Free Deadly Kisses by Kerri Cuevas Page A

her.
    “Sorry.” Jaleb turned down the radio. “What did he say? What do you do?”
    “Ad said he is good at making death painless.”
    “Oh, that’s reassuring. How about we try it on him again?” Jaleb scowled.
    “Boys! This is my night! I’ll do what I want and when I want. Neither of you will interfere. Got it?”
    After some mumbling and grumbling we both agreed, but her brother had to get in the final word.
    “I just need to know. Why you, Bee?”
    I let out a breath. “Even Grim Reapers have a boss. I don’t know how they decide. All I know is that I get a text with a name and information. Then the timer on my phone is remotely set off. I have seven days to track down a person, create their death, collect their soul, and deliver it.”
    She repeated it word for word to Jaleb.
    “How does one become a Grim Reaper?” Jaleb asked, gripping the steering wheel so hard I could see the white of his knuckles in the dark.
    I stayed quiet.
    “Don’t you owe me my question? It’s not like we’re killing you for information. Sheesh.” Bee huffed.
    I snarled. “You have to be heading to Heaven and then you have to refuse to die and keep your regret.”
    She repeated it word for word. “So what were you talking about before? What can I do that is different from everyone else?”
    Her brother looked at the confusion on her face. He was quick to watch the road.
    “You give off sparks of life and heal things. You brought the lizard back from being almost dead, the bird, and me. I look like I did when I was human. I couldn’t scare anyone if I wanted to now, but I’m not complaining. I like having skin again.”
    “That’s insane! I didn’t bring anything back to life. I save the animals by helping them.”
    “Insane all right,” I said.
    “What’s insane?” Jaleb asked.
    “Ad thinks I can bring things back to life. That’s crazy!”
    “Come on. No one can bring things back from death,” Jaleb sneered.
    “You can, Bee, and you know it. It’s not as strong with Jaleb but his aura is an intense white energy I’ve never seen before. I assume he’s like you.”
    “Ad thinks I can, and so can you to a point.”
    “Bet that’s why he is following you around. He’s probably already told all his death friends. They’re going to come and draw life from you or some freaky deaky thing like that.”
    I froze and my hand slipped from her. My stomach twisted and I breathed deep smelling pine from the green tree that hung from the rear view mirror.
    “Ad?”
    “Ad, is it true?”

Thirteen
    W hat if Abe went to his boss and told him what Bee could do? Grim Reapers would come from everywhere to get Bee and use her energy to feel and grow skin. I breathed hard as I thought about the consequences of that.
    “Your brother’s right. Stay next to me the whole time when we get to Dirty Phil’s. Other Grim Reapers might try to steal your life energy, but you’re my assignment. I won’t let them.”
    “Okay, but I’m still having the time of my life tonight. They won’t kill me would they?”
    My heart wrenched. “No, they can’t. Now let’s go have some fun.”
    If she was healing things maybe this was the reason I couldn’t reap her soul.
    Jaleb patted her hand. A pang of jealousy snuck up and hit me. I wanted to be the one to comfort her. Funny how a dead person wanted to be alive, but when I was alive I felt half-dead. With Bee, being happy was easy and she was full of life. I knew I had to end her life, but I didn’t want to. The world needed her.
    Jaleb’s truck pulled into the busy parking lot. Motorcycles lined up next to the door where a large bald man in leather stood. Bee stared at the shiny line of bikes, smiling. Jaleb parked in the dirt under a tree.
    I wished Bee could have done something else tonight, but I knew there was no stopping her. Just like Sabrina and me, she couldn’t resist good music.
    The truck door creaked when she opened it for me. “I can’t wait.” She clapped