When Kaylee awoke to find Nathan gone, she began to feel the familiar weight of dread in her gut again. She dressed and searched the house in the morning light, the heaviness growing.
She had a feeling he hadn’t just run out for breakfast. She stood in the living room, gaze on the empty driveway. She’d slept better in his arms than she had the past month. Even waking to the familiar presence of Shadowman, she felt good after Nathan’s attentive, consuming lovemaking. He managed to take her mind off everything but where he’d touch her next. She hadn’t expect the abrupt man determined to remain isolated of being capable of sensitivity of any kind, let alone aware of how to please a woman in bed.
He’d been gentle but assertive, guiding her body, savoring every inch of her, and taking her to climax with intensity she never experienced before. Sleeping with him had been incredible, intoxicating, overwhelming. His heat melted her from the inside out, his passion making her feel like the most cherished, worshipped woman in the world.
And now he was gone, once again the man she didn’t trust. No matter how irritating his approach to her was, he had gone out of his way to help her more than once. She tried to convince herself of this, unable to understand someone who seemed full of contradictions.
“I don’t understand that man.”
Confusion was fed by anger, and she suspected he hadn’t planned on last night happening. She definitely hadn’t.
What was clear: he didn’t stick around.
“It doesn’t take law school to know he was looking for a one nighter.”
Kaylee went to the kitchen. She had no idea whose house this was, but she was hungry enough that she’d eat their food. She made herself scrambled eggs and toast then sat at the kitchen table. The house was too quiet. Normally, in her apartment building, someone else’s alarm woke her in the morning before hers went off, and the sounds of showering or creaking floors were constant until she left for work. When she got home, someone’s television was always up loud and the scents of others’ cooking drifted in via the vents.
Now that she was alone with herself, she missed the sounds she’d grown accustomed to.
It was eight. She’d slept in and caught herself tensing up, afraid someone at work would miss her, if she were too late.
Except there was no work to go to. The finality of yesterday’s events grew even clearer. She had absolutely, positively nowhere to go and no one who would miss her when she didn’t show up. Nathan ditched her and her family was never an option. All she had was Shadowman.
“Could you leave me alone for a few minutes?” she snapped at the invisible creature. “I just need to freakin’ breathe for a minute.”
He ignored her, and she sighed, slumping at the table.
The doorbell rang.
Kaylee straightened, surprised. Neither Nathan nor Shadowman was the type of person who knocked. If not them, who was here? The woman named Maggy? Someone else Nathan sent?
She stood and pulled her hair back loosely in the scrunchie she had around her wrist. Walking to the door, she paused to glance out of the picture window overlooking the front lawn and driveway.
She didn’t recognize the late model, dark colored car in the driveway.
She waited for a moment to see if the person just left.
Another ring.
Uneasily, Kaylee cracked the door open.
A man she’d never seen before stood outside the door. He was handsome, tall and dressed all in black with piercings lining one ear. Spiked blond hair tipped with black, tattoos on his neck and arms, striking blue eyes, a black metal pendant with the pentagram symbol. He was good-looking in a scary way, with a direct gaze and the strange stillness of a predator, reminding her of Nathan.
Definitely not a Girl Scout.
“Um, yeah?” she asked.
“You’re Kaylee.”
“Why?”
A look of awe or incredulity crossed his features, and he smiled broadly, revealing a row of bright, straight, polished teeth.
“It is such an honor to meet you,” he said. “You have no idea how seriously I’m taking this. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity.”
“Do I know you?” she asked.
“Not officially. I’m Edgar. You can call me Eddy. Your … friend contacted me. Asked me to help out. Can I come in?”
“Oh. Um, sure.” She opened the door. Maybe she shouldn’t be surprised that Nathan had such a weird range of friends or colleagues.
Eddy walked in and went to the table. He set down his backpack and pulled out what looked like a huge jewelry roll. Setting it on the table, he returned to his backpack.
“You hungry or thirsty or anything?” she asked, clearing her plate.
“No, thanks.”
While Eddy looked scary, he sounded cheerful and much friendlier than Nathan had ever been.
When she returned to the table, the jewelry roll was laying open across the table. She sank into the seat nearest him without getting in his way and gazed at the line of weaponry. Knives, throwing darts, stakes like those she’d seen used for tents. He was checking all of them expertly with large, strong hands.
“Wow. You came prepared,” she said, reaching out to touch one. The black steel was cold and smooth.
“That’s sorta my job,” he replied. “I’m an assassin. Supposed to protect you.”
