by Michael Todd
Pandora let out a soft chuckle-snort combo. Oh, you mean like fame and fortune? What about the ability to save thousands of people’s lives and look fucking good doing it? Sometimes I think your head is bigger than mine, but then I remember that your head is my head, so it makes sense.
I’m not trying to be that way. I’m not even asking for personal gain. Katie sighed and rubbed her face. I just think that if it’s possible and it’s for the betterment of others, why would an angel tell me no?
Because angels are complicated. I keep telling you, they’re not as sweet and innocent as you think they are. That is all marketing, sweetie. The angels’ idea of Justice has nothing to do with doing what is right, and not everything they do is good for humanity in the short-term. You have to understand, they have worked this way for eons. They don’t usually focus on any single person. You are one of the few exceptions—and that’s only because you are serving their purpose. They are usually focused on the greater good, which means keeping the Earth under their control. Sure, in the end, their actions save lives, but the only real difference in the way angels and demons operate is that we demons are at least upfront about what we want. When it comes down to choosing a side, it’s all a matter of context.
Katie rolled her eyes. I’m on mankind’s side, and I’m on Korbin and Stephanie’s side. In reality, what do I have to lose by asking? The worst he can say is no, he can’t or won’t do it. Katie hated to think Gabriel might say no, but she was forced to.
Reality was a bitch, no matter who you were.
Pandora pulled Katie from her thoughts. Oh yeah, and we all know how much you like it when somebody tells you no, especially when you know they can do something. Next thing we know we’ll be fighting angels and demons. You gotta pick a side, sweetheart.
Katie smirked, knowing that was a bunch of bullshit. I don’t have to pick a side. I picked mankind’s side, so all the rest is just schmoozing to get the tools I need to make sure mankind survives this war. I can figure out the rest when I get there. I’m pretty sure whoever sent these angels—the big man in the clouds—knows damn well I’m not some good churchgoing girl. I’m a warrior.
Does this mean you’re going to ask him?
Katie’s face hardened, and she pounded her fist into her hand. Damn straight—if I can get him to come down and talk to me. He probably already knows what I’m going to ask.
Pandora sighed. Oh, joy. I’m so fucking excited! I just can’t wait to meet that twat again.
Katie snickered and opened the door to her room. She found Pandora’s overreactions comical. She locked the door behind her and started to get changed. What is it with you and this guy? You absolutely cannot stand him. It’s like you and Gabriel were previously married or something, and you just don’t want to tell me about your bitter breakup.
Pandora gagged loudly. Are you fucking kidding me? The mere thought of having sexual relations with that dry as dust, stalky fucksack makes me want to throw up inside you. I cannot believe that you would stoop to that level. Seriously, Katie, even I wouldn’t sink that low.
Katie put up her hands and laughed out loud. Okay, okay. I get it. You like Gabriel, and you don’t want to admit it. That’s fine with me. Keep your secrets.
Katie chortled as Pandora continued to babble on about how disgusting Gabriel was. She slipped into some comfortable pants and a T-shirt. She took a breath and pulled a box from her closet and set it on her bed. She opened the lid and pulled out a couple sets of old clothes that belonged to Korbin and Stephanie. They were their favorite attire to lounge in, and she had held them back when the rest of their belongings had gone to storage as something to remember them by. After they were done going over stuff in the conference room, Katie had something a little less stressful planned.
If Korbin and Stephanie were going to come back for real, Katie wanted to welcome them back the same way she had said goodbye—with love and acceptance. What better way to do that than to have some family time?
Katie’s Killers might not be as big as Korbin’s team had been, and things were a lot more complicated these days, but that wasn’t going to stop her from making sure that her team knew they were a family.
They were all in this together.
She folded up the clothes and smiled. She spritzed Stephanie’s with a little bit of her old body spray just to help things along. Afterward, she headed to the common room to let everyone know that they would be watching soaps in about an hour.
Timothy snapped his fingers. “Excuse me, but girl, you know I’m not going to miss out on one of your famous popcorn-and-soap-opera nights! It’s been too long.” Hands on his hips, he stared expectantly at Joshua.
Joshua shrugged. “What? Of course, I’ll be there. It’s been like forever since we all did this. I’m not going to miss a chance to hang out with Stephanie and Korbin, even if they don’t remember us.”
Katie nodded. “Good, let’s make them feel as much like family as we possibly can. After all, Korbin started this family to begin with.”
Timothy rolled his eyes. “Of course, we’ll be missing Damien and his intellectual comments about our soaps. He just had to go off and save the church.”
Katie snorted, trying to hide her amusement at Timothy’s reaction. “Give Damien a break. We all deserve to do what we feel is best. He is living that, and I respect him for it.”
“Oh sure, sure.” Timothy laughed and lifted an eyebrow.
After gathering the troops, Katie made her way to the kitchen and started to prepare her special sugar popcorn. She went all-out and made a batch in every color she found in the cupboard, then mixed them together to make rainbow corn before filling the bowls. When Katie was done, she stood back and smiled at her work. She felt at home for the first time in a long while.
