Free Another Way To Bleed (Midnight Assassin) by Susan Harris Page B

the spiral staircase, Cassie heard soft footfalls behind her and the hint of strawberries assured her that the angel was behind. He followed her in silence as she crossed through the main hall and took another flight of stairs down to the basement. Opening the door, she felt right at h ome.
    Inside the room, every single weapon imaginable was stacked on shelves. From Glocks to desert eagles, MP5's to AK47's, ballistic knives to samurai swords, grenades to flash bangs: this room had everything. Besides the library, this was her favourite room in the whole complex. Picking up her nine mil, she made sure the gun was fully loaded and that she had extra ammo. She held it like it was a prized possession; having a gun in her hand was just like an extension of her own body. Putting that in the hell-yes-we’re-taking-it pile, she began to relax. The emotional crap she couldn’t handle, but weapons, weapons she could do. Archer had yet to open his mouth, and Cassie could feel him watching her, but she continued to round up the things she would need for the trip.
    “Something very sexy watching you work those guns,” he teased. As she threw a stake at him, he ducked; it landed with a thud on the floor.
    “Shut your face, angel-boy . You’re in my house now.”
    She couldn’t help but smile as he went off to pick out his own stuff. She realised she might need some ingredients for spells, but the pantry could wait. Weapons first, pantry next, then off they go. This was most likely going to be the road trip from hell.

Chapter Eleven
    Huffing as she hauled the bags down to the underground car park, Cassie refused to let Archer take the bags from her. Setting them down in front of Luka's Bentley, she popped the boot but was pushed aside by the pompous angel. “Let me, Princess, wouldn't want you to break a nail or anything.”
    Cassie shoved him hard and he tumbled into the wall. Growling as he separated from the wall, she turned her back to him and hoisted the weapons up. Taking out an extra clip, she stuck it in her belt. As she closed the boot, she caught the scent of lavender wafting down the stairs. She grabbed her own bag and opened the back door of the car, before sliding in. Somehow the thoughts of spending the next couple of hours trapped ne xt to Luka made her nervous. She sank down into the luxurious seats, glancing out the tinted windows as Luka rounded the corner. Her breath stilled. He was in full-warrior mode, dressed almost identically to her. A thin line of stubble had begun to grow around his chin, and his own sword was slung over his shoulder. Maybe it's a good thing angel boy is in the car.... a very good thing.
    You have everything you need, Cassandra?
    Cassie swore under her breath and told herself to watch her thoughts during the trip.
    Yeah, boss, ready to go. Put your semi in the boot already! There was a slight pause before he replied; I’m ready to get this over with too, Cassandra. We'll be leaving in a few minutes.
    Archer got into the passenger seat and pulled on some serious shades. He positioned his legs on the dash and folded his arms over his chest. Cassie leaned over the seat. “I assumed angels weren’t into material things, yet those sunglasses must have cost a bomb and your threads are most definitely designer.... care to explain?”
    Without even a twitch, he answered her “You forget I’m one of the fallen. It’s in my nature to be extravagant. Clothes, weapons, cars… women... I might as well enjoy things as I’m given them.”
    As her brow deepened and her cheeks flushed, he shot back with another question, “Why Princess, did you think that since I had fallen, I had stayed a nice, good little angel? Of course I've had women, and lots of them, but I could always make room for one more...”
    Cassie snapped back, muttering, “In your dreams, angel-boy,” She couldn’t help but feel flustered. Naively, she never considered that Archer would have been with women... sure why not...