First Kill (Heaven Sent Book 1)

by Mary Abshire

  “Is he coming here?” Andrew asked.

  “I think so, but he has a few things to take care of first.” She hoped one of them was getting her money back from Raymond.

  “Was he mad?”

  “A little, but I’m sure he’ll take care of everything.” Emily had always known him to be true to his word, but he never guaranteed what other people would do.

  She rose and stretched her arms up. “I need to use the bathroom before we leave.”

  He stood and reached for the remote near the small television. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Emily rounded the corner for the restroom. Once inside, she flipped on the light and stared in the mirror. Although her anxiety had went down, she still needed something to help take the edge off. The thought of getting a few drinks from the bar down the street appealed to her more now, especially since she’d have to introduce Troy to Andrew in the near future. Troy was very protective of her and she had no doubt he’d warn Andrew to steer clear of her. Troy had practically threatened Ethan and other guys she’d dated. She’d lost a few boyfriends as a result. Ethan, on the other hand, wasn’t scared of Troy. Somehow, she didn’t think Andrew would be either. But she would be curious to see how Troy handled the news about Andrew claiming to be an angel. That alone was going to be pure entertainment.

  Chapter Nine

  The dark tavern reminded Andrew of the smaller pubs in his old neighborhood in Chicago. Tables with benches lined the right side while the bar took up the left. A male and female bartender stood behind the counter. The woman was staring at a phone in her hands. She wore a tight black top and had a rack to please any man. Her long locks were as black as Emily’s, but straighter and not as full. The male bartender finished fixing a drink for one of the two customers sitting on stools. Emily continued past them, heading to the back. Beyond the bar, there were empty round tables on the left. She stopped at the second one and scooted the chair back, scraping the legs over the wood floor.

  “This okay?” she asked.

  “Fine with me.”

  He sat across from her and noticed a small stage with two big black speakers and a microphone in the far corner. Near the exit leading to the restrooms was another open doorway.

  “Welcome to Your Town Tavern. I’m Charlene,” the waitress said, her voice slightly raspy. The big-breasted lady was the same one he’d seen at the bar when they’d walked in. The small crow’s feet near her eyes suggested she wasn’t a spring chicken. “Can I get you two something to drink?”

  “Do you have a menu or list of your drinks?” Emily asked.

  “No. We have a variety of beers and can mix any kind of drink that you’d like,” Charlene said.

  “Beer is fine with me,” Andrew said.

  “Two for him and can you fix a strawberry daiquiri for me?”

  “Sure, can I get you any nuts to snack on too?” Charlene asked.

  “That would be great,” Emily said.

  “I’ll be back in a few,” Charlene said before she left.

  Emily bent to her side. She collected a few bills from her wallet. Andrew recalled seeing several hundred-dollar bills when he’d peeked inside her wallet. She carried a lot of money for someone traveling to see a boyfriend.

  “I hope Troy can get my money back if the car can’t be fixed,” she said.

  “What are you going to do if the car’s dead?”

  She sighed heavily and glanced away from him. “Buy another car.”

  “I can help you pick out one, if you’d like. I know a bit about cars, but if they all look like that Toyota, then I won’t be of much use.”

  “I’ll wait and see what Henry says first. He said he’d get it towed and would look at it before they close tonight. He seemed nice. At least we’ll know something soon. If it can be fixed, then we’re good to keep going.”

  Andrew leaned back in his chair and spread his legs to relax. He wished he could help Emily more, but many things were out of his control.

  “I’m sorry again about the ride.” He’d apologized earlier when they’d walked to the auto shop. She’d been polite to Carl, Nancy, and Lucy, but he could tell from her expressions she hadn’t been overjoyed with the three.

  “It’s not your fault, so stop apologizing. They’re druggies. You can’t do anything about what they are.”

