Blood Ties: A Grace Harper Novel by J.T. Hardy

Author:J.T. Hardy [Hardy, J.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781948305907
Published: 2018-02-02T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

As we rode the elevator down, Libby and I just stared at each other. Eyes locked, a kind of shared insanity that transcended society, family, even friendship. A new reality clicked into place around us.

"Holy crap, what did we fall into?" I asked.

"Looks like holy crap to me."

The doors opened into the lobby. The chaos outside had calmed down a little. News crews were still wandering around, but the police presence was small considering what had just happened. It was odd, but maybe without evidence that anything had gone down, there wasn't much they could do.

I cut through the lobby and went out the door. The valet handed us both bottles of water and we took them. Dehydration was just as dangerous as Pretty Boys in the desert. We cautiously made our way back to the plaza. The big clock above the courtyard read eight twenty-five, and it seemed busy for a Tuesday night that had just experienced a supernatural event.

"What do we do about Daniel?" Libby ducked around a trio of elderly women in straw hats. "I admire a good storming off, but he does make strong backup."

"I know, my temper got away from me. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be lurking around before long." Lurking was unfair. He was protecting me. I should be grateful someone was watching over us, but it ticked me off anyway. "I'll apologize later."

Dad must have known all these years who Daniel was. Maybe he didn't know he was a freaking angel, but he'd considered himself a good Catholic and rarely missed a Sunday at church, even when I'd stopped going to temple. His old Bible showed up at every apartment we stayed at, same as his crucifix and rosary beads, plus all those trinkets in the glove box. Oh sure, he downplayed it all and claimed they were weapons against the Pretty Boys, but obviously that had been bullshit.

Libby trotted along beside me. "Where are we going?"

"Scene of the crime to look for clues." A mundane task after revelations of, well, Revelations, but hitting the pavement and following the evidence had gotten us here.

I stopped where time had frozen and scanned the area, then gave it a good sniff. Nothing smelled burnt, but Southwestern spiciness drifted through the air. Libby stood back-to-back with me and we rotated slowly as one.

It looked normal, which was weird all on its own. People ought to be scared, freaked out, hiding in their rooms and terrified to come out, but everyone shopped and walked and talked like there hadn't been a huge angel throw-down right here less than half an hour ago.

How powerful were those time stops?

"Is it me," Libby said, "or is it too calm out here?"

"I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe it was the time stop."

"Come again?"

"You didn't notice that before? Kokabiel froze the whole plaza right before he jumped us."

She turned back around and faced me. "I don't remember that."

"You remember a bunch of Pretty Boys appearing out of nowhere and starting a fight, right?"

Her face wrinkled, eyes troubled.

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