I haven’t talked to Him since I cast Mark out of the family for choosing good over evil, and that conversation didn’t go over well. Not that it was expected to after everything I had done myself to get kicked out of Heaven.
“I know. You’re one of the only people left He trusts. If most of your group have disappeared, I think you need to stay somewhere safe.”
“I can take care of myself,” he tells me, and I sigh.
“I’m aware you can, but you’re Brian’s father, and he needs you. The last thing we need is the rogue angels using you or his mother as a bargaining chip. It’s why we sent your wife, and Harleigh and Adeline’s parents away, remember?” I remind him.
The Father had put a veil of protection over them, so they couldn’t be found, on behalf of David asking Him personally. But we still sent them far away as a precaution. The idea of them being in danger was a distraction to everyone involved in this fight.
“Then what do you suggest, Lucifer? Because I’m out of my depth here.” He sounds angry and agitated, and I understand that. “I don’t know what brothers and sisters I can trust anymore.” He sighs.
“Get in touch with The Father and set up a meeting for me.” Even the idea of it has me feeling antsy.
“Lucifer, you haven’t seen or spoken to Him in a very long time,” he warns me like I need the reminder. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“We don’t have any other options, David. You need to stay safe, and hidden. Going to Heaven when we aren’t sure who all is involved isn’t smart. They can dispose of you like they have the others, but they can’t touch me. They’ve already fucked the scales to the point of war. They won’t even attempt to come near me because they won’t be able to get away with it.”
He lets a sigh out in defeat.
“Alright. You’re right. I’ll set it up, and send you the details within the next couple of days.” He hangs up the phone without saying goodbye, and I throw my fist into the wall beside me.
This shit was never meant to happen. We have rules and balance in order to avoid the chaos that this has brought.
I don’t know how many demons they have killed before now, but they have gotten away with it. Now that they’re on the verge of being ousted, they’re going to get sloppy.
It’s only a matter of time before everything goes to shit, and I need to know where I stand, because I will do whatever I need to in order to protect my family. Even if that means being wiped out of existence… and replaced.
Harleigh
“How long do you think he’s going to be down there?” Adeline asks me as we’re sitting on the bed, watching a movie.
“I don’t know.” I shrug.
“And you’re really okay with him being like this?” she asks.
I see Colt and Bry stop what they are doing to look at us, and I take a deep breath.
“As okay as I can be. It’s who he is, Addy. He’s—” I look to Bry and Colt, and they nod in encouragement. “He’s different. I’m sure you’ve noticed that by now.”
She nods. “But what if he hurts you?” She’s so sincere in her question, I stare at her in shock for a second.
It takes my brain a moment to even catch up to her words. Thank fuck the guys are paying attention.
“He would never hurt her, Adeline. She’s perfectly safe with him,” Brian speaks softly.
“What about you guys? He could kill you. He’s down there right now torturing his own father for crying out loud!” Her voice raises, and before any of us can answer her, Orion comes through the door.
“He deserves it, Adeline.” My breath catches as I take in the blood-stained clothes, scanning him to make sure he’s alright. “Baby, I’m fine.” He gives me a soft smile, walking over to kiss me softly on the head.
“He’s good to her, Adeline. You have nothing to worry about,” Colt interjects, and I smile brightly at him.
It had taken Colten the longest to accept Orion as a part of the group. He’s not really great with sharing to begin with, and with the circumstances of how Orion entered my life, he just didn’t trust him.
“I may torture and kill, and I may enjoy it.” He takes a deep breath to hold in his temper before continuing. “But when Harleigh discovered me for who I am, she didn’t hesitate to lay down rules.” He sits on the bed beside me, and pulls me into his lap. “I promised her I would only ever harm people who deserved it. Only bad people.”
I sigh into him, and look at my best friend’s wide eyes.
“He’s a piece of my soul, Addy. I don’t have to like that he tortures and kills, but it’s who he is. How he functions, and I accept that. I stopped questioning it the minute he used his connections to try and save you,” I say gently.
Her head snaps up to look me in the eyes before moving to Orion and swallowing.
“You tried to save me?” Her voice is quiet, and he shrugs beneath me.
“You’re Harleigh’s best friend, and she was hurting. I would do anything for her.” She nods. “I will be truthful, though. I don’t care about you or anyone else.” Her eyes grow wide as she listens. “I have only ever felt anything for Harleigh. I’m a diagnosed sociopath, Adeline. I don’t feel things like most people do.”
I sit up and reach for her hand, giving it a squeeze.
“And he won’t hurt us, just like he won’t hurt you, because we mean everything to Harleigh.” Bry tries to put her at ease. “If we hurt her for any reason, it would be a different story,” he says, and O growls.
I elbow him in the stomach. “They’re never going to hurt me, and you know it. They feel the same way as you do, O. So stop being so feral.” I giggle when he tilts his head town, cocking it to the side before shaking his head.
“Really? A cat reference? And here I thought you liked that side of me.” I stick my tongue out at him, and he chuckles before squeezing me and setting me back on the bed before standing. “I’m going to have a shower, baby.”
I nod, and he closes the bathroom door behind him.
“He’s really a sociopath?” Addy asks, and I nod.
