Avenging Angel (The Fallen 4)

“Tell me,” Jonathan insisted as he slammed his fist against the dash, making the radio shake.

Cody ran around to the back of the car. He climbed in, sending blood drops raining against the cage that kept suspects in check.

“Drive,” Cody told him.

Like he needed to be told. Tanner kept the windows down. He pulled in the scents around them and got locked on the one that mattered most.

Sin and sweetness. Rich, lush woman. A lost angel.

And he followed her. He shoved the gas pedal to the floor, weaved around the wreckage, and asked his partner, “You know Marna’s an angel of death . . .” She had been. “Well, one of those other death ass**les just took her away.” The patrol car raced through the darkness. “And we’re getting her back.”

They landed on a rooftop. The sun was rising, just cracking open the sky with streaks of red and gold. The instant Marna’s feet touched down, Bastion let her go.

Marna whirled on him and drove her fist up into his jaw. He didn’t flinch. He’s getting used to pain.

His gaze, steady and intense, just held hers. “I don’t care if I make you angry.”

When had he gone crazy? How had she missed it? “What were you thinking? You can’t just abduct—”

He gave a tight shake of his head. “I’m keeping you safe.”

“No, you’re marking yourself for death, that’s what you’re doing.” She spun away from him and hurried to the edge of the roof. They were back in the Quarter. She knew these streets. Tanner would be searching for her. How long would it take before he turned his attention back to the city?

Doesn’t matter. She wasn’t going to wait around for Tanner to find her. She’d go back and find him.

Strong fingers closed around her arms. “If you go back to the shifter, you’ll be the one dying.”

Shocked, she turned and her gaze lifted to his. “Tanner would never hurt me.” She believed that with complete certainty.

“It’s not him I’m worried about.”

Her heart raced faster in her chest. “You did see who was in that alley with Cody.”

He shook his head. “You know angels can’t lie.”

She struggled to remember his exact words. Then—dammit ! “Just tell me! Tell me so I can keep Tanner safe. I have to know—”

His hands tightened on her arms. “I don’t know! If I knew, I would have killed him already.”

His words shocked her into silence.

“All I know . . .” His voice dropped, and he exhaled on a long sigh. “. . . is that my list has changed.”

The death list.

He swallowed, and Marna saw the flash of pain in his eyes. “And now, you’re on the list.”

“Death angels.” Jonathan gave a slow nod that Tanner saw from the corner of his eye. “Okay, so there are different types of angels? I thought—I thought they were all the same.”

“Hell, no. They’re like anyone else—some good, some evil. The most dangerous ones… they have to be stopped.” Which was what he’d do to Bastion once he caught the guy. Bastion had flown so fast, it was hard to trace the scent. As soon as he’d reached the Quarter, Tanner had lost that elusive smell. Now he circled around, gaze darting from the left to the right. Where are you?

“How can angels . . . be bad?” Now Jonathan sounded confused. Who could blame the guy? Humans were at a serious disadvantage in the paranormal game. The guy had already been jerked around once. No telling what bull the captain had fed him.

“The world is full of good and evil.” This came from Cody. Had the guy stopped bleeding yet? “Even angels can sin.”

Right. Tanner said, “And they can get their lily white asses tossed from heaven.” Like Sammael. Like Az. Soon . . . like Bastion?

“Is that—is that what happened with your angel?” Jonathan asked as his fingers drummed against the dashboard. He’d dented it with his fist earlier. “Did your Marna get cast out?”

“No,” he snapped. He needed to shift. The panther would be able to pick up Marna’s scent so much better. But dawn was coming, and there were already too many humans out in the streets. There wasn’t enough space to hide the beast in the daylight.

“Marna was different,” Cody said softly as he leaned forward, and his fingers curled around the cage. “Our brother Brandt cut her wings away.”

Jonathan gave a low whistle. “That’s one sick family you have there,” he muttered. “I hope you gave that bastard exactly what he deserved.”

I didn’t. But someone else sure did. “He’s in hell.”

Jonathan grunted. “Sounds like he’s just where he needs to be.”

“You’re saying that I’m going to . . . die?” But she didn’t want to die yet. She had just really started to live. She wanted to stay there, with Tanner, to have a child—

Bastion shook his head. “It’s not going to happen. I won’t let it. I’ll keep you safe. You don’t have to worry.”

Then she realized what he was doing, and it broke her heart. “You can’t . . . you can’t change what’s meant to be.” An angel was supposed to follow orders. To take the souls in their care.

She knew of another angel who’d refused to take a soul. The angel had been right here, just blocks away in New Orleans. One dark night, the angel called Keenan had refused to take the soul of a human woman. He’d thought that Nicole St. James should have the chance to live.

For his sin, he’d been punished. He’d fallen.

A tear slipped down her cheek. Why did things have to be this way? Why did everything have to be so twisted? “You can’t fall because of me.”

His hand lifted. His fingers trembled as he brushed the tear away. “I’m not going to stand back and watch you suffer.” His jaw clenched. “I’ll do what I must in order to keep you safe. Others have changed fate. I can do it, too.” A pause. “I’ve done it once already, and I didn’t fall. I’m still here.”

What? “You know you can’t get away with that. It’s only a matter of time until—until—” Until his crimes caught up with him. She shook her head. “I won’t let you be punished for me!”

His hand was still against her cheek. “You never should have been a death angel. I know. I saw how much taking each soul hurt you.”