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The bar was still full of patrons when I arrived. Clive and my other bartender, Kendra, were hard at work refilling drinks and offering a listening ear. I waved a hand at them as I passed by, not feeling up to talking.
I pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the few lingering looks I was getting from some of the vamps. Normally, I’d have talked one up and brought him back to my apartment, but not tonight.
Tonight, I just wanted to crash.
Besides, after Remington, everyone else would just be subpar. I closed my eyes briefly at the memory of his mouth on mine, his hands in my hair, and his hard length between my thighs.
Fuck, could that vamp kiss.
I slugged up the stairs but paused half-way to pull my heels off. Carrying them in my hands, I reached into my clutch and pulled out my keys. When I slid it into the lock and found the door already unlocked, I froze.
Reaching under my skirt, I grabbed my knife and brandished it in one hand while the other shoved the door open. When my eyes landed on the dark figure sitting on the edge of my bed, I sighed.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, moving over to my island and setting my knife down before propping my foot up on a chair to unstrap the sheath.
Remington stood from my bed and approached me, his hands replacing mine as he made quick work of the leather. I didn’t fight him, I was too tired to care, and I switched legs for him to undo the other sheath.
“We never finished our talk.”
His words were soft but nevertheless irritating. “Can’t we finish this later? I’m beat.”
Brushing his fingers against my cheek, he murmured, “So, fragile and yet so strong. No wonder you’re such an enigma.”
I let out a bitter laugh and pushed his hands away. “Okay, whatever you say. I think you just have a death wish.” I paused for a second and then shook my head. “I guess that means I do too.”
Rem allowed me to walk away from him, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. “That makes us two of a kind. It’s destiny.”
I snorted, stopping by my bedside. “Destiny. Fate. I remember my dad saying something along the same lines right before he killed Bruce.”
Remington was there then, his fingers the barest touch on my back. “I am sorry for what they did to you, but surely you see what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
I sucked in a breath as his hands found the zipper of the dress. My words came out stuttering as he undid my dress. “I don’t know what you want me to do about it. They don’t care about the grey area. If you don’t have a heart beat or you’re even slightly not human, you’re evil. I had a hard-enough time keeping them from messing with Mary.” I caught the front of the dress before it fell to the floor and turned to face him.
“I could understand their apprehension. An archangel unbound by the laws of heaven can have the potential to be quite dangerous.” His eye lashes fluttered against his cheeks, his gaze on my exposed skin. “Which is why she and the rest of us would be much safer if someone else took the guild in a different direction. A more understanding, less how do you say,” he grinned at me, “shoot first, ask questions later direction.”
“And you think that’s me?” I scoffed. “I left the guild for a reason. I have no intentions of going back.” I stepped away from him and shooed him. “Now, get out. Deal’s over. You played your hand and loss.”
I expected him to freak out or demand me do as he bid or he’d take my dad again, but he simply smiled. “Very well. As you say, the deal is off. I would like my payment back then.”
I frowned. “What? I’m not giving you my dad.” When his eyes flickered to the dress, I let out a disbelieving laugh. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I never kid.”
We stared each other down as I contemplated calling his bluff. Then in a moment of pure recklessness, I dropped the dress, letting it pool at my feet. Remington let out a sound, a mixture of a growl and a moan of pleasure, as his eyes took in my body only clad in panties.
Not giving him long to look his fill, I kicked the dress at his feet. “There, you have your dress. Now, get out.”
With a smug grin on his lips, Remington picked the dress up and brought it to his nose, inhaling while locking eyes with me. “It’s still warm.”
“Get out, or do I need to light a fire under your ass?” I held my hand up and let my flame pool in my palm.
Remington inclined his head and walked toward the door. I slipped under the covers and didn’t watch him leave. A ghost of a kiss touched my cheek and a whisper, “See you soon,” brushed in my ear.
And then he was gone, leaving me alone in the dark. Just the way I liked it.
I don’t remember if I dreamed. If I did, my mind wasn’t letting me remember it. I just knew that I had a new determination when I woke just after ten.
Hurrying through my morning routine, I was down the stairs and pulling away on my Harley in less than an hour. I made quick work of the L.A.’s streets on my way to the guild headquarters, my mind on what Remington had said to me and what I would have to do next.
He was right, whether I wanted to admit it or not. Someone needed to step in and teach the guild that not everything was so black and white. I had been too hurt and betrayed before to ever think that person could be me, but now time had scarred over the wound in my heart, and I was ready to make sure what happened to me never happened to anyone else.
Headquarters was a flurry of bodies as I pushed my way through the front room and toward my dad’s bedroom. I could hear my dad yelling at the help as they tried to fuss over him, and I cracked a smile.
Knocking on the side of the open door, I popped my head inside. “Anyone still alive in here?”
“Adara!” My dad’s expression softened when he saw me. He waved away the nurse they were no doubt trying to force on him while Alec stood off to the side with a stubborn expression on his face.
“Hey, daddy, how are you feeling?” I tucked my keys in my pocket and approached his bed. Sitting on the edge of it, I placed my hand on top of his. “You’re looking much better than last night.”
“Yes, yes.” He nodded, holding my hand firmly. “Those damn vamps and their drugs. I heard you are the only reason I’m alive.”
I snorted. “Like anyone could kill you. You’re too stubborn.”
Alec made a sound, half in agreement and half in annoyance. “You got that right.”
I shot him a curious look before turning back to my dad. “It was all a misunderstanding is all.”
My dad stared at me for a moment, not really believing everything I was saying. He wouldn’t push though. He never did, not until Bruce. “Nevertheless, I’m happy to see you back.”
“She’s not back,” Alec interrupted before I could say one way or another. “Adara has made it clear she doesn’t want anything to do with us besides the occasional favor.”
I glowered at Alec before giving my dad a small smile. “Actually, I was thinking I could hang around a while. Maybe meet some of the new recruits. One of Alec’s hunters almost took my head off last night.”
“What?” Astonishment and horror filled my dad’s voice, his eyes zeroing in on Alec. “This is not acceptable. If they can’t tell a vamp from a human, then they shouldn’t be out in the field, let alone on such a sensitive mission.”
Alec tried to argue, but I jumped in. “Maybe if I was around more, Alec wouldn’t have to use trainees. You’re clearly in need of a few extra hands.” I ignored Alec who was trying to get my attention, knowing full well I was throwing him under the bus. If things were going to change, I already knew Alec would be biggest obstacle to get over.
Better to start the ground work now.
My dad patted my hand with a happy smile. “I think, on behalf of the guild, we would be delighted to have you back in our fold. I know I am. Aren’t you, Alec?” he asked over my shoulder.
“Ecstatic.”
I grinned over my shoulder at Alec’s pouting face. Oh, yes. This would be a challenge like no other I’d ever faced, but I had to remember this wasn’t for me. This was for Remington... and Bruce. No other innocent person would ever fall prey to the hands of the Phoenix Hunter Guild if I had anything to say about it.
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Get more Adara in the Mary Wiles Series, check out the first two chapters on the next page!
The road to heaven is paved with Mary Wiles’ victims.
Los Angeles isn’t just a playground for those searching for a new start. It’s a darker and more dangerous place than they’ll ever know. But Mary’s not fooled.
With her hands full trying to play human while looking for a way back to heaven, Mary doesn’t have time to polish her halo let alone solve a murder case. But when she finds out demons are responsible, Mary just can’t help herself.
When Mary makes a mistake causing her best friend to be taken, she will have to make a choice: sacrifice an innocent for the chance to get her revenge or lose everything she has worked for. Mary starts to realize there is no clear path back to heaven without becoming tainted herself.