  Charlene appeared with their drinks. She set two bottles, a tall glass of reddish liquor, and a can full of peanuts on the table. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “Not now, but I’m sure we’ll need more drinks later,” Emily said with a smile as she handed her the bills.

  “I’ll start a tab for you,” Charlene said.

  “Please. Thanks,” Emily said before Charlene walked away.

  Andrew reached for one of the beers. “How do you know they do drugs?” He took a drink from the bottle. The cold brew never tasted so good. It was as if he’d forgotten the flavor of beer. He started to wonder if food and drinks had been diluted in heaven.

  “For starters, meth rots your teeth,” Emily said as she lifted her glass. “Did you happen to notice Carl’s and Nancy’s when they talked?”

  He swallowed and nodded at the same time.

  “That’s one sign. Of course, the spots on their faces and Carl’s hair were another.” She sipped on her drink.

  “Maybe they just had poor hygiene.”

  She shook her head while she swallowed. “Trust me, those people were drug addicts. I’ve been around plenty and know what to look for.”

  Her admission piqued his interest. “Did you ever take any drugs?”

  “Me? No, but I’ve known people who got hooked and couldn’t stop. It’s terrible. Drugs destroy everything good, so I stay away. This is my drug of choice.” She lifted her drink.

  Her statement made him even more curious. He suspected she’d had a close relationship with someone who had done drugs. Andrew understood well since his mother had taken a liking to alcohol. He’d seen the damage addiction caused.

  “Since when did meth become so popular? Crack and heroin were the rave in my day.” He finished the first bottle.

  “It’s been a big problem for the last decade at least. People still use crack and heroin.”

  Andrew drank more beer. “This was a great idea. I can’t believe how good this tastes.”

  Emily chuckled. “That?”

  “Yeah. What’s so funny?”

  “That’s watered down crap. If you want the good stuff, get a Heineken.”

  “I know what a Heineken is. I’m not from another planet.”

  “Then get one if that’s what you want. After the day we had, I think we should indulge ourselves for a little bit. What else are we going to do in this town?” She drank more of the reddish liquor.

  Andrew finished the bottle. The fact Emily was paying for everything still bothered him. He didn’t want to take advantage of her, but if she were willing to pay for the finer things in life, then he would take her up on the offer.

  Emily snatched a peanut and cracked the shell. “So there’s beer in heaven?”

  “Yeah, but it doesn’t have the same flavor as it does here.” He took a peanut from the can, then began removing the shell.

  “That’s interesting that there would be liquor in heaven,” she said before she ate the nut.

  He looked past her at the open doorway. “Come to think of it, I never saw anyone drunk.”

  She stripped another nut. “That would make sense. I mean, you don’t want drunk people causing trouble.”

  Charlene came to stop at the side of their table. “Ready for another drink?”

  Emily pointed at Andrew. “He’ll take two Heinekens and I’ll have another fruity drink. Surprise me.” She smiled at the waitress.

  “Sure thing. I’ll be back in a few.”

  “Wait,” Andrew said, stopping Charlene before she’d left. “What’s in that back room?” He pointed to the open doorway near the restrooms.

  “The
re’s some pool tables and other games back there,” Charlene said. “I think the air hockey is fixed now.”

  “Oh, air hockey,” Emily said with a grin. “We should play later.”

  “I’ll be back,” Charlene said and walked away.

  Andrew bent over the table. “I’ll warn you, I’m good.”

  “I’m better,” she said with a mischievous grin.

  His cock twitched. He enjoyed a good challenge from an attractive woman. How unfortunate he couldn’t take pleasure in other playful games with Emily.

  She took a handful of nuts and set them on the table. “So, if the liquor can’t inebriate you in heaven, then neither can drugs. Are there drugs?”

  He leaned back and ran his hand over head. “Uh, I don’t know. I don’t think so since I never saw any, but I can’t say for sure.”

  “Was there a jail?”

  “No. No jail.” He grabbed more peanuts.

  “What about police?”

