Eve of Darkness (28 page)

Alec frowned. “Hostile? What are you talking about?”

Reed drew abreast of her. “There is some jealousy in the ranks.”

“She
must
go,” Gadara said. “Once a mentor is paired with a Mark, they stay together until the Mark is self-sufficient.”

“Don’t start playing by the rules now,” Alec snapped.

“And do not presume to dictate to me, Cain. If you separate from Ms. Hollis, I will make that separation permanent and pair her with a mentor who will keep her close at hand.”

Eve’s hands settled on her hips. “No one’s buying your ‘following the rules’ line, you know. Why don’t you just tell us the truth?”

Gadara’s face split with a smile. “I want you to get your feet wet.”

“Whatever,” she scoffed. “I’ve gotten wet plenty of times in the last week.”

Alec cleared his throat. Reed grinned.

“You know what I mean,” she mumbled.

“Okay,” Gadara conceded with laughter in his deep voice, “Whether you believe me or not, I would like you to get your hands dirty. I want you to see firsthand what we do and why we do it, and I trust that Cain will keep you safe under his watch.”

I want you to get your hands dirty.
Eve considered that statement carefully. Since Gadara didn’t strike her as being overly altruistic when his own needs were involved, his statement made her contemplate whether or not her acceptance of the mark was important in some way. And if that was the case, what could her rejection of it mean?

“That settles it, then,” she stated, determined to play the hand dealt to her until the end of the game. If Gadara insisted she go, she had to know the real reason why. And frankly, she
wanted
to go. There was a thrumming anticipation in her blood that was becoming all too familiar, a darkness like black velvet—soft, warm, and sensuous. She’d started the morning wanting a few hours of normalcy. Now she wanted to beat the shit out of something not human. Something that would give her a good fight, but wouldn’t leave any guilt behind.

“It’s not settled with me,” Alec retorted.

Reed exhaled audibly. “Just be careful, Eve.”

“What?” Fists clenching, Alec glared at his brother. “You’re going to agree with this? You pansy-assed motherfucker!”

“Screw you,” Reed bit out. “It’s what she wants.”

“I don’t give a shit. She doesn’t know better. She hasn’t been trained and she’s pissed off.”

“Um, excuse me.” Eve waved. “I’m right here. Don’t talk about me like I’m not.”

“Sorry.” Coming up to her, Alec pulled her into a bear hug.

Eve rested her hand against his abdomen and tilted her head back to look up at him. “We didn’t do so bad last night. We’re both still kicking.”

“You were almost splattered across the street like roadkill.” His tone was exasperated . . . and resigned. “How much worse could it have been?”

“This is not open to debate,” Gadara said. “Her handler and I are agreed.”

Alec’s head turned. He shot a killer glance at the screen. “You had better pray that nothing happens to her.”

“I pray every day, Cain. Can you say the same?”

Eve tugged Alec toward the door before the situation grew any more explosive.

“This isn’t a game, Eve,” he warned darkly as the elevator doors shut out the view of a somber-faced Reed. With his hands propped on the handrail, Alec leaned back and glowered.

“It is to Gadara.” Her mouth curved grimly. “But damned if I’ll play the part of the pawn without making some moves of my own.”

Reed watched Eve disappear behind the closing elevator doors, then he faced Raguel. “This is too serious for just one team to handle.”

“I am inclined to believe it is their synergy that is causing the problem, not a mask.” Raguel adjusted his tie. “I have a meeting with Steve Wynn in a half hour. I wish I looked as good in my suit as you do in yours.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re going to completely disregard what Cain and Eve told you?”

Raguel relaxed into his chair with a sigh. “You heard his story. He was as focused on Ms. Hollis as he was on the hunt.”

“So? He was doing his job.”

“Was he? Or is his heart ruling his head? There is a tremendous difference between happenstance and calculation. Cain hasn’t been trained.”

Reed felt a chill move through him. He knew deliberate obtuseness when he saw it. “You’re gambling with something so potentially damaging that I’m at a loss for words. I don’t understand why you’re not erring on the side of caution.”

“You want my job?” Raguel’s voice was dangerously soft. “Be my guest. Manage the situation as you see fit.”

“With what resources?”

Pristine white teeth flashed within the frame of coffee-dark skin. “With the ones you have at your disposal. I must function within my station. So, too, must you.”

“Your station is greater than mine.”

“Exactly,” the archangel hissed. “Do not forget that.”

The screen went black, leaving Reed in turmoil. He had twenty-one charges in total, including Eve. At any given moment, at least one of them was locked in combat that would lead to death—either the Mark’s or his or her prey. From the heavens, orders streamed down into Reed’s consciousness like water, forcing him to shift through the various threads. He assigned Marks to various hunts based on their experience, location, and a multitude of other factors, not the least of which was the needs of the firm to which he was assigned.

To his knowledge, no handler had ever thinned his charges by setting them on a task of his own design while relying on the others to pick up the slack. Doing so would weaken all of them. Some Marks were better able to handle specific Infernals than others. Assigning a less-talented Mark to the hunt because his more experienced team member was occupied by an unsanctioned task was so dangerous Reed couldn’t believe he was even thinking of it.

But what options did he have?

