Until Darkness Comes (6 page)

Olivia slammed her Spanish book closed when the rumble of Max’s Harley called to her from the open window. He hated to be kept waiting. She shoved her book inside her backpack and ran down the stairs, kissing her dad’s cheek on the way out. “See ya later, Dad.”

She bolted out the front door and ran into a solid wall of muscle. A pair of strong arms steadied her and a wave of déjà vu kicked her in the gut, only this time when she looked up, it wasn’t a pair of violet eyes staring down at her. “Max—”

“Hey there, where’s the fire?” he teased, circling his hands around her waist as he pulled her in for a quick kiss.
Well, this is certainly a pleasant change.
Something soft brushed against her leg, and she looked down to see a ball of white fur scurry past her.
“Andre!” Olivia shoved her bag into Max’s chest and pushed past him to chase after her cat.
“Andre! You naughty cat, get back in that house!”
The cat stood in the grass, frozen in fear, waiting expectantly for Olivia to rescue him. She scooped him up, tucking the cat into the corner of her arm. He let out a grateful “Meow” in response to her scolding and immediately began purring. She nuzzled him a second before depositing him back through the front door, shutting it tightly behind her.
“Thanks.” Olivia grabbed her bag from Max and pulled the shoulder strap over her head. She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Come on, we’re going to be late,” she called, jogging over to the Harley.
***

