Chapter 12
Note to Self: Fallen angels are even hotter when they’re in protective mode
Tessa’s whole body was still tingling from making love to Venice. Nothing she’d ever experienced before in her life was as good as being with him.
“Sweetheart?”
“Yeah?” she asked, tipping her head back to look at him.
“I asked if you were hungry.”
“You did?”
“Yes, twice,” he said with a chuckle. He kissed the tip of her nose.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about how my toes are still tingling.”
He hummed in a way that sounded almost like a growl, and she loved it.
“So are you hungry?”
“I am. I can see what’s in the kitchen.” She rolled to her back and stretched, not wanting to get out of the warm bed that smelled like Venice.
They talked for a few minutes about going out to eat and a movie as they’d planned, and eventually decided to order dinner from the diner, have it delivered, and watch a movie at home. She looked up the menu online, and both chose the fried chicken platter.
Venice called, and she slowly made her way off the bed and started to dress.
“I’m going to run and grab the food,” Venice said as he came back into the bedroom. “Tia said they’re in the dinner rush now and can’t do delivery for at least an hour, if not longer.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Of course. I’m ready when you are.”
A few minutes later, they were on the way to the diner to grab their food. Venice parked in the lot next to the diner and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here,” she said. “And feel free to grab a piece of that chocolate cake I saw in the dessert case the last time I was here, if they have it.”
“You got it.”
Venice left her in the truck with the engine idling.
Settling into the seat, she unbuckled her seatbelt so she was more comfortable and opened her favorite streaming app to peruse the latest movies and come up with a few they could choose from.
She knew Venice liked action movies, and she didn’t mind them either, especially if there was a bit of romance thrown into the mix.
The door swung open suddenly, and she found herself staring at a furious Evan.
She gasped, her phone dropping to the floor. “What are you doing?” she demanded. “How did you even know where I was?”
He looked wild and unstable. “I followed you. Now you’re going to listen to me,” he said, reaching for her.
She shoved at his hand and tried to scoot away from him, but she was trapped in the cab of the truck. “Hey! Get away from me, you psycho!”
He grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard, and then he tugged her toward him.
The air around them suddenly grew hot, and then Venice appeared. He moved silently and swiftly, putting one hand on Evan’s arm. “Let. Her. Go.”
When Evan just stared at him in surprise, Venice forced him to drop his grip. Then he twisted Evan’s wrist and bent his arm backward, making him howl in pain.
There was a bright flash of light that lasted just a heartbeat, but in that moment, Tessa saw the outline of wings at Venice’s back and smelled ozone.
Venice shoved Evan so hard he flew off his feet and smacked into the side of the building.
He rose shakily to his feet, his eyes wide. “What the hell are you?”
“I’m Tessa’s mate,” Venice said. His voice was deep and held so much menace that it made Tessa shiver.
Evan looked at Tessa, and then at Venice.
“You’re a freak!” Evan said, his voice shaky. “You get what you deserve, you bitch.”
Venice took a menacing step toward Evan, and she saw the air shimmer around him, those same ghostly wings appearing at his back for a fraction of a second.
Evan stumbled off, running to his car and peeling out of the parking lot. Venice just stared after him until the sound of his engine disappeared into the night.
Tessa exhaled sharply. She hadn’t even realized she was holding her breath until that moment. Venice turned slowly and faced her. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
He picked up her hand and pressed his lips to her wrist, where Evan had grabbed hold of her.
“No, he didn’t hurt me, but he would have, I think. You stopped him from doing anything bad to me.”
“I felt your fear,” he said, his thumb caressing her wrist. “I’m sorry I left you alone in the truck. I should have taken you inside with me.”
“It’s okay. I think one way or another, he was going to try to get to me, so I’m thankful you were close, and you intervened.” She scooted to the edge of the seat and hugged him. Venice wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he murmured.
“I am, honestly.” She tilted her face up to look at him. “Can I tell you something?”
“You can tell me anything, sweetheart.”
“I saw wings.”
“What?”
“There was a weird heat that filled the air, like when you open a hot oven. And then I saw…ghost wings. They were incredible looking. The second time, when you took a step toward him, I saw them again, and the air shimmered around you. Did you know that would happen?”
“I had no idea,” he said. “I don’t think it’s ever happened before. I was feeling so protective and angry at the same time.”
“I told you that you’re still an angel,” she said.
