Page 91 of Death Deals

I glanced at Kay. “Match Laurence?”

She waved to tell me not to worry. “Broken wrist, but he’s gotten used to it now.”

Arianna stuck her working hand in her jeans and rocked on her feet. “I drew a penis on his cast, so I can only imagine what revenge he’d enact if I got one, too.”

“Is that what that was?” Kay asked her. “I thought it was some magic symbol you put on there for healing or something.”

“Nope. Just a good ol’ fashioned penis.”

The two laughed. It was nice to see they had gotten close while I was gone. Kay needed someone alive to be there for her if I couldn’t. It made me feel better about having to go to Heaven again.

Which reminded me.

“Remember,” I began, “if there’s an emergency and you need me, you can pray to me now. Just hold your rosary and—well, you know the rest.”

She nodded, her fingers wrapping around the cross at her neck. “An angel, Jade. You’re an angel. I still can’t believe it.”

“I do. And honestly, I’m thrilled,” Arianna said. “Heaven needs more kick-ass babes in their ranks. Having you has surely rattled their chains. Shaken stuff up. In my opinion, that’s what they need if they want to win this war.”

I wish.

“Now, speaking of angels…” She peered skyward and glanced around. “Where is that hunk of a Guardian of yours? He’s not going to see us off?”

“I asked if he’d give me some privacy, so I could say my goodbyes to you.” Privacy was sort of an enigma to him, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was around, just floating in a sunbeam somewhere, hidden from view.

Arianna’s bottom lip jutted out in a frown. “Dammit.”

Kay closed the space between us and wrapped her arms around me for another fierce hug. Even though she didn’t say anything, I could feel the emotion in her embrace, the sadness and the worry. She was afraid this would be our last goodbye—the final goodbye—and honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would be. With everything going on with the war and Hell, who knew if I would be coming back.

I squeezed her tight. “Just so we’re clear,” I murmured by her ear, “I’d sell my soul a million times if it meant saving you.”

“Please don’t,” she chuckled. “I need you here. We all do.”

When we separated, the pilot of the plane called for passengers to begin boarding. Arianna spun and strolled over, calling back to me from over her shoulder, “See ya, Jade! Kick some major demon ass for us!”

I shook my head. That girl was really something else.

“Thanks for coming with the cavalry to save me,” I told Kay.

Her gaze darted to the right to find Andre slowly making his way over to us.

“Looks like it’s my turn to give you some privacy,” she whispered with a small smile. “Be careful, okay?”

“Okay.” But whether she was referring to being careful with the angel stuff or Andre, I wasn’t sure. Maybe both.

I watched her walk back to the plane, and she joined Arianna inside. Only then did Andre meet me on the blacktop.

“The pilot called for passengers,” I told him. “You should probably go.”

“It won’t take off without me,” he replied. “It is my plane, after all.”

Even though some time had passed and we’d fought in not one buttwodemon fights together, I was still a little miffed about his role in the Perezes’ plot to force me into servitude. Or potential role. If I hadn’t busted in the door and scared them all half to death, who knew if he’d have gone along with it and taken me against my will in the name of peace. Especially with his king demanding it.

Part of me wanted to cut him some slack. If disobeying could have meant his death, did he really have a choice? I wanted to say no, but the other part of me was bruised from the lack of fight in him. Maybe after living under the vampires’ rule and law for so long, it was harder to break away from it than it would be for someone like me. Or maybe he really didn’t care about me enough to do more? Maybe Cole was right and I’d been something for him to shack and then snack on—who knew?

But whatever the reason, it was looking more and more like I needed to take a guy-hiatus and focus on myself.

Do me, or whatever the kids say.

---