Page 18 of Secrets in the Shadow

“You might as well confess now.” She sighed. “Whenever you use your ‘I’m guilty’ voice, I know you’re hiding something. Now tell me what has your father so concerned.”

She was using her no-nonsense voice. That wasn’t good.

“Why does there have to be something wrong?” he politely argued, praying he wasn’t dragged kicking and screaming to hell for trying to pull a fast one on her.

“Cody,” she said in warning.

“Your husband declared I looked tired, and now I’m being grilled? How fair is that?”

She huffed. “First, whenever you refer to him as my husband, and not your father, I know you’re guilty. Second, you’re getting defensive.”

Dang. The woman knew him too well. If Christmas hadn’t just passed, his dad would be getting coal in his stocking.

“I have no recollection of what you are talking about. I plead insanity.”

Cody just might win his case. He’d felt crazy since meeting Raziel.

Fuck. His chest was aching again thinking about the angel, and he didn’t understand why. They didn’t even know each other.

“Sweetie, I’m sure whatever it is can’t be worse than watching your father trying to deep fry a turkey. At least this year we didn’t have to call the fire department.”

He remembered the fiasco they’d had last Christmas. His father thought putting a half-frozen turkey into hot oil would be “totally fine, son.”

If his mom hadn’t insisted he fry the turkey in the garage on the concrete floor, his parents wouldn’t have a house left.

Although Cody had known it was a bad idea, he hadn’t expected a volcano of fire to spew out of it. His dad had yelled for him to grab the fire extinguisher, but Cody had just stood there, too stunned to move.

The year before, his dad had bought a live tree and decided it would look incredible right next to the fireplace, only he’d forgotten to keep water in the basin.

His parents were on a first-name basis with the fire department.

“So, what are you trying to hide from us, honey?” Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her tone had probing tentacles. She was dying to know what he was hiding, while Cody was desperate to forget.

Just thinking about the beautiful angel hurt in ways that shouldn’t be possible.

Raziel was captivating and irritating in equal measures. Cody had wanted to kiss those soft lips but also wring his neck.

“That bad?” his mom asked in a gentle tone, which only made his misery feel so much worse.

“He’s confusing, mysterious, irritating, and…” Cody drew in a deep breath. “An angel.”

His mom’s laugh was light and full of wisdom. “Men usually are.”

“But I’m a man too.” Like he had to point that out.

“You are,” she agreed, sounding hesitant. “But I would imagine that you’re… well, more of the nurturing sort.”

Blinking, his fingers tightened briefly in the Afghan draped over his lap. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, his tone sharp but not unkind.

“Nothing bad,” she assured him quickly. “Just… you’ve always had a way of wearing your heart on your sleeve, honey. You care so deeply about people. It’s not a bad thing—it’s a strength.”

Her words were soft, yet Cody felt a defensive edge creep into his chest. “I’m not that soft, Mom,” he muttered.

“I didn’t say you were,” she replied, her voice even. “But there’s nothing wrong with being someone who loves deeply. It just means you need to be careful who you let close. Not everyone will appreciate it.”

He leaned back against the couch, exhaling a breath that felt heavier than it should have. “Maybe it’s easier not to let anyone close at all.”

“Oh, Cody.” Her sigh held a familiar mix of empathy and exasperation. “That’s not you, and you know it. You just haven’t met the right person yet.”

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