Stephanie rounded the corner into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe before Katie had even noticed. “What smells so good in here?”
Katie jumped, surprised by the welcome intrusion. “Oh! Hey!”
Stephanie smiled. “I got tired of looking at the notes, so I figured I’d do a little exploring. I could smell the popcorn from down the hall.”
“It’s actually perfect timing. I was just about to come and get you guys. It’s family night since we’re all here. We get together and watch soap operas and eat sugar popcorn, and pretty much just laugh and talk the whole time.”
Stephanie grinned and popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “Mmmm, yummy. I love that idea, although I don’t know how much Korbin will love soap operas.”
Katie raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You’d be surprised how much he got into them before.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened, and a mischievous look appeared on her face. “Oh yeah? This is definitely something I’m going to give him hell over.”
Korbin walked into the kitchen and kissed Stephanie on the forehead. “Who’s giving me hell over what, now?”
Stephanie laughed. “Katie was just telling me how you enjoyed your soap operas back in the day.”
Korbin narrowed his eyes at Katie, then shook his head, chuckling. “Apparently Katie and I are going to have to have a talk before she goes blurting out more of my past. I have to admit, it’s weird that every time I see the soaps on television, there’s just something inside me that wants to watch them. Maybe it has something to do with this strange gathering you guys have.”
Katie snickered and handed Korbin a bowl of sugary deliciousness. “I wouldn’t be shocked. Come on, everyone should be in there by now. They get cranky when I withhold the popcorn.”
Everyone gathered in the main room. Stephanie and Korbin sat on the couch, oddly enough in the same place they had always sat. Timothy was in one of the armchairs, Katie took the end of the couch, and Calvin and Joshua spread out on the other furniture.
Katie looked at them all and her heart filled with a warmth that she’d missed. She smiled and picked up the remote and searched through the guide to the last episode they had watched, one from
right after Korbin and Stephanie had gone. She pressed Play and sat back, then looked at the others again.
Well, isn’t this sweet? Pandora tried to sound sarcastic, but Katie could tell she found comfort in the family reunion.
It might not be the same as before, and things may have changed a lot, but I will always think of these people like my family. That includes you, Pandora.
Pandora sniffed and cleared her throat. Yeah, well. Whatever. I just want to see what happened to that whore Josie and the ten lovers she couldn’t keep her hands off when the gates to hell were open.
From what I’ve heard, she got angel wings.
Why do you always have to ruin my life?
Katie snickered and sat back to eat her popcorn. Things might’ve been awkward when Stephanie and Korbin had first arrived, but having them there was exactly what she needed.
Chapter Two
A dark blanket of storm clouds unrolled over New York City, obscuring the late summer sun. Lighting forked over Central Park and was closely followed by deep peals of thunder from the quickening storm.
It was a big one. Sheets of rain crashed onto the streets of New York and set the ever-present trash and debris afloat. In no time garbage had clogged the storm pipes. All along the city blocks, black umbrellas bobbed up and down as people continued to weave their way in and out of the foot traffic. They were making their way to work, school, or their next tourist attraction.
The doorman of Katie’s building looked at the concierge, who was standing in the entryway of the apartment complex. “It’s one hell of a storm out there, huh, Joe?”
His boss gave a flippant wave to tell the doorman he was done with the weather. “We get these storms at least twice a year and let me tell you, the streets weren’t made for flooding. Cars will be splashing our guests for the next week, even if the rain stops this afternoon. It makes for one hell of a mess in here.”
The doorman chuckled and took a step toward the front doors. He skidded on a wet spot but deftly windmilled his arms to regain his balance. “And apparently, marble and moisture don’t mix well.”
His boss smiled and shifted his eyes to the doors as two men approached. Both were dressed in long black trench coats and black fedoras. “Question these fellas. I’ve never seen them before, and with the onslaught of people trying to get Katie, none of us can be too cautious.”
The doorman saluted his boss and straightened his jacket. He opened the door and stepped out before the men could step in, keeping the door open behind him so his boss could hear. He could already feel the tension coming from them. “How may I help you, gentlemen?”
One of the two men looked up with a fake grin. “We’re here to visit a client of ours.”
The other man moved forward, an air of irritation in his voice. “We would appreciate if you didn’t make us stand out here in the rain. If we could have had our car pull straight up to the door, we would have.”
The doorman glared suspiciously at the men for a moment, noticing their expensive shoes and ostentatious watches. It was obvious that these men had money, but so did almost everyone else in New York City. Big deal. “And what floor will you be visiting today?”
The friendly guy flashed the doorman a crooked smile. “We were hoping you would be able to help us with that. We’re here to see Katie, and we weren’t sure if she was on the fourth floor or the sixth.”
The doorman smiled condescendingly. Like he had not heard that one before. “We’re not permitted to give out that information. I’m sure if you are expected you could give her a call, and she can give you the information.”
The angry one pushed forward, trying to get past the doorman into the building. “I don’t think you understand. We are important people. I promise you’re going to regret it if you don’t let us through.”
“I can promise that the two of you will regret it if you don’t stop making threats,” the doorman warned, standing his ground.
