Page 35 of Angel Of Darkness

He held that stare. “Yes, I do.”

The sheriff yanked out a set of handcuffs and crept carefully toward Nicole. “No, no, if you’d seen what she?—”

Nicole’s hands flew up and she punched the sheriff. Her fast fist caught him under his jaw. The blow sent him stumbling back.

When the sheriff hit the ground, his eyes were closed and he was out cold.

“I can’t go to jail,” Nicole explained softly with her eyes on the fallen man. “I didn’t want to hurt him, but I can’t get locked up.”

“A vampire would never survive in jail.” Or rather, the powers that be wouldn’t let her. He knew how the game was played. Some supernaturals—generally the low-level demons and the charmers—could handle prison. Vamps couldn’t. They’d start feeding on the other inmates and eventually, they’d have to be put down. Besides, it wasn’t like the jails could really hold them. Or the shifters, for that matter.

He bent next to the sheriff. Still breathing. His jaw wasn’t broken, though it must be made of glass. Keenan glanced back up at Nicole. “You up for a run?” The faintest scent of flowers teased his nose, and he tensed, his gaze sharpening.

But no one else was there.

Just Nicole, with her wide, worried gaze. And the sheriff, but he was all but dead to the world.

That scent...

Time to get out of there.

They couldn’t take the sheriff’s car. Too obvious. But with their power and speed, they could put a whole lot of distance between them and the man on the ground.

She gave a grim nod. “What about him? When he wakes up, he’ll put out an APB on me. More deputies will start searching.”

“Then I guess we need to make sure they don’t find you.” He rose and scanned the dark area around them. “We run until we find the nearest house. We take any car we find.”

“Steal it?” She bit her lip as her stare landed on the sheriff. The guy did look rather defenseless, knocked out like that. His arms were spread. His hat had fallen onto the ground near his head, and his thinning gray hair stuck to his forehead. “Isn’t that breaking one of the commandments and not very, um, angel like?”

Going to dwell on that, was she?

“Told you, sweet, I fell.” Now they had to move. Sleeping Beauty wasn’t going to stay out for long. “You ready to run or do you want him to toss your butt in jail?”

She swallowed. “I’m ready to run.”

Good. He laced his fingers through hers, and they raced into the night.

The angel watched them run. Keenan was so fast he could have easily left the vampire, had that been what the Fallen wanted.

But he knew Keenan didn’t want to leave her. That was the whole crux of this nightmare. Keenan didn’t want to leave the one who’d lied, fucked, and killed.

Sad. He’d had so much potential. So much promise. And for Keenan to now fall so low...

The vampire would suffer for this. She would pay for tempting. For making the strong weak.

She’d suffer.

Wings flapped as the angel prepared to soar above his charges. Death was coming. Sweeping closer in the air. This time, death wouldn’t be denied. No last-minute reprieve would be given because of temptation.

Not for the vampire, anyway. There was still a chance for Keenan. Grace could be regained. It just took one selfless act. One courageous, determined act.

And all would be forgiven.

Sins…wiped clean.

As the angel soared into the night sky, his black wings merged with the darkness.

Sheriff Tom Duggley pushed up and flexed his jaw. That little lady had one damn devil of a punch. But then, he should have expected that.

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