Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers (202 page)

Which was beginning to weaken. It was happening—he could tell. With or without approval from above, gradually,
he was falling.

“Do you know what you’re giving up?” Hope said.

“To feel what you feel, to enjoy the sunsets, the tastes, the sights, the smells—most of all the love that only humans can fully appreciate? I’d rather live one day sharing that with you than an eternity without you.”

She shook her head, tears rolling down her face.

“I...I can’t let you give up your immortality for me.”

“It’s mine to give.”

His entire past life seemed to have faded into a distant impression. All he could think of was being with Hope, right here, right now. With barely restrained intensity, he placed his hand on her face, whispered her name, and kissed her.

It seemed to have stunned her for a second, but then she returned the kiss, a tear falling from her eye and warmly onto his hand.

“Nick…”

“I’ve made up my mind.” He kissed her again.

She held him desperately as more tears fell. He had observed such human behavior before but never quite understood the contradiction until now. Although the tears were Hope’s, he was feeling exactly what she felt, and the awareness that he loved and was so loved filled him with such joy it hurt.

Try as he might, he could not suspend this moment beyond what a human would ordinarily experience. The thought that tomorrow might diminish the joy surging through his very human heart at this moment hung over him like an executioner’s ax. He pushed the thought aside.

And then the ax fell.

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

SHE MUST HAVE SEEN IT IN HIS FACE, which had changed the minute his phone started ringing.

Hope let out a breath. “If it’s important…”

“I’m sorry, it is.”

He stepped away from the bench and answered Lena’s call.

“Listen carefully, Nick—”

“Before you say another word,” he said, “I need to tell you something.”

“Make it quick.”

“I’ve completed the Hartwell assignment. There were some complications with Guzman and with Hope Matheson, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve made a decision.”

“Wait, you failed to complete two of your three assignments?”

“Well, yes. But—”

“Listen to me, Nick. There’s a new directive, so they’ve lowered the priority level of all your assignments. We need to speak in person right now.”

“Now?” Nick glanced over at Hope. “Can it wait till—?”

#

The next instant Nick was teetering on the ledge at the top of One America Plaza, five hundred feet above the ground. He nearly slipped, then a firm grip on his forearm pulled him back.

“What’s wrong?” Lena held him fast until he found his footing.

“You don’t just yank a person into a construct without a warning.” Never before had he felt so shaky atop a tall building.

“We don’t have a lot of time, Nikolai, so listen carefully.”

“All ears.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another in a vain attempt to steady himself.

“There’s a much bigger agenda now, so I have to know if you’re on board or not.”

“With what?”

“If you thought getting out of the endless rut of reaper work was worth leaving your previous position, you’re definitely going to want in on this.”

Bracing his back against a glass wall, Nick cleared his throat. “I’m having a bit too much trouble with this construct of yours to understand what you mean.”

“This isn’t a construct.”

She was coming so close he wanted to move away, but didn’t dare risk losing his balance.

“Something wrong with you?” Lena said.

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Other than behaving like an angel on the brink of mortality.

“Never mind. What I’m about to share with you is huge. My director doesn’t know yet, but I’m recommending you for a major operation that’s right up your alley.”

“Based on?”

“Based on your strengths and skill set. As a guardian, as a warrior.”

“That’s all in the past, Lena. In fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

She sailed on as if he hadn’t spoken.

“You want a job that puts you on the front lines, where you can make a difference. Not on the sidelines where the Angel Forces have so unjustly abandoned you.”

“Yes, but—”

“You want your talents and gifts fully appreciated and utilized, you want them to impact the mortal and spiritual realms alike.”

“Lena, hold on a minute—”

“I don’t want to hear any objections from you, Nick. This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.” A sly grin twisted her blood-red lips. “And when you’ve risen in the ranks of the new order, never forget that it was I who gave you this break.”

He dared not inquire further, despite the disconnect. If his suspicions had any validity he’d best play along until he could get everything sorted out.

“Sounds intriguing,” he said. “But what about my assignments?”

“They’re on the back burner for now. This new campaign is much more important. It’s a huge step up for me; they’re putting me in charge. If we’re successful, I’ll be managing all the major regions in the new territories.”

“I see.” Nick said. “You’ve been transferred to sales and marketing.”

“Cute,” she said. “Now, once I’m in charge I can’t think of a better partner than you, what with your power, commitment to change, proactive personality...not to mention strikingly good looks.”

“Yeah, right.”

This was the part where the dark vapor should appear.

But it didn’t.

Instead, the scant cotton clouds above them parted and the full moon emerged. Heart racing, Nick peered out over the San Diego skyline as a pair of ravens cawed and flew past the top of the skyscraper. He’d flown countless times over the earth like those dark birds, never fearing he might fall. But now, were Lena to let go of his arm he couldn’t be certain he wouldn’t lose his balance, topple, and make modern art of himself on the concrete below.

“So, Nikolai...” Each time she spoke his name he felt a little more strength ebb from him. “Are you in?”

