Avenging Angel (15 page)

Jonathan yanked at the cuffs.
“Unlock me!
”

Tanner dug the key out of his pocket. But he didn’t free Jonathan, not yet. “Who were you selling her to?”

Jonathan’s jaw clenched. “I wasn’t selling her, man. Get that part straight. I’m a good cop, okay? The captain . . . shit, she told me to find her. Pope saw her in the video, and she
knew
that you’d been hiding her. Hell, she’s the one who told me what your lady was.”

An angel.

“Captain Pope isn’t human.” Did the guy realize that?

Marna just watched them as she rocked forward on the balls of her feet. He could feel the tension rolling off her.

Jonathan swallowed. “I was beginning to suspect that was—”

“She’s a demon.” Tanner just didn’t know how strong she was.

“Sonofabitch.” Jonathan’s gaze darted to the boarded-up warehouse windows. “She probably followed you. Probably set the whole department after you.”

She’d said that she was gonna clear his name. She’d told him to go.

There was only one demon he’d ever trusted in this world. His brother. The captain had been desperate to find out where Cody was.

Fuck.

What in the hell was going on?

“Let me out of these cuffs!” Jonathan demanded, lurching forward. “Let me help!”

Tanner stepped toward his partner. Marna stopped him. “When Jonathan came to your apartment, he shot his way inside.” Her hand felt silken soft against his skin. “When I ran, he followed me, shooting.”

The panther snarled and tried to push past the man’s control.

Eyes wide, Jonathan scurried back. “Warning shots! I wasn’t aiming at her, I swear. If I had been, I would’ve hit her!”

Was that supposed to lessen his rage? The bastard had shot at her.

“Yes, he would have hit me,” Marna said, sending a hard glance his way, “just like he did before.” She shook her head. “I don’t trust him, and I don’t want that human free.”

Yeah, well, after a bullet, who could blame her?

“Tanner, man,
listen
to me.” Jonathan’s voice was desperate now. “Don’t do anything crazy, okay? Don’t do anything like—”

“Like let my animal side out?” Perhaps it was time the guy saw just what he could do. Tanner let his claws break free.

Razor sharp. Ready to kill.

Jonathan scrambled back some more. His back almost brushed the wall. “
Please,
man, I—”

“Come near her again,” Tanner told him, “and you’ll see just how dangerous my beast can be.” Jonathan’s bullets wouldn’t have killed her, but Tanner couldn’t stand the thought of Marna in pain.

She took his hand, not even seeming to see the claws. She’d been so afraid of them before. But now . . .

“Let’s get out of here,” she told him.

They needed to haul ass. Needed to find Cody and make sure the captain wasn’t going after him next.

How many more dead bodies?
Blood was starting to fill the streets in the Big Easy.

“I
can
help you!” Jonathan’s stare was fierce as he gazed at Marna. “Just give me a chance to make things right.”

But she wasn’t looking at him. She’d already turned away and headed for the door, giving them both a view of her slim back.

“Why doesn’t she have wings?” Jonathan’s voice. Quieter now. Curious.

Afraid?

Tanner stared down at his claws. Long. Lethal.

“Because they were sliced away.” He tossed the key to the cuffs, threw it toward the far wall. By the time Jonathan freed himself, they’d be long gone. He marched toward his partner. Kept his claws out. “A shifter’s claws can slice through just about anything.”

He could smell Jonathan’s fear. The panther liked that scent.

Tanner brought his claws up to Jonathan’s throat. “You ever shoot at her again, and you’ll see just how sharp they truly are.”

A fast nod. “I-I swear, I—”

“Stay the hell away from her.” Because he wouldn’t play so nicely the next time.

Then, because Jonathan had
shot
at her, Tanner punched him once more. The guy hit the floor, and Tanner knew he’d be out for a while.

That would give Tanner plenty of time to disappear with his angel.

“Sorry,
partner,
but I just don’t trust your ass.” Right then, there were only two people he trusted.

His brother—and his angel.

 

Bastion stared down at the male human. Paul Hodges. Weak. Helpless. His body was bruised and battered, and connected to a dozen different beeping machines.

Doctors and nurses rushed around him. Some barked orders. Others grabbed for needles. Tubes.

They were trying to save the cop.

They weren’t going to succeed.

Bastion stepped closer. The male’s eyes were closed. Drugs poured through his system, but . . .

The cop’s body twitched.

The dying always knew when an angel was close. Paul’s eyelids began to jerk.

The cop would die young. Leave behind no family. A few friends. He’d drift right away.

