Mitch stiffened, his back grew rigid. His brows pulled tight as a concerned frown etched onto his face. “Just say it, Ash.”
Okay, here goes… She took a deep breath and blurted, “Olivia was in love with someone else before she met you.” There it was. No take backs. The truth was finally out.
At first, Mitch didn’t say anything. Then again, he probably couldn’t speak very well with his jaw clamped shut. It was a wonder his teeth didn’t shatter.
“Was he…in love with her?” His words rasped out as if he’d been chewing glass.
She nodded. “Very much. They wanted to get married.”
Something akin to rage flashed through Mitch’s eyes. For a moment, she thought twice about continuing. Damn Olivia for putting her in this position. She shouldn’t be the one having this conversation with him. Painfully, she forced herself to continue, giving him the Reader’s Digest condensed version. “He…uh… He had to leave, and it broke her heart. I introduced you to her almost a year later.”
“Why did he have to leave? If he really loved her, he wouldn’t have left. Surely she sees that,” Mitch rationalized, glancing at her over the rim of his cup, taking another sip.
“It’s not that simple.” She couldn’t help thinking about Balen, about her own loss, and had to fight back a swell of tears. “Mitch, Olivia fell in love with an angel.”
He let out a sarcastic snort. “Well, it’s nice to know you thought so highly of him—”
“No, Mitch. I mean a real angel, as in heavenly being.”
Mitch choked on his coffee, staring at her in disbelief. “What?”
“Olivia fell in love with her guardian angel,” Ashley repeated. “I know you don’t believe in this stuff, but just hear me out. Before she met Liam, Olivia was in a really bad relationship. She was dating a guy named Max, and he was a total maniac—like boil your bunny on a stove crazy. What she didn’t know was that he was a fallen angel sent here to kill her.”
A shiver racked her spine at the memory of the hell Max had put them all through, but she wasn’t going to get into that—not now. Some things were just too painful to talk about. “Liam came here to win Olivia’s heart away from Max. He knew she was in danger, but there was only so much he could do to help her because of her free will. She thought she loved Max…”
Mitch stared at her in utter disbelief. His coffee cup suspended in the air as he sat, frozen in shock. Shit, this sucked. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, the rug had been jerked out from under the poor guy. Obviously, he was hurt that Olivia hadn’t told him about all of this herself. Right about now, he was probably wondering if he ever really knew her at all.
“And…?” Mitch finally said, encouraging Ashley to continue with the “Come on, spit it out” roll of his hand.
“And when Liam showed up, Max went ballistic. If it wasn’t for Liam, he would have killed her—he almost did.”
Mitch stared at her, looking a bit dumbstruck. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He tried again. “You’re shitting me, right? I mean, with all this angel and demon stuff—”
“I’m sorry, Mitch. It’s the truth.”
He paused for a moment, seeming to consider what she was telling him. “Okay, so let’s say what you’re telling me is really true, why would this Max possibly want to do that?”
“Because that’s what he was sent here to do. Liam loved her so much, he was willing to give up his wings to stay with her, but Olivia wouldn’t let him. She knew she had to let him go, even though it broke her heart to do it.” Ashley paused, giving him a chance to digest it all. “Mitch, whether you believe it or not, there’s a whole other world around us that is infinitely more complicated than what you or I can possibly imagine. And, Olivia is special… She can actually see into that dimension. That’s why Max was sent to kill her.”
“All right, Ashley, I’m trying to follow you here, I really am. But you lost me back on ‘Olivia fell in love with an angel.’ I’m sorry, but this is just a lot to take in.” Mitch was gripping his coffee cup so tightly, his knuckles blanched white.
Fearing he’d shatter the cup, she reached over and took it from his reluctant grasp. “I’m telling you that Olivia can see angels and demons,” Ashley said bluntly, watching Mitch for a sign that any of this was sinking in. “I know your first reaction is to think I’m crazy. At first, I didn’t even believe it myself, but it’s true.”
