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In the corner, Grizzle chirps and I smile to myself. Angel thinks Grizzle is just a pet, but she’s much more than that. Grizzle is a sin sprite, rare creatures who specialize in particular sins. In her case, it’s lies. Grizzle’s chirp means Angel is fibbing. I don’t know why she’s denying it, but she definitely wants to see me again.
“I’ll respect your choice, but I don’t believe you,” I say with a smirk.
She glances over her shoulder at me, her hazel eyes large and pleading. “I’m sorry it can’t be more. Yes, I wish we could do this again. But it’ll never happen. Please accept that.”
Her voice is laced with sadness and I frown, sitting all the way up. “Are you okay? What aren’t you telling me? This doesn’t sound like a choice you want to make.”
She shakes her head, and I could swear tears shimmer in those giant eyes of hers. She swipes at them in frustration.
“It doesn’t matter.” She comes back over to me and lays a soft, lingering kiss on my lips. “Thank you for tonight. I truly had a wonderful time. I’ll always remember it. Goodbye, Slade.”
Before I can do anything else, like offer her a ride home, she’s striding out the door and out of my life. I can’t shake the nagging feeling that something is terribly wrong, but I don’t know what to do about it.
Could I track her down? Maybe. I don’t have much to go on, but it is my job and I’m damn good at it. But Angel made it clear that she didn’t want to see me again, and I told her I’d honor her wishes.
So…what? Leave things as they are? Let her disappear forever? Allow her to become a happy memory and nothing more, even when my gut is telling me that she’s in trouble?
Yes. That’s what she wants.
Grizzle trills from her basket in the corner and I laugh. She knows me so well that she can tell when I’m lying to myself, even if I don’t speak out loud.
“You’re right, Grizz. Fuck all that. Angel is the woman of my dreams. I’m not gonna let her just walk out of my life.”
Eva
The apartment is dark when I walk in, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Adan won’t be home for a few hours—I’m actually going to get away with all this. I hurry into the bedroom and head straight for the shower, eager to wash away the sweat and scent of sex that clings to my skin.
I’m almost in the bathroom doorway when the sound of a lamp clicking on stops me in my tracks. I turn, feeling as if I’m in slow motion, to find Adan sitting in the arm chair, staring at me without blinking.
Oh, no. Either I’m late or he’s early. It doesn’t really matter. The punishment will be the same.
“Adan,” I say, desperate to think of a way out of this. “You’re home.”
His features are impassive; he’s sitting like a statue, bulky and foreboding. “I am. Just like you should have been.”
I swallow hard. I need to say something, explain this, but words won’t come. My throat feels thick.
“Where have you been?” Adan asks, his tone heavy with fury.
I shake my head, and he stands, very, very slowly.
“Don’t make me ask again.”
“I went for a walk.” I whisper.
“Alone?”
I nod. One of his blond eyebrows twitches up, just a touch. A sure sign that he doesn’t believe me.
“Try again. Where the fuck have you been, Eva?”
“I swear,” I say, unable to keep my voice from trembling. “I needed some fresh air, so I went for a little walk. It was harmless.”
“Alone, without permission, without even a bodyguard? After you told me you were sick? You know better than that.” He’s just standing there, still as death. It’s more menacing than any movement could be. “We both know you’re lying. You’re not very good at it.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, a tear running down my cheek. “I swear I didn’t mean anything by it. I just thought it would help me feel better.”
He shakes his head. “You’re my property, Eva. I know you know better than to pull this kind of shit without asking me.” He storms up to me and grabs me by the shoulders, then leans in and takes a deep, long inhale. I stand, frozen, waiting for the inevitable.
