Jacks’s face fell, and he let go of Maddy. He took a few steps away and turned his back to her, not saying a word. When he did speak again, his voice was flat and distant.

“I’m glad you called. I needed to pick up some stuff from the house,” Jackson said.

“You don’t have to try to keep up appearances for me, Jackson. We know each other.”

“We thought we did. But you’re with . . . him now. Turns out I didn’t know you at all.”

“Jacks, how could you be so cruel?” Maddy cried out. “You don’t know anything about it.”

“I know everything about it.”

“Jacks . . .”

“Maddy, please leave.”

“Ja—”

“Please.”

He didn’t have to ask twice. Holding her hand up to her face as if to hide her sadness, Maddy quickly got into her car and turned on the ignition. As she spun around the fountain to exit the grounds, her headlights hit on Jackson for a moment. He stood there in the cold, artificial light, sheet white, his face stony like some kind of vengeful god of old.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Maddy sent Linden’s team a report. “No go.” She didn’t explain further. They’d know what it meant.

The visit had gone just as she’d expected, only it had affected her much more than she had imagined.

The encounter with Jackson had left her rattled. Their unexpected burst of passion showed that their anger wasn’t enough to keep them apart, but now she regretted ever agreeing to go. Jackson was so different, so in line with the Council, more than he had ever been before. And he was so cold.

Until, of course, that spark had flared between them.

She thought of Tom getting ready to face the demons yet again and felt raw. And guilty. All it had taken was just one moment to nearly betray her promise to Tom, to almost kiss Jackson, like some Angelstruck girl stuck in a dream. And after everything they’d said to each other . . .

• • •

Maddy barely slept that night and woke up early the next day, her mind spinning like an overworked hamster wheel. She went to the diner, which was still closed to the public. She made some tea and slumped down in one of the booths.

She looked over the quiet diner. Even though it was closed, Kevin had come in every day to give the place a good dusting and sweep. Always the optimist, Kevin had told her: “Need to be ready to open once the demons are gone.”

Kevin had insisted on staying in Angel City even though Maddy could have easily gotten him out. He wasn’t ready to abandon ship yet, and, if Maddy was honest, he wasn’t ready to leave her behind, either. She had finally gotten him to agree to move to one of the bomb shelters set up all the way past Fairfax Avenue. But both of them knew that if the battle began, those shelters might not offer much protection.

Maddy looked out across the diner. She could have probably walked around

blindfolded, carrying three hamburger specials, and still not spill a fry or a drop of milk shake. How many mornings, afternoons, and evenings had she spent there? Funny, she used to always want to get out of that waitress uniform, out of Angel City altogether, and now she longed for those days again. In a few days’ time, would there even be an Angel City?

A voice broke her reverie, startling her.

“Maddy. It’s been too long.”

Detective Sylvester, in the same old overcoat he’d worn when she first met him in at ACHS. Standing next to him was someone else she knew well. Someone she wouldn’t have expected to see in a million years.

“Professor Archson?” Maddy said, a smile brightening her face.

The Archangel smiled back at Maddy. “I thought I told you to call me Susan, Madison.”

“Sorry to burst in on you,” Detective Sylvester said. “I know the place is closed, but I took the liberty of picking the lock. I hope you don’t mind if we share a table with you for a few minutes.”

Maddy’s eyes flipped from Sylvester to her former professor. Susan saw the look in Maddy’s eyes, and the confusion.

Tags: Scott Speer Immortal City Paranormal
Source: readsnovelonline.net