Best act as if he knew what she was talking about. But this felt really, really wrong. “Tell me more.”

“I’ll be in touch with the details. Glad you’re with us.”

“A bit presumptuous, aren’t you?”

“I know what I want. I always get it.” She loosened her grip. “Run along, Nikolai.”

But Nick grasped her wrist. She obviously thought he knew about this “major operation.” No matter, he’d sort it out another time. Right now his only concern was to get down from the skyscraper in one piece.

“Send me,” he whispered in her ear.

“Seriously?” Lena smirked. “Why?”

He couldn’t tell her that if he tried to go off on his own he might end his human life before it really began. Instead, he ran his fingertips through her silky hair and stroked her face.

“Because I like it so much more when you do it to me—transporting me the way you did today feels so...I don’t know...”

“Carnal?” She lowered her voice to a seductive, breathy register. “All right, how do you want it?”

“Transport me back to the ground. It makes my toes curl.”

She turned him around to face the open sky. Slipping behind him, she wrapped her arms around him, pressed her hand over his chest, then nuzzled the nape of his neck and cooed. For a brief moment, his mortal flesh was tingling. As soon as he realized it, he refocused.

He had to get away from this creature whose warm breath tickled his ear.

“Can’t wait to make you come to me again,” she whispered.

“That so?”

“Mmmm...Ready?”

He took a deep breath, then nodded. But curiosity got the best of him. He looked back and saw her eyes—really saw them. He was certain he’d seen eyes like that before, been the target of that ghastly expression.

“Just what kind of angel are you, Lena?”

“Angel?” She laughed as she shoved him off the ledge of the skyscraper.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

RELIEVED THAT HE’D SUCCEEDED in getting Lena to transport him safely to the ground, Nick found himself standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance of One America Plaza. Save for a group of street-gang types loitering on the curb by their pimped-out rides, there were few people out in the city at this hour.

Which is what made the very tall, very muscular quartet in black leather and dark sunglasses stand out all the more when they appeared out of nowhere. The woman was at least six feet, and the three men at least eight inches taller and built like NFL linebackers. As they approached the skyscraper, headed straight toward Nick, the woman bumped shoulders with a street gangster who stood a bit taller than she, though definitely shorter than the men.

“Oh no you didn’t!” He said, and pulled out a knife. “Whassup wit—?”

Before he could finish, the woman in black shoved her hand into his chest. He flew back with such force that his body knocked two of his friends down like bowling pins.

Without missing a beat, the leather clad crew swaggered on.

Part of Nick wanted to bolt, part of him wanted to know who these creatures were. Extraordinary humans, if they even were human.

The leader, an Asian male, stepped right up to him—towering over Nick by about a foot.

“Evening, mates,” Nick said.

But they walked right past him. One of them—an African American about six inches taller than Nick—turned around as he passed, lowering his shades just long enough for Nick to recognize him as the man he’d met back in New York at Grand Central Station.

“Goliath—I mean, Johann?”

He kept walking, rejoining the rest of the crew a few feet away. Good. Nick was still invisible.

“You’re late,” Lena said from over their tall frames. Nick couldn’t see her, but her voice was unmistakable. He whirled around just in time to catch a glimpse of the dazzling flash that enveloped the five of them, just before they disappeared.

Nick stared in wonder at the place from which Lena and her entourage had vanished. Whatever she was up to, he wanted nothing to do with it. Managing territories and all that rot—none of it meant a thing to him now that he’d committed to a mortal life with Hope.

But he had to come up with some way to bow out. Things were becoming increasingly dangerous.

Right now he was tired and wanted to go home. That meant being with Hope. He willed himself to return to her, waiting for him back at La Jolla.

Nothing happened.

He squeezed his eyes shut and tried harder.

Nothing.

A sharp pain entered his head like molten lava seeping into his eyes, his ears, nose, and mouth.

A man walking a Jack Russell terrier stopped.

“You okay, mister?”

He didn’t know how long he waited to respond, but the pain had subsided. And he was visible.

“I’m fine.” His nose was running, he wiped it with the back of his hand.

Blood.

Not again.

“You need help,” the man said.

“No, really, I’m all right.”

“Nuh-uh.” He pulled out his cell phone. “I’m calling you an ambulance.”

Nick started walking. “It’s just a nose bleed. Get lost!”

But the guy and his now barking dog followed him.

“Mister, just hold still, will you? I’ve dialed 911, just...hold on!”

Not feeling strong enough to outpace them, Nick cast a construct on the well-meaning nuisance. To his surprise, it worked. Gripping his dog’s leash with a shaky hand, the man froze in his tracks and began shaking and blubbering. The construct would wear off in a few minutes, by which time Nick would be long gone. But the unfortunate good Samaritan would never forget it. And that brought about a twinge of guilt.

Nick walked to the corner and flagged down a taxi. As it drove off, he chided himself for the construct he’d projected on the poor guy.

Really, Nick? Godzilla?