Sure. Why not.
“I bet you’ve had a lot of issues.”
“Too many,” she replied. “What is this for?” She picked up a spike, frowning at it. “Looks like what they use on television against vampires.”
He laughed. “Yeah, it does. You stab someone then …” He took it from her and held it up. He tapped the top, and spikes popped out along the stake. “I save these for people who piss me off. Kind of painful.”
She grimaced.
He continued checking everything then began placing the weapons in discreet sheaths around his body. What weapons remained he rolled back up and replaced in his backpack.
“I don’t know how you all can be so used to this,” she murmured. “Killing, death.”
Eddy gave her a small smile of understanding. His movement stilled, and he studied her.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like, being Shadowman’s host. You aren’t what I expected,” he admitted. “You’re … nice.”
“He took out three hundred people yesterday, and I can’t kill a spider.” The admission caught in her throat, and the last words came out choked.
“I guess there’s no reasoning in how these things work.”
“You’re not afraid to be here?” she asked curiously. “Even with him here?”
“Is he here now?” Eddy looked around.
“Yeah. He comes and goes but he’s here now.”
“Not afraid. Honored.”
She frowned, puzzled by his choice of words at being in the presence of a demon.
“Take this.” He pulled free one of the knives he’d placed at his calf. It was smaller than the rest. “Just in case something happens, and I can’t get to you.” He pushed it into a small sheath and set it before her. “Pointy end goes in attacker.”
“Sound so simple.” She took it uneasily.
“Well, since we’re housemates for now, I’m going to pick out a room,” he said and stood. “If you want to grab some food or anything, we can go out in a bit.”
“I’m allowed to leave?”
“Sure. As long as I’m with you.” He smiled. “Nothing will get near you.” He hefted his backpack and left her in the dining room to scout out his room.
Kaylee sighed. Not only had Nathan left her this morning without an explanation but he’d sent someone else to babysit her. If that wasn’t a sign he didn’t want to be involved, nothing was.
Eddy’s rustling was a welcome sound in the house she found too quiet minutes before. A faint buzzing sound reached her ears as well, and she paused. He didn’t answer the ringing phone. She wondered if it was hers. She didn’t recall having it when they arrived yesterday, but she’d been too distraught to pay much attention.
She walked to the master bedroom and looked around to find the source of the sound. The ringing stopped and then started again a moment later. Following it, she knelt and spotted her cell phone just under the bed, half covered by her underwear. She grabbed the phone and leaned back.
Nathan’s name crossed the screen.
She took a great deal of satisfaction out of hitting the red button to hang up on him. The feeling faded and was replaced by a combination of sadness and guilt. Why was she hoping there was more between them than one night?
“Kaylee?” Eddy called.
“I’m here.” She rose and tucked the phone in her pocket. “Just … making the bed.” She hurried to follow through with her words. When she was done, she left the bedroom.
Eddy was poking at the locks on the windows in the living room. “I’m going to secure everything. Keep the windows and doors locked, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” She sat down on the couch and listened as he made his way slowly through the entire house.
Her phone buzzed. She was angry with him. But the idea Nathan texted was too intriguing. She pulled it out.
You okay? He had messaged her.
She considered, wanting to tell him to go to hell or ask him why he’d left and sent someone else to do his job. Or simply tell him that last night was a mistake and never to talk to her again.
Unless he wanted to sleep over again.
She cursed herself and kept her response short.
Yep. Awesome.
Satisfied, she lowered the phone and grabbed the remote to the television. She clicked it on, needing a distraction from Nathan. His response was quick.
Good. About last night …
She glared at the phone. Her heart was hammering, her gut twisting at the anticipation of what he’d say. She wasn’t going to let him break it off first.
It was a mistake. I know. She texted back. No worries. I get it.
“And if you believe that, you son of a bitch…” she mumbled under her breath. She flipped through a few channels until finding a crime show marathon, waiting for his response.
Agreed. No hard feelings.
She gave a sound of frustration and threw her phone at the chair, barely missing Eddy as he walked in.
“Whoa,” he said, leaning back with lightning reflexes. “Everything okay?”
“Great,” she retorted.
He chuckled. “Just checking the locks on the door. Don’t throw anything.”
“Sorry, Eddy. It’s not your fault,” she replied. “It’s been a long week.”
“Shit happens,” he said cheerfully. He opened the door and tested the lock. The deadbolt was stuck and didn’t budge. He knelt and set down a small took kit, retrieving a screwdriver to take a part the lock.
