Hear No (Hidden Evil, #1) Read Free Page A

and have her reassigned,” Nathan replied.  
    “But you said you’d take this case.”
    “You forgot to mention you were personally involved,” Nathan said. “That changes everything. Consider this a freebie. I calmed her down. You clean up your own mess.”
    Joey’s gaze lingered on the angel, who was content with her pizza and snow globe.
    Nathan wolfed down a couple slices then lit another cigarette, his gaze going to the clear sky. He wasn’t joking about the girlfriends demanding kids. He fell into the same pattern with each woman he dated. He met Ms. Right, settled down in what he thought was a relationship whose boundaries were mutually understood. Then one day, she demanded kids and marriage.
    He walked. He always did. His work as a supernatural caseworker and protector of incarnated angels was priority. Women didn’t understand that he wasn’t able to settle down, because he was temporarily immortal. At some point, his boss on the Other Side would give him the option of retiring as a human.
    If things keep getting weirder, it won’t be anytime soon, he thought to himself.
    “You gonna be all right?” he asked the woman.
    “The glowing elves want me to follow them,” she said.
    “Just stay out of the street.” Nathan reached into his satchel and withdrew a small bottle of painkillers. He tossed it to Joey.
    “What’s this?” Joey asked.
    “She’ll have a headache tomorrow.”
    “Is this legal?”
    Nathan ignored him. He stood and studied the first gen one last time. She’d hate him in the morning, when she found herself having to deal with Joey, the ex who didn’t like her toes or her dreams. But that was the way of things. She was in no danger, and Joey had to learn.
    Nathan picked up his delivery bag and pulled out the pizzas.
    “C’mere, honey,” he told the ex-angel.
    The incarnated angel tucked the snow globe in her pocket. She stood, wobbled and then smiled.
    “Take these inside. Give me a minute with your guide.” Nathan handed them to her.
    She took the boxes and walked towards the house, stopping to sing to rainbows or elves or whatever else she saw. 
    Nathan extinguished his cigarette with his heel then met the gaze of Joey, who still appeared unsettled.
    “You don’t date first gen angels,” Nathan started.
    “You just drugged her, and you’re going to tell me what to do?”
    “You can do whatever you want, except for dating first gen angels. They have to learn. The best way to learn is not to have someone standing between them and reality.”
    “Let her flail around and get hurt?” Joey asked, crossing his arms. “Sounds like a compassionate guide.”
    “You can be compassionate with humans.”
    “I can’t walk away from her.”
    Nathan smiled. “Then get used to the idea of kids, Joey. You can’t have it both ways.”
    “You make it sound so easy. It’s not that cut and dry,” Joey objected.
    “Not my problem. In a domestic dispute, I’ll always side with the former angel. Their intentions are usually purer,” Nathan said. “Now, I’ve got some pizzas to deliver.” He took the carrier and paced to his car.
    “Nate, wait!” Joey called.
    “I’m on the clock, Joey. Deal with it.”
    “You know they’re right what they say about you.”
    “I’m bitter but effective?” Nathan asked, hand resting on the metal handle of his car door.
    “They said you’re a cold-hearted bastard and a selfish dick.”
    “Close enough.” Nathan opened his car door and dropped into it. He understood Joey’s anger wasn’t really directed at him but at the fact the young spirit guide had screwed up by dating a first gen – and knew it.
    Nathan closed his door, started the engine and drove away.
    Selfish. It was the second time in as many days he’d been called that. His life was dedicated to helping lost, scared or endangered incarnated angels. He went whenever someone called, wherever it was, without batting an eye at the time or expense or personal toll it took