“So…what happened after Liam left? Is she still seeing him or what?” Jealousy sharpened the edge of his voice. She supposed it was a normal reaction, considering the circumstances. It couldn’t be easy, finding out your fiancée was in love with an angel—kinda hard to compete with that.
“No. Not that I know of. He’s still her guardian, but she can’t see him. He’s blocked her sight. It would have been too hard on her otherwise. The angelic can do that—block her, I mean—but demons can’t. That’s why Max tried to kill her, because she’s a threat to them. They can’t hide from her.”
“What do you mean she’s a threat to them? Do you think they took her?”
Ashley shook her head. “Liam wouldn’t allow it. But I do think he came back. I can’t figure out any other reason she’d leave on her wedding day, but I don’t think he took her. He’s always been very respectful of her free will. Unless—”
“Unless what?” Mitch demanded.
“Unless others like Max are after her. Then he’d take her. He’d take her to save her life.”
Chapter Six
Olivia and Liam were the only two in the diner. She sat across from him in a high-backed booth at a quaint little truck stop in... Huh…where in the hell were they? It didn’t really matter. Truth be told, she’d follow Liam anywhere. And didn’t that reality just riddle her with ten shades of guilt? She was a horrible fiancée—a terrible person. Who leaves their guy standing at the altar like that? The fact that Liam hadn’t given her a choice in the matter wasn’t much comfort. In her heart, she knew she would have left with him if he’d asked. The only reason she’d put up such a stink was because he hadn’t. Olivia had always been fiercely independent. The one thing she hated more than anything was losing her free will.
Liam looked over her shoulder, his eyes following as someone approached. She turned around to find a beautiful, young blonde standing behind her with a pen and pad in hand. She didn’t look a day over sixteen. The waitress watched Liam with obvious interest, making no attempt to hide her attraction to him. Olivia’s temper flared. She probably should have been used to this by now, guess some things never change. Her tone was clipped when she gave the girl her order. Not that the waitress noticed, she was too busy making eyes at her boyfriend—correction…her…Liam.
The waitress tucked her notepad into her apron and walked away, promising him she’d be right back—oh joy. Olivia watched her go, craning her neck around until it cramped. When she turned back to say something to Liam, she caught him watching the girl. Jealousy rose up in her like a green-eyed monster and she leveled an accusing glare at him. “See something you like?” she snapped, not even bothering to disguise her irritation.
When Liam looked back at her, she expected to see the familiar deep blue flecks in his eyes, the color only she wanted to arouse in him. But what she didn’t expect to see were hints of amber mixed within his violet hues. Heat of embarrassment flooded her cheeks, making her want to slink beneath the table. “I’m sorry. I had no right to say that to you,” she quickly mumbled. “What’s wrong?”
He shrugged. “It’s just sad. She’s so young. To be pregnant and unwed… Life will be nothing but a struggle for her.”
Her brows pulled tight into a curious frown. “She’s pregnant? How do you know?”
“I can hear his heartbeat. The young woman has no light. She isn’t saved. Without knowledge of the Creator’s love, how can she give to her child what she doesn’t know herself?”
Well shit… Now she just felt like an ass. She should have know
n Liam hadn’t been checking her out. It was at moments like this when she stopped to look beyond herself, that she glimpsed the big picture—the eternal war for lost souls. It made her feel small…insignificant, and right now petty.
“What can you do? What can we do?”
“Pray for her—”
“Here you go,” the young waitress said, putting the plates down in front of them. She gave Liam another flirtatious grin. “Anything else I can get you?”
“No, thank you, Aimee. Do you need anything?” he asked Olivia.
She shook her head. Just because she pitied the girl, it didn’t mean she appreciated the way Aimee kept looking at him. Olivia reached across the table and took Liam’s hand, staking her claim. “I think we’re just fine here, thank you,” she said politely, pasting a saccharine sweet smile on her face that said “back off.”