“You do this often?” she asked. “Act as a bodyguard?”
“Not usually. But I like a challenge. Life gets boring when it’s predictable. You know?”
“Maybe.” Her eyes went to the phone, which vibrated with a new message. “Sometimes, I think predictable is good, though. Like in relationships.”
“Oh, no. That’s the worst. You don’t want to get bored with your other half.”
“Maybe not bored. Just don’t want to … live in an emotional tornado.”
He glanced at her. “I’m guessing that’s why you’re throwing phones around.”
“I need some coffee.” She rose and left, wanting to get away from the phone and Nathan more than anything else.
Eddy was sweet to listen. It was hard for her to remember he was there to kill anyone who got close to her. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. She felt comfortable around him, the way she had Evan and his father. Was he one of the reincarnated angels Nathan told her about?
“You want a cup of coffee?” she called, rummaging around the stranger’s kitchen for coffee supplies.
“Sure. Black.”
She gathered everything then brewed a pot, slipping again into thoughts about Nathan. They left her angry and her hands trembling, because she couldn’t help thinking she might melt right back into his arms, if he so much as smiled at her again.
When the coffee was done, she took two mugs into the living room.
Eddy was still at the door. He’d move the chair over so he could sit down and fix the lock. She set down his cup on the side of the coffee table nearest him and picked up her phone, which he’d placed on the table.
She eyed it, uncertain if she wanted anything to do with Nathan then deciding she was pissed enough that she had to take out her emotion on someone. Plopping down, she unlocked her screen. Nathan had texted twice.
We can talk, if you want to answer the phone.
This message was from ten minutes ago and was followed by two attempts to call her.
She rolled her eyes at it, wishing she could strangle him, and then read the second text. She almost wished she’d seen it before spending ten minutes in the kitchen then decided that no, she was glad she didn’t. She would’ve answered, instead of moving on and focused on staying alive, which was what she needed to do.
Guess not. Sending someone over to make sure you’re okay.
“A little late to the party, Nathan,” she told him then messaged him back. He’s already here.
“Thanks for the coffee,” Eddy said, reaching for it.
“You’re welcome,” she replied and wrapped her hands around the warm mug.
Eddy was oiling and testing the deadbolt. “Think that’s it.”
She watched him for a few minutes, drinking her coffee. Her phone vibrated. She wanted to ignore it, but something about Nathan drew her in. She checked it.
Go somewhere private and call me, please. It’s important.
She gazed at the message for a moment, sensing something was wrong without knowing exactly what. It was in the phrasing. Nathan was never polite. He was blunt and to the point. Arrogant.
“You need more coffee?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Eddy said, attention on replacing the lock.
“I do.”
He glanced at her with a smile.
Kaylee nervously tucked her hair behind her ears and smoothed out the shirt she’d found in the fully stocked closet, even knowing Nathan wasn’t going to see her when she called. She poured herself another cup of coffee then dialed his number and walked to the bay window looking out over the grassy backyard.
“Hey.” His unnaturally low voice sent desire spinning through her.
“What’s up?” she asked, trying to keep her tone casual.
“Can you talk in private?”
“Yep.”
“I didn’t send whoever is with you.”
Kaylee froze, the mug halfway to her mouth.
“I need you to stay calm and pretend like you don’t know that,” he said in a quiet, firm tone. “Did he give you a name?”
She listened without registering his question for a few seconds. She was straining to hear Eddy in the living room.
“Yes,” she answered. She shook her head and turned to make sure the stranger wasn’t standing in the doorway, listening.
She could see him at the front door still.
“Edgar. Goes by Eddy,” she whispered.
“Blond hair, tattoos, likes knives?”
“Yeah.”
“Interesting.” Nathan said nothing for a moment. “You okay?”
“Great. He’s a nice guy.”
“He’s a member of a Satanist cult.” There was amusement in Nathan’s voice. “Shadowman probably called him in to help out.”
She listened, amazed. “This is messed up.”
“Yeah. But since Shadowman wants you alive, you’ll be fine. Just don’t give Eddy a reason to cut you.”
It wasn’t the news she expected. It didn’t seem fair for her to be stuck with a demon and a Satanist-assassin. Her temper got the better of her.
“Here you are, wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am, can’t even say goodbye after a one night stand, and you’re the good guy. Meanwhile, Eddy is sweet and nice and even gave me a knife to defend myself, and he’s the bad guy?”
