My eyes fill with tears yet again. It seems I’m a waterfall lately. “Josh,” I sigh, stroking his cheek as he leans into my palm, pressing his eyes closed, as if in prayer. “You have to trust me to make my own decisions. Especially when it’s something this important. You can’t go protecting me from everything you think will turn out badly.”
I can’t take the sadness in his eyes so I stand on tiptoe and kiss him. Electricity flows through me, as it always does when we’re together. I’m almost content.
“I promise I’ll help tonight,” I say, pulling back and nodding toward the screen.
“There are certainly a few things I’m going to need help with tonight,” Josh teases, back to his old self. He wiggles his eyebrows and I feel my toes curl.
“I meant with the soul search.” But I don’t let go of him yet.
“Maybe there’ll be time for both?” he asks.
“We’ll see,” I answer, and give him another kiss before leaving him to it. It wouldn’t be fair to tell him yes. I know it’s been awhile, but I don’t think I can fully enjoy myself like that. Not when it keeps bringing back those memories of Keira’s laugh as she told me that Josh drove the car that killed me. Or the glee on Ms. Alvarez’s face when she tossed me from Heaven. And I certainly can’t when my family is suffering. It would feel very…un-Angel-like.
I hug myself, deep in thought as I head down the breathtaking hallway of Heaven. I’ll never get used to it. The night sky all around, millions of twinkling stars, and a path that guides you directly where you want to go without any twists or turns.
Halfway to the gates, I realize that in my emotional state, I forgot Tommy Two. I thought he might be helpful with greeting some of the newly dead. Especially the kids. I turn and head back.
“Josh—” I stop mid-sentence when I find the room empty. The screen is still in front of the couch, but filled only with swirling colors. Where could he have disappeared to so quickly? I just left, and he said he was going to keep working.
“Show me Josh,” I say softly, scooping up the dog.
The screen settles on the inside of what can only be one of the five million coffeehouse chains in the U.S. The image is a close up of a table where Josh sits facing a girl I don’t recognize—a beautiful girl.
Good thing I don’t get jealous easily. Jealousy between us would be pretty silly. When a guy dies for you, meeting with some girl for coffee kind of gets a free pass.
Still, I can’t imagine who she is and what he’s doing—unless…unless she’s the soul we’re supposed to save! Of course. Wow, that was fast. Maybe it was a clear-cut thing and there was no competition.
She’s certainly flirting with him—but who wouldn’t? My guy is hot. It’s hard not to get a pang of jealousy when she giggles and touches his arm. He leans forward and grabs her hands. He has to be doing it to play a part. It can’t be because I haven’t been in the mood lately. We’re in love. Right?
I better remember to warn him not to play the part too well. Being too nice backfired with Cam when I accidentally led him on.
I shudder, remembering Cam tying me up on the bed.
I turn toward the door, scooping up Tommy Two on my way. I have to find Shona. It’ll be nice to talk to another girl right now.
Not that I’m jealous.
Chapter 5
Keira
Seeing Josh again makes my blood boil, and not in a nice way. I long to drag my nails down his tender skin, leaving trails of blood in their wake.
Okay, maybe it’s not entirely a bad way. I admit the guy has it going on with his hot bod and pretty-boy face framed with those black curls. But his handsomeness only makes me angrier.
I vamp up the maple-syrup attitude I plan to use to make him fall for me. I even picked a lacy, white shirt so when he bumps into me “accidentally,” spilling my latte all over my front, his attention is caught.
“Hope. Hope Campbell.” The surname is real, though it’s been centuries since I’ve used it. “Thanks for the coffee. You really didn’t have to. You sure seemed to be in a hurry.” I bat my eyelashes at him and bite my bottom lip the way I’ve seen Grace do it.
“I’m pretty sure I ran into you for a reason, Hope.” Josh’s gaze is intense. Looks like the seduction will be easy. I’m annoyed, though—I thought he was supposedly deserving enough to be an Angel. Or at least more deserving than me. Angels aren’t supposed to cheat on their Angel girlfriends. He deserves to fall, and I’ll be happy to help trip him.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” Hell, I sound campy.
