Wicked Kiss

Connor also knew that it was a somebody controlling the Hollow. It helped confirm what I already knew. “It’s supposed to be Heaven and Hell’s garbage disposal.”

“Essentially. But it’s not that anymore.”

“Since when?”

“Since about seventeen years ago.”

My breath caught. “Seventeen years...”

That was when Natalie and my father—and my mother—were sent into it.

“Nobody knows you exist, Sam.” Connor paced back and forth, looking at me as if I was a ghost standing right here in front of him. “Nobody knows a child came out of that relationship, only a whole heap of trouble. But you know what? It explains a whole hell of a lot to me.”

“They killed my mother because she loved him.” My words were quiet, but they were fueled by the outrage I’d felt about this since first hearing the story. “They killed her with a dagger like Bishop’s and tossed her into the Hollow like garbage. My father followed because he loved her and couldn’t live without her—just like Roth nearly followed Cassandra if you all hadn’t stopped him.”

His brows rose. “That’s some fairy tale.”

“Heaven was responsible for murdering my mother. All because she loved somebody she wasn’t supposed to.” Tears streaked down my cheeks. “How’s that for fair? How’s that for keeping the balance?”

“Who told you this?” he asked softly.

“What difference does it make?”

“A big one, actually. Because whoever told you this didn’t have their facts straight—or they were straight-up lying to you.” There wasn’t an ounce of humor on Connor’s face as he regarded me. “I was there, Sam. That night when everything went down seventeen years ago. I was part of that team, too.”

I couldn’t breathe. “You were?”

He nodded. “Damn—now, looking at you, I should have known from the moment I saw you. You look a lot like your mom, but you got your coloring from your dad. He had dark hair, brown eyes. Good-looking guy. Crazy as a loon, but good-looking.”

“Crazy?”

“He was exiled from Hell. That was his punishment for falling for an angel—no pun intended. You think we kill those who break a rule like that without thinking twice? Way harsh. Exiling takes care of any universal balance issues, especially when there is a list of previous offenses to go along with it. Nathan’s tendency for draining other supernaturals of their life energy, that handy little talent you seem to have inherited—although I was told he could do it with humans, too—wasn’t welcomed with open arms. He did some damage before they finally got the hint and gave him the boot. Anna, your mother, she would have been given another chance in Heaven if she broke it off with him. But she didn’t. She went to him immediately when she learned of his exile. I guess they really were in love, I’ll give you that much. But he was no good for her. He drained her energy a little at a time to keep a hold on his sanity now that he was souled. My team was dispatched to take care of Natalie when she made her last visit here. It became a two-for-one deal when your father got involved. And, Anna...” Connor’s eyes were haunted. “She was weakened by how much he’d been feeding on her and she...she got in the way. It was never supposed to be her, Sam. It wasn’t. But she got in the way of my blade...”

I stared at him, stunned. “You’re the one who killed her.”

Connor blinked hard. “It was the worst moment of my entire existence when I realized what happened.”

I could barely form words, my throat was so thick. “This is too much.”

“I’m sorry, Sam.” His expression darkened. “It should never have been Anna who was destroyed. But it all happened so fast. The Hollow took her. And Nathan nearly killed all of us before he jumped in after her. Thought that was the end of it. Wrong.”

Connor...it was Connor who’d killed my birth mother. Natalie had told me a different story—told me Nathan and Anna were part of the team to track down Natalie who’d escaped from Hell with her little hunger problem. It was how they’d originally met.

And I’d believed every word.

I shoved Connor against the wall. “Are you lying to me?”

He looked at me bleakly. “If I was going to lie, I wouldn’t admit being the one who killed your mother, would I?”

“Samantha,” Jordan said uneasily. “Don’t hurt him.”

I laughed at that, a hollow sound that hurt my throat. “Hurt him? He’s an ageless, immortal angel. You really think I could hurt him?”

“Uh, yeah. I really do. Remember, it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye. Or a wing. Or...whatever angels have worth losing.”

“Great,” I murmured. “Jordan Fitzpatrick, resident guardian angel to angels.”

“I’m sorry, Sam,” Connor said again. “But none of this changes anything. The Hollow and the one controlling it need to be dealt with. And it needs to be soon.”

“Sounds like we’re going to have to have a long talk, Connor.” Another voice cut through my concentration. I swiveled to see Bishop standing at the end of the hall, just past the open door. “You’ve been keeping information from the rest of us?”

“How much did you hear?” Connor asked grimly.

“More than enough.”

I stepped back from Connor and crossed my arms as the other angel drew closer.