Page 14 of Damned By His Angel

The tension between me and Amelia is so thick, it’s practically suffocating and the short ride from my house to the morgue feels like hours. She hasn’t spoken a word since I left her on her knees last night, it’s better this way and if she can’t see that, then that shit is on her. I park the truck out front and climb out, not bothering to wait for her. I won’t hold her hand and baby her through this shit, if she is going to make it on her own in this world without her family, then she needs to start relying on herself and not someone else.

I unlock the front door and head inside, flicking the lights on as I head toward the back where I feel most at home—in the chiller. The moment I push through the swinging doors, I inhale the scent and sigh in contentment. Nothing beats the scent of this room. Most people hate the smell but I don't. I find it calming. I move across the room and double check the name tags on the chiller doors. Unlike most funeral homes, I only have one chiller room here because of the small size. I would like another one but it wouldn’t be used that often, because sadly we don’t have enough death around here.

I slide the door open and pass by Jack and Connor to retrieve Sally. I saw her around town a couple of times and she seemed like a nice old lady. I pull the zipper down on the body bag and shoot her a smile—she looks peaceful.

Lucky lady, I wish I knew what peace felt like.

“I’m gonna fix you up real good, Miss Sally, and then send you back to your husband, kids and grandbabies.” I wheel her trolley out and close the door behind me. I come to a stop next to the metal slab where Amelia stands eyeing me cautiously as she looks from me to the body bag.

“You talk to the dead?” she asks.

I shake my head, of course she wouldn’t get it. She’s so used to saving lives that she doesn’t spare the dead a second thought. I lift Sally off the gurney and place her gently on the metal slab, so she can be prepared for embalming.

“The dead deserve the same amount of respect as the living, if not more,” I bite out as I begin to unzip the bag, Amelia averts her gaze which just serves to rile me up. “Does Miss Sally’s appearance offend you?”

She turns back to me and glowers. “I wonder if Miss Sally’s husband left her on her knees after she sucked his cock?” I purse my lips and tear my gaze from hers to look at Sally.

“Did Reggie leave you on your knees, Sally?” I ask. When she doesn’t reply, I turn my head to the side and bring my ear down closer to her mouth.

“You’re a real dick, you know that?” Amelia snaps. I stand to my full height and shoot her a wink.

“And that is why I prefer to work with the dead, because they don’t speak, they don’t harm and they sure as fuck don’t stab you in the back.”

Her mouth pops open but no words come out, I can see the regret in her eyes but it's too late for that shit. She needs to learn to live with the choices she made and make the most of this shitty situation she has found herself in. If she thinks for a second I am going to help guide her or make things easier for her, then she has another thing coming.

“Head out front. If the phone rings, answer it. Don’t come back here unless someone has died and needs to be collected.” I dismiss her as I turn and head to the storage room where all the chemicals for embalming are kept under lock and key. This may be a small town and with that, kids get bored and can’t get their hands on normal coke or weed so they used to break in here when Bill owned the place and steal the chemicals to get high.

Idiots!

I’m still learning how to embalm, so I always have someone come in and help me out when it needs to be done. I never liked school or paid any attention to that boring shit but the moment I worked with Bill, suddenly I couldn’t absorb enough information. I set all the chemicals we will need out. Sally will be done first then Connor, Jack will be last as he has no family and no one to pay for my services. Unlike other funeral homes, I don’t treat him differently. I cover the costs and give them the funeral they deserve.

I give back to the dead because I couldn’t save the living.

Amelia

I’ve been sitting behind this desk for an hour and I am bored out of my mind!

I’m used to the rush of the ER and never getting a chance to sit down. This is the polar opposite, I’ve even resorted to naming the two fucking fly’s that keep buzzing past me. It doesn’t help that Cronos is being distant. Last night I thought we crossed a bridge. Clearly I was wrong, he just wanted to use me and get off. Okay, I admit I definitely got off as well but that isn’t the point. He left me on my fucking knees while he escaped to the bathroom. Even when he was finished he didn’t climb into bed beside me, he stalked out of the room and slept on his recliner in front of the fireplace!

I’m pulled from my thoughts when the front door opens. I climb to my feet with a smile on my face but the moment I drink in the sight of the woman, the smile slowly slides off my face. She is beautiful. Natural blonde hair that is just past her shoulders, blue eyes that hold so much innocence and a body that rivals swimsuit models. She smiles kindly and it takes great effort on my part to return that smile.

“Hey, you must be Becky’s replacement?” she says cheerfully and extends her hand to me. “I’m Tracey.”

My arm feels like it weighs a ton as I lift it and shake her hand. “Max,” I reply in an even tone but her smile never falters.

“Nice to meet you,” she says as she pulls her hand back and tries to step around my desk to head toward the back. I cut in front of her.

“Sorry, it’s staff only back there,” I clip out. I’m lying through my teeth as I have no idea what the rules are here, but the thought of this beautiful blonde who is clearly Cronos’s age heading back there alone with him has my stomach churning.

“Oh, I know. I am staff.” Her smile is nowhere to be seen as she sidesteps me and heads into the back while I stand here watching like a broken hearted puppy.

“Thanks for coming.” I hear Nos say when she enters the room. I feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes. I want to find a cleaning closet and hide in there as pictures of him fucking her next to Sally’s body play on a loop inside my head. Unable to handle the pain searing my chest, I turn to flee but stop short at the sight of an elderly man standing there with the broadest smile on his face.

“My lord, my Bethy wasn’t telling tales, you really are beautiful.” I reel back and frown at the old man. He shakes his head and takes a step forward only for me to back up one. He freezes instantly. A look of understanding washes over his face and I cringe when the smile he was sporting vanishes. “I mean you no harm, my dear, my name is Bill and my wife Beth served you and the boy at the diner.”

I swallow and nod even though I can’t recall much about that day, but keep nodding anyway and go along with it. I never used to fear being alone in a room with a man before but now, I feel like the walls are closing in on me. Bill must see something on my face because he takes a step back and tries to smile reassuringly, but my heart won’t stop beating into overdrive.

“How about we go find the boy?” I can’t help the laughter that breaks free, this old timer referring to Cronos as a boy is just… I have no words. I nod my head and wave for him to follow me, appreciating the fact he keeps a good distance of space between us. I pause outside the swinging doors when I remember that Tracey is in there. Rather than asking me what’s wrong, Bill just pushes through the doors, leaving me no choice but to follow after him. I freeze when I find the space empty and the slab that held Sally vacant. “Boy?” Bill calls out.

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