CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR #2
“What do you think he wants?” Kennedy asks from the doorway.
Knowing my brother, it could be any number of things, but I go with the most probable for an answer. “He’s most likely going to offer me my job back.”
She smirks. “He’s probably about to give you a lecture on responsibility.”
“How am I not responsible? I survived Themis’ chamber of eternal judgment. I’m sure I can survive my brother’s good intentions.”
“Barely survived,” she mutters. “You go. I’m going to take a nice long, hot shower,” she adds with a wink as she trots off to the en-suite.
“Well, if you’re going to play it that way, I’ll stay,” I say as I follow her into the bathroom. She’s lifting my T-shirt up over her head, and I’m about to follow her when my phone buzzes again.
“Ugh! I’ll be back.” I give her a quick kiss and a smack on her bare ass. “Don’t go getting too clean. I intend to do very dirty things with you when I get back.”
The Black Door Club is closed during the day today, allowing us all some well-deserved rest. But, in a few hours, after sundown, the doors will open to the normal, nightly non-human crowd.
The main bar is eerily quiet with no staff or music. Asher is behind the bar when I come in, polishing a glass he’ll never actually use. The usual misfits are absent. He’s alone, which means he’s planning something.
He looks up as soon as I approach. “Afternoon, sunshine.”
“That line works better when I say it,” I grumble, sliding onto a stool.
“Coffee?” he offers.
“Whiskey.”
He pours both. Typical.
We drink in silence for a moment, the kind only brothers can manage without it turning awkward.
Finally, Asher sets down his coffee. “So. You planning on sticking around?” And there it is, the million-dollar question.
“I could use the help running this place.” It’s the same offer he’s made a dozen times.
I lean back, watching the bottles gleam under the lights. “You trust me behind your bar? I thought you said I needed a place to “reacclimate,” which we all know is code for stop scaring the patrons.”
He chuckles, then sobers. “Seriously, Reav. You can stay, and I mean not just crash. Be a partner again. You’re good with people when you try—terrifying, sure, but charismatic. The Club could use that.”
I swirl the whiskey in my glass, studying the amber liquid that I haven’t touched despite requesting.
“You know, I’ve spent most of my existence fighting.
First, it was Heaven’s wars, then Hell’s tortures, even my own demons.
” I study his face for a moment, looking for him to give me a rebuttal.
A “Yeah, but”. But he’s just leaning back listening.
“Every time I thought I was done,” I continue. “Someone somewhere needed saving. Humanity, the cosmos, my own idiotic self.” I glance at him. “I think I finally want to stop saving things that don’t want to be saved.”
Asher raises a brow. “And do what? Knit?”
I grin. “Funny you should ask.”
He groans. “Here we go.” Lifting his arms in surrender.
“I’ve been thinking—”
“Always dangerous.”
I shoot him a look. “I want to start something new, something that has meaning. I’ve been thinking about opening a sanctuary.”
Asher blinks, giving me a look of utter confusion. “Sanctuary. Like… your own religion?”
“Fuck, no.” I laugh as I gesture toward the ceiling. “They have enough of those. No, I’m talking about a rescue sanctuary for the little ones, the ones who can’t fight back. Strays, abandoned animals, the broken ones who haven’t got any hope left.”
Asher squints. “You? The mighty Archangel of death and sarcasm, babysitting kittens?”
I give him a shrug. “Sure. Kittens, dogs, maybe a goat or two if they behave.”
He sets his glass down and laughs so hard, it echoes off the shelves. “You’ve officially lost your mind.”
“Maybe, but think about it, Ash. I found that little helpless dog down there, an innocent little life tossed into Hell for no damn reason. If I hadn’t picked her up, she’d be gone. You know that as well as I do.”
Asher nods his head in agreement. “That little mutt sure was happy to see you.”
“We’ve spent millennia rescuing souls that didn’t want, or fuck, even deserve saving. But an animal never stops trying. They don’t care about Heaven or Hell or who you used to be. They just need someone to care.”
He wipes his eyes, still shaking his head in disbelief. “And where, exactly, are you going to put this Noah’s Ark of yours?”
“Michael has a huge parcel of land in Oregon. I was thinking out there. Plenty of land, and Kennedy can open a counseling practice for traumatized humans if she wants or just help me handle the four-legged ones.”
“The Therapy Power Couple,” he teases. Then his expression changes, more serious. “You mean it. You really want to rescue animals?”
“Yeah, I do. I want a life that’s… quiet and meaningful.
Maybe this time I can build something instead of destroying it for once.
” I take a sip of my whisky, then smirk.
“Besides, if I run a rescue, I can keep showing up here and guilt you into stocking products. Tax write-off for emotional support.”
