First Kill (Heaven Sent Book 1)

by Mary Abshire

  A sigh from the sleeping man beside her drew her gaze away from the road. He was lying with the back of his seat nearly flat. He’d been snoozing for almost an hour. He looked just as much at peace as she felt. The swelling near his eye had gone down, but now he had an ugly color on his face.

  She shook her head and silently chuckled. She was helping a man claiming to be an angel sent to kill demons in human bodies. How crazy was that? No one would believe her. Hell, she still didn’t believe it, but determination was leading her to get to the truth.

  “Are we close?” he asked.

  She glanced at him and found him staring at her behind drooping eyelids. In a way, he looked adorable. “About forty-eight miles out.”

  He straightened and brought the back of his seat up behind him. “When we get to Pittsburgh, will you show me how to use the guns?”

  Troy had put a switchblade, her gun, and the one Nancy had inside one of her bags. He’d also given the little one for Andrew to use. He had an ample supply back in Chicago anyway. Of course, he gave her extra ammunition too.

  “I can, or we can find some place at one of the exits,” she said before she checked her mirrors. “It’s probably best to find a spot outside the city so we don’t attract attention.”

  He rubbed the unbruised side of his face. “That sounds better.”

  They were driving through a hilly area with a ton of trees. Based on the signs she’d passed, they were in a sparsely populated part of Pennsylvania. The last sign she’d seen showed food and gas ten miles ahead. Yet, she’d seen a different sign for an exit in two miles. The road had to lead to somewhere.

  “Think we’ll make it to Pittsburgh before night fall?” he asked.

  “Oh, yeah, unless we spend the next five hours shooting guns, which I doubt.”

  The sign for the exit appeared. She lifted her foot off the accelerator and flipped on her turn signal. The soft click-click reminded her of her Honda. Overall, the Jeep was quiet and taller compared to her old car, which she liked. The heated leather seats were nice too. Now she could keep her ass warm if she had to drive in cooler weather.

  Emily left the interstate and drove down to reach a crossing. She glanced in each direction, trying to decide which one to take.

  “Go right,” he said.

  She followed his advice. “Look for a road leading into a forest.”

  She drove slowly. The road curved and continued on a gradual descent for several miles.

  “Do you think anyone lives out here?” he asked.

  “I’m sure someone does since there is this road.” After she made the comment she began to wonder if she was wrong. She hadn’t seen another car since they left the interstate.

  “There.” Andrew pointed.

  Ahead on her left, she spotted tracks leading away from the road. Driving into the middle of the woods in a place unfamiliar gave her the willies, but at least she had guns and a big man with her. One of them should help protect her if she had to face a bear, or worse, a deformed hillbilly inbred. The bear could eat him while she ran away and a gun would save her from being a baby momma for the inbreds. Plans were an important part of life.

  She switched on the four-wheel drive after she steered away from the main road. Faint track marks led the way deep into the forest. She doubted anyone had used the path in a while.

  The car handled well for the rugged terrain. She drove over a small creek and continued up a hill. When she reached a point where a large tree had fallen and blocked the path, she parked the Jeep near the trunk.

  “This should be good.” She pushed her door open. Before she slid from her seat, she dug the knife out of her purse.

  She headed to the back of the Jeep as she pushed the switchblade into her back pocket. The air felt cleaner and crisper. Snaps from trees, birds chirping, and the quick pat-pat-pat from a woodpecker reminded her they weren’t alone. She stopped near the trunk and lifted it.

  “Let’s bring all three guns since each one is different,” she said.

  Andrew unzipped the bag with the weapons. “What do we use for a target?”

  “The cans.” She put her hand on the case of Pepsi. She’d bought the carton, bottles of water, and snacks before they’d left Columbus.

  “But that’s Pepsi, not Coke.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Get over it. Besides, water is better for you.” She grabbed the case and lifted it. “Can you handle the guns?”

  He dumped the snacks from the plastic bag before he put the weapons inside. “I can handle them.”

