I want to hate this guy so badly, and he’s making my efforts to do so an exercise in futility.
Azrael observes me as he tears into his own brisket sandwich. “And why, may I ask, do we need to sneak around like cat burglars?”
Violette stares straight ahead, resolute not to give anything away as she interjects. “Considering we aren’t exactly human, it would seem prudent.”
My heart thumps with affection at her attempt to save me from having to divulge the truth.
“Because I’m on my way to murder someone.”
Azrael huffs a laugh around another mouthful. “You could have told me that.” He juts a thumb at the shadow sitting silently behind us. “And I could probably save you the trouble.”
Hah.
“I don’t want to be saved the trouble. I very muchembracethis trouble. I’ve been waiting twenty fucking years for thistrouble.”
Azrael’s chewing slows. Swallows. “I see.”
A beat of silence passes. Violette’s hand lands on my thigh, administering a squeeze of solidarity.
Twisting in his seat, Azrael attempts nonchalance. “And what might this fellow’s name be?”
“I don’t have a name. Just an address.”
Azrael’s brows lift. “Which is?”
“369 Harbinger Lane, Sagaponack, NY 11962.”
A thoughtful look settles on Azrael’s face. “Interesting.”
I glance at him. “Is it?”
He lowers the sandwich to his lap and stares into the distance like he’s just lost his appetite.
“Not really. I just know someone who lives in the general vicinity.”
Violette’s attention shifts from the winding mountain road ahead of us. “Who?”
Azrael folds the wrapper closed over the half-eaten sandwich. His voice takes on a tone laden with aeons of disappointment and heartbreak, and the singular word is spoken on an exhausted sigh.
“Persephone.”
VIOLETTE
“We’ve got one room left, and it’s only got a king-sized bed.”
My stomach does a flip of excitement, and I internally scold myself all the while trying to maintain a look of dour disappointment. The pretty young male with long painted fingernails standing behind the hotel counter examines Levi and Azrael before his gaze falls back to mine in a way that says he can see straight through my feigned annoyance. He arches a brow at me, smacking his chewing gum.
“So do you want it or not?”
Levi dares to open his mouth. “I think we’ll keep look?—”
The interjection tumbles from my lips perhaps a little too hastily, “We’ll take it.”
I can feel Azrael’s gaze like a heated branding iron. Can even see the twitch of his lips in my peripheral vision.
Levi and Azrael draw their wallets like two males partaking in a duel.
Before Azrael can withdraw another enormous sum of cash from his wallet and leave yet another breadcrumb in our trail to the impending crime scene, the back of Levi’s hand lands on his chest. “Please. Allow me.”