Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
Azrael
For some reason, I force myself to look up at the sky as I take another drag of the cigarette in my hand.
“You ready?” Jensen asks, rounding the SUV.
The star illuminating me seems brighter than ever. It follows me around like a noose around my fucking neck, but tonight, I welcome it.
Welcome my punishment.
For so many sins.
A long list of them.
Falling for Hevan being at the very top of it.
“Azrael?” Jensen questions. He stills and surveys me. “You ready?” Concern is evident in his tone.
“I …” I pause, irritation of not being able to pinpoint the feeling slivers over my skin.
“I’m not sure. It just seems different tonight,” I grit out, holding his stare.
Maybe it’s because of the weight I carry, the thought of leaving Hevan when we’ve barely spoken, the thought of telling her we can’t have this baby and the life she dreams of.
He plants his hands on top of the SUV. “What do you mean?”
I give my head a shake. “I’m not really sure, but something seems off about tonight.”
“You think he’s plotting something?” he asks. “A punishment?”
I flick my cigarette butt onto the ground and shrug. “Probably, but I can handle it.”
He nods but doesn’t move, and when his eyes slowly drift up to my bedroom window, a sinister sensation creeps down my spine, making my throat clog with an unfamiliar feeling of fear.
“Stay,” I say with absolute confidence, not even needing to second-guess it.
“What?”
“Stay.” I glance up to my bedroom window. He can read between the lines. I want him here as her protection, their protection. Hers and our baby’s.
He licks his lips and nods. “Okay. If you’re sure.” This is true loyalty, putting yourself in the firing line without question.
“Absolutely.” I already feel better for having made the decision.
My shoulders relax at knowing they’re in safe hands. Something tells me tonight is not going to go down the way I planned it, and this punishment might just be my greatest yet.