“Only ones that remind me of someone.” He reaches for my hand, and thunder cracks overhead. Shit. He could get suspicious, but what can I do about it?
“Storm’s moving in,” I say, leaning forward so that my coffee-stained shirt nearly brushes his fingers.
“I’ll say,” He leans forward, too, pinning my arms to the table and putting his face in mine. For some reason, I feel like a trapped mouse. “So, Keira, why don’t you tell me why you and Lucifer are targeting Grace’s family and exactly how you corrupted her brother?”
Crap.
I try to pull away, but he keeps a solid hold on me. I’m pinned by an Angel. An unworthy Angel, but an Angel nonetheless.
“How did you know it was me?” I hiss.
“I know your eyes.” He sits back a bit, but retains his grip on me. It’s starting to burn a little. “And Hope? Really? Have some imagination.”
“Ass,” I mutter, trying to yank myself free. No dice, so I turn on the waterworks. Tears spill down my cheeks. “You have no idea what he’ll do to me when he finds out you saw through my disguise,” I fake-sob, but a real shiver runs through me. It’s not a lie.
“I have some idea, but it’s not my problem.” Josh tightens his hold and I wince. “I was watching Noah, and I saw Lucifer with him. Don’t make me ask twice. What the fuck are you doing with Noah?”
“You’re insane. I have no interest in anything to do with Grace’s brother. I have no clue why Lucifer would care.” This isn’t a lie, either—Lucifer didn’t say anything about Grace’s brother. “If you really did see them together, ask him yourself.”
“I intend to. But who do I run into right near their meeting place? My old demonic mentor dressed like a bad copy of Grace.”
“Let me go,” I say. His grip is really burning now. I’m not sure if he knows it.
“Not until you tell me what I want to know.”
Is he deaf? I said I didn’t know. “Let go!” I shout in my high, syrupy voice. Every eye in the place turns toward us. Josh freezes in shock.
“Is there a problem here?” The barista is at our table in a flash. His biceps pump up beneath his T-shirt when he crosses his arms. I daresay he’s bigger than Joshy. His nametag reads tyrone.
Josh releases me so fast, it’s like I’m burning him instead of the other way around. I rub my arms and smile. “Thank you, Tyrone. My hero.”
Beefcake glares at Josh. “You aren’t welcome here any more. If I catch you here again, I’ll call the cops.”
“There’s nothing going on,” Josh says, laying on the glamour.
“You want to protect me from him,” I counter, catching Tyrone’s eye and winking at Josh. Hell knows he doesn’t want to start a glamour war with all the attention it may attract.
I smile as demurely as I can muster while Josh stands up and gives me the evil eye on his way out. Ha. I win this time.
My smile fades as soon as he’s gone, though. Now I have to find a new way to break up the super couple. I better keep an eye on Josh in the meantime. If he is tracking down Lucifer, he better not say anything about recognizing me or I’m in the Pit for the next fifty years.
Shit. I need to stop him.
I pop onto the sidewalk in front of Josh, looking like myself again. I’m prepared this time, and I’m not letting him within snatching distance.
“Isn’t there some Heavenly rule about sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, Jos
hy?”
He stumbles backward a bit. “So now you know stuff about Heaven?” He laughs, but it’s forced. Clearly, I struck a nerve.
“I know lots of things…but not what Lucifer is doing messing with Grace’s brother, if he really is. He doesn’t interact with the living that often.”
“All the more reason for me to find out what’s happening.” He moves to step around me, but I put myself in his way.
“I can find out without you rushing in on your white horse and messing up like always. It’s not like Lucifer’s just going to open up to you—you aren’t his favorite Angel, you know.”
He backs up until he’s face-to-face with me again. “Yeah? And I’m supposed to trust you because…?”
“Because I need something from you in return. Tit for tat. Not that you have any tats. They’d look delicious on you, though.”
“Get to the point.” He’s so close, I can smell his breath. Peppermint mocha. Mmmm.
