Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades) (26 page)

Gabe woke me the next morning with a start, his
eyes wide and his face pale with anguish. I’d never seen
him that way before.

“They’re on their way. We only have a few
minutes before they get here.”
I leapt from bed, throwing my things into my bag,
and rushing out the door behind Gabe, just in my t-shirt
and underwear. He jumped behind the wheel and I threw
my bag in the back seat before I climbed in and slammed
the door.
Gabe had the Camaro throwing rocks as he
burned out of the parking lot just ahead of the first black
Mercedes. They spotted us and kept coming, racing up on
our bumper as we fishtailed out of the gravel parking lot
onto the blacktop.
Gabe shifted adeptly, putting the engine through
its paces, and soon had the muscle car roaring down the
road, the Mercedes hot on our tail. I pulled some jeans
from my open bag and tugged them on. Gabe hit the top
end of fourth gear and shifted to fifth, squealing rubber
on asphalt as he went, pulling away from our pursuers.
He inched his lead out by the second until we had nearly
a few blocks on them.
“We didn’t decide; Winnipeg?” He glanced over.
“Yeah, what other choice do we have?”
“Whatever choice you want, but Winnipeg’s a
good start.” He nodded for emphasis.
“Go for it,” I shouted over the roar of the engine.
We approached a crossroads. “Hang on,” he cried.
I gripped the ‘oh shit’ handle over my door as he
downshifted, pulled the parking break, and skidded into
the intersection, turning to the left. He dropped the break
down again, hit the gas to pull us out of our slide, and
quickly shifted to get us back up to fifth gear.
I watched out the back window as the first
Mercedes tried the same maneuver and slid into the ditch
across the road. The second fared a little better, then
caught a wheel on the soft shoulder and sank up to its
axel. Only the third car made the turn and raced after us.
“We lost two,” I shouted.
“Good. Now they have to stay close, but can’t try
anything drastic for fear of losing us.” Gabe nodded.
We sped towards Winnipeg, hoping to lose them
in the city and buy us and Allister some time to get lost.
As we drove I texted Angelina, hoping to inform
her of our plans and waited impatiently for her reply. It
didn’t come.
Gabe slowed, managing to come within a
reasonable range of the speed limit as the Mercedes, still
on our tail, slowed as well, giving us some room.
After driving for another hour, my cell pinged that
a message had come in. It was Angelina.

The trial is still on hold waiting for Bastion to bring you
in. He sent word he has you in his sights and capture is
inevitable. Keep going, we all believe in you.

Tears came to my eyes as I read. Marveling at the
faith these Eternals placed in me; totally unfounded. I
lowered the phone to my lap staring out at the desolate
road.
“Good news?”
“The trial is waiting for Bastion to bring me in.”
“That will be some time if we have anything to

We sped into Winnipeg after dark, the lights of the
Eternal’s car right behind us. Another set of lights joined
the first not long after dark. I assumed the third car would
arrive in short order.