The girl’s flirtatious grin faltered under Olivia’s watchful glare. Abruptly, she excused herself and sauntered away, glancing over her shoulder at Liam before ducking down the hall.
“You’re jealous,” he accused after she left, his tone lightly amused.
“Am not,” Olivia denied. “It’s just rude. Whether I feel sorry for her or not, she still shouldn’t be looking at you like that. You’re not a piece of meat.”
“She can’t help it, Olivia. I have something she wants.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do,” she countered. “And she’s being very obvious about wanting your something.”
He chuckled. Despite her ire, the smooth, deep cadence of his voice made her pulse quicken.
“It’s not that.”
Her brows arched doubtfully, and he laughed harder. “All right, maybe it’s that, too. But really, it’s my light. The lost are drawn to it.” He studied her a moment. “Why won’t you just admit you’re jealous? You can’t lie to me, Olivia. I feel your emotions, remember?” When she didn’t answer, he asked pointedly, “How do you think I’ve felt for the last three years?”
Surprised, she opened her mouth to reply and gasped when words failed her. How could she possibly respond to that? She wasn’t used to him being so…direct. Before she could speak, he said, “I’m sorry, Olivia. It wasn’t fair of me to say that to you. I’m supposed to be above all this…above these human emotions.”
Reaching up, she grasped the heart-shaped stone that hung around her neck, something she often did when she was nervous or upset. “You don’t have to apologize,” she murmured softly. “It’s not like I haven’t thought about it a million times.”
“Still, it was uncalled for. I apologize—”
“Please don’t,” she interrupted, feeling even worse than she already did.
They ate in silence, neither of them making the first move to break the awkward tension hanging between them. Shit, this was a first.
Finally, Liam cleared his throat and said, “We’d better get going. We have a long drive ahead of us.”
The waitress was back and handed Liam the bill. “Thanks for stopping by.”
She turned to leave, and Liam called after her, sliding out of the booth. The girl stopped and waited for him to approach. On his feet, he towered over her small willowy frame. A warm smile touched her face as she tipped her head back to look up at him.
Olivia watched as Liam dug into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. He took the girl’s hand and pressed the money into her palm. “For you and the baby,” she heard him say softly. “It’ll help you get started. God has not forgotten you, Aimee.”
The young girl looked up at Liam in surprise and then broke into tears, throwing herself into his arms. He held her a moment, as a parent might comfort their child, letting her cry. Tears began to fill Olivia’s eyes as she watched the young girl start to glow with a radiant light only she was gifted to see. After a moment, the girl released Liam and wiped her eyes, thanking him before she walked into the back room.
As Liam returned to the table and sat down, Olivia stared at him in awe. “You’re amazing, you know that, right? No wonder I love you so much.” The words spilled from her lips before she realized what she’d said.
Liam’s dark violet gaze locked on her—hard and unwavering.
“What?” she grumbled defensively. “Why do you look so surprised? You know I love you. You can feel my emotions, remember?”
“Feeling it and hearing you say it, are two different things.”
The scrutiny of his gaze made her uncomfortable. She broke eye contact, fidgeting with the napkin in her lap. “Yeah, well, I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to say it again, either. After so many years one begins to give up hope.” If he could feel her emotions, and there was no doubt that he could, then he fully knew she was more than ready for this conversation to be over. The only thing that could come from laying her heart out here like some sacrificial lamb was to get it torched in the flames of regret.
Liam nodded curtly. Apparently, he wasn’t in any hurry to go there, either. “Are you ready to go?” he asked, changing the subject. “We’ve got a lot of miles to cover.”
“Yeah, just a minute,” Olivia said, fighting back tears as she slid out of the booth. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room before we leave.” She got up and walked down the narrow hall leading to the restrooms. As she passed the supply room, the waitress walked out and nearly ran into her.