“Kaylee –”
“You know what, Nathan? Do me favor and just stay away from me. You and all your friends. I’d rather deal with this alone than with you!”
She hung up, fuming.
“Everything all right?” Eddy called.
Things just keep getting worse. She fought back tears of anger.
“Yeah,” she managed and cleared her throat. “Just … broke up. That’s all.” She studied the phone. She wanted so badly just to delete Nathan’s contact. She didn’t. Instead, she erased his messages and changed his name, in case Eddy got a hold of her phone.
Satisfied, she drew a shaky breath and tucked it into her pocket. Grabbing a new cup of coffee, she returned to the living room.
“You look like you could use some chocolate,” Eddy said with a sympathetic smile. “Here’s some good news. I fixed the lock.”
Something is really wrong with the world when you can trust a Satanist over a spirit guide.
“That’s good.” She rubbed her forehead. “This coffee is terrible.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I didn’t want to say anything.”
“Wanna go out for a cup?”
“Sure.”
She rose again and went to the bedroom to grab her shoes. Sliding her feet into the flats, she gazed at the bed where she’d spent the night with Nathan. If she breathed in deeply enough, she’d smell and taste him again.
Her phone vibrated. This time, she didn’t look.
Eddy was waiting for her at the door. He opened it, paused then closed it.
Kaylee waited, gazing up at him.
“We gotta cover one thing, first,” he said, facing her. “I’m assuming that was Nathan you called.”
Her breath caught in her throat.
“I’m cool with that,” he said. “But, keep in mind that Shadowman can find you anywhere you are, which means I can, too, because he wants me to stick by you. He doesn’t care if you’re missing toes, fingers, legs, an arm, as long as you’re alive to be his host. The difference between me and Shadowman: I actually want you to keep you in one piece. And I will, as long as you don’t try anything funny like running when we go get coffee.”
She stared at him. The words were cordial but firm.
“We straight?”
She nodded, temporarily speechless after his friendly threat.
“Great. Let’s go!” he said in a tone befitting a camp counselor. He flashed a smile and opened the door.
Okay, so maybe Nathan’s not that bad. She touched the phone in her pocket. Eddy’s quick speech made her anger disappear in a puff, but it did remind her that however nice Eddy was, he wasn’t there to help her. He was there to help Shadowman keep her in line.
Nathan really was her only ally, even if the personal side of the equation was currently a disaster.
She walked to the door then hunched her shoulders. Shadowman was at her heels.
“Eddy’s here. Leave me alone!” she snapped at the fallen guardian.
For once, the creature listened to her. The oppressive presence dissipated.
Kaylee released a breath and rolled her shoulders back.
Eddy was watching her closely from a few feet down the sidewalk.
“I can’t breathe when he’s around,” she muttered.
“Did he leave?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“It’s true then that you can talk to one another?”
She nodded.
“That’s incredible,” he said. “What does he say about me?”
“Um, nothing yet,” she replied. “He doesn’t talk much.”
“Is it like communicating with other demons and angels? You just know his response?”
“Is that how it works?” she asked, walking with him towards the car.
“Yeah. Usually. It’s like how sometimes you suddenly know something you didn’t know before. Like where to find something or how to do something. You know what I mean?”
“Hmm. Maybe.”
“They work the same. They plant thoughts in your head,” he explained.
“If you tell me I should be wearing a tinfoil hat …”
Eddy laughed. “No. Try it. Ask him something out loud. The first response that comes to your mind is his answer.”
“This is bizarre,” she said. She got into the passenger seat, not wanting to think about Shadowman having any sort of access to her mind.
“Try it!” Eddy sounded excited. He got in and closed his door, starting the car. “Ask him something only he should know. Like … how many people were in the office building yesterday.”
She considered. “Actually, I’ve got a better question. I just … ask him?”
Eddy nodded and waited.
“How did Mike die?” she asked into thin air then braced herself for the answer.
An image of a pretty woman with bright blue eyes and dishwater blonde hair filled her mind. She saw the woman sneak up behind Mike in the parking garage, wrap a wire around his neck then choke him to death and push him into the trunk of his car.
“Oh,” she murmured. “It wasn’t Shadowman.”
“Who is Mike?”
“My old boss.”
Eddy smiled then laughed. “How I’ve dreamed about taking out my boss.”
“You’re an assassin,” she said, puzzled. “You couldn’t make that happen?”
“It’s not like on TV,” he said with a snort. “You know how hard it is to make it so no one sees you coming, commit the act, and then leave? You have to make it so that no one misses you for the time you’re doing it, so you have an alibi, in case the worst happens one day and you’re a suspect.” He shook his head. “Not easy. Besides, I only use my skills for certain evil.”
