I palmed my forehead, feeling the blood rush out of my face. Idiot. Lauren had told me before that I got a bit slutty when drunk, and obviously she’d been right. Now the Big Guy wanted to have a little discussion with Michael all because I couldn’t keep it in my pants for one night. Shit.
My attention reverted back to the phone call. Gabriel’s calming voice wafted to my ears. The call wasn’t on speakerphone, but the volume was relatively loud.
“I don’t blame you for that, Michael. You know I don’t.”
“That makes one of you. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“It’s a test, Michael. One that you should take very carefully.”
“She’s not a test, she’s a person. You know that better than I do.”
“Of course I do. Your situation is the test. All of the angels here on Earth have dealt with the desires of man except for you. It’s something we have to overcome. You will do the same in time.”
I heard him sigh in a frustrated sort of way. “That’s just it, Gabe. I…part of me doesn’t want to overcome it. Part of me wants what I know I can’t have. What can I do about that?”
“I can’t give you a definite answer, brother. However, ask yourself this question: which part of you wants her—the angel or the man?”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t know.”
“When you do know, you’ll have found the solution to your problem.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Please do. Remember, this isn’t just about the two of you. Your duty as Commander hangs in the balance as well. As much as you care for Jordan, you can’t forget that. Your heart’s never steered you wrong before. Listen to it.”
“Yes, brother. I will.”
“Good. Take care.”
I hurried back down the hall and slipped inside the room, heart hammering in my throat. No. This wasn’t the time to have a freak out. I slowed my breathing bit by bit and squared my shoulders. Gabriel was right. Michael wasn’t just a charming bodyguard. He was Commander of God’s Army in Heaven. He would exist forever in that role and there was nothing either of us could do to change it. It didn’t matter how I felt about him. I wouldn’t be responsible for him jeopardizing his mission. We both had a job to do in this world and we were damn well going to do it.
The door opened and Michael appeared just as I began gathering my clothes to go take a shower. “Oh, you’re awake. I thought I’d have to scrape you off the mattress to get you up.”
“We have a lot of stuff to do today. Figured it was time to get moving.” I kept my voice professional and without emotion.
He shut the door and brushed past me. I nearly stumbled trying to make wider space between us as he passed by.
Michael blinked at me, confused. “You alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a little while.” Without another word, I shut myself in the bathroom. Well, that had gone well. I just needed a stuttering problem and Tom Cruise and I’d be all set.
Today was going to be a long day. Definitely, definitely going to be a long day.
“So where exactly are we meeting this guy?”
“Just through here,” Michael replied, beckoning me as he found the right alley. The rain had finally left the city alone, but the concrete was still slick underfoot. I was happy to be wearing my Reeboks. I felt sorry for the ladies strolling around in pumps today. It was hard enough to stay upright in tennis shoes.
“Gabriel said that our contact would meet us outside this bar around three o’clock.”
I hopped over a partially disintegrated cardboard box, breathing in through my mouth as we passed by the overflowing dumpsters on both sides of the brick walls. We came to stop in front of the knob-less metal door that led to a local dive bar.
The ghosts we interviewed earlier today had revealed startling news. Several of them were not from New Jersey, which didn’t sound that shocking at first until we found out they were from across the country—one even hailed from Michigan. Two others were from Illinois. They all said the same thing: they felt compelled to walk to New Jersey, to where we were, but they couldn’t explain why. Their needs to cross over had been pushed to the background of their residual minds. Gabriel and Michael agreed—there was a holy item involved.
“If that’s true,” I said. “What are we bargaining for this information? Nothing important, I hope.”
“Not that I know of. Gabriel told me this particular demon doesn’t want money or power or any of the usual bribes.” He started to say more, but the door flew open and a tanned, spindly man strolled towards us. His head was shaved bald and he had a long, narrow nose with brown-blonde eyebrows, giving his face a severe look in the afternoon sun. Other than the frown lines in his forehead, he didn’t seem all that intimidating, especially since he wore an unbuttoned black dress-shirt, white t-shirt beneath it, and jeans. He didn’t bother checking the alleyway since it was long and hidden from the main roads on both sides. Secluded. Dangerous. Sounds like somewhere a demon would like.