Page 25 of Death Wish

I shoved the tablet back in my pocket before he could see anything. “Yeah, but I should go.”

When I looked up, a dark figure, dressed in black from head to toe, stood on the street adjacent to ours. His bald head gleamed in the hazy streetlights.

Simon.

I raced across the street.

As I approached, his eyes widened. It wasn’t until I got closer that I realized it wasn’t me he was looking at but something behind me.

“Jade,” he whispered. “Why is that man following you?”

Skidding to a halt on the sidewalk, I glanced over my shoulder to find Cole calling my name and waving to get my attention. He paused as a car passed before crossing the street.

I cursed under my breath. Really? Come on now.

Simon stiffened, his exposed right hand clenching just in case.

“I can explain,” I began, but then realized I really couldn’t. I had no explanation as to how Cole could see me. “Sort of.”

But then that made me think—could Cole see or touch Simon, too?

“Jade, you can’t just go running like that,” Cole said between gasps of breath. “I don’t like chasing people.”

I lifted a brow. “You chase people for a living.”

“Touché.” His gaze searched the space in front of me, where Simon stood straight-backed and nervous. Then, he turned back to me. “Why did you come over here anyway?”

So, he couldn’t see Simon. Just me.

There went the theory about demons being able to see spirits because they dwelled on the same plane. Right out the window.

“Uhh…”

“He can see you?” Simon blinked rapidly, the seriousness of the situation finally hitting him. “Oh no. This isn’t good.”

“Tell me about it,” I grumbled under my breath.

“What?” Cole asked, confused.

I rubbed my forehead with an exasperated sigh. “Can you give me a few minutes?” I asked him.

“Uh, yeah. Sure. I just figured you’d want to come with me to figure out this thing with your friend. I know a guy.”

“Of course you do. A werewolf this time?”

His grin brightened his entire face. Even with his wet hair stuck to his forehead from the rain, he still looked breathtakingly gorgeous. “No, a human.”

“Fabulous.” I glanced at Simon and then turned back to Cole. “Just give me a few. I’ll be right back.”

Not waiting for an answer, I speed-walked down the sidewalk and turned into the closest alleyway, gesturing for Simon to follow me. He did.

When we were alone in the darkness of a side street, Simon spun on me. “What is going on here? Explain.”

“A lot has happened…” Not sure how powerful a half-demon’s hearing was, I made sure to keep my voice on the low side. “I’m as confused as you are.”

Simon just stared at me, and even though he didn’t say a word, I could almost hear his thoughts. He had to be thinking the same thing I was—how did I always manage to get myself into trouble like this?

Wish I knew. It was like the stuff followed me.

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