Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(52)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Could he put his brother in the ground?

Tanner glanced back at Marna.

He just might have to.

He’d lost their scent. Dammit. The angel had disappeared, running too fast with her shifter.

After all of his plans, his careful schemes, they’d vanished into the swamp.

Why couldn’t he find them? He could always find anyone, at any time. That was part of his power.

But…

He couldn’t find her.

Was something happening? He stared down at his hands. He’d washed the blood away in the water. His new trinkets were stowed in the bag near his hip. New weapons, courtesy of his last victim, that would come in handy soon.

Over the years, he’d learned to be creative with his kills. Sometimes, simple bullets did the trick. Other times, more exotic methods were needed.

Especially when he wanted to make his prey scream and beg for mercy.

Not that he was the merciful sort. No, he was far more into retribution and pain.

He glanced up and his gaze swept the thick vegetation once more.

Where was she?

And why the hell wasn’t she appreciating all that he was doing for her? He’d taken care of the two shifters in that shit-forsaken alley. Gotten rid of the cop who could ID her. He knew the kid must have seen her in that SUV.

Well, he’d almost gotten rid of the young cop. A quick trip to the hospital would finish the job now. He’d be making that trip, after he disposed of Cody and Tanner.

He’d even taken out that ass**le tonight, for her. He hadn’t wanted the panther to decide to try for Marna again. So he’d eliminated Russell. Made the bastard suffer for his crimes.

He was doing everything for her, but she—

She just kept running from him.

Didn’t she realize what was happening? She was getting weaker, but he kept getting stronger. He could show her the way. He’d teach her everything she needed to know.

If she would just stop hiding from him.

He slipped back through the swamp and headed for his car. The fire trucks had finally cleared out. The firefighters and uniforms on scene had been so clueless. They hadn’t even found the bodies in the swamp. Not that there had been much to find, not after he’d taken care of things.

Captain Jillian Pope had already disappeared. Unless Tanner talked, no one would ever know what had happened to her.

She wasn’t the first he’d let disappear into this swamp. It was such a good dumping ground. The gators that liked to come out at sunset were always so hungry.

Not the first. Jillian wouldn’t be the last, either. With his power growing, why stop? There were so many in this world who deserved what he would give them.

But not his angel.

She deserved to be at his side. Fighting with him.

Soon, she’d see that. He’d make her see it. Once Tanner Chance was dead at her feet, she’d finally understand, and she’d be grateful for all that he was giving her.

Normally, Marna knew, it wasn’t easy to get an audience with Sammael. Though he was a Fallen, the guy kept an army-load of demons at his beck and call. Those demons spent most of their time guarding the big boss.

Hoping to cut through that demon line, Tanner took her to the back door of Sammael’s club, Sunrise, and he flashed his badge.

She thought the badge bit might work, but the demons just laughed.

When Tanner pulled out his claws, they stopped laughing.

“Sammael,” Tanner snapped. “We want to see him, now.”

His body was partially blocking hers, but Marna felt the eyes of the demons as they raked her.

“You don’t demand to see anyone—”

Tanner grabbed the demon by the throat and lifted him a good foot off the floor. “Yeah, I do. Sammael.”

Marna’s breath rushed out. The demon he was lifting had to weigh about three hundred pounds—and it looked like that weight was all muscle.

Tanner held him with one hand. With his other, he pointed to the demon still blocking the back door. “You.” A smaller demon—though not by much—with tattoos that circled his arms and neck. “Let your boss know we’re here.”

The heavy metal door behind the guy slid open. “He already knows.” Sammael sauntered out. He raised a brow when he saw the demon squirming in Tanner’s grasp. “Want to let Tommy go?”

Tanner dropped him. Tommy surged right back up with a wild yell, coming at Tanner with his hands fisted.

Tanner punched him in the chest, and the guy toppled back down. Before the demon could get back on his feet, Sammael lifted one hand. “Enough.” Lethally soft, but packed with power. “As fun as watching a beat down is, I don’t have the time for it now.”

The demon froze. Marna hurried forward and made sure to move into the thin stream of light that spilled out from a nearby window. “I need to talk with you.”

“And you brought your guard . . . cat with you.” Sammael smiled, a chilling sight. “How charming.”

“Listen, Sam,” Tanner began, surging forward.

“No, you listen. I’m not one of your dumb criminals that you can chase down.” He shrugged, then lifted his hands in front of him. “I’m Sammael. All-fucking-powerful Fallen. And I can kill you as soon as look at you.”

Marna’s heart stopped.

But then a woman’s hand, fingers tipped with a blood-red polish, slid over Sammael’s shoulder. “Easy. You know you wanted to visit with her again.”

And Marna’s heart started racing in a double-time beat. Sammael’s face softened as he turned to stare at the woman behind him. Marna knew who she was, of course; every angel knew.

Seline O’Shaw.

Seline O’Shaw had been in heaven, for a very brief time. Half succubus, half angel, Seline was now a legend in heavenly circles.

It had taken a little matter of dying for Seline’s angel side to come out and take over. Only once she’d entered heaven, Sammael hadn’t been ready to let her go. He’d fought everyone in his path, been willing to sacrifice his life—just to get back to her.

After that, everyone had known that the mighty Sammael had a weakness.

Her.

Seline stared at Marna with sad eyes. “I’m sorry about your wings. ”

Marna rolled her shoulders. After weeks of numbness, the scarring was actually starting to itch a bit. Weird. “And I’m sorry about . . .” What? The fact that Seline had chosen to come back to earth? To stay with a man who most angels thought was becoming a true devil? She cleared her throat and decided not to say anything.