“Are you nervous?”
“Hardly,” Liam scoffed, running his fingers through his hair, styling it in the trendy GQ fashion he’d seen in the magazines Balen so helpfully acquired for him. He’d also returned with bags of clothes, making some teasing comment about Liam needing all the help he could get.
In the end, he opted for jeans and a t-shirt, telling Balen the plan was to blend in, not pose for the magazine’s next cover shoot. Balen told him he’d stand out in a crowd no matter what he wore, asking him how many six-four, two-twenty pound guys did he think went to that school?
Well, more than one—hopefully.
“I’m telling you, it’s going to be brutal in there. I’ve heard stories.”
“Balen—” Liam sighed in exasperation. “If I can do battle in the armies of Heaven, I can surely survive this.”
Balen gave him a look that said he wasn’t so sure, and patted his back as if to say “It was nice knowin’ ya’.”
“Let me know if you need backup,” he smiled, getting one more jab in before becoming serious. “Do you have a plan yet? About the girl, I mean?”
“Not really. I’ve got some ground to catch up on since she thinks I tried to beat up her boyfriend.”
“He’s manipulative. You’re going to have a bit of a learning curve here on this one. Not many people are wise enough to realize that things are rarely as they seem. Max is deceptive. It’s your job to make her see that.”
He grabbed his keys off the counter and walked toward the door, pausing long enough to say, “Thanks for the pep talk.”
“I see you’ve already become well accustomed to sarcasm,” Balen retorted. “Too bad your humor is lost on me.”
Liam pulled the door closed behind him, doubting very much that it was. He climbed into the driver’s seat of his jet-black Camaro and turned the key in the ignition. The engine rumbled to life and he drove his foot into the accelerator, sending the tires skipping across the pavement as the Camaro fishtailed down the road.
“Attention, class,” Mrs. Phelps announced to her firsthour English class, just as the second bell rang. “We have a new student joining us from Atlanta. Please welcome Liam Wilson. Please, Liam, find an empty seat and we’ll begin.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Olivia whispered in disgruntled disbelief. His eyes locked on hers as the words left her lips. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she looked away in embarrassment. He walked down a narrow row of desks toward the empty seat beside her. Max sat at the back of the room, giving him a murderous glare that Liam returned with equal menace.
He glanced over at Olivia—by the scowl on her face, she hadn’t missed the exchange between them. He stopped at the vacant seat and gave her a small, apologetic grin. “Excuse me, Olivia. Is this seat taken?”
She looked up at him, opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She glanced hesitantly over her shoulder at Max. He followed her gaze—Max was livid. She didn’t respond to the availability of the seat. Instead, she turned back around and looked straight ahead without another glance.
Liam took the seat beside her and opened his book. A second later, her head snapped around to look at him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again.
“How’s your whiplash?” he whispered, giving her a disarming smile. If she wasn’t going to speak, it didn’t mean he couldn’t.
“Fine,” she replied coolly.
“I’m relieved to hear that. I was worried you’d have to file for Workers’ Comp.”
“You’re funny.”
“Sometimes—”
“Listen, I didn’t mean to be rude yesterday. I just think…”
The loud cough echoing from the back of the room sounded a lot like “back off.”
Olivia broke his gaze to look over her shoulder. She flashed Max a dazzling smile and held up her thumb, index, and pinky finger, mouthing the words, “I love you.”
Max smiled back and returned the sign. Olivia turned back, facing the front of the class. As soon as she looked away, his smile turned into a glare. Max’s face bit into a malicious grin and he rotated his wrist, bent his thumb and fifth finger down, and extended his middle finger, mouthing the words “Fuck you” to Liam.
Liam’s self-control snapped, a growl erupted from his chest as he leapt from his seat and flew to the back of the room. He caught Max around the throat, and lifted him out of his seat, slamming him into the wall.
A scream rent the room as Mrs. Phelps reached over to her desk and hit the panic alarm. A high-pitched ringing filled the hall and a strobe light flashed in the doorway.
Liam held the fallen angel against the wall—suspended in the air—resisting the urge to choke the life out of him, right then and there. Something hit his back, a minor irritation he hardly felt, but again, the small thump landed against his flank.
“Let him go, you maniac! What are you trying to do, kill him?”
The terror in her voice hit him like a sucker punch to the gut, and he immediately released his hold on Max, dropping him to the ground. Max bent over, gasping for air. Olivia dropped to her knees beside him, her arm draped protectively over his shoulder.
She shot Liam a seething glare just as two large men burst through the door and followed the direction of Mrs. Phelps’ pointed finger. One of the guards grabbed Liam by the arm and the other grabbed Max. The two were escorted out of the room and marched down to the office.
“Stay here,” one of security guards instructed, pointing to two chairs outside the principal’s office.
A malicious sneer spread across Max’s face. His dark brown eyes followed the officer like a cougar hunting its prey.
“Don’t even think about it,” Liam growled.
“You think you could stop me before I snapped his neck?”
“You want to see if I could?” He almost wished Max would try, relishing the idea of finishing what he’d started.
Tension in the air crackled as he waited for Max to move. After a moment of hesitation, Max took a big sigh and leaned back in his chair. “Well, you’re not like the other guardians. I’ll give you that much.” He worked his tongue in his mouth as if he was trying to get something out of his teeth.
“That’s because I’m not a guardian, and you don’t know the first thing about me.”
“Really…?” Max taunted. “I know more than you think, Warrior.”
“Then you know I could kill you just as easily as look at you. I’m not bound by the guardians’ laws.”
“But you are bound,” Max countered. “You’re bound by your love for the girl. Don’t even try to deny it. I can see it when you look at her. Do you really think she would ever forgive you for killing the ‘love of her life’?”
“If you think I’m going to let you have her, you’re crazy. Of course, you’d have to be to do what you’ve done. Say, how’d that work out for you, by the way?” He sniffed the air and grimaced. “I can smell your stench from over here. Do not think for one second that the blood of your brother doesn’t cry out for justice. I know what you did, and I’ll see to it that you burn for it.”
“Go to hell!” Max snarled.
“That’s exactly where I’m sending you.”
“I didn’t think angels were allowed to be such assholes.”
“Yeah, well, it looks like you fucked with the wrong angel.”
“I’m not giving up! Not even you can control the girl’s free will.”
“No, I can’t. But I can give her another option, a better option than you.”
Max chuckled. “Why don’t you keep that up? It seems to be working well for you. At this rate you’ll have her running into my arms and crawling into my bed in no time.”
A snarl reverberated in Liam’s chest, rage rippling through him like a tidal wave.
“Temper, temper…It does take some getting used to, doesn’t it? So many emotions, you really do need to learn some self-control. It doesn’t look good, you attacking me all the time.”
“Watch yourself, Max. You won’t always have the girl’s coattails to hide behind.”
Fury filled Max’s soulless black eyes. A victorious smiled pulled at the corner of Liam’s mouth as he stood up and walked toward the office. “If you’ll excuse me, they’re ready for me now.” He reached for the door as it opened and the secretary poked her head out.
“Liam Wilson?” she called.
“I’m right here, ma’am.”
“Oh…” The secretary took a startled step back. “Principal Edwards will see you now.”