But his life had served a purpose. Did he realize that? He’d been useful.

A tool.

A broken tool, one that had been cast away now.

Bastion eased closer to the bed. No one else there could see him. Only humans were in the room.

They could only see his kind when their time was at hand.

“We’re losing him!” one of the nurses shouted.

No, they’d already lost him. They just didn’t realize it yet. He’d been lost from the moment his patrol car had stopped on that dark road. He should have stayed away from the shifter and the lost angel.

Should have kept driving.

But . . . really, there was no changing fate.

Paul’s eyelids flew open. His stare locked right on Bastion. He tried to scream.

Impossible, of course, especially since he had a tube shoved down his throat.

“Time to go,” Bastion told him and lifted his hand.

But Paul began to thrash violently. His head shook, back and forth, and his right arm flew out.

His fingers clenched round a scalpel. Someone screamed.

The cop tried to use his weapon on Bastion.

Strange. He hadn’t expected the human to fight so fiercely.

Paul’s eyes were stretched wide, and fear rolled from him in waves.

A doctor wrestled the scalpel away from him. “We’re trying to help you!” the man shouted.

Trying, failing.

Paul kept fighting. Tears slid from his eyes and a mewling sound broke from his throat.

Bastion’s hand lowered over the man’s chest.

Paul shrank back. The fear in his eyes deepened.

Paul looked at Bastion, saw him for exactly what he was, and the cop was terrified by that sight. Why? Paul hadn’t led a bad life. No agonies waited on the other side for this man.

Yet the human feared.

Bastion’s wings stretched behind him. The human stared at them with . . . recognition?

A low, long humming filled the operating room.

“He’s flat-lining!”

And the human’s eyes stayed open. Terrified.

Bastion’s wings spread more as he rose. He wondered . . . when had he begun to dread his duty?

To resent the souls?

An image of Marna flashed before his eyes. Not the Marna he’d known before. Quiet. Innocent.

Perfect.

The Marna he’d seen just a little while ago. Moaning. Eager. Flushed with pleasure.

The doctors and the nurses gasped when a long, thick crack ripped across the ceiling.

And he left, without taking the soul of Paul Hodges.

“W
here are we going?” Marna asked as she hunched down into her seat. They’d headed away from the city, and the only light that she saw now came from the heavy, thick moon that hung low in the sky.

Twisting trees surrounded the narrow road. To the left, dark water glinted in the moonlight.

“We need to find Cody.”

The demon doctor. Her fingers pressed against her legs. When she’d been so afraid and angry earlier, she’d been able to start the fire once more. She’d felt the hot rush of power, and it had left her feeling . . . restless.

Tense.

Edgy.

Her gaze returned to the window once more. Past those trees, she saw only the lines of the swamp.

I lost my life in a swamp like this.
No, not
like
—this place
was
where she’d lost her life.

The exact spot waited just a few miles away.

A girl didn’t forget the worst moment of her life. Not when she got to re-live it over and over again most nights.

“I hate the swamp.” The words slipped from her as she glanced back at him. She did hate it. The musky smell. The dampness. The death. Maybe some looked at the savagery of the swamp and saw beauty, but she’d never see it. Because she could never forget.

“Don’t worry. We’re not staying long.” She saw his nostrils flare and his body seemed to tense. “We’ll find Cody, make sure his ass is safe, and then we—”

They’d rounded a corner. Driven down deeper into the swamp. And now they could see the blaze. Had that been what he’d scented moments before?

A fire, only one that was burning far brighter than the flames Marna had created back in New Orleans.

Tanner slammed his foot down on the accelerator.

Marna’s breath ached in her lungs. The fire was coming from Cody’s cabin.

Memories rushed through her mind. Inside that cabin was Cody’s makeshift clinic.

Tanner and Cody had been afraid to let her loose because they’d been worried that she’d touch them.

Only she hadn’t been able to kill anyone.

The vehicle lurched forward as Tanner pushed the SUV to drive even faster. She grabbed for the door and held on tight as they raced toward the flames.

Was Cody inside that cabin? Demons were supposed to be able to control fire, so few ever died in flames. Unless . . .

Unless someone was there to make
sure
a demon died.

Cody . . . he wasn’t a bad demon.

Smoke drifted into the sky, and Marna could have sworn that, even in the vehicle, she felt the heat from that fire on her skin.

Cody had saved her. Stitched her up. Protected her.

And now the one haven she’d ever had burned before her.

