“There’s nothing quite like angel blood, even without the grace,” he whispered. The burns on his face transformed before my eyes, healing and reforming to what he had been before the flaming vampire attacked him.
With blood dripping from his lips, he turned toward the cafeteria entry where an officer stood with his gun drawn. The smile that formed set me in motion. Instead of attacking, I turned, grabbed Naomi, and fled.
Naomi tripped on a chair and went down hard on her knees and I stopped to help her up. The boom of a gunshot cut off the crazy cackling laugh behind me. I pulled Naomi off the floor and kept going without looking back.
My throat pounded and burned at the same time and I stopped in the stairwell, leaning over with my hands on my thighs. A high-pitched whine filled my ears and I grabbed for the iron railing, steadying myself while I caught my breath.
“We have to get out of here,” I said, meeting Naomi’s gaze. She glanced at the ceiling and then nodded. Valerie crossed my mind too, but at this point, we didn’t have the luxury of a rescue mission. If we tried, it would put her right in the path of danger.
Another gunshot rang out and I caught my breath, blowing out a stream of air before straightening just as a scream pierced the air.
“Time to go, now,” I said and took her hand. We vaulted up the stairs and stepped into the back of the emergency room. Into a world of chaos.
We sidestepped out of the way, as a group of officers ran by and my gaze landed on the unattended truck. My hand slid into my front pocket and the metal of the spare key ring sent a jolt through my form that moved me forward.
Demon nurse was nowhere to be seen and I helped Naomi into the front seat and crossed to the driver’s side. Ignoring the red stain on the seat and the stench of blood in the small space, I threw the car in gear and peeled out, heading away as fast as possible. I expected to be followed, especially when I was driving like the truck was my Aston Martin and I was on the Audubon.
Naomi gagged and I glanced at her. “Open the window, it might help,” I said and then focused back on the road. I knew the car had markings, so we were untraceable to celestial beings. I wasn’t sure about demons or whatever else was out there.
I didn’t truly exhale until we were in the dark garage and the door had dropped the last inch and the whine of the motor above shut off. I climbed out of the vehicle and made it to the kitchen sink in time to feel the bile burn the back of my throat. The cold water I splashed on my face didn’t stop the onset of the shakes.
For a man who had dealt in death for so many years, this reaction rocked me to the core and I crossed to the table on shaking legs. Naomi was already sitting with her arms crossed on the walnut finish and her face buried in the crook of her elbow. Silent sobs shook her form and I ran my damp hand over her back, not speaking for fear of splitting into a million pieces.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out, staring at the number.
“Fuck,” the word spit out, interrupting Naomi’s outburst. She stiffened under my hand and lifted her tear-stained face.
I pressed the button and put the phone to my ear.
“I will find you,” Lucifer’s voice growled on the line.
“I’ll be ready when you do.” I clicked the off button and put the phone down, shocked at how calm and cold I sounded. My hand continued the slow caress over Naomi’s back as I stared out the windows at the beginning signs of spring.
“Who was that?”
I pressed my lips together and flipped the phone over showing her the display with Valerie’s number as the last call received. I couldn’t speak yet; I was still dealing with an internal storm that threatened to become a hurricane.
Naomi leaned into me, laying her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her and set the phone back on the table. Every muscle in my form pounded with the same dull ache that overtook my head. Too much had happened in such a short time and I was still numb.
“I need to call Ted,” I said, avoiding most of the swirl inside me. I began to stand, but Naomi increased her hold on me.
“Don’t shut down,” she said and my gaze moved from the back yard to her deep brown eyes.
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up and I peeled her off me, pulling away because with the laughter came a violent anger and I didn’t want it aimed at her. The tidal wave swept through me and I clenched my fists trying to contain the fury and the need to destroy.