He could use an Infernal, either one presently working within the firm or one scheduled for vanquishing. He could offer a bargain—cooperation or death. Infernals were survivors; they would do whatever was necessary to keep their lives. But it was not his place to decide which Infernals were worthy of saving and which were destined to burn in Hell. As with his previous option—using Marks—Reed had no idea what the ramifications would be for reaching so far beyond his assigned duties, but he knew they would be dire. He needed someone farther up the food chain than he was. Someone to take the heat, if necessary.

He needed an archangel to assist him.

It wasn’t completely improbable. As long as he offered a perceived benefit, he could solicit help. Cain made devil’s bargains all the time.

Reed avoided the elevator and moved to the reception area instead. He paused before the desk of the elderly Mark who answered Raguel’s phones. “Do we have any visiting firms in the area or one scheduled to arrive shortly?”

The firms always kept each other appraised of visits. Putting two archangels into close proximity required greater security, plus they felt it was their due to be shown deference by whoever was visiting.

“The European firm sent seven Marks yesterday,” the secretary replied. “Sarakiel is scheduled to visit next week.”

Reed nodded grimly. “Thank you.”

Of course it would have to be Sara. God forbid his task should be easy for him.

As he prepared to shift from his present location to her office, Reed steeled himself for the task ahead. She’d want his blood.

It was true. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

 
It was a thirty-minute drive to Upland from Anaheim on a good day. To say the freeway traffic in Southern California was horrendous would be an understatement. Stop-and-go speeds added hours to most trips, and accidents often turned highways into parking lots.

Today wasn’t too bad because it was still early afternoon, not yet the time when most residents began their commutes home. Alec stared out the passenger window, the fingers of his left hand brushing back and forth over the denim that covered his knee. He was quiet, contemplative.

He and Eve had left Gadara Tower through the subterranean parking complex using a Jeep Liberty that belonged to Gadara Enterprises. He hoped that move would throw anyone following Eve’s car off the trail, which still sat in the street level parking lot. With suspicious cops and an overzealous Nix, they couldn’t be too careful.

Eve drove to a strip mall and parked. Exiting through the rear door of a nail salon, they walked up the road to a Hertz rental car agency and picked up new wheels. Alec paid with cash rather than a traceable credit card. Now they were settled in a Ford Focus whose satellite transponder wasn’t monitored by Raguel—at least not at present. The archangel would catch on eventually and when he did he would tap into Hertz’s tracking system. For now, however, they were off the radar.

Not a word passed between them during the exchange; there was nothing to say. Eve didn’t trust Raguel and Alec couldn’t defend him. The entire situation was fucked six ways to Sunday.

“He who is a hired hand,” he murmured, “and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”

“What?” Eve asked.

Alec glanced at her. “John 10:12.”

“You’re calling Gadara the hired hand? You think he’s tossed us to the wolves, too?”

“I don’t know what to think, angel.” He leaned his head back against the headrest. “I’m having a hard time understanding how he can be so cavalier about something so important.”

“He doesn’t believe us,” she said flatly. “It’s either that, or he believes it and wants the shit to hit the fan. Any idea what reasoning he would have to allow that to happen?”

“No.”

Alec had never liked the archangels. Similar to children, they curried the favor of their father. They competed with their siblings in the hopes of outshining them. Marks and their mentors and handlers were simply a means to that end. That was why Alec had come to appreciate his autonomy; it kept him far beyond their machinations.

“And that whole ‘get your hands dirty’ excuse is crap,” Eve said crossly. “I’m not buying it.”

“I’m not either.”

“So what’s the point?” She looked at him. “What could he possibly gain beyond pissing you off?”

“Are you asking me, or just talking out loud?”

“Of course I’m asking you.” Her eyes went back to the road. They were traveling a respectable seventy-five miles per hour on Route 60. The windows were up so they didn’t have to shout, but the air conditioner was on. The chilled air ruffled through Eve’s hair, blowing loose tendrils from her ponytail across her cheek. She swiped at them impatiently. “You know what’s going on better than I do.”

“Not really,” he said dryly. “That’s the problem. I’ve never had a handler or worked within a firm. My orders come directly from Jehovah. I have no idea how to function within a framework. You and I are completely in the dark with this.”

“Okay, then. How would you handle this if you were on your own?”

Alec didn’t hesitate to answer, because he’d been thinking of his options ever since the night before. “I would set up camp in Upland. Infernals can smell me coming, so I would stake out the masonry and break in during off hours. Then I’d dig around.”

“Let’s go back to the smell thing.” Her fingers flexed on the steering wheel. “If I was omnipotent and I created a legion of warriors to fight on my behalf, I wouldn’t advertise them with a unique scent. I’d want to keep them hidden.”

“Deer smell the wolves coming. This hunt isn’t any different from what you see in the animal kingdom.”

“It’s like he’s giving them a chance to get away with whatever they’re doing.”

“The Lord has a strong sense of fair play.”

“Or a sick sense of humor.”

“Angel—”

“So let’s follow your plan,” she said quickly. “We’ll grab a hotel room, then stake out the masonry.”

His eyes closed. He reached out blindly to set his hand on her thigh. “We don’t have a choice. I’m sorry.”

Her hand settled over his much larger one. Eve was slender and delicate, far too precious to risk so pointlessly. “One step at a time.”