“Hey,” she said, grabbing Olivia’s arm to stop her. “You’ve got an amazing guy there. Don’t let that one out of your sight.”
“Thanks,” Olivia said, caught a little off-guard. “I don’t intend to.”
***
Damn, he needed some fresh air. Hearing Olivia admit that she still loved him had released an unexpected tide of emotions he’d been fighting like hell to hold back. Her confession had flowed from her lips liquid smooth and sweet as her honey-flavored kisses.
Liam stepped outside to wait, letting the screen door slam shut behind him. Resting his palms against his thighs, he pulled in a deep breath of air that wasn’t so fresh, after all. The pungent stench of sulfur burned his nostrils and jacked his senses online as his body tensed, instincts heightened—they were close.
The warrior in him itched for a fight, but wisdom told him to run with Olivia while he still could. This wasn’t the time or the place for Heaven and Hell to collide—that would come soon enough.
Spinning around, he charged back inside. He knocked briefly on the bathroom door, announcing his intention to bust inside. Commanding the lock to disengage, he shoved the door open. Olivia jumped, water splashing on the floor where she stood at the sink, washing her hands. The instant she looked at him, her fear slammed into his chest with wrecking force.
“We’ve gotta go. Right now!” he ordered.
Grabbing her hand, he pulled her along with him. Olivia stumbled to keep up as they exited the diner and jumped into the passenger seat as soon as they reached the car. “Are they here?” she asked, her voice tight with panic.
“They will be any minute.” Hopping in the driver’s seat, Liam punched the accelerator, sending the Camaro into a fishtail. The car tore out of the parking lot, and he took a hard left, leaving a layer of burnt rubber on the asphalt.
After he’d put a good several miles between them and his instincts simmered with the passing threat, he glanced over to find Olivia watching the cars behind them in the side mirror, anxiously chewing her bottom hip. It was a nervous habit she’d yet to break, even after all these years.
“You shouldn’t do that, you know.”
“Do what?” she asked, casting him a quick glance before staring back at the mirror.
“Your lip. You’re biting it. I’m sorry I scared you, Olivia. We just needed to go. Once I get you hidden, I’ll neutralize this threat and you can go home.”
“I understand. It’s just… I’m not used to this anymore. I honestly thought they’d given up, or forgotten about me.”
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not very forgettable.”
“Lu
cky me…” she commented dryly.
He let out a humorless chuckle. “Yeah, lucky you.”
Chapter Seven
The moment the brown Buick pulled into the diner, Haden jumped out of the car, anxious to get some distance between himself and these assholes. He worked alone—always—and didn’t appreciate being assigned to this bunch of fuck-ups. Gahn must be laughing his ass off right about now, a little payback for his insubordination, no doubt.
You’d think if the girl was so damn special, they could have found a better legion than this one to get the job done. But then again, maybe this was the only crew stupid enough to take on the warrior. Hell, if he had to spend much more time with them, he might just flip to “Team Liam” and take a couple of the bastards out himself.
Walking in ahead of the others, he hadn’t taken two steps before abruptly stopping. Holy shit! They’ve been here. He scanned the small diner, looking for any sign of the girl. The place was empty except for an elderly couple that walked in right ahead of him. The old man stood hunched beside the table, helping his wife get settled in her chair.
“Can I help you?” an airy, feminine voice asked. Haden turned to see the waif of a girl standing behind him. He gave her a falsetto smile he hoped would pass for sincere. Guess it must not have worked, because she visibly shivered. Smart girl... Her smile fell as she looked over his shoulder to the three ass-wipes walking in behind him.
“Thank you,” Haden greeted, pretending not to notice the sudden shift in the young female’s demeanor. “A table for four, please.”
As he spoke, he could see the fine hairs on her arms rise. Forcing a smile on her comely face, she escorted them to a table. As he followed behind her, he caught the faintest hint of the warrior’s scent.
Shades of Darkness (Redemption Series) Page 6