Tanner slammed on the brakes, and the SUV screeched to a jarring stop. He leapt from the vehicle and ran toward the blaze. Hands shaking, she followed him.

“Cody!”
Tanner yelled his brother’s name.

Marna didn’t speak. She knew Tanner would be able to smell his brother, hoped he could, anyway, even over the harsh scent of fire and smoke. He had those great shifter ears, so he should be able to hear if Cody—

Tanner’s head whipped to the left. Toward the thick line of vegetation bordering the swamp. His nostrils flared, and he took off running.

At first, Marna didn’t move. She’d never wanted to go back into a swamp again. But if Tanner needed her . . .

Her shoulders straightened. She could do this. No, she
would
do this.

She followed her panther shifter into her own hell. The trees were gnarled, hunched, and insects chirped all around her as she followed the pounding thud of Tanner’s racing feet. He was shouting his brother’s name again, so she knew he must have caught Cody’s scent.

Cody had escaped. He’d gotten out. He’d—

Tanner’s footsteps stopped. They just seemed to disappear. Marna frowned and slowed. He’d been up to the right. She’d heard his shout from that area moments before.

Marna hurried forward. Raced to the right.

But saw only more thick trees. More heavy vegetation.
He’d been there.
Hadn’t he?

Only now he was gone.

The insects chirped louder.

The voice from her nightmares whispered through Marna’s head. She looked up, across the water, and saw the spot that had marked the end for her.

The ground wasn’t blood-soaked anymore. The remains of her wings didn’t litter the earth, but the area was black. Everything in a ten-foot radius had died, marking the place where an angel had lost her wings.

She turned away, not wanting to see that place. “Tanner!” He had to be close by. He was—

“Marna . . .”
A whisper. One that came from behind her.

Not Tanner’s voice. Her blood chilled.

 

Tanner lunged forward and flew through the air. His body slammed into his prey’s, and they fell to the ground, twisting and hitting the earth with a heavy thud.

“What the hell?”
Cody demanded. “Get the fuck off—wait, Tanner?”

His brother was alive. If he weren’t so happy about that fact, Tanner would be kicking the jerk’s ass for scaring him so much.

Tanner climbed to his feet. “Who did it?”

Cody pushed off the ground and glanced around with a heaving chest. He’d been running, and the guy hadn’t even seemed to hear Tanner’s shouts. Tackling him had been the only option available. “What are you talking about?” Cody asked, giving him a fast, sideways glance.

Huh. Now why was his voice so cautious?

Tanner shook his head. “Don’t play dumb. You were never good at that bit.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Your place is torched. Flames are shooting up into the sky, and you’re running like the devil’s chasing you.
What. Happened.
”

Cody didn’t meet his gaze. “Someone was coming after me. I needed to throw ’em off. To make ’em think—”

Hold up. “
You
set the fire?”

“You know I’ve always been good with flames.” Cody carefully looked over Tanner’s shoulder.

Tanner glanced back and expected to see Marna rushing up behind him.

Only she wasn’t there. That sick rush of fear began to fill him again. “Who was after you?”
Come on, Marna. Get over here.
She’d been right behind him.

“You don’t want to know.” Now Cody was backing away. “You’ve got enough shit on your hands, bro. This time, I can clean up my own mess. You don’t have to play hero.”

But he’d always taken care of Cody. That had been the—

“Story of my life,” Cody muttered, taking another step back. “I screw up, but you’re the one who suffers for it. Not
this
time.”

Marna’s voice. She was . . . scared. Tanner inhaled. Caught her scent. Only, she wasn’t alone. “Marna!” He didn’t even spare another glance for his brother as he took off through the swamp.

“I’m sorry.” Cody’s voice followed him. “I’ll make it right. I swear I will.”

But Tanner didn’t turn back to him. The brother he’d nearly died for—he left him alone in the woods.

 

She tried to calm her racing heart as she stared at the angel who’d confronted her. Bastion. Why was he there? What did he want?

Bastion’s gaze wasn’t on her. He stared at the blackened ground. “I thought you’d died.” His voice was hushed.

She didn’t move.

“I found the blood and your wings, and I thought you’d been killed.” His hands were clenched.

Anger? Fury? From him? There was no denying the rage vibrating in his words, but—but he still had his wings. He
shouldn’t
feel emotions like that.

Bastion glanced up at her, and his eyes seemed to burn. “I wanted to kill then.”

Death angels carried out their duties. They didn’t
want
to take souls.

She swallowed. “Bastion, this isn’t . . .”
You.

