Free The Fallen (Angelic Redemption) by Angela Horn Page B

the Lord, Sawyer. He really hates that.”
    “Fine, you do what you want. Yet if even only half
of the rumors about the Reaper are true, you’re in over your head. Don’t go
ditching the big dog here and getting yourself killed.”
    Lila glanced at Roman who studied her with that
passive expression of his. Whatever he was thinking wasn’t clear from his
reaction to her. Lila wished she could read his mind, just to know what he was
hiding.
    Turning to Sophie, she waved for her to get up.
“We’re leaving.”
    Instead of complaining like Lila assumed she would
do, Sophie stood up quickly. She retrieved her bag and headed toward the hallway.
Turning to follow her, Lila found Roman blocking her exit.
    “I know you better than Sawyer and I know he’s
right about you planning to ditch me. I also know telling you not to ditch me
will only ensure that you do. You do need me though, whether you’ll admit it or
not.”
    Lila studied him, once again irritated by how she
found him the least bit appealing. Whether she would admit needing his help,
Lila couldn’t deny she liked the way he looked at her. Whatever they had
before, she probably liked it back then too.
    “I’ll play nice, Roman, but you need to remember
that this mission is for me and Sophie. You weren’t part of my vision, so when
the time comes, back off. Deal?”
    Grinning, Roman nodded and Lila couldn’t help
grinning back at him. Spotting Sophie waiting patiently down the hall with her
own casual smile, Lila realized these hunters were bound to her by their shared
pasts, even if only Roman knew the details. While Lila wanted to embrace this
fact, she couldn’t really trust Roman or rely on Sophie which left her dreading
the trip ahead.

Chapter Seven
    The walk back to the room was a quiet one and
Heidi said nothing before climbing into bed. Exhausted, she moved only once
before her breathing shifted and she fell into an easy slumber. Spellbound by
her breathing, Joaquin felt overwhelmed by many emotions, none of them helpful.
    Watching her sleep from his chair near the door,
Joaquin felt as he always did on assignment – alert and restless. Even with his
mind on possible threats, he couldn’t help being irritated with Heidi. Curled
up under a sheet, wearing only a shirt and panties, she apparently felt no
concern over Joaquin taking advantage of her. Her naiveté or stupidity,
whichever applied to Heidi, bothered him.
    Leaving her to sleep, Joaquin stole a new car. He
felt certain they would be on the road again by dawn. Returning to the room and
his spot near the window, he peered out of the curtains a few times and stared
at the back of the girl’s head.
    Those emotions stirring in him felt awful and more
than anything distracting. He could protect Heidi, return her to the US, and move on with his life without having any emotional connection to her. Or even a
grand sense of redemption. Joaquin might not want to be a monster, but that
didn’t mean he was looking for a chance to be a saint either.
    Yawning painfully now, Joaquin knew he needed
sleep, but his mind refused to relent to this necessity. He eyed Heidi in bed,
wondering how she slept so comfortably when trouble searched for her in the
darkness. Having gone over a decade without sleeping in a bed, he couldn’t
imagine it feeling safe. Not tonight, not ever.
    Once again, he found himself irritated with Heidi
for her foolish behavior. No matter how she challenged him at dinner, she was
just a lump – unwilling to think or act in a way that any normal person would.
It unnerved him how he prolonged his life, let alone cared for, such a woman.
    As hours passed, the girl continued to taunt him
with her serene breathing. She should be frightened of him and the situation
she was in. Instead, she slept peacefully as if to mock his predicament.
Listening to her breathing forced him into another endless yawn. Feeling the
fatigue infect him, he checked his weapons in the bag under his chair.