jinn 03 - vestige by Liz Schulte Page B

cheek hard enough to draw blood, needing the pain to balance the building rage. “They said my brother was back.”
    She looked at me blankly. I didn’t have to read her mind to know the thoughts that were tumbling through it. How was his brother still alive? Did Holden lie? “How is that possible?” she finally asked.
    I scratched my jaw, my tenuous hold on my emotions fading too fast to be controlled. I was a danger to everyone like this. “It isn’t.”
    She watched me carefully. Could she tell? I couldn’t tell she was dying. We had both retreated, but for the first time in different directions. She no longer had the angel, but now my powers raged inside of me. The angel said I had to embrace my true nature to win, but how could I do that and still be someone Olivia would want? It would certainly be the end of us. Perhaps that was why I retreated away from her. Somewhere inside I was saving us both from the fires that would consume us. “You don’t believe that. Not really.”
    My jaw tightened and I stared just over her shoulder. She didn’t know a lot about my past—but I had told her about my brother because that was the only part worth telling. “I don’t know what I know. When I went through the tunnel to get Baker I saw him. He was different, but it was him. At least it could have been.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    I still couldn’t look at her. How was I supposed to know why I didn’t tell her? Why had I blamed her for Baker’s death when it wasn’t her fault? Because it was easier? Because I didn’t know how to go on from here? Because we were never going to be safe, and we were never going to find happiness in this life, together or apart? “It was an illusion. My brother wouldn’t be in Hell.”
    My mind told me she was about to take my hand—but then she didn’t. Took a step back and laced her fingers in front of her instead. I was both relieved and devastated. “I know someone we can ask.” Those clear blue-green eyes sought out mine.
    She wasn’t talking about a séance. I smiled slightly. “I don’t think the Angel of Death is my biggest fan. He’s not going to help. We should let it go and deal with it, if and when it’s a problem. My brother is dead and as far as I’m concerned, he’s staying that way.”
    “Well, lucky for you, he does like me. This is important. It hurts you.”
    For one dumb ass moment I thought she was letting herself care again—and then the practical Olivia, the Olivia that I’d forced into existence, spoke again. “And they will use your pain against you, against us . Let’s take this particular sword away from them, okay? It doesn’t hurt to go right to the source.”
    I exhaled and glanced at my watch. “I should check in at the club.”
    “Fine. I’ll go by myself. No problem.”
    I shook my head. “Shouldn’t you be looking for a way to save yourself?”
    “There’s not much I can do on that front, but I can take care of this.” She touched my chin for just a moment, stealing my breath for a moment. “You go to the club. Your brother will be in good hands… as soon as Maggie gets back to watch Charlie.”
    “Charlie?”
    “The girl needs a name. We can’t keep calling her the kid.”
    I glanced back at the room. “Why Charlie?”
    “It’s cute and tough, just like her.”
    A slow steady stream of warmth spread in my chest. How did she always manage to do that? I could know Olivia for five hundred years and she would never cease to surprise me with her ability to find the one switch that would lighten even the darkest of hearts and give hope. And at the moment it was a ratty little girl and Olivia knew it. “Charlie it is,” I said.
    She didn’t smile, but happiness lit her from within. It had been too long since I had seen her look like that. “Now go. Take care of the jinn. Let me handle this while I still can.” She stood up.
    “No.” I shook my head. “They can wait. Let’s see what Death has to