Page 115 of How Not to Date an Angel

All Rami had to do was commit a truly selfish act and Julian would be dragged back to Hell. His boss would congratulate him on a job well done, solidify his position on Earth, and then Julian could return here.

To Rami.

All he had to do was wait.

So why did he already regret it?

Rami

Rami reappeared in the backyard of their client’s home, Julian’s words ringing through their ears.

They hesitated. Rami knew this wasn’t a good idea. Knew there would possibly be repercussions. Knew the last thing they should do was listen to a demon…

But it wasn’t just a demon. It wasJulian.

Julian, who had so much kindness in him, who’d been dancing and laughing in Rami’s arms not even hours ago. Julian, who’d made up a sibling just so Melissa would have something of her own at the shelter while she went through this awful situation.

They gritted their teeth. If only she’d been honest with them from the start of their sessions. How could she keep something so terrible fromthem? So many things made sense now… an abusive, narcissistic husband was the last damning puzzle piece.

Make it so he can’t hurt her again.

It was wrong. Rami had never done this before, no matter the victim, for a reason.

But Julian was right.

The human justice system was fucked. They wouldn’t protect her.

But Rami could.

This time, Rami would save her. Do what they hadn’t done for Atticus, all those years ago.

Rami waved a hand over the lock, hearing it click as it opened beneath their vein of magic.

They stepped through the door, adjusting their wings to fit before closing it rather soundly.

Just as expected, the human male came barreling down the stairs, a bat held in one fist.

The knuckles of that fist were red, irritated.

He only hesitated when he skidded into the kitchen to see a literal angel.

The eyes on Rami’s wings blinked, seeing and feeling more than Rami usually could. They felt the human’s emotions: confusion and anger and disbelief, and amongst it all, not an ounce of regret concerning the bruise he’d left on his wife’s cheek, despite the ache in his knuckles.

“This is a dream,” Rami said, and snapped their fingers.

Their vein of magic pulsed again, a flutter through the air, barely felt.

The human dropped like a sack of potatoes, and Rami softened the blow with a bit of magic before reappearing the human on the couch.

They pulled open the side drawer next to the refrigerator. Inside, an envelope appeared. Then with a snap of fingers, Rami was at the human’s side.

“Oh, look,” Rami drawled to the human, making sure their words reached him even in the deep sleep. “You’ve gotten a promotion. I know how much you love the cold weather—” Melissa had actually stated what ababyher husband was during the winter months. “—so you’ll accept this research assistant position in the Arctic. After you’ve settled things with Melissa, adhering to the restraining order and the divorce, you will give her the house and move on. Of course, your travel will include a very inconvenient trip. I see a lot of airport delays and lost luggage in your future. Once you get there, your choices are yours, but you’ll leave Melissa alone, and then you won’t bother her ever again.”

Rami waved their hand, solidifying their intent—protecting Melissa.

The man would be fine. And Rami still didn’t feel it was fair that this man would move on with his life while Melissa would be dealing with the trauma from his actions for the rest of hers.

But at least he’d never hurt her again, and she could heal. She’d get the closure she needed from this man and begin anew, without him.

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