Free Rusty Nails (The Dade Gibson Case Files) by Jason Brannon Page A

probably the least of your worries. Just about everyone in here is preoccupied with their own vices, and those who aren’t probably wouldn’t ride to your rescue out of some sense of virtue. You’re on your own here, and there are quite a few angels who know it. Angels who are far worse than me.”
    “What is it you want?”
    The question seemed to catch the angel off guard. He sighed. “Truthfully, all I want is a little peace. But there are those of my kind who have other ideas. I’m a slave to the needle, and someone holds my leash now.”
    “Who are you working for?” Liz asked.
    The angel shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’m still doing my best to serve Heaven, but someone else has other ideas. All I know is someone introduced me to this addiction and now they have control over me. You’d be surprised the sorts of things you’d be willing to do if your inhibitions were taken away.”
    “I assume this has something to do with the Richard Edgemore case.”
    The angel winced as if locked in some sort of internal mental battle with himself. “To be honest, I don’t really know. I’m merely a soldier in this war. I don’t question my orders. I just do my best to carry them out. I’m trying to keep myself under control. But it’s very difficult. You’d be frightened by some of the thoughts that keep going through my mind right now. Skinning you alive is one. Using you as my introduction to human sexuality is another.”
    Liz took a step back. “Stay away from me.”
    The angel grunted. “These thoughts aren’t my own. It’s surprisingly easy to be evil if you feel no guilt. The drug is to blame.”
    “Who do you work for?” Liz asked again as she took a mental inventory of the items in her purse. So far the only potential weapon that came to mind was a nail file. It didn’t seem like much defense against an angel.
    “I am an angel of light. I still consider myself one of the good guys.”
    “The good guys I know don’t talk about skinning people or raping helpless women.”
    Pyriel nodded solemnly. “Perhaps you’re right. Maybe I’m not that pious after all if those kinds of thoughts were truly inside me, waiting to surface when my inhibitions were at their lowest.”
    “Just tell me what you need to tell me and then go away. That will prove you’re a good guy.”
    “Louise Hartwell isn’t the kind of woman you want to mess with. If your boyfriend is involved with her, he’s in trouble. I’m telling you that as an angel of the Lord and as a slave to the crucifixion drug.”
    Liz froze. “How do you know about Louise Hartwell? I didn‘t tell you anything about that.”
    “I‘m an angel,” Pyriel said. “It’s my business to know. It’s also my business to help Now, do you want to know what I know? Or would you rather watch your boyfriend get murdered in cold blood?”
    “You’ve threatened to skin me alive and rape me. Why would I go with you?”
    “Because you love your boyfriend more than yourself, and you would risk your life for his. Besides, this place isn’t exactly a temple of virtue. The fact that I haven’t acted on either of my thoughts should prove to you that I won’t hurt you.”
    “Do I really have a choice here,” Liz said.
    “You always have a choice,” Pyriel said. “I won’t force you although I could. The decision is yours. Just remember that things will be much more difficult for Dade if he has to deal with the complexities of this situation while simultaneously trying to save your life.”
    Liz sighed. “Fine. Lead the way.”
    Pyriel nodded and headed toward the exit. Neither of them were prepared for the crazed twins that blocked their way out. Both of the seraphim were heavily muscled, cover in tribal tattoos, and leering at them with yellow cat’s eyes.
    “See what I mean?” Pyriel said. “There are those out there who are worse than me.”
    “We could have some fun with this one,” the brothers said in unison.
    Liz started to run, but