“I need you to make it look like I’m doing my job—namely distracting you.” I run a fingernail down his arm, careful not to make skin contact. I don’t want a repeat of the pain he caused by grabbing my arms earlier.
He laughs, predictably, but it’s hollow again. “No way. I’m not sleeping with you.”
I drop my arm. “You don’t have to. Just act like I’m successfully distracting you and messing up your relationship with Gracie.”
“It’s Grace. And no. No bargains. I’m pretty sure that’s against the rules.”
My eyes flash red. Damn him. “You need me. Lucifer isn’t going to open up to you. I will find out what the deal is with…Noah, did you say? And you will keep your mouth shut about my setback today.” I lean in farther. Any closer and we’d be kissing.
Josh’s face turns red like he’s struggling not to explode. Finally he lets out a sigh. “Fine. Find out, and quick.”
I smile, tossing my hair. “Finally, a job I can do.”
I disappear in a wisp of smoke. Hopefully this Noah guy is fun to play with, because I’m guessing it’ll be a lot easier to get info out of him than the Boss.
Chapter 6
Josh
So Lucifer sent Keira to “distract” me. He has to know her seduction routine won’t work—or maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he can’t comprehend true love and commitment. Either way, I’m on to something.
I keep thinking back to what I saw on that screen. Thank The Man Himself, Grace didn’t watch long enough to see what happened after Noah left the house.
He booked it to Main Street, not far from the sight of our fatal accident, where he stopped in front of the very coffeehouse where I ran into Keira, then ducked into the alleyway next door. And who was waiting there in the shadows? None other than Lucifer himself.
It can’t be a coincidence. Satan is targeting Grace’s family on purpose. It would explain Noah going down the wrong path. And if Mr. Griffith knew about Lucifer’s involvement, I’m sure he’d change his mind about revealing ourselves and getting involved in Noah’s life.
At least that’s what I tell myself as I turn down the very same alley. Keira said she would find out what was going on, but I’m not going to sit back and wait.
Naturally, they’re gone by the time I get there. If only I hadn’t stopped to interrogate Keira.
I pound a fist into the wall, cracking a crooked spiral into the brick. Oops. I need to get myself under control. Keira will find out what’s up. She’s right about Lucifer—he wouldn’t give me a straight answer, anyway. Even though he never lies, he’s a master of misdirection. And Keira will do what she promised, because she’s out to save her own skin.
But I can’t just sit back and do nothing while Lucifer corrupts Grace’s brother. I have to stop Noah from making a huge mistake. But I can’t tell Grace—she’d freak out. She’d be crushed…and then she’d storm in and end up losing her connection with her family altogether. I can’t allow that to happen.
I know what I have to do.
I will myself back to Heaven and straight to Mr. Griffith, so preoccupied that I barely notice the warm glow as I transport. I’m definitely not prepared for the crazy medieval dungeon I materialize in and nearly trip on a pair of giant metal jaws. Ouch.
“Who’s that?” The guy’s Australian accent is so thick he sounds like Chris Hemsworth. He’s a lot heavier and scragglier, though.
“Excuse us for just a minute, Mr. Wallace.” Mr. Griffith’s soothing voice makes the burly man smile and nod.
Mr. Griffith motions for me to follow him out of the room, and I find us both back in the pool hall. But this time, there are no pool tables. It’s empty.
Mr. Griffith levels his gaze at me, leaning back against the cue rack on the wall. I shuffle my feet, anxious to scream out my news, but careful to act as levelheaded as possible so I won’t look like a flipped-out teenager.
“So, what’s the emergency?” Mr. Griffith relaxes and I let my shoulders drop, too, finally given the green light.
“It’s about Grace’s brother, Noah. I know what you said before.” I hold up a hand so he doesn’t lay into me about the leaving-it-alone crap.
He folds his hands in front of him and waits. “Then what is it about?”
“See, we conjured that picture thing you suggested and asked it to show us the possible souls, but Grace was…a little distracted.”