“Just because your wings are gone doesn’t mean the essence of what you were is missing.
You’re a protector at heart, and you came to my rescue before I even had a chance to call for help.
” She shook her head with a chuckle. “You’re a pretty damn impressive man, and you scared the holy-crap out of Evan. ”
“Holy-crap?” Venice asked, arching a brow.
“Definitely. And I think he won’t come for me again,” she said.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because he was truly terrified of you. I just wish we knew for sure that he was gone.”
“We can know,” he said. “At least that he’s leaving town. Come with me to grab dinner, and we’ll go to the police station. I want to have you fill out a report anyway, just in case there are problems with him in the future.”
“Okay.”
She doubted they’d ever hear from Evan again. He looked genuinely spooked by what he saw in Venice. She wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a pissed-off angel, that was for damn sure. Evan just learned firsthand that no one should mess with an angel’s mate, fallen or otherwise.
They walked into the diner together, and Tyce came over to see them. “I saw you run out of here and how you sent that male fleeing. I emailed you the footage from the security camera, in case you need it.”
“Thank you,” Venice said. “I’ll forward it to Brody to include with the report.” He pulled out his wallet, and Tyce put up his hand and shook his head.
“You got attacked in our parking lot,” Tyce said, pushing the bag across the counter. “The least I can do is give you dinner on the house, plus two pieces of chocolate cake.”
“Thanks,” Venice said.
“Thank you,” Tessa said.
They took the bag and left the diner. Before they headed to the station, Venice texted Brody, who was patrolling, about the situation, then forwarded the video Tyce had emailed.
“He’s going to meet us at the station to take our statements,” Venice said.
In moments, they were on the way, and while neither of them said anything, she knew they didn’t really need to. Something awful had happened, but it hadn’t been nearly as bad as it could have been if Venice hadn’t intervened.
“When Bart was about to fall in the water, you felt like something was off, right?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Did you have the same feeling with me just now?”
“Not so much that something wasn’t right, but that I could feel you were scared. It came on suddenly and was so sharp I didn’t even think about what it meant, I just knew I had to get to you.”
“I wish I had some kind of sixth sense about danger like you do,” she said. “It’s pretty freaking cool.”
“I’m thankful for it. I always want you to be safe.”
“I’m definitely safest with you.”
When they got to Brody’s house, the chief was already in his office working on the incident report after viewing the footage from the diner. They both gave their statements, and Tessa added that Evan had also appeared earlier that day at her cottage.
“I’ve got his car’s make and model and license plate, and I’ve alerted Ronan and Sierra to keep an eye out,” Brody said.
“Did you get the other footage from Tyce?” Venice asked.
“Yep.” Brody turned the monitor so she and Venice could see.
“Oh, it’s traffic cams?” she asked, watching as Evan’s car sped away from the diner.
“Yes, we have them on the traffic lights on the main streets,” Venice said.
Brody clicked the mouse, smoothly switching to different cameras, following Evan’s car.
“I’ll keep watching,” Brody said, “but he definitely left town like his ass was on fire. You spooked him good.”
“I was just protecting my mate,” Venice said.
“As you should,” Brody said with a nod.
They watched the cams for a little while longer, until Evan’s car left the town limits and Tessa felt like she could breathe normally again.
“Thank you for showing us the street cams,” Tessa said.
“You’re welcome. You two enjoy the rest of your night. You’re staying at the cottage?”
“Yes,” Venice said.
“I’ll be sure to pop around on my patrols, but judging by the way that male drove like he couldn’t wait to get out of town, I suspect you won’t hear from him again.”
“That’s the hope,” Tessa said.
Brody smiled. “Go home and enjoy your night.”
They thanked him again and left.
When they were in the truck and heading to the cottage, she said, “Well. That was pretty wild.”
“It sure was. But we’ve got dinner and dessert waiting for us, and whatever movie you picked out.”
“After what happened tonight, I think a comedy is a better choice than an action movie. I’ve had enough action for one evening.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Did I say thank you?” she asked.
“For what?”
“Saving me.”
“It’s what mates do, Tessa. I’m angry that you were in danger in the first place, but I would walk across broken glass to keep you safe.”
“I believe you,” she said.
She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.
He draped his arm over her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze.
The whole day had been one unpredictable thing after another, but even in the midst of the chaos, she’d known that Venice had her back. There was no other place she’d rather be than with him, her very favorite guy on the planet.
Her mate.