Justin abandoned Jess in the driveway, and by the time she joined him in the house she could see he’d already exchanged barbs with the redhead.
“Jess, go in the living room, now.”
It was a direct order, and only that it came from a place of concern lessened the sting. She didn’t know what to expect, but she felt protective over her angel. She inched back to the door and peered into the room. Some ugly thing in the depths of her wanted to witness the girl’s demise. She wanted revenge, and the range of emotions she suffered was disturbing.
Tommie’s face brightened when she addressed him again. “Justinnnnn.” She drew his name out in a way that sent a pang of jealousy coursing through Jess. She stifled the urge to spring on the woman and search out her own retribution.
“Did Dawson send you?” His voice was monotone, no longer the musical sound that kept Jess calm.
“Sweetheart, I’m just here to do a job, send a message of sorts.” As she spoke she traced his bottom lip with her index finger.
“You have two choices, neither of which grants you access to Jordan. You can run back to Dawson and tell him his plan was aborted, or I can end you now.”
She giggled, as though he had lavished her with humor only a demon could decipher. “What ya gonna do? Kill me and leave me here for Jordan to find?” She pushed her lips out in a phony pout.
Justin moved with such velocity that Jess missed the moment when he clutched the fiend’s throat, in his oversized hand. Her impish face morphed from beauty queen, to something more akin to the beasts brought to life in horror movies. Her skull was visible, and the bit of flesh covering it was in the latter stages of decomposition. She managed to wedge her foot between his chest and her body and lodge herself in a corner of the ceiling. The moans and shrieks seemed to evolve from somewhere deeper than her throat, and they drove into Jess’ ears. Jess used her hands to dilute the racket, but her eyes were fixated on the terror before her.
Jess retreated into the living room; she needed to regroup. Sure she wouldn’t throw up or pass out, she rose and returned to the archway. Justin fell to the floor with a body, which no longer resembled a human, in one hand and Tommie’s head in the other. She didn’t want to crumble, so she elevated her line of sight to a picture on the wall above Justin’s head. She’d seen his face for only seconds, but she knew him and he was burdened by sadness. Jess wished she could take it from him.
A dead calm encompassed Jess, Justin, and the dead monster. Jess was anxious, concerned that Jordan would make it back and be subjected to the scene. When Justin moved, her fears were allayed. The pain was erased from his features as he addressed her. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”
Jess dropped to the floor and ordered the tears flooding her face with salty moisture to disappear. She didn’t cry for the loss of life she’d just witnessed, but because she was overjoyed that her brother was safe again. She was washing her face in the sink when her angel returned. Outside the window, she saw Jordan hop out of his car.
Justin went straight to work removing all proof of the confrontation. “Go keep Jordan occupied. I’ll meet you outside in a minute.”
He was calm and methodical, and Jess was grateful for the peace he imposed on her. She met Jordan on the patio and filled the next twenty minutes with small talk about the dogs and their neighbors.
Then Jordan’s mind seemed to snap back to his guest and he posed the question she’d dreaded. “Where’s Tommie?”
Jess shrugged, unsure of how to reassure him. “She said she was going home to change.”
Since childhood, Jordan had possessed the ability to see through her when she lied. She squirmed, sure he knew she worked to cloak something sinister. Justin appeared just in time to save her from more questions. He stood behind her brother, gently resting his hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “Thanks for the invite. It was really nice to meet you.”
“Ya’ll leavin’?” Jordan spun around a grin replacing the confusion as shook Justin’s hand.
“Yeah, we gotta get back. Come visit your sister soon.” Justin held Jordan’s grasp too long, but Jordan didn’t appear to notice.
Jess marveled at the way sound of Justin’s voice put Jordan at ease. He no longer searched for his cell phone or fidgeted with his keys.
“Hey, take care of Jess for me.” He smiled at Justin, but the duty he’d just bestowed upon the angel was significant.
Jess wrapped her arms around her brother’s slender frame before she slid into the passenger seat. “I miss you already. Come visit soon, okay?”
He nodded and pushed the door closed. In no time, they were on the interstate watching the scenery float across the windshield. Justin’s silence was full of irritation or maybe resentment. Jess couldn’t define what exactly thickened the air between them.
“Talk to me.” She shifted, giving him her full attention.
He glanced away from the road and looked at her worry cresting in the waves of color that danced in his indigo eyes. “I hate that you saw me do that.”
“That I saw what? You saved my brother!”
Prior to this moment, Jess hadn’t thought he concerned himself with her perception of him. However, he had killed in her presence, and anxiety had its way with him now. How could he question her feelings now? The thing he’d killed wasn’t a girl, it was a beast, and Jess hardly felt sorry for it. There was no way she’d confuse the stunning angel with the monster he sometimes fancied himself.
“What was she?” She decided to change the subject.
His face relaxed a bit, the hard points of bone disappeared into the supple skin of his cheeks. “She was like Vi almost, except the angel who made her had already fallen, and the human was probably not a willing participant. Whoever he was, he was weak and therefore his child was fragile. It’s not like that with Dawson.”
Jess saw him peer at her from the corner of his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
His lips twisted with irritation. “I know you want me to go after him. You think I’m playing some game or that I’m weak, but…”
Jess interrupted. “The last thing I think is…you’re weak. I never said that. I would never say that.”
“Asher said Dawson wants to kill you. I just don’t think he would.” The admission drained the color from his cheeks and lips. Did he feel it leave? Jess thought he must’ve, because he was banging his thumbs on the steering wheel.
“Are you insane? He tried to off my brother. He’s had his hands around my throat. Justin. What is it with you two?” She didn’t really want to know, and the fact that he doubted Dawson’s intentions infuriated her.
“You can’t possibly understand. He despises me, but his hate has grounds. I don’t think this is about you.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and gazed at the screen, then threw it on the seat between them.
“I can’t understand because you hide behind riddles and talk in circles. You’re right I have no clue what you’re trying to tell me.” Jess slammed her hand against the dash and wished immediately she hadn’t, as a shock of pain shot up her arm. She rubbed her elbow, too annoyed to pay it much attention.
“I know.”
Jess wanted him to reveal his secrets, but his lips were pursed together and as he ran his fingers through his black hair, she realized the conversation was over. She watched the miles of concrete pass on the Causeway, and wondered if she would ever comprehend the madness that made her love him.
“What did you do to my brother?” she mumbled.
“What do you mean?”
“He forgot her…or something. What did you do?” Jess laced her fingers through his, a demonstration of her inability to stay annoyed at him.
“I just healed him. The same way I heal your headaches. He knows she was there, he just doesn’t care.” She’d offended him by questioning his motives and either he didn’t bother to hide it or couldn’t anymore.
“Don’t ever do that to me.” She scooted across the seat and laid her head against his arm.
He grinned as he brushed her hand across his mouth, and then wrapped his arm around her. Jess wondered if they’d ever get along, but was happy he was with her again.