Page 28 of Death Wish

The ride out of town was just as nail biting as the trip in had been. Cole was one reckless driver, swerving around corners and pedestrians, ignoring red lights, flying down the highway. I might be dead already, but that didn’t prevent me from holding my breath whenever he did something daring.

A few times, Cole glanced over at me and smiled. He was thoroughly enjoying the torture.

“Come on,” he said as he switched lanes a little too quickly and without a blinker. “It’s not that bad.”

When I went to reply, I realized my teeth were clenched so tight I had to pry them open. “Let’s just say your driving makes me wonder if there’s any way I could die again,” I said. “Where are we going anyway?”

“It’s a bit of a drive. Not too far, just not in the immediate city.”

That told me no information.

“His name is Wyatt. He knows everything there is to know about the supernatural world. If there is anyone that knows a way to help your friend, Kay, it’s him.”

“I thought you said he was human,” I said.

“He is.”

A human that knew about supernaturals? That seemed like an accident waiting to happen. From what I knew, supernaturals worked really hard not to involve humans in their lives. Since they were much smaller in numbers, it was a way to keep them safe. Humans had a nasty habit of wanting to destroy things they didn’t understand instead of learning from them, and if they ever discovered that there were people with outstanding abilities, you could bet they’d either try to eradicate them or control them. And that was something the supernatural community would rather not risk.

I didn’t blame them either.

Humans were better living in ignorance. It was safer for everyone.

“I’m surprised other supes haven’t gotten word of this and tried to off him.” And I was. You’d think to protect their secret from spreading any further, supernaturals would track this man down and kill him. I mean, if it were me, and my life was at risk because of a human, I wouldn’t be able to say I would think any differently.

“How do you think we met? I protect him when he needs it, and in exchange, I get whatever information I want, whenever I need it.” Cole grinned, and a dimple appeared on his right cheek. It made him appear more innocent than he really was. Definitely not like a man with a deadly fire power, demon blood, and who had probably killed more people in a week than I had in my year as a reaper.

I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a matching dimple of the other side.

Don’t get too caught up in how sexy he is.

Even though the voice in my head was right, it was hard not to look his way and stare a little. He was wickedly good-looking. Maybe it was the danger element, too. It only added to his model appearance. But I had to remember that if he wanted to, he could to do some damage, even to me. Although I didn’t think he could kill me again, I didn’t want to find out what he could do.

That made me slide off my left hand’s leather glove. Just in case I had to quickly reach over and touch him to protect myself.

Cole noticed the move, and his smile faltered. “Don’t trust me, huh?”

“Should I?” I said. “A couple of hours ago, I found you in a downtown alley and was about to just do my job, and you shot me. A crazy demon tussle and vampire club later, I’m in your Jeep heading to God knows where. I don’t know anything about you besides that you’re a half-demon, your job choice, and your name. So, you’ll have to forgive me for being cautious.”

“No, I completely understand,” he said. “I haven’t lived this long in my line of work by being trusting.” He whipped the steering wheel suddenly, jerking the car in and out of the lanes.

My hands instinctually shot out to the dashboard to brace myself, but when they passed right through instead, I grunted.

Cole snorted a laugh. “Just make sure you’re not careful with those hands of yours and don’t accidently grab me.”

“Maybe if you didn’t drive like a lunatic, I wouldn’t have to brace myself so much,” I replied.

There was a moment of silence.

Cole shifted in his seat, sitting straighter. Then he put both hands on the wheel and flexed his fingers. “Why didn’t you kill me when you found me?” he said. “There in the alley?”

His question surprised me. “What?”

“It’s your job, right? As a reaper? I was your next assignment. But you didn’t kill me.”

“Like I said before, you shot me.”

“So, you still plan on killing me?” Even when asking this question, he didn’t appear nervous. More like he had been wondering about this for some time. Ready for it.

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