Page 32 of Death Deals

“Using my power has some drawbacks,” I said.

His expression said he didn’t like the sound of that.

“I can handle it.”

“Jade…” It was Ricky. I turned to see him standing there, still a bit shell-shocked from the whole ordeal. “Is that really you?”

Oh boy. How was I going to explain this one?

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“But-but… I found you…”

“Dead. I know.”

“But you’re not…”

“Technically I still am, but things are a little weird at the moment.”

“I don’t understand.” His brow wrinkled.

“She’s an angel,” Andre said.

I shot him a look. Forget about easing him into it.

Ricky stepped back. “You’re shitting me.”

“No…shithere,” Andre replied, fumbling over the saying. “An actual angel. Not some self-appointed nickname, like the gang leader. Ridiculous really.”

“And you’re…” He pointed at Andre, more specifically his fangs, which were on full display every time he opened his mouth. “A d-demon?”

Andre scoffed at that. “Watch your mouth, human.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s a vampire.”

“Okay, now I know you’re fucking with me,” Ricky said. “Unless I’m having a bad trip again. Yeah, that’s it. I’m tripping. I always see you when I’m…” As he struggled with his words, he collapsed onto the bed and sighed loudly. “I’m sorry, Jade.” His voice cracked with pain. “I shouldn’t have listened to you. I should’ve followed you inside. Then, maybe, I could’ve…”

Sorrow wrapped around me like a vice, and suddenly, it was hard to breathe. My death had haunted his nightmares. It was obvious.

His guilt had consumed him. Had it been what had led him to using? God, I hoped not, but something told me that was exactly what had happened here.

“Ricky,” I began slowly, my throat tight, “you’re not tripping. Not anymore at least. It’s me. Really me. And what Andre says is true. There’s a lot you don’t know about the world. A lot about the gang you joined. Like it’s run by an ancient vampire family called the Omaris.”

Ricky rubbed his shoulder where I had touched and my light had absorbed. “Vampires… Angels…”

“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, I’m afraid.”

I could tell from his expression he still wasn’t buying what we were selling. If I was in his shoes, I probably wouldn’t either.

“I’m not sure how, but I was able to pull you out of whatever drugs you’d taken,” I told him with a disapproving look. We’d have to talk about that issue later. “We need your help getting into the Knights. We need to meet Cornelius.”

His eyes widened. “I can’t.”

“That’s not an option,” Andre said flatly.

“You’ll be protected the entire time,” I told him, ignoring Andre. “We’ll make sure of it. We just need you to go into Murphy’s and lead him out where we’ll be waiting.”

Ricky’s gaze flicked between me and Andre, unsure.

---