“What now. How do we lose them?” I asked as we
slowed down for the city limits.
Gabe gave me a smirk and took a hard right, hit
the gas and propelled us down a side street before turning
another right and then a quick left. He moved through the
streets like it was second nature, not slowing or stopping
for any traffic lights. Incredibly, they all went our way. As
he came up to traffic, he veered and maneuvered like he
knew what the drivers were thinking and kept going
without ever touching the brakes.
We pulled into the underground parking ramp of a
large hotel and jerked to a stop in an open spot. Gabe
turned the car off and got out quickly, pulling me after as
I snatched the handle of my bag and dragged it along.
We went to the front desk and checked in. This
time Gabe did all the talking as the people called him by
his first name and smiled knowingly. He took the key to
his “usual” room and we climbed in the elevator a matter
of minutes after pulling into the ramp.
While the elevator bell dinged at each floor, I
looked over at him curiously. “Been here before?” I
asked.
“I like Winnipeg. Not too big to be friendly and
not too small to be overly noticed.” He grinned.
The elevator opened to a large suite, walls of
windows overlooking a river and the city as the lights
sparkled in the darkness. The spacious room had an
enormous living room and two bedrooms off of it. I
nearly jumped out of my skin when a man stepped
forward out of the bar/kitchen area, handing Gabe a drink
and waiting patiently.
“Would the lady care for a drink?” he asked,
looking at Gabe more than me.
“What would you like to drink?” Gabe looked to
me, expectant.
“I could go for a beer.” I blew through pursed lips.
The man began turning back to the bar, when
Gabe intervened. “The lady would like a Diet Coke?” He
raised an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah, fine.” I frowned.
The man went to get my drink and I glared at
Gabe.
“Doesn’t being an Eternal-slash-Angel eliminate
the need for a drinking age? If I’m going to live forever,
what’s the point?”
“I need you fresh and sharp. No need to muddy
your thoughts.”
“Fine,” I sighed, too tired to argue, as the man
returned with my Diet Coke.
“Will that be all, Sir?” The man asked.
“Yes Kurt. Thank you.” Gabe smiled.
The man disappeared through the kitchen and we
were alone.
“Don’t you think they’ll find us here?” I asked,
taking a sip of my Coke.
“Eventually, but by then we might get lucky and
they’ll be less determined to find you.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed. “So what now?”
“We go about living. The chance of them coming
across us is slim. We need to be careful, but we can see
the sights, maybe take in a play, and enjoy ourselves for a
while.”
“What if they think we ducked back into the
states? Won’t they start searching for me where they left
off? Nashwauk is only 30 miles from Grand Rapids.”
“I’ll keep an eye on them. I can find them and
make sure they’re still here.” His confidence was
comforting.
“Okay. I’m beat. Which room is mine?”
“Take your pick. Either is fine.” He motioned to
one and then the other bedroom in the suite.
“Thanks.” I smiled at him. “Goodnight Gabe.”
“Goodnight Britt.” He grinned as I turned away
and went into a bedroom.
A king-size bed greeted me and I rolled the sliding
doors closed behind me before diving onto the soft,
welcoming mattress. I tossed my arms up over my head
and got a whiff of my armpits. Whew. I didn’t have a
chance to shower today and I could tell.
I slid off the bed and went into the bathroom,
turning on the six, count them, six shower heads and
basked in the soothing steam and spray until my muscles
turned to noodles.
I crawled into the bed with my hair still wet, not
caring what kind of bird’s nest resulted the next morning.
I was just beginning to drift off when I noticed the
message light on my phone flashing from its perch on the
nightstand. I picked it up and opened the text from
Angelina.

Britt, the trial will continue in a few days. If you can stay
hidden for at least that long, we might be able to get
Allister released or a jail sentence. Victor thinks he might
be able to convince some of the council members to show
mercy on Allister. He might be able to keep them from
changing the sentence even if you are captured at a later
date. So please,
please
, stay hidden 3-4 more days.
Angelina.

I set down the phone again. Hope dared enter my
mind for the first time in so long, I barely recognized it. I
may be able to live with myself after all. Allister may be
allowed to live. Jail wasn’t the most ideal way to live, but
maybe Eternal prison was like the kind they send
politicians to when they take a bribe or Wall Street execs
when they swindled people.

My eyes slid shut, the stress and excitement of the
day catching up with me. I felt a smile curling my lips as
I drifted off. Maybe I could see Allister again, someday.
Now at least there was a glimmer of possibility.

The next morning I woke to loud music coming
from the other room. I got up, pulling down my t-shirt,
and slid the doors to my bedroom apart. At that moment, I
witnessed something I thought I would never see in my
lifetime; Gabe rocking out to AC/DC. He sang ‘Dirty
Deeds’ at the top of his lungs, playing air guitar and head
banging like an old pro.

I couldn’t help myself giggling in the doorway.
He turned toward the sound and changed a dozen shades
of red, then hit the mute on the remote in his hand.