The angry man removed his hat and shook it furiously, splattering water all over the doorman. “I don’t know who you think you are, but we’ll make sure that you will never work in this town again. And that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll make sure you don’t get a job, if you catch my drift.”
The doorman squared his shoulders. Water dripped from the tip of his nose. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but you’ll have to call Ms. Katie to get the information. I can promise you that she will understand my reluctance to allow two men I’ve never seen before through to her apartment. Two men who don’t even know where she lives.”
The angry one reached for the doorman, and his eyes flashed a weak red. “Now, you listen here…”
The doorman grabbed his walkie from his pocket and thumbed the button. “Security, I have two gentlemen at the front door making threats. They are trying to get in uninvited to bother one of our residents.”
“Ten-four, we’ll be right up,” came the reply from the walkie.
The two men stepped back, angry as hell that he’d called security on them.
Both men were livid at this point. Even the friendly man had dropped his mask of civility. “If you don’t call off security and let us through, I’ll make sure you don’t get home tonight.”
The angry one leaned in close, whispering, “You want to see what we do when we’re mad at somebody?”
The doorman smirked. He wiped water from his face and leaned against the doorway with his hands in his pockets. He nodded along as the two jerks threw out threat after threat, none of which fazed him. It wasn’t that he was overconfident or that he wasn’t scared of being injured, but he knew he was safe when a situation had anything to do with Katie. He had gotten to know her pretty well, just as most of the other staff in the building had. When she found out what was going on, she would make sure these guys never did it again.
The doorman’s eyes flicked up and over their shoulders, and his smile changed to a lopsided grin.
This pissed off the two men to no end.
“What the fuck are you smiling about?” the angry one asked. “We’re serious about this.”
Both men realized at that moment that the doorman wasn’t even looking at them, but was instead looking behind them. They each had a sinking feeling in their gut that they knew exactly who was standing behind them.
The doorman’s face twisted into a snarl. “You were saying? What’s the matter? I thought you were serious.”
One of the men grabbed the other by the wrist and shook his head, and both men turned slowly on trembling knees. Their arms dropped to their sides, and their eyes opened wide in surprise.
Katie flew toward them in the pouring rain, wings stretched wide. Her furious wingbeats creating a hot wind that swirled around the two men. For a moment they could only focus on her blazing red eyes. It wasn’t until she was almost on top of them that they realized she had two of the gnarliest guns either man had ever seen, both raised like she was offering them a terrible gift.
The doorman darted inside, closing the door behind him. “Oh, man, it’s going to suck to be you in three…two…”
THUD!
The concierge looked up from his book, barely showing emotion. “From the look on your face and the amateur percussion session outside, I’m assuming Katie came back.”
A couple of screams and yelps filtered through the door and someone banged on it a couple of times, then there was a wet crunch and a protracted groan. The doorman shrugged and gave a crooked smile. “Yeah, and she heard everything they said.”
The concierge peered at the door and grimaced. “Well, maybe they shouldn’t have come looking for her. It’s not like the whole world doesn’t know how dangerous she is. Stupid to even think about fucking with that woman, if you ask me.”
The doorman glanced at the elevator as it dinged. The door opened, spilling a half-dozen security guards into the lobby, weapons at the ready. They stopped when they saw the flurry of wings and flailing limbs outside the doors, then lowered their weapons and watched.
The concierge nodded toward the door and lifted an eyebrow. “I think she’s got this one. Grab two of those towels out of the cabinet. I’m sure she’s going to need them after this.”
A few minutes later, the noise trickled off. The door opened and Katie stepped into the lobby, her wings now retracted. Water streamed down her clothing and from her boots to form a puddle on the floor underneath her.
The security guards stood there for a moment, shocked, holding the towels as the doorman and concierge giggled quietly.
Katie looked up with a huge smile. “Well, that was a good time, wasn’t it? You think I might have one of those towels?”
The head security guard looked down at the towel and back up at her. “Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He stumbled over himself to get to her.
Katie took the towel and dried her face and neck. “Sorry I took your fun away for the afternoon, guys.”
The guard straightened, gathering his wits, and gave a fake yawn. “It’s okay. The show was worth it.”
Katie held out the now-soaked towel and frowned at the puddle under her feet.
The security guard raised an eyebrow and looked at the other guys. “You know, you might just want to strip down because of your wet clothes and stuff.”
Pandora purred. Oh, they want to play?
Katie smirked. “You gentlemen have a robe? And a few more towels?”
Confused, one of the younger security guards looked around. The concierge directed him back to the closet, and the young man ran over and came back with a huge, fluffy robe. He had the grace to blush when he handed it to her. She winked lasciviously and undid her weapons belt, then raised her arms and called to the guards, “All right, boys, hold up your towels.”
The guys held up their towels, and she stripped while the storm crashed outside. All they saw was the splash of bright red polish on her toenails peeking out. She kicked away her sodden clothing and pulled the robe over her shoulders, and after she knotted the tie around her waist, the guards lowered their towels. There she was, standing barefoot with her clothes in a pile by her feet.