Page 79 of Hades

“But I know that if anyone could help heal him, it’s you,” she adds as she fills my wine glass.

As if on cue, Salem’s phone chimes. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that it’s her husband, Michael, just by the smile on her face. A smile I never thought I would be jealous of, but sitting here tonight as I drink away my woes, I am. Not that they didn’t have their issues before falling head over heels in love… he did have to turn her into a vampire to save her life. At least there is no danger of that with Reaver.

I’m doing my best not to eavesdrop on her conversation, but it’s a bit difficult since she is sitting only a few feet from me. Still, I busy myself with my phone, scrolling through my social media while keeping an open ear to her conversation.

“Really, when?”

If I had supernatural hearing like Salem, it would really come in handy right about now. Unfortunately, all I get is her side of the conversation, which is giving me precisely zero information.

“Did he mention where he was going?”

The quick glance my way has my heart speeding up. Are they talking about Reaver? I don’t even bother with my pretense of not listening in, I toss my phone down next to me, lean in, and stare at her.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me. Why?”

Oh, God. None of this is going to be good. The wine in my empty stomach starts to churn as every possible scenario plays in my head all at once.

“Did he at least say when?”

“Well, did you ask?”she snaps.“Why not? That should have been the first thing you asked.”Her irritation at Michael is evident by her tone, the annoyed eye roll, and the constant shaking of her head.

I’m nearly falling off the couch, trying to hear both sides of her conversation, when she abruptly tosses her phone onto the table.

“We have a problem.”

“We do?” I ask, waiting for her to answer me with a better explanation than “we have a problem.”Because if we didn’t have a problem, neither of us would be drinking wine at nearly 2 in the morning.

“Michael spoke to Reaver.”

“Ya don’t say,” I mockbecause I was able to come to that conclusion all on my own. She doesn’t elaborate. Instead, my best friend, whom I want to strangle right about now, sits back and lets out a long sigh. “What did he say, exactly?” I yell, unable to contain my frustration any longer.

It takes her a full minute to answer me. At least it feels like it’s a full minute. “We need to get to Vegas, like now,” she blurts out as she stands and heads for the door. “Come on,” she adds when I don’t immediately jump from my seat.

“I can’t go to Las Vegas. I have patients tomorrow morning.” I glance down at my watch. “This morning,” I correct myself.

Salem has my door open and is tapping her foot. “Reaver is planning to return to Timber Cove—like, for good.”

I’m up off my couch and heading for the door before she can say another word. I don’t know much about where he disappeared to other than it’s basically another world that no one can get to except him and maybe Kat, Cain’s wife. So, if he crosses over, all hope for us goes with him.

CHAPTER THREE

REAVER

When I said I had some loose ends to tie up, I wasn’t honest with Asher about what that entailed. And now, standing outside of Kennedy’s apartment, I’m not sure I should let her know I’m leaving. It’s just before seven, and I know this is about when she leaves for her office on Newbury Street.

I may have stayed away for her own good, but like any good stalker, I know her daily routine. I also don’t want to hide in the shadows, so I sit on her front steps and wait. I get several sideways glances from people passing by as the streets of Boston come alive. One woman even crosses the street when she sees me. I’m not surprised; when people see a man of my size, they tend to fall into two categories, scared or curious. Most women fall into the first, while most men want to know my workout routine.

At half past eight, I look up at her windows. They are dark, and I don’t see any movement. She should have come out by now. My self-deprecating thoughts start to take over. Maybe she saw me sitting here and decided to head out the back. If I saw me sitting here, I’d probably avoid me as well.

I let out a long sigh as I stand and stretch my legs. I don’t want to leave without explaining everything to Kennedy. She deserves to know why we can’t be together, and the danger she’s in merely knowing me.

Staring up at her apartment, I need to know if she’s home. I’m about to use one of my rare angelic powers to flash inside when the door to the building opens, and a woman and child exit. On instinct, the petite woman pulls her child close as she stares at me.

The little girl with her smiles and waves. “You’re pretty,” the child says as she looks at me. Children, with their untainted eyes on life, are almost always able to see the bright angelic glow around us.

I give the child a wink as I hold out my hand to stop the door from shutting. The mother mumbles something I’m sure she didn’t mean for me to hear as she pulls her child down the stairs.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I make my way up to Kennedy’s second-floor apartment in no time. There are only two doors, and since I’ve never actually been in her apartment, I take a moment to orient myself. What I do know is that her windows face Commonwealth Avenue, so I choose the one in the front of the building.

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