  “Get some ammo too.” She tapped one of the boxes.

  He took a box for each gun and set them in the bag. When he lifted it, the plastic looked like it was going to tear apart.

  She closed the back of the Jeep and then secured the locks. It seemed like a silly act given they were in the middle of a wooded area, but inbreds couldn’t be trusted. She couldn’t tolerate the idea of them rummaging through her good Victoria Secret underwear.

  They stepped over the tree trunk and followed the path up. The rectangular case of cola was awkward so she carried it like a baby. Sticks snapped under their shoes. Above them, light trickled in from the trees.

  “I really appreciate this,” Andrew said.

  “Yeah.” Good or bad, the man had manners. A simple thank you always went a long way for her. “Do you think you can kill someone?”

  “No, but I think I can kill a demon in a human body.”

  “That’s what I meant.” The incline increased. She pressed her boots deeper into the ground.

  “I can’t kill just anyone, but I know I can kill a demon. I have to if I want to get back.”

  “Right. To the place with bad food and drinks.”

  “My family and friends are there. It’s where I belong.”

  They reached the top of the hill and found a small clearing. She stopped and searched for something to set the cans on. Further down the outskirts of the forest, she spotted another fallen tree.

  “Follow me,” she said.

  The tall grass brushed against her legs and made a swishing sound with each step. Bugs buzzed by and grasshoppers leaped in her path. A large brown bunny dashed in front of her. Upon reaching the downed trunk, she stopped and removed a few cans from the case.

  “Why don’t you find a spot to shoot from,” she said. “I’ll set these up.”

  While he headed to the field, she set one of the cans on the slanted tree. Ants and spiders crawled nearby. She almost jumped away from the ugly eight-legged creature. Wasting no time, she set three more cans on the trunk. The last one kept tipping over since it was at the highest point. She moved it a little lower until it stayed upright.

  Leaving the case behind, she headed for Andrew. He was squatting in the field and the tall grass hid most of him. A big grasshopper leaped at her and she knocked it away. She liked the fresh air and beauty of the outdoors, but the bugs and wild animals with sharp teeth or claws needed to go. Maybe that’s why she always preferred the city life.

  Andrew rose with her gun in his hand. “Is it okay to start with this?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine.” She stopped at his side. “Do you know how to load it?”

  He nodded. “I figured it out. It’s not too different from the small gun.”

  “Right. Do you know where the safety is?”

  He pointed to the small latch.

  “Move it so it’s off,” she said.

  He followed her instructions.

  She took hold of the gun from the underside and pointed to the small notch sticking up at the end of the muzzle. “This is your front sight. You want it to be centered with this, your rear sight.” She moved her finger to the opposite end of the weapon where there was a larger notch. “Got it?”

  After he nodded, she let go of the gun.

  “Now, grip the handle and aim at the first can on the left. And spread your legs more. You want to feel comfortable.”

  While he lifted the gun and directed it, she wa
lked behind him to his right. His arms were straight and firm. He’d spread his knees an arm length apart.

  “Relax your arms just a little,” she said. “Focus on your front sight and make sure it’s centered. When you’re ready, take a breath, then pull the trigger. You’ll feel a little kick back.”

  He stood still and stared straight ahead. The first shot scared most people and usually made them start shaking. The trick was to keep shooting and become familiar the feel and weight of the weapon.

  Andrew pulled the trigger. The kick back had been light and he remained focused. Of course, he missed the can. She’d expected him too. He fired another shot and hit the tree. After a lengthy pause, he shot the gun again. The can made a dull ping before it fell off the trunk.

  “Good job,” she said. “Try to keep steady and focused.”

  He moved to the next can. Four shots later, he managed to hit it. The third can only took him two tries. He fired three times to send the last Pepsi flying.

  “Not bad for a beginner,” she said as she gingerly took the weapon from his warm hands.

  “It’s not as difficult as I thought it might be,” he said.

  “That’s good. Do you want to set up a few more cans while I load this other one?”

