Page 7 of Angel Betrayed

His own past wasn’t staying dead. His brother was back, and if Sam had his way, he’d be putting the bastard into the ground very, very soon.

A war is coming. Sam could feel the storm clouds gathering.

As delectable as Seline was, he didn’t have time for distractions. Azrael had finally gotten his lily-white ass kicked out of heaven, and it was time for a showdown.

Or Armageddon. Whatever came first. Sam didn’t have a preference.

Too many angels are falling. The demons are getting restless. A power play is coming.

And, of course, he was getting caught right in the middle of hell.

“Find out who’s bothering her,” he ordered because he hadn’t asked specifics from her. If he’d found out anymore—hell, he would have killed the bastards himself and that just couldn’t happen. He had an angel’s ass to kick first. Pleasure kills would have to wait for later. “Make sure she doesn’t have to worry again.”

Then his debt would be paid because he did owe Seline. No one had ever tried to save him before. Mostly because he didn’t need saving. But she’d tried, in her way.

So despite his words, he’d help her and maybe one day when the blood washed away, he’d look her up and let the sexy Seline thank him properly.

Cole nodded and eased back into the crowd. The demon was probably off to talk to some of the other waitresses so he could get a fix on Seline and her trouble.

Sam waved off Marcus and headed for the exit. He’d already given Marcus orders earlier. If the demon caught so much as a whisper about Azrael, Sam would know.

He shoved open the club’s back door and inhaled the lingering scent of jasmine in the air. Seline’s scent. His cock tightened as he remembered the soft silk of her lips beneath his. She hadn’t tasted like innocence. No, Seline—the woman who’d stripped and danced on his stage at Temptation, revealing and then instantly concealing her body—was no innocent.

She’d tasted like sin, and sin sure was an aphrodisiac to him.

“Help me!”

The cry had his head whipping to the left, and Sam saw the flash of Seline’s long legs as she ran down the alley. Seline wasn’t alone. A man in a black ski mask hauled ass after her, and the bastard had a knife.

The knife lifted and the glinting blade plunged toward Seline’s back.

No.

Sam moved in an instant, using the preternatural speed of his kind. He rushed across the pavement, and his body slammed into Seline’s. The knife drove into his shoulder even as he and Seline tumbled onto the ground.

Kill. Destroy.

Sam shoved up and barely felt the pain from his wound. He turned for the attacker, ready to rip the man’s soul right out of his body.

“Sam!” Seline grabbed him and held tight. Footsteps thudded as the attacker raced away, but Sam’s eyes were on Seline. She stared up at him. Her brown eyes swam with tears. “How did you…you’re bleeding!”

Blood ran down his arm in deep rivulets. The jackass had left the knife in Sam’s shoulder.

The guy was also gone. The squeal of tires grated in Sam’s ears. Fuck. Clenching his teeth, Sam reached up and yanked the knife out of his body. The blade had sunk straight into the bone.

You’ll pay for that.

Blood spattered around him as he yanked at the knife, and Seline yelled, “No, don’t, you’ll make it worse!”

Doubtful. She didn’t understand who she was dealing with. “The wound will heal.” In a few moments, the blood flow would stop, and the skin would mend on its own.

He tossed the knife to the ground and glanced down at her. Seline’s thick blond hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her face was far too pale, and fear filled her dark eyes.

Definitely pay.

Being careful not to get any blood on her, Sam brushed her hair back.

“I thought...” She wet her lips with a quick swipe of her pink tongue and whispered, “I thought you didn’t care.”

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