  “Not really. There are complaint centers.” After he’d discarded a shell, he tossed the naked nut into his mouth.

  “Complaint centers?”

  “If someone hurts another person or sees something inappropriate, there’s a place to contact. An investigator gets assigned to the complaint and checks to see if it’s valid. If it is, the case goes before the council.”

  She finished chewing. “So there is some type of justice system.”

  “Something like it.”

  “Have you ever complained?”

  “No, I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Has anyone complained about you?”

  Charlene appeared just in time. “Here you go.” She set the drinks on the table.

  Emily’s glass contained a greenish liquor this time. She took the tiny straw between her lips and drew from it. “Mm…” She straightened and gave the thumbs up sign to Charlene. “That’s good.”

  “Let me know if you need anymore,” Charlene said before leaving them again.

  Emily lifted the glass. “A toast to surviving the worst of times.”

  He could definitely agree to that. Beer in hand, he clanked it against her drink. “Well said.”

  She took several gulps before she set her glass back down. “Don’t worry, I have a high tolerance. That’s not to say I won’t get drunk. If I do, I’m going to rely on you to get me back to the hotel.”

  “I can handle that,” he said before he pressed the bottle to his lips again. The little bit of trust she was granting him filled him with joy. He’d made progress.

  She leaned against the back of her chair. “So, you didn’t answer my last question.”

  “What was it?” He set the empty glass down. The Heineken tasted much better than the Bud.

  “Did anyone ever complain about you?”

  He took a swig from the next bottle. Part of him wanted to come clean with her, but he didn’t think the timing was right. Maybe if he had more liquor he’d consider. “I’ll tell you after we have a few more drinks and play a game of air hockey.”

  She jerked forward. “Game on.” She rose and walked past him toward the bar.

  The challenge in her tone revved his heart. Maybe the liquor played a part in her attitude, but he doubted the alcohol had affected her much since she’d only had one drink. Besides, she had a bit of spunky, daring attitude anyway. He imagined sex with her would be adventurous and quite satisfying. Pushing the thought aside, he finished his beer. He set it on the table and rose, pushing the chair back behind him.

  “Charlene will bring you more beers,” Emily said as she returned. “I told her we were heading into the game room.” She grabbed her purse and drink.

  Andrew followed Emily around the tables and to the back of the tavern. Her unwavering stride indicated the liquor hadn’t impacted her. Unlike her, the alcohol had started to work on him. His mind felt fuzzy and his temperature had risen. He had a good buzz going so he’d have to be mindful as he played games with her. A grin spread on his face while his gaze lingered down to her hips and ass. She had a nice figure and a nicely plump rear. Damn his thoughts for switching on him so fast.

  Emily slowed after they’d entered the room. The walls were dark green and the room was empty. Several pool tables were set up in the back. She passed them and continued to the front. The glass door had been painted black and had a sign on it. Three other tables with a small net in the center were set up near the front. The air hockey game in the corner brought back old memories of him playing the game with his sister when they were young. He always dominated her.

  “Ping pong!” Emily said as she darted toward the area with the three tables with nets. “Oh, I love ping pong.” She spun to face him. “We have to play.”

  He smacked his hands together and then rubbed them. “Game on.” He purposely repeated her words and she chuckled.

  She set her glass on the table, then her purse underneath it. Andrew stopped near the net where a bucket with four paddles waited for use. He took out two of the small rackets. Finding the plastic balls in the bottom of the bucket, he took one.

  “Play to ten?” he asked as he handed her the paddle.

  She was drinking more liquor. She lowered her glass and took the racket. “That’s fine.”

  He headed toward the opposite end of the table.

  Charlene stopped at the one next to them. She had two more Heinekens on her tray. “I’m going to set these over here so they’re out of the way.”

  “Thank you,” Andrew said.