***

Olivia chewed her nails and glanced anxiously around the lunch room. Max hadn’t come back to class yet. Did something happen to him?

Ashley sat her lunch tray on the table and pulled out the chair beside her. “Try to relax, Liv, I’m sure Max is fine. He probably just got suspended or something.”

Olivia frowned, biting her bottom lip. “I just don’t understand it. Why would Liam just attack him like that— twice!”

“Well, maybe Max was asking for it.” Ashley popped a French fry into her mouth. “He can be a bit of a jer—” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Liv! I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

Olivia glared at her friend indignantly. Max was the victim here, not Liam! “Even if you hadn’t said it, you thought it. How is that any better?” she snapped.

“I’m sorry, Liv, it just slipped out.”

“Which part? That it was Max’s fault he got beat up or that he’s a jerk!”
“Both?” Ashley answered tentatively, her face begging for forgiveness.
She bit her tongue to keep from saying something she’d regret. “Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t like Max?”
“Cuz you never asked, and it’s not like I can come right out and tell you I think your boyfriend’s a douche.” “You kinda just did.”
“Hey, Liv, Ash,” Nate said, walking up behind them. He took a seat beside Ashley, his gaze hanging on her a bit too long.
“Hi, Nate,” Ashley replied, not bothering to look over at him. How could she be so dense? Nate obviously had a huge crush on her. Angie and Morgan joined them a few seconds later, chatting about some unimportant drama— typical.
“I’m sorry about Max,” Angie said, sitting down beside her. She wore a sympathetic frown, but Olivia questioned her sincerity in light of Ashley’s revelation. Did all her friends think Max was as big of a dick as she did?
“Have you talked to him? Was he hurt?” At least Angie appeared concerned, gaining herself a few more friendship points. She shot Ashley a glare to say “See, that’s how a real friend acts.”
The table suddenly went quiet as everyone stared at her, waiting for an answer. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet.” She looked back down at her plate and picked at her food—she’d lost her appetite.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Nate chimed in.
“Thanks, Nate,” Olivia said dryly, shooting him a pissed-off glare.
“What? Liv, trust me, Max can take care of himself.”
“It certainly didn’t look like it in English this morning,” Morgan giggled.
“You bitch!” Angie snapped. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
“Oh really…? You don’t like him either!”
“Gee, guys, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such wonderful, supportive friends,” Olivia snapped.
“Sorry, Liv, I thought you knew.”
She doubted very much that Morgan was sorry. “Knew what?” Olivia asked, feigning ignorance.
“That we all pretty much think Max is a douche. We still love you though,” she said, smiling as if that would make everything all better. Morgan was honest to a fault. Truthfully, she couldn’t help but envy her honesty sometimes, but right now was so not one of those times.
“Is there anything else any of you would like to add since we’re all being so totally honest here?” Olivia glared at each of her friends, challenging them to speak.
“Liam’s hot,” Angie added, sending her an apologetic grin.
Olivia rolled her eyes and huffed. She shoved herself away from the table to go dump her uneaten lunch in the trash.
When she got back to the table, Nate cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the awkward silence. “You finished?” he asked Ashley, grabbing his tray.
She handed him hers, half-eaten. “Yeah, thanks.”
Morgan giggled, watching him walk away. “I think he likes you.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Ashley denied. “You’re crazy.”
“Hey, I call ‘em like I see ’em.”
“I think you need glasses then,” Ashley teased. Olivia thought she needed a muzzle.

***

Liam walked into the parking lot to find Balen leaning casually against the side of his car. His arms were folded across his chest with a smug grin on his face.

“Something funny?” he growled.
“No.” Balen denied innocently. “Hey, Liam—” He cast Balen a sideways glance. “Yeah?”
“The next time you strangle the demon, you should probably do it in a more private location other than your first-hour English class.” Balen busted out laughing.

“Very funny, I think you missed your calling. Are you sure the Father didn’t make you a court jester?”
“I can’t believe you got suspended on your first day. You made it, what, a whole fifteen minutes?”
“Enough already, I’m glad my misfortune amuses you.” He nodded toward the yellow Mustang parked beside him. “You know, you can go anytime now. I’m going to wait for Olivia to get out of school. Maybe with any luck she’ll let me talk to her since Max is gone.”
“Good luck, bro.” Balen gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. “I sincerely mean that.”
“Thanks, I think I’m going to need it.”