreboding. It worked like a charm, forcing the other man to back down. Smiling, Adam made a sweeping gesture to Marlena. “Ladies first.”
They claimed a table for two along the far wall while Tony skulked back behind the counter.
“You sh
ouldn’t let him grab you like that,” Adam said as he opened a menu.
Marlena made a dismissive noise. “He’s harmless. He does that to everybody.”
“I doubt he does that to men.” His temper flared when he wondered just how many times the asshole had played grabby hands with her. “He does that with you because you allow him to get away with it.”
She shot him an annoyed look over the top of her menu. “Let it go. It’s not your business.”
The hell it wasn’t. Until he figured out what was going on between them, he’d damn well make it his business. He bit his tongue, though, deciding it was in his best interest to let the matter drop. “So what’s good here?”
“Pretty much everything, but I really like their subs.”
The waitress stopped by with two glasses of water and took their orders. Marlena changed her selection after Adam ordered, making it so their choices matched.
“Afraid your boy will screw with my food?” Adam asked.
She shrugged. “I haven’t had a meatball sub in a while.”
Yeah, right. He took a drink of water, making a mental note to ask the waitress for something that came in a bottle. “Why did you try to avoid me today?”
A shadow crossed over her face. She tapped her straw against the table until the end poked out of the wrapper. “I told you, I had—”
“Kickboxing. I know. Now, what’s the real reason?”
She didn’t answer right away. She stuck her straw in the drink and took a long pull, her throat moving when she swallowed. “I shouldn’t have—what we—” A blush rose in her cheeks as she let out a frustrated sound. “I don’t move that fast.”
He couldn’t help it; he smiled. God, she was adorable. It surprised him to see the little shifter embarrassed, but it also pleased him to know he was affecting her the same way she affected him.