“The more I learn, the worse things get.”
“So he told you how he killed Mike?”
“He showed me,” she answered. “Maybe he only talks to me when he’s in his human form.”
“He has one of those?”
“Yeah.” She looked at him. “How did he tell you to find me?”
“Through one of our rites,” he replied. “I was deep in a trance when I saw a vision of you here. I knew I had to find you.”
“That’s it?”
“It’s not my first rodeo,” he assured her. “I know the difference between a hallucinogenic vision and when the demons are talking to me.” He pulled out onto the main road leading to the house.
Her phone vibrated again. Overwhelmed by the bizarre exchange with Eddy, she pulled out her cell.
Tell me if he moves you away from the house. I’ll find you.
She shook her head texted him back quickly. No. This guy is dangerous.
“Nathan?” Eddy asked.
Kaylee glanced at him then down to read Nathan’s response.
So am I.
Eddy snatched the phone from her and rolled down his window. He tossed it out into oncoming traffic. Kaylee twisted in time to see a car run it over.
“Problem solved,” Eddy said. “He won’t make you cry anymore, right?”
“That’s one way to look at it,” she said.
“You’re pretty cool, Kaylee.” Eddy was satisfied, his cheerful appearance offset by the wariness of his restless gaze.
She sat back in her seat. Her courage began to crumble again. Like yesterday, she couldn’t stop the tears. She cried quietly for a moment.
Eddy pulled into the parking lot of a Starbucks and waited. He tapped the steering wheel, gaze going to her.
“Okay. This is awkward,” he said. “If you’re upset because I threw your phone out the window, then I’m sorry.”
“No,” she replied, regaining her composure. “I just … Nathan makes my head want to explode. I just want to strangle him and then sometimes, I just want him to kiss me.”
“Ah. One of those situations,” Eddy said. “In that case, if I let you call him whenever you want, will you stop crying? I just need to be able to monitor what you say to him, in case there’s some escape plan hatching. We straight?”
She nodded. Nathan was the last person she thought she’d want to talk to but the only one she could think of who made the supernatural nightmare she’d entered a little less scary.
Eddy pulled out his phone and dialed then handed it to her. Kaylee swallowed her tears.
“Nathan.” His low voice was clipped.
“Hey,” she said.
“Are you okay?” The edge disappeared. “What happened? Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” She glanced at Eddy. “He’s being nice. I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
Eddy gave her the thumbs-up sign.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” she said.
“It’s not your fault, Kaylee,” Nathan replied softly. “We need to get through this. When it’s over, we’ll talk about last night.”
That doesn’t sound promising.
“You should stay away, Nathan,” she told him. “Shadowman and Eddy aren’t going to let you near me anyway.”
“I’m coming for you, sweetheart. I don’t care who or what gets in my way. They can’t stop me anyway.”
“You’re such an arrogant asshole.”
“I hear that a lot. Must be a turn on to be around someone who’s always right. Makes women drop like flies around me.”
“Oh, really? You’re wrong about a few things,” she retorted. “First, Shadowman didn’t kill Mike. A blonde with blue eyes did! Second, it’s not being an asshole that makes women fall at your feet. It’s your twelve inch dick! That’s all you have going for you, Nathan, because your people skills suck!”
“Ten and a half, but thanks for the boost.”
“Third, I swear to god, if you think I’m going to fall at your feet or if call me sweetheart one more time, I will use the knife Eddy gave me on you.”
“You don’t have it in you,” he replied, laughing.
She hung up on him.
“That’s not a healthy relationship,” Eddy said, accepting the phone back. “Does he really have a twelve inch dick?”
“Ten and a half.” She wiped her face, furious enough to shake. “I don’t want to talk to him anymore. Remind me of that if I ask again or if he calls me.”
“Yeah, sure,” Eddy replied. “You want to talk about it?”
“No, I don’t.” She opened the car door and got out. She wiped her eyes. “I want this to be over.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. You might as well get used to me and Shadowman.” Eddy held the door open for her.
“Why are you so happy?”
“Because I love my job.”
“That’s just … insane.”
The happy, Satan-worshipping assassin went to the counter to order them coffee. Strung out on emotion, Kaylee sat down in a corner.
Her skin smelled of Nathan. It was killing her. She wanted to be wrapped in his arms again, even if he was the biggest asshole she’d ever met in her entire life.