  “Sure,” he said before he jogged away.

  She unloaded her weapon and then set it and the clip in the bag. Nancy’s gun was a little smaller. The numbers were scratched off underneath the muzzle, leading her to believe it was likely stolen. She removed the clip and checked it. The bullets looked in good shape. Andrew had set up four cans and was working on a fifth. Since he was busy, she went ahead and loaded Troy’s small handgun.

  Andrew returned with a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. He pushed up his sleeves as he came to stand beside her.

  “Have you ever shot at someone?” he asked.

  She held Nancy’s weapon at her side. “Well, I’ve fired near someone to get them to back away. Guns can be a good deterrent against someone wanting to harm you or someone you care about.”

  “How old were you when Troy showed you how to shoot?”

  Her gaze wandered as she tried to recall when he’d first taking her to a range. “I think we were in high school.”

  “Wow, that’s young.”

  “Not anymore. Kids show up to school with weapons. Remember Columbine?”

  His brows came together. “What’s that?”

  She was stunned he had no memory of the event. “It’s the name of a high school where this kid went on a shooting rampage. It was horrible.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. It was in 1999.” After she said the year, she realized it was a decade after his death, or at least, the death of the man he claimed to be.

  “That’s terrible,” he said.

  “Troy’s family wanted him to learn how to use a gun, so he showed me. Anyway, here.” She handed Nancy’s weapon to him. “With this one, you’ll need to pull the top back before you first fire it.”

  He took a stance before he held the gun up. His posture was off this time and his elbows were too bent.

  She patted his hip on the backside, close to his ass. “Spread the legs.” She walked behind him.

  “Yes ma’am,” he said.

  She came to stop on his left while he widened his stance. His twisted lips led her to believe he enjoyed her little tap. Why did his sly grins spark excitement within her? She tried to ignore it and placed her hand gently on his elbow. She pushed it up and he moved his other arm. When he straightened both arms too much, she said, “Don’t stiffen.”

  He eyed her twice while he loosened his arms. “Sorry, it happens around attractive women.”

  It took her a few seconds to realize what he meant. She bit her tongue to hold back her laughter. “You’re learning to shoot a gun, not your dick. I think you already know where to aim and use that. Now, focus and shoot.”

  She crossed her arms and waited. He stared straight at his targets. He fired once and missed. He shot at another Pepsi and hit it. Emily watched as he continued shooting at the cans. He took his time, breathed, and relaxed before pulling the trigger. It took him a minimum two tries on average to hit his mark. For a first timer, he seemed to have a knack for using a gun.

  “You’re doing really well,” she said. “It took me a week before I could hit a target in two tries or less.”

  “Thanks. It doesn’t seem that difficult.” He removed the clip and flipped the safety on the gun.

  “I already loaded Troy’s, so it’s ready to go. I’ll set up the cans.”

  She strode to the tree and scrubbed the back of her hand across her forehead. Her dark hair and clothes were soaking up the evening sun. Her stomach let loose a growl, reminding her she hadn’t ate since the morning. She set up the remaining cans on the trunk. More ants covered the tree from the sugary pop dripping on it.

  She jogged back toward Andrew. He looked more comfortable this time as he held the handgun. His legs were spread just right and his arms were not too tense. As she stood by him, he fired two rounds before he hit a can. Staying focused, he continued shooting until he hit the last Pepsi. His average stayed at two.

  “Not bad at all,” she said. “I think you can do this.”

  He took the clip out. “I’ll be fine, even if it takes me a few tries.”

  “I’ll be by you too, just in case something goes wrong.”

  “You will?”

  “Yeah.” She reached into her back pocket and withdrew the switchblade. “And as a failsafe, you should carry this.”

  He took it from her hand. “A knife?”

  “No, it’s for cutting butter.”

  He pressed the small notch and the blade shot out. “I think it’s for more than butter.”

  “Of course it is. The best place to stab someone is the neck. Another good place is the thigh. You’ll want to sever the femoral artery.”

