Page 438 of Evil Hearts

I reach out just as she collapses forward and brace her body against mine. She sniffles against my shirt against my shirt. But I’m not paying attention to whatever she’s trying to say, surveying the area as people nearby close in.

“You need to get up,” I tell her in the most calming way. “Otherwise, I’m going to drop your ass.”

Eva straightens, her face pinched in a scowl. But it’s the look in her eyes that has me glancing away. I can’t even begin to think ifshe were crying about her almost accident or if she were worried about me.

“Lady, are you all right?” a man says as he rushes over. Eva nods, and then he’s running over to the other car to check on the driver. They wouldn’t have seen what I did.

“The driver…” she says in a low whisper. My gaze follows her, and hardens at the sight. I may have come out unscathed since I’m immortal, but can’t say the same for the human. “Is he…?” I turn away from the horrific sight.

Ash in my mouth. Tires squealing and the engine roaring up in flames. Smoke stings my nostrils. Metal caves in.

I shake my head to clear the unbidden thoughts and look down at Eva. She’s trembling from head to toe, and her hands are covering her mouth to stop the sobs from escaping. A heavy sigh escapes me, and I reach out to rest a hand on her shoulder. “All mortals die,” I remind her. “And it was his time.”

“You didn’t have to be the one that did it,” she snaps and jerks shoulder free.

I release my hold on her shoulder and lower my arm back to my side. “I don’t know what you mean.”

The glare she gives me causes an unexpected ache in my chest. I take a step back and roll my shoulders. “Stop lying.”

“I’m not,” I tell her with the utmost bored and blank look I can muster down at her. “The Soul Collector took him.”

“The what?”

“I’ll explain later.” I nudge her away from the smoking car behind me and back toward her BMW. “We should leave before the cops show up.”

“Leave? I can’t just leave!” she sputters. “This is a crime scene.”

“Trust me, this’ll turn into an investigation.” I survey her from head to toe. “And I don’t think orange would suit you.”

Her face flushes red, and her eyes are narrowed. “You’re unbelievable.” She skirts around me to stomp toward her car.

I phase through the side and take a seat. Her hands are on the wheel, and she’s got this faraway look in her eyes.

“Well?” Eva turns to look over at me. More tears are cresting down her cheeks. I let out a breath and reach over to grip the wheel. “Maybe I should drive.”

The blank look disappears, and the scowl is back on her pretty little face.

She almost looks like an Angel when she cries.I shake the unbidden though from my mind and scoot toward the console and closer to her.

Eva shrinks away from me and releases her hold on the steering wheel. “What are you—”

“Trust me,” I say in a low voice. The ring of hazel green is back in her brown eyes.

“Why should I trust you?” Her voice is raspy. But she hasn’t moved to grab control of the wheel.

A muscle in my jaw flexes.She does have a point. Why should she trust someone like me?

“Because like it or not, I’m your Guardian Angel.”

To be continued . . .

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