He glided closer to her with a powerful movement of the black wings that sprouted from his back. “Everything is changing. Up there and down here.” He stood just a foot away from her now.

Marna found that she was backing away from him.

His eyes narrowed at her movement. “Are you afraid of me?”

She shouldn’t be. He’d been her confidant for centuries. The closest thing to a friend that she had. But the way he looked at her—
yes.
“Have you been watching me?” Marna whispered the words and was afraid of the answer that she knew would be coming.

Bastion had always been far more powerful than she was. If he hadn’t wanted her to see him—

But she’d still caught his scent in the air a few times. Felt eyes upon her.

“The shifter is the one who watched you. Who followed you when you didn’t know.”

His words made her hesitate. But how would he know that about Tanner?
Unless he’d been there, too.

“He’s hunted you.” Bastion was even closer now. Close enough for his wings to stretch out. To block the light. To surround her. “And yet you let him fuck you.”

She flinched away as a cold horror filled her. Bastion had watched
that?
Why? Why would he—

Bastion’s eyes narrowed at Tanner’s shout. “He’s not going to save you. He’ll betray you. Destroy you. Just as he’s destroyed so many others.”

But Bastion stepped back, and Tanner ran to her. Her shifter grabbed her hand, pulling her close. His heart pounded, and she felt the fast rhythm beneath his chest. “I heard you scream,” he growled the words. “I heard and—” He stopped, breaking off abruptly.

Marna tilted her head back as she stared up at his face. His eyes had narrowed, and they drifted around the small clearing. Drifted, and seemed to stop directly on Bastion.

Because the angel was still there. Watching them with a gaze gone hard and cold. Not burning any longer.

“We aren’t alone,” Tanner said with absolute certainty.

Yet he couldn’t see Bastion, she knew that.

His nostrils widened even as his head inclined to the left.

Shifters didn’t have to rely on just what they could see. Not when their other senses were in overdrive 24-7.

Tanner wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “What does he want?”

He.
Bastion.
Tanner’s senses were definitely on target. “I’m not completely sure,” she said as she stared straight at Bastion. Truth, but . . .

Part of her was afraid that maybe, just maybe, Bastion wanted—

The whisper slid through her. An uncomfortable suspicion because, now that she’d been with Tanner, she could understand what she’d seen in Bastion’s stare.

Need. Desire.

Lust.

Or did they?

Bastion had retreated and she thought he would leave, but suddenly, he marched right toward them.

No.
Marna shoved Tanner back. She put her body between his and Bastion’s. “Don’t even think about it.” Her voice came out as a low, furious order.

Bastion stilled.

“Think about what?” Tanner demanded from behind her.

Marna kept her eyes on Bastion. She wouldn’t look over the angel’s shoulder, at that burned ground that marked her change. She stared into his eyes, saw all that she’d lost, and knew that she wasn’t losing anything else. “You won’t touch him.”

Bastion’s eyes widened. “You’d protect the animal?”

Marna nodded. Tanner
wasn’t
an animal.

“What the hell is happening?” Tanner demanded. “I can smell him. I just can’t see the bastard.”

Most folks wouldn’t describe angels as bastards. Then again, Tanner wasn’t in that “most” category.

“I just want you to be safe,” Bastion said, and a muscle flexed along the length of his jaw. Another sign of emotion. Did he even realize how close he was to the edge?

“Don’t worry about me,” Marna told him. “Take care of yourself.” She wanted to touch him. To grab him and hold tight and
shake
him. This wasn’t the Bastion she’d known. “You have too much to lose.”

Bastion glared at Tanner. “I’ve already lost.”

Wind seemed to whip around them. Tanner swore. “If that asshole wants to play . . .”

Tanner couldn’t
play
with a death angel. Not and come out still living. No one could win that particular game.

“I’m trying to help you,” Bastion snapped as the wind beat harder. He was losing control. Breaking apart right in front of her. His wings stretched. Flapped. “He’s nothing but a danger to you. If he’s not stopped, he’ll destroy you.”

Marna lifted her chin.
Angels don’t lie.
Yet she trusted Tanner. So where did that leave her? “You aren’t touching him.” Bastion was now the leader of the death angels. Refusing his order would be unheard of among their kind. Turning against him? An unforgiveable act.

But . . .

But she wasn’t in heaven anymore. And so far, only one person had been there for her since her fall. There to keep her safe. To fight for her.

Maybe it was time for her to start fighting for him.

“You can’t stop Death.” Bastion began to rise into the air. A faint smile twisted his lips. “You know that better than most.”

Damn him.

He vanished.