Page 33 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

Mr. Joe glared at me and I saw that his dull blue eyes were now a blazing red.

“You left it open…left it open,”he hissed and his face contorted into a demonic mask of hateful glee. The corners of his mouth turned up and he grinned, showing broken brown teeth still sticky with the remnants of the sweet candy he’d been eating.

“Left…left what open? Mr. Joe? Is that you?” My voice was shaking. He looked soevil.

I tried to tell myself he was just a harmless old man, but I was suddenly filled with terror. I had never seen him look like this—never seen him act like this. Mostly he just wandered up and down the street mumbling to himself and asking tourists for change. What was going on here?

“Expect a visitor tonight,”he hissed at me and his grin got even wider. His breath was foul enough to make me gag—a horrid mixture of rotten teeth, whiskey, and the sweet, sugary pralines. I thought I might never want to eat one again.

Then, suddenly, it was over. Mr. Joe slumped in the doorway and nearly fell. I grabbed him instinctively by the arm and when he looked up at me, his eyes were the same dull blue they’d been when I first saw him.

“Wha’ happened? Where am I?” he mumbled, looking dazed.

“You’re in my shop but you’re leaving now,” I said, trying to control the shaking in my voice. Had something just inhabited him? Some creature from The Pit, as Pop-pop had called it? He’d said that I left the door open—was he talking about the door I had accidentally opened when I tried to contact Big Nicky’s mother?

I pushed Mr. Joe firmly out onto the street and closed the door behind him. It was almost time to open up for tourists, but I locked it anyway—I needed time to clean up the mess and be alone in my home for a moment.

Still feeling shaken, I went to get the broom and dustpan…only to see someone standing in the narrow hallway that led back into the small apartment behind the shop.

“Oh my God!” I whispered, taking a step back from the shadowy figure. Had I forgotten to shut the back door? Then I remembered—I had left it ajar on purpose in case I had to run from anyone who might have come in during the night. I’d meant to go right back and shut it if the shop was empty but then I’d gotten distracted by Mr. Joe.

Then the man stepped out of the shadowy hallway into the light.

“Hey, babe,” Carlo said, grinning at me. “I thought you and me could have a little reunion.”

15

KAEL

Istirred restlessly, my wings rustling with my movements. I felt strongly that something was wrong with my Mistress—but she had yet to call on me. I wanted badly to go to her but I had to wait.

The cruelty of the protective curse laid on me was that however much I loved the woman I was protecting, I couldn’t go against the words of my key-holder. I couldn’t go to Willow unless I knew for a fact she was in danger or unless she called me.

Call on me, Mistress!I thought, aching to hear her voice.Call me and I’ll come to you!

But though I strained with all my being, listening for the sound of my name on her lips, I heard nothing.

16

WILLOW

“Carlo? What are you doing here?” I demanded, taking a step back from him.

“Just came to say hi and see how you’re doing, babe,” he said. As he spoke, his smile broadened and his eyes narrowed.

From years of studying his face and reading his moods for my own self-preservation, I knew what that smile meant. It meant he was feeling cruel—like a cat that enjoys playing with a helpless mouse andIwas the mouse.

“I’m just fine,” I said briskly, lifting my chin, trying to be businesslike. “So thanks for stopping by but I have to clean up and get the shop open now.”

But of course it wasn’t that easy to get rid of my ex.

“I don’t understand why I let you go, you know that?” he asked, ignoring everything I’d said and coming closer. “I remember what a great fuck you were.”

“I’m not your wife anymore,” I reminded him tightly. “Where’s Josh?” I asked, hoping that maybe his partner could rein him in.

Carlo shrugged.

“He’s back at the PD, doing paperwork. He doesn’t even know I’m here—he thinks I went out for a coffee.” He smirked at me. “But then I thought of something hotter and sweeter.”

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