He snorts. “I’ll miss having you around, but… it suits you. Even the big, bad warrior deserves peace.” After a pause, he adds, “I’m proud of you.”
I swallow hard, not trusting myself to speak for a moment. “Thanks, Ash.”
He nods toward the staircase. “Go on then, your girl and your mutt are waiting.”
I head back upstairs to find Kennedy sitting cross-legged on the couch with Ember curled in her lap, both watching some ridiculous dog rescue show. The irony isn’t lost on me.
“How’d it go with Asher?” she asks without looking away from the screen.
“He offered me a job.”
“And?”
“And I quit.”
She laughs. “Did you ever actually work here?”
“Semantics.” I drop onto the couch beside her and steal her popcorn. “I told him we’re starting an animal rescue in Oregon.”
Her head snaps toward me, eyes wide. “Are you serious?” She smiles.
“Deadly. I figured after everything, maybe it’s time to stop chasing wars and start chasing peace.”
She studies me for a long moment, then smiles. “You’ll be great at it.”
“We’ll be great at it,” I correct. “I can’t do it without you by my side.”
“Oh. Yeah, you think I’m going to follow you to the wilds of Oregon?”
I have to laugh. “You followed me into Hell. Oregon should be a walk in the park.”
“I knew that under all that gruff exterior hid a big soft heart. You pretend to hate everyone, but secretly you’d die for a puppy.”
“It’s no secret. I did almost die for one already,” I remind her as I reach over and pet Ember’s head.
“Exactly my point.”
She leans against me, resting her head on my shoulder. “Tell me about your dream rescue.”
Wrapping my arm around her, I lean back and put my feet up on the small table in front of the couch.
“I want it to be a place where we can take in all sorts of animals who need rescuing. I’ll hire a few veterinarians and some ranch hands.
Maybe we can build a cabin or a complex.
You can have an office, I’ll have my misfit menagerie. We won’t need much else.”
“And you promise not to bring home every animal you see?”
“No promises.” I grin and kiss her temple. “Besides, Ember needs friends.” The silly pup thumps her tail, apparently agreeing.
Kennedy turns her face up to mine, her eyes sparkling. “You know, for someone who once wanted nothing more than to die, you’ve gotten remarkably good at living.”
“Good teacher,” I murmur before capturing her lips with mine.
This kiss is different. Deeper, grounded, not desperation this time, but gratitude. Every heartbeat whispers alive, alive, alive.
When we finally break apart, Kennedy’s breathing hard. “You realize,” she says between breaths, “our happily ever after involves poop-scooping, fur tumbleweeds, and you learning to operate a washing machine.”
“I survived eternal damnation. I can survive laundry.”
She laughs, full and bright. I think I could live on that sound alone.
Later that night, everyone drifts in. Asher brings food, Sloane follows with Emma on her hip.
Gabriel shows up with Jenna, glowing in a way that can only mean trouble for centuries to come.
Even Hades and Aradia drop by, claiming they were “just in the neighborhood.” The place buzzes with warmth and laughter. My family.
Kennedy leans against the bar, watching me joke with Ash. “You two are impossible,” she calls over the noise.
“Genetic condition,” Asher replies. “Nothing to be done.”
Kennedy raises her glass, a Blue Hawaiian. “Remind me to get the vaccine.”
“Too late,” I shoot back, pulling her in against me. “It’s contagious,” I add, claiming her lips with mine.
The room erupts in laughter. It feels… good. Real. Like maybe all those centuries of pain were leading here to this moment of ridiculous, simple joy.
When the crowd finally thins and the last of the glasses are cleared, I step outside onto the balcony. Vegas glows beneath us, restless and alive. Kennedy joins me, slipping her hand into mine.
“Look at it,” she says softly. “All that chaos, and somehow it’s beautiful.”
I nod. “Kinda like us.”
She rests her head on my shoulder. “So, what now?”
“Now?” I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. “Now we build something worth keeping.”
“And if the world ends again?”
“Then we save who we can—one stray at a time.”
She smiles against my chest, and for the first time in forever, I believe we’re going to be okay. The wars are over, the debts are paid, and the ghosts of my past can finally rest.
Inside, Ember barks once, impatient for company. Kennedy laughs.
“Sounds like someone’s ready for bed.”
“Yeah,” I say, turning her toward the door. “So am I, sunshine.”
Later, as she drifts to sleep beside me—Ember curled at our feet and the faint hum of Asher’s club below—I stare at the ceiling and let peace settle in my bones.
No more chains.
No more battles.
Just love, laughter, and a small dog snoring like a thunderstorm.
For the first time, I know exactly who I am.
Not Heaven’s weapon.
Not Hell’s prisoner.
Just a man who finally found a home.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.