Page 71 of Where Angels Fall

I’m not in my body as the shower runs. Water hits my skin, slides down my spine, but I barely register it. I scrub my hair on autopilot, rinse until my scalp burns, until there is nothing left but the mechanical act of it. When I step out, wrapped in a pristine towel, the mirror reflects a stranger back at me.

I paint over the redness in my face with steady hands. Concealer. Foundation. The makeup brushes feel distant, the texture not registering against my skin. My silk blouse settles heavy on my shoulders; heels click onto my feet.

Nothing feels real. And maybe that’s a mercy. Because if it did, I’d have to acknowledge the truth.

That I set something in motion I can’t undo. That a man is dead because of me. That blood doesn’t wash off as easily as I thought it would.

The thought of Thomas rises unbidden, sharp and unwanted, stirring something uneasy in my stomach. I drown it immediately, shoving it down until it can’t breathe. These are thoughts that I won’t survive. And maybe that makes me a coward. So be it. It’s the only way I will survive this.

My fancy car waits for me in the parking lot, pristine just like I left it. I slide into it like I’m stepping into another version of myself. The city unfolds around me as I drive; glass towers, traffic lights, familiar streets. But I see it all differently now.

I drive to my job as if nothing has changed.

Chapter 26

Ash

Inever know what to expect when I step foot in Harvey's office. Case in point; as me and Kaleb stride in for our meeting, we find him lounged in his chair, a girl tied up in black ribbon kneeling beside him.

Her dark hair is braided down her back. Ropes and ribbons crisscross around her tits, leading all the way to her wrists, which are secured behind her back.

When I step closer, I realize his cock is out of his pants, just resting in her mouth. She's not moving. She's not sucking. Her head rests peacefully against his thigh, the thick length just sitting against her tongue. I raise a brow at my associate before sitting across from him at his desk.

“Oh, I see you haven't met my cock warmer,” Harvey huffs a laugh. His huge, muscular frame spreads out on the chair, green eyes softening as he glances down at the young girl. “She’s excellent, isn’t she?”

“Interesting,” I murmur, giving the girl another once-over.

Seeing her like that makes me ache for my angel, the woman I haven't spoken to in days, though not for lack of trying. I need this Wraith shit sorted so I can go back to dancing and fucking and kissing my angel.

It reminds me why I'm here; not to talk about his new toy.

“You got the details for the shipment I need?” I begin, not wanting to waste another second on pointless conversation.

“Yeah, yeah. I got ‘em,” Harvey replies, his hand coming down to rest gently on the girl’s head. “An awful lot more supplies needed than usual,” he pries.

I don't reply. Everyone in our world knows what is going on between the Devils and the Wraiths. Kaleb stands behind me like he always does, in silence, a formidable shield behind me.

“I'm going to cut right to the chase,” Harvey adds, leaning slightly forward.

I would say it's distracting; the fact his cock is currently in a girl's mouth. But it's nothing new with Harvey. I'm used to walking into some strange, kinky shit every time I need to order a shipment of weapons. His other hand comes up to rub against his shaved head like he is trying to find the right words to say.

“Spit it out, Harvey. I really don't have all day,” I sigh.

Usually, I find him endearing. But when one has a war going on, things like that fall away. When one's brothers are being murdered, heads being decapitated, everything else seems to lose importance.

A familiar ache settles deep in my chest, a dull throb that I push down with a determined clench of my jaw. I'm just using it as fuel to do what I need to do and rid this earth of the fuckers that killed my brother.

Then, I can think about Thomas and the sacrifice he made for the devils. Then, I can enjoy every bit of pleasure my angel has to offer. Then, I'll fuck around with Harvey and talk for as long as he wants.

“I’m sure you don’t,” he adds with a knowing smirk. “Right, well, Zeke paid me a visit. He wants me to stop selling to you and start shipping into his district instead. Offered me a fuck ton of cash.”

An incredulous sigh falls out of me. How does the fucker even know about Harvey? But of course, he does.

“And?” I ask, waiting to hear his response.

Harvey's face changes, eyes darken, the muscle in his jaw feathers. “You know I don't work with cunts who deal flesh.”

“So, what’s the problem?” I prod, knowing he wouldn’t have brought it up unless there was one.