“Make it quick.”
“I’ve completed the Hartwell assignment. There were some complications with Guzman and with Hope Matheson, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve made a decision.”
“Wait, you failed to complete two of your three assignments?”
“Well, yes. But—”
“Listen to me, Nick. There’s a new directive, so they’ve lowered the priority level of all your assignments. We need to speak in person right now.”
“Now?” Nick glanced over at Hope. “Can it wait till—?”
The next instant Nick was teetering on the ledge at the top of One America Plaza, five hundred feet above the ground. He nearly slipped, then a firm grip on his forearm pulled him back.
“What’s wrong?” Lena held him fast until he found his footing.
“You don’t just yank a person into a construct without a warning.” Never before had he felt so shaky atop a tall building.
“We don’t have a lot of time, Nikolai, so listen carefully.”
“All ears.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another in a vain attempt to steady himself.
“There’s a much bigger agenda now, so I have to know if you’re on board or not.”
“With what?”
“If you thought getting out of the endless rut of reaper work was worth leaving your previous position, you’re definitely going to want in on this.”
Bracing his back against a glass wall, Nick cleared his throat. “I’m having a bit too much trouble with this construct of yours to understand what you mean.”
“This isn’t a construct.”
She was coming so close he wanted to move away, but didn’t dare risk losing his balance.
“Something wrong with you?” Lena said.
“Of course not.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Other than behaving like an angel on the brink of mortality.
“Never mind. What I’m about to share with you is huge. My director doesn’t know yet, but I’m recommending you for a major operation that’s right up your alley.”
“Based on?”
“Based on your strengths and skill set. As a guardian, as a warrior.”
“That’s all in the past, Lena. In fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
She sailed on as if he hadn’t spoken.
“You want a job that puts you on the front lines, where you can make a difference. Not on the sidelines where the Angel Forces have so unjustly abandoned you.”
“Yes, but—”
“You want your talents and gifts fully appreciated and utilized, you want them to impact the mortal and spiritual realms alike.”
“Lena, hold on a minute—”
“I don’t want to hear any objections from you, Nick. This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.” A sly grin twisted her blood-red lips. “And when you’ve risen in the ranks of the new order, never forget that it was I who gave you this break.”
He dared not inquire further, despite the disconnect. If his suspicions had any validity he’d best play along until he could get everything sorted out.
“Sounds intriguing,” he said. “But what about my assignments?”
“They’re on the back burner for now. This new campaign is much more important. It’s a huge step up for me; they’re putting me in charge. If we’re successful, I’ll be managing all the major regions in the new territories.”
“I see.” Nick said. “You’ve been transferred to sales and marketing.”
“Cute,” she said. “Now, once I’m in charge I can’t think of a better partner than you, what with your power, commitment to change, proactive personality…not to mention strikingly good looks.”
“Yeah, right.”
This was the part where the dark vapor should appear.
But it didn’t.
Instead, the scant cotton clouds above them parted and the full moon emerged. Heart racing, Nick peered out over the San Diego skyline as a pair of ravens cawed and flew past the top of the skyscraper. He’d flown countless times over the earth like those dark birds, never fearing he might fall. But now, were Lena to let go of his arm he couldn’t be certain he wouldn’t lose his balance, topple, and make modern art of himself on the concrete below.
“So, Nikolai…” Each time she spoke his name he felt a little more strength ebb from him. “Are you in?”
Best act as if he knew what she was talking about. But this felt really, really wrong. “Tell me more.”
“I’ll be in touch with the details. Glad you’re with us.”
“A bit presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“I know what I want. I always get it.” She loosened her grip. “Run along, Nikolai.”
But Nick grasped her wrist. She obviously thought he knew about this “major operation.” No matter, he’d sort it out another time. Right now his only concern was to get down from the skyscraper in one piece.
“Send me,” he whispered in her ear.
“Seriously?” Lena smirked. “Why?”
He couldn’t tell her that if he tried to go off on his own he might end his human life before it really began. Instead, he ran his fingertips through her silky hair and stroked her face.
“Because I like it so much more when you do it to me—transporting me the way you did today feels so…I don’t know…”
“Carnal?” She lowered her voice to a seductive, breathy register. “All right, how do you want it?”
“Transport me back to the ground. It makes my toes curl.”
She turned him around to face the open sky. Slipping behind him, she wrapped her arms around him, pressed her hand over his chest, then nuzzled the nape of his neck and cooed. For a brief moment, his mortal flesh was tingling. As soon as he realized it, he refocused.
He had to get away from this creature whose warm breath tickled his ear.
“Can’t wait to make you come to me again,” she whispered.
“That so?”
“Mmmm… Ready?”
He took a deep breath, then nodded. But curiosity got the best of him. He looked back and saw her eyes—really saw them. He was certain he’d seen eyes like that before, been the target of that ghastly expression.
“Just what kind of angel are you, Lena?”
“Angel?” She laughed as she shoved him off the ledge of the skyscraper.
62
RELIEVED THAT HE’D SUCCEEDED in getting Lena to transport him safely to the ground, Nick found himself standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance of One America Plaza. Save for a group of street-gang types loitering on the curb by their pimped-out rides, there were few people out in the city at this hour.
Which is what made the very tall, very muscular quartet in black leather and dark sunglasses stand out all the more when they appeared out of nowhere. The woman was at least six feet, and the three men at least eight inches taller and built like NFL linebackers. As they approached the skyscraper, headed straight toward Nick, the woman bumped shoulders with a street gangster who stood a bit taller than she, though definitely shorter than the men.
“Oh no you didn’t!” He said, and pulled out a knife. “Whassup wit—?”
Before he could finish, the woman in black shoved her hand into his chest. He flew back with such force that his body knocked two of his friends down like bowling pins.
Without missing a beat, the leather clad crew swaggered on.
Part of Nick wanted to bolt, part of him wanted to know who these creatures were. Extraordinary humans, if they even were human.
The leader, an Asian male, stepped right up to him—towering over Nick by about a foot.
“Evening, mates,” Nick said.
But they walked right past him. One of them—an African American about six inches taller than Nick—turned around as he passed, lowering his shades just long enough for Nick to recognize him as the man he’d met back in New York at Grand Central Station.