Page 72 of Heal Me

“Enough!” Gabe thunders as he slams down his fist on the table, rattling the drinks. The pressure dissipates, thank goodness. “I asked you to make sure she got home safely, not bend her mind,” Gabe whispers furiously.

“Cupid, relax. We were just having fun, weren’t we, Charlotte?” Turek asks me.

“Goodbye, gentlemen,” Gabe says coolly.

“Charlotte, I’ll be seeing you,” Sam says with a smile, making me wonder if agreeing to train with him was the smart move.

“Next time don’t let Cupid interfere and let’s see what you’ve really got,” Turek says to me as they stand. “Get her home in pristine condition.” Turek slaps Gabe on the back.

Amer flings his hand, and a throwing star is now stuck in the table between Gabe’s index and middle finger. “Throwing star,” he mutters. With that, the three angels walk out of the bar.

Gabe takes a seat beside me and kisses my temple. “I’m sorry,” he says, pulling his hand back, the weapon disappearing.

“Me too, because now I have a headache. I’m ready to go home. Not ready to let you off the hook, but we can argue about it later.”

He takes my hand and I lead him to my friends. “Jen, I’m calling it a night. Are you ready?”

“Charlotte, aren’t you going to introduce us to your gorgeous friend?” Stephanie asks with a drunken giggle.

“Who’s driving Stephanie home?” I ask.

“Elliot,” Jen says with venom. I guess she forgot that she was literally just making out with Elliot’s roommate, Collins, but not my problem. I’ve got enough problems, the main one being a scary angel named Sam. “You go on,” Jen tells me. “I’m going home with Collins.”

“Okay.” Whatever, my head hurts too much to worry about their drama.

“Hey Gabe,” Jen says, eyeing my boyfriend up and down. “So nice to see you again.”

“Jen. Ladies. If you’ll excuse us, I’m taking my beautiful girlfriend home.”

All the girls at the table swoon as we walk out of the bar. “Still not off the hook,” I tell him, but it’s not a bad start.

Chapter 30

Charlotte

I’m lacing up my shoes when there’s a knock on the back door. Not having time for coffee, I can tell this is going to be a long day. I only had one drink last night, so I’m fine in that regard, but a certain Nephilim kept me up most of the night “apologizing.” Worth it, though.

Sam looks intimidating in a black T-shirt and joggers, but I suspect he’d look just as intimidating in a pink leotard and tutu. Silently holding out his hand, he warns, “Don’t ever open the door without knowing who’s there.”

“I knew it was you.”

“You didn’t know. You assumed. When you assume something, you make an ass out of you and me.”

“You’ve certainly got the ass part down,” I say, immediately regretting it. I’m about to be at his mercy, and it’s safe to assume he’s not a merciful mentor.

We’re now standing in front of a windowless concrete building in a large field. Sam punches in a code on the keypad, and the door buzzes open. Stepping inside, it looks like a state-of-the-art gym, but for the wall of ancient-looking weaponry mixed in with modern guns and the like. There’s a viewing area on the second level looking down upon the center arena.

Before I can even notice the rest of the gym’s features, an arm bands around my waist and another around my neck, squeezing. Fear takes over, and I can’t seem to move. “Brad Cunningham kidnapped you, taking you by surprise from behind.”

“How do you know that?” I wheeze.

“Yet you allow an opponent out of your sight,” he says, loosening his grip on my throat, but not letting go.

“We’re opponents?” I whisper with a shaky breath.

“We’re certainly not friends. Rule number one—situational awareness. Always pay attention to your surroundings,” he schools me as he releases me with a little shove, and I stumble forward.

Spinning around, I go to kick him in the balls, but he easily swats my leg away, as if he were shooing away a pesky fly. It knocks me off balance and I fall on my ass. “Rule number two—proper footing,” he tells me, looming over me. “Hands-up defensive position, one foot back in defensive stance.” He demonstrates. “You’re farther from my reach, as well as a smaller target in this position. This is your home base. I want this stance to become second nature.”

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