  “The person will bleed out.” He pushed the blade back into the handle.

  “Exactly. Do I need to show you how to handle the knife?”

  “No, I know how to cut butter.”

  She smiled. “Let’s head back and find a hotel in Pittsburgh. We can grab a bite to eat and do some research. You can’t just find this guy and start shooting or stabbing him. People will notice and the police will put you on their most wanted list. We need to come up with a good plan, a safe one.”

  “How did you end up sexy and smart?”

  “Excuse me?” She thought she misheard him. He said she was sexy?

  “You’re like every man’s wet dream. Smart, sexy, and you can kick ass.”

  She put her hands on her hips. Laughter wanted to leap from her, but she refused to let it out. “So I’m your wet dream now?”

  “No. No. I just meant—”

  She held up her hand. “Save it, Romeo. Let’s just get out of here.”

  She started heading back toward the trees and allowed the smile to emerge on her face. The man had a good sense of humor and she enjoyed teasing him. Based on his remarks, she was certain he had an attraction to her. She could use it to her advantage if she wanted to, but she wouldn’t. And she couldn’t let him know she fancied him too. Friendship meant more than lust. She had to keep reminding herself of that, even when her hormones were trying to make decisions for her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Hot, sweaty, and breaths heavy, Andrew walked into the hotel room. The hour workout in the fitness center had exhausted him. He really needed to pay more attention to what he ate so he wouldn’t gain a ton of weight. The steak dinner he’d eaten earlier surpassed any that he could remember. He’d devoured the salad and rolls too. Then he’d had desert. Everything had tasted so delicious. He couldn’t get enough. It was as if he’d been starved for over two decades. How heaven managed to mute the flavors of food continued to puzzle him. In any event, he needed to slow down before fifty pounds of lard showed up on him.

  “Back so soon?” Emily asked, sitting at the r
ound table near the window. She looked away from her laptop. Her wet hair had dampened her dark-pink t-shirt. She wore red pajama bottoms with little black and white penguins. He doubted there was ever a time she didn’t look cute.

  He stopped near the TV and pulled his shirt over his head. “It was starting to get crowded. It’s not a big gym to begin with.”

  The room had a standard set up with two double beds facing a flat screen television on a dresser. Fluffy white covers on the mattresses went well with the gray and red walls. Compared to the last hotel, this one far exceeded it in terms of cleanliness and modern fixtures.

  He tossed his dirty shirt on the bed. Emily’s gaze lingered on his bare chest. Her lips came together and she swallowed. Amused by her fascination of his torso, he began unfastening his jeans. She blinked and redirected her attention to his eyes.

  “Uh, excuse me,” she said as he unzipped his jeans.

  “What?”

  “You can’t do that.”

  “I can’t undress?”

  “Not in front of me.”

  He paused. “You’ve seen me naked, so what does it matter if I undress in front of you?” He tried to refrain from grinning, but it was too damn difficult.

  “Because that one time was a fluke. I don’t need to see you naked again,” she said with a hint of irritation in her tone.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind walking around naked.”

  “No! God no! Please!” She pointed to the bathroom behind him. “Go take a damn shower.”

  He laughed. Women were so fickle. One minute they wanted to get hot and heavy and the next they couldn’t stand the sight of a man. That was one reason why he found it so easy to switch lovers.

  “Where are my clothes?” he asked as he searched around the room.

  Emily got up and walked to the head of the bed closest to the window. She bent and he couldn’t resist staring at her ass. She carried the blue duffle bag to him.

  “Thanks.” He took it from her hand.

  She’d been overly generous when they’d stopped at a store earlier. She’d purchased a few more clothes, a light cotton jacket with a hoodie, and a bag for him to keep their items separate. He’d stuffed his shaving supplies and the other clean clothes in the bag too. He had everything he needed, well, almost. A better pair of shoes would end the pain of his crushed toes and the love of a woman would ease his sexual longings. Some things were still out of his reach.