  Emily moved her drink to the other table. After she returned, she held her paddle up and smiled. Seeing that she was ready, he dropped the ball and hit it. The ball made clap when it hit the table. She swatted at it and he moved swiftly to tap the ball. It bounced over the net and she smacked it. The ball flew near the corner and bounced before he could catch it.

  “Yes! One point for me,” she said.

  He laughed as he hurried to retrieve the ball. The damn thing rolled too fast. He finally captured it.

  Emily grinned widely as she held her paddle and stood like a pro tennis player. Before he reached the table, he hit the ball. She sent it bouncing back and he swatted at it. After two more smacks, he managed to send the ball out of her reach.

  “Point for me,” he said as she retrieved the ball.

  “Don’t get too excited,” she said on her way back. “We have a long way to go still.”

  Her words enlivened him. He had to beat her and prove himself. Racket tight in his hand, he stood a few feet from the table. When the ball came his way, he smacked it.

  One game led to the next and two others. They laughed and teased each other. She won the first game. He dominated the following two. He’d finished both beers in between and she’d emptied her glass. Charlene had delivered more drinks, but they hadn’t touched them yet. Emily seemed as focused as Andrew to win the current game, and since they both were giddy with a strong buzz, trying to claim victory was a struggle.

  Emily stared at the ball as it came toward her. She rushed toward it and swatted. The ball came shooting to his side. He dashed and hit it. The ball flew close over the net before smacking in the corner. He’d thought for sure he’d bested her, but she acted fast and managed to send the ball back in the opposite corner from where he stood. The ball bounced before he could reach it.

  “Yes! I won!” She cheered with her arms up.

  Technically, they were equals since they’d each won two games. He decided not to mention the small detail so she could bask in her joy.

  Andrew retrieved the ball and noticed several people were playing at two pool tables. The chatter in the bar trickled into the game room. He had no idea how much time had passed while they’d played four games, not that he cared. He’d had more fun with Emily than he’d had in a very long time.

  Upon his return to the ping-pong table, Emily stood nearby it, drinking the pinkish liquor from her glass. She’d asked for a different mixed drink and Charlene had delivered.

  “Good g
ame,” he said before he claimed one of his beers.

  She moved closer to him before she set her drink down. “You played well. Did you practice in heaven?”

  “No. Actually, I hadn’t played since I was a teen.”

  “So you’re one of those naturally good at sports type of guys, huh?”

  He shrugged. “I was a bit of an athlete in my youth and in college. What about you?”

  “I’m not good at sports. I’m more of a geek, into computers and such.” She took another drink.

  Andrew set his empty bottle down. “I always admired women with brains.” He lifted his last Heineken. The refreshment helped cool him since he’d worked up a small sweat from the game.

  “Oh really?” Emily said with a twisted grin. “And did you admire Lucy’s hand on you earlier?”

  He almost spat the beer in his mouth. “No.”

  Emily giggled. “I could tell you were being nice.”

  “I kept trying to scoot away from her. Normally, I don’t mind a woman touching me, but she gave me a weird vibe and her aura was colored.”

  Emily’s brows twitched as she gave him a strange look. “What does that mean about her aura?”

  He pressed his lips together as he hesitated to tell her. He knew if he did, she’d want to know about her own. Since they were both inebriated, maybe she wouldn’t believe him. Better yet, maybe she wouldn’t remember in the morning.

  “Innocent people have a soft white aura and demons have a black one,” he said before he took another swig of his beer.

  “And colored ones? What does that indicate?”

  “Just that they’re not going to heaven. The person’s done something to taint their soul’s final destination.”

  She shook her head and her hair swayed above her breasts. “So people who don’t have this white aura aren’t going to heaven?”

  “Right.” He knew what the next words would be out of her mouth.

  “What color is mine?” she asked, holding her drink close.

  “Need any more drinks?” Charlene asked as she stopped at Andrew’s side. Perfect timing.

  He looked at Emily for an answer since she was paying.

  “I’m good, but two more for him,” Emily said.