“Understandably.” He nods and I exhale, realizing I might be inadvertently getting her into trouble. Time to tell a harmless white lie.
“Well, she started pining about Noah, so I suggested we check on him first.” There. Now it’s my fault we saw Noah.
Mr. Griffith’s eyebrows furrow. Maybe I’ve gone too far, but I have to finish now. “She didn’t want to look, but I saw something. It was Lucifer. He was meeting with Noah. I didn’t even know he could do that. That’s what he uses us—I mean, Demons for, right?”
I wait while Mr. Griffith strokes his smooth chin and stares intently at the empty rack on the wall. “He doesn’t do it often. Only if the human calls him first, and then only if he’s interested for some reason. It’s most certainly a ploy to distract us from something or someone else. Thank you for sharing this information with me, Josh. I can understand your urgency.”
I conjure a chair to fall into. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. I mean, this changes everything, right?”
“It changes nothing.”
Wait. What?
“I think it’s best if you and Grace concentrate on the other souls. The ones you ignored in favor of Noah.” He says it gently, but the words still sting like my father’s hand.
“We have to save him.” I stand. He may deserve his fate after all, having been idiot enough to actually summon the King of Hell, but I can’t stand the idea of hurting Grace when she’s already been through so much.
“The only one who can save Noah is himself. He chose to call Lucifer, not us. It is still his choices that will seal his fate. I have no jurisdiction here. I told you before, I cannot assign an Angel to someone unless I suspect he is a potential Antichrist or if he asks. Indeed, he asked for intervention, sadly from the wrong side. I have no say in Lucifer’s business dealings and he is within his rights to answer Noah’s call.” Griffith’s eyes fill with pity and gentleness.
“I won’t accept that.” The words come automatically. I can’t stand down when it comes to Grace.
Mr. Griffith tilts his head. “Josh, I know how frustrated you are. I admire you for wanting to save Grace’s brother. Unfortunately, I have no power if Noah decides to make a deal with the Devil. This may even be for the best. If Lucifer is busy unsuccessfully trying to distract us with Noah, we may have a chance of getting to the Antichrist first.”
“Can’t you at least send someone from up here to look over him?” I’m holding back my anger as best I can.
“I will if he decides to ask for help. Again, it’s his right to call and Lucifer’s right to answer. Do you understand?” He looks deep into my eyes
. None of his words are harsh, but they are urgent.
“I’m not sure I do,” I admit.
“Then I need you to trust me anyway. There are always bigger things at work than you—or even I—can see. You and Grace had to go through all of the choices you made or you wouldn’t have both ended up here, and the world may have slipped into Armageddon.”
Instead of comforting me, that reasoning makes me wary—and makes it so hard to trust him. Did Mr. Griffith know what Ms. Alvarez was doing all along, and let her continue hurting us instead of stepping in? The question sticks in my throat.
“How do you decide?” I ask instead. “How do you know who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell?” It all happens so quickly, and there are so many shades of gray.
Mr. Griffith glides forward and places a hand on my shoulder. I feel warmth spread through my chest and lightness in my head. I’ve enjoyed this calming power in the past, but right now I can’t help feeling like he’s drugging me into submission.
“It isn’t easy, but I can assure you it’s quantitative. The idea of proverbial scales is quite accurate. Do your good deeds outweigh your bad ones? I know it isn’t easy to hear, Josh, but when you died, your scales were tipped the wrong way.”
“And Noah?” I ask, looking right up into his fathomless eyes. “What if he died right now?”
Mr. Griffith tightens his grip on my shoulder and meets my stare head on. “He’s been making many bad choices lately. I’m afraid it’s serious. But if you or Grace get involved, I promise it will backfire. In my time I’ve seen many attempts to jump into a loved one’s life despite the rules, and no such attempts have ever worked out. It usually ends to the detriment of the soul and the Angels involved. The best thing you can do is be there for Grace. You are strongest when you have each other. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe Mr. Wallace has waited long enough.”
His robes swish past the doorframe just as the door closes behind him, and I’m left in the chair in the center of an empty room, my face in my hands.
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