“Gabe, you never told me angels can rock,” I said
laughing.
“You still have a lot to learn about us,” he smiled,
laughing as well. “I can only speak for myself, but being
on earth as often as I am, I do find rock and roll
enjoyable. A worthy stress reliever.”
“Good to know.” I nodded, still smirking.
“Hear any more from Greece?” he asked,
sweeping back his hair with one hand.
“Yeah.” I wondered if he could read my mind.
“Angelina said if we can avoid Bastion for the next few
days Victor may be able to work something out and keep
Allister from being sentenced to death…ever.”
“That’s wonderful.”
I think he truly meant it. Even though Gabe
wanted me to be with him, I think he wanted me to be
happy too. “Maybe we should hole up here instead of
going out, at least for a few days,” I suggested.
“Nonsense. Bastion won’t find us in Winnipeg too
easily. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“Well…if you think it’s safe.”
“Trust me. We’ll be fine. I already have tickets for
us to see Les Miserables tonight.”
“Theatre, really?”
“If you’re going to live forever, it won’t hurt you
to get a little culture along the way.” Gabe frowned at my
reaction.
“Alright.” I nodded, conceding the point.
“But today, you need some new clothes.”
“I don’t have money to buy clothes,” I informed
him, a little embarrassed. “I only have enough to keep me
going for a short time.”
“No worries,” Gabe grinned. “Being immortal
gives you time to save up for a rainy day.” He winked at
me.
“Save up? Like how much have you saved up?”
“I don’t like to talk about money.” He turned
towards the windows.
“Come on. Give me a hint.”
“Britt,” he sighed, still not looking at me.
“Hundreds of thousands?”
Gabe didn’t respond.
“Millions?”
Gabe kept his back to me, watching the city
below.
“Billions?”
He smirked over his shoulder at me as my mouth
dropped, eyes wide.
“You have to be joking,” I said, short of breath.
“Like I said, money tends to make people
nervous.”
“So shopping it is?”
“As soon as you’re ready.”
I raced off to take a shower and get dressed.
Thirty minutes later we were driving through downtown
Winnipeg in the hotel’s limousine, stopping in front of a
very swanky looking boutique.
“Are you sure?” I gazed up at the shiny sign over
the door.
“Anything you want.” Gabe smiled.
We went in. I tried on different outfits not only for
the night of theatre, but also everyday clothing with
prices three times what they would cost in a normal store.
Gabe didn’t bat an eye as we bought a trunk load of
clothing and hauled it back for the poor bellhops to lug up
to our room.
When we arrived back at our room, lunch waited
under silver covers. We sat in front of the high windows
eating lobster and shrimp. Gabe asked me about my life
before meeting Allister and I fought hard to steer away
from the cancer stories and stick to the happier times; the
times with Trish, Elisa, and Cassie. I went quiet after
saying their names, missing them terribly.
“So what would you like to do with your life?”
Gabe changed the subject, “If you didn’t have Eternals
chasing you?”
“I’m sorry.” I looked at Gabe as he frowned,
confused.
“What would you need to be sorry for?”
“If I could do anything right now…”
“Go on Britt,” Gabe urged.
“I’d like to be with Allister, just the two of us. It’s
been so long since we’ve spent time together where we
could feel more of what we had before this all went
crazy.”
Gabe’s face turned red and he stood, wiping his
lips with a napkin and tossed it down on his plate.
“I’m sorry.” Sensing that I’d wrecked the mood, I
felt like a heel.
“Not your fault.” He looked at me, his eyes filled
with hurt. “I hoped you could find your way to
considering me romantically.”
I didn’t have anything to say. I stared at him, my
mouth gaping uselessly.
“I need to get ready for tonight. I suggest you do
the same.” Gabe paced off, not turning back as he slid the
door to his bedroom closed.

I felt bad, really bad, but I’d never intended to
lead Gabe on. I never told him I would choose him over
Allister. Don’t get me wrong. Gabe was incredible in his
own right, but when your heart makes a choice it rarely is
logical or controllable. My connection to Allister couldn’t
be ignored; even with thousands of miles separating us,
my feelings for him never lessened.

I walked into my room, the dress for this evening
laid out by the suite’s butler. Dark green satin, cinched at
the waist, fairly low neckline; nothing I could imagine
wearing in Grand Rapids, ever.

I took a long shower, the warmth relaxing my
tense muscles and lessening the strain on my nerves.
Only a few more days and Allister’s life would be safe
again. A life in prison didn’t seem much like a victory to
me, still, it left the possibility of seeing him again as
opposed to the finality of the alternative.

I entered my bedroom and noticed a small black
box sitting above my dress laid out on the bed. I moved
over and sat on the edge of the bed, my towel wrapped
around me. I lifted the box, my hands trembling as I
considered its contents. Easing the cover open, I watched
the light above reflect off the contents; a necklace,
emeralds and diamonds to match my dress were
surrounded by elegant strands of silver and gold.