Charmed (Death Escorts #2)(71)
Author: Cambria Hebert

Warmth spread throughout my chest. “Yeah. Yeah, you have me now too.”

“My parents live on the other side of the state. We don’t talk. I wasn’t the kind of daughter they wanted and they weren’t happy when I refused to change. Piper doesn’t have any family either. It’s just us.”

“Shhh,” I told her, wanting the tears to stop. I could feel them falling onto my chest and sliding down my skin.

“You should have seen the Reaper’s face, Olly. He was shocked. Just as shocked as we were. I don’t think something like that ever happened to him before.” She sniffled. “He looked at Piper… like she was some kind of miracle.”

A shiver ran up her spine and she shook in my lap. I stroked her hair and made her a promise. “I won’t let anything happen to Piper, either.”

She nodded against me, the words actually seeming to make her feel better. It amazed me how just months ago I was completely alone and now here I was vowing to take care of these women. It didn’t work out so well the first time I tried to take responsibility for two women. My sister paid the ultimate price. And the guilt from that would haunt me for the rest of my life. I wasn’t going to make those mistakes again. This time was going to be different. This time we were all going to walk away with our lives.

Frankie’s tears turned to hiccups as I held her, rubbing her back while all the coffee went cold before we could drink it.

And as she quieted, I began to plan.

Chapter Forty-Six

“Money – assets and property considered in terms of monetary value; wealth.”

Frankie

Just as suspected, I got fired from my job. I called in to tell them I was better and coming back and the witch cackled and told me not to bother.

I couldn’t really say I was disappointed. In fact, I kind of felt relieved. Okay, not kind of. Totally. I was surprised by how much relief I actually felt. I used to joke that place was sucking away my soul, but now that I didn’t have to go back, I realized it hadn’t really been a joke.

Lost in thought, I wandered over to the window, looking down to the street. Olly’s Porsche was still sitting at the curb where he left it before we went to Los Angeles. He wasn’t going to be able to drive it around for a while; the expensive car wasn’t exactly made for blending in, and since he was supposed to be locked up in a room without a body, taking it for a spin wasn’t on the to-do list.

He came out of the bedroom, dressed in the khakis, white button-down, and suspenders. I noticed he styled his hair so it wasn’t in his eyes anymore and resembled the way he wore it in his other body, though it was longer now.

“I need to go get some clothes and my laptop. You’re coming with me. I’m not leaving you here alone in case G.R. comes back.”

I nodded. “We can take my Jeep.” I went to grab my coat and noticed I was still holding the phone, so I sat it on the coffee table next to the vase of flowers. My eye caught the single brown one, and I was reminded all over again of Piper’s brush with death.

“I didn’t hear the phone ring,” Olly said.

“It didn’t. I called work. I got fired.”

“Saves you from having to quit,” he said, not in the least sorry.

“I guess so,” I said, rather non-committal. Yes, I was glad I didn’t have to go back there, but on the other hand, I kind of felt like my life was unraveling at the seams. Not too long ago I had a steady job, a normal routine, a best friend I told everything to, and a weekly habit of going to the donut shop. Now, I had no job, my routine was non-existent, I was dating a Death Escort, and the Grim Reaper wanted to kill me. Not to mention my best friend almost gave up her life for me after I all but ignored her for weeks.

Oh, and the donut shop was probably wondering if I fell off the face of the earth.

“You know you don’t have to worry about money anymore, right?” he said, catching my hand and towing me against him.

“I know,” I said. “But I can’t just let you support me.”

“Why not?” He frowned.

“Because it’s not your job.”

“Yes, it is.”

“No. Your job is to love me. And to put up with me. Not to be my sugar daddy.”

He chuckled. “Putting up with you is a challenge sometimes.”

I scowled.

“But loving you… that’s a lot easier than I ever thought possible.”

“I’m so irresistible.”

“How about you don’t worry about money until all this is over and we can finally move on. Then if it will make you feel better, you can find a job.”

“Sounds good to me.” I moved to the door. “On the way back from your place, can we swing by the diner and get Piper? I don’t want her to be at her apartment alone tonight.”

“Yeah,” he replied, but he seemed distracted, still standing in the center of the room, making no attempt to leave.

“Olly?”

He glanced up swiftly.

“What were you thinking?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

He ushered me out and we went down to the street where the Jeep was parked. I walked out alone and got in, reaching over to unlock the passenger door and then starting up the vehicle and putting on my seatbelt. A few moments later, Olly climbed in, ducking a little lower in his seat.

I didn’t waste time and pulled away from the curb. The entire way Olly kept a lookout for following cars and gave me directions for a route that took us half across town. Then we doubled back before finally turning into his neighborhood.

“Shit,” he swore when I pulled up on the darkened end of his street.

“What?” My eyes immediately went outside onto the street, thinking the Reaper had somehow found us.

“I don’t have my keys. They’re still in Scotland.”

“Oh, that’s okay.” I fished around in my bag and pulled out a credit card. “I’ll let us in.”

His teeth flashed in the dark and I took that as a “You’re brilliant, Frankie” and climbed out of the Jeep. I took great pride in letting us into the house while he stood by and looked pretty.

But once we stepped inside, much of my amusement and lightheartedness evaporated. He didn’t want to turn on any lights because he didn’t want anyone to know we were there. So we stood there in the dark (which, frankly, was creepy) while he listened or felt or whatever he did for signs that anyone was in the house, waiting for us.