Page 14 of Brush with Death (Not Quite Dead #3)

“I’M REALLY SORRY,”

Cyril told Katie.

She was crying. Cyril wasn’t surprised since he’d just told her what had happened to Sam. It looked like Sam hadn’t gone into details when he’d talked to her at the morgue, and maybe Cyril shouldn’t have, either, but Katie had asked, and he hadn’t wanted to lie to her.

“What about the men who did it?”

she asked.

“They won’t be a problem, and they won’t hurt anyone else.”

Russell and John had taken care of the third man who’d been there that night. Cyril hadn’t gone with them that time, and neither had Vale. They’d stayed home and waited for Russell to call them and tell them it was done.

Cyril was done. He didn’t want to think about Angelo or demons ever again. Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to.

“I don’t know how to thank you,”

Katie said with a sob.

“You don’t have to thank me. I did it for Sam as much as I did it for you.”

“You’ll come to the funeral?”

“Of course. Just let us know when and where, and Vale and I will be there.”

When Katie leaned forward, Cyril wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as she cried. His eyes burned, but he’d already cried it out.

It wouldn’t be easy. Katie had lost Sam, and even though she knew what had happened to him now, it still had to hurt. It would take time for her to heal, but eventually, she would. Sam wouldn’t want her to stop living. He’d loved her enough to want her to build herself a life and be happy.

Cyril was exhausted, so he was glad when he and Vale left Katie’s house. The silence in the car was soothing, but unfortunately, it didn’t last nearly long enough.

“How are you feeling?”

Vale asked.

“Tired, mostly.”

“You have time to rest now.”

Vale hesitated, but he didn’t add anything.

Cyril wanted to know what he was thinking. “What?”

“I just think that eventually, we’ll need to talk about who you are without your ability.”

Cyril frowned.

“Why? I have it back.”

“I know, but I also know that you struggled when you didn’t have it. Your life wouldn’t end just because you can’t reanimate dead people, Cyril. I need you to know that.”

Cyril sighed. He understood that Vale was worried about him, but he really didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t even want to think about it. “I know.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. You have to understand that I’ve been a necromancer my entire life, though. If I ever lose my ability to reanimate people, it’s going to take time to wrap my mind around that and accept it, just like you’re taking time to accept the fact that you’ve retired. It’s not exactly the same, but you were a professional assassin for a long time, and I know that you struggle with not knowing what to do now.”

“I just don’t want you to think less of yourself because of it.”

“I don’t. I was worried, but I would’ve eventually accepted my ability not coming back. Sam’s situation complicated everything, though. Maybe if he hadn’t died, it would’ve been easier for me to rest and accept that I might have lost my ability permanently.”

But he hadn’t, and he never wanted to go through that again. Maybe he should start wearing a helmet while he worked? It wasn’t the first time a family member reacted badly, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to risk it again.

“Just promise me that you’ll talk to me next time. It was hard to see you trying to deal with it by yourself. You have to remember that you have me now.”

Cyril thought he’d done a good job sharing his feelings and everything else, but it was the first time he was in a serious relationship. Maybe he hadn’t.

“I know that I have you, and I promise to make more of an effort to talk to you if something like this happens again.”

That seemed to satisfy Vale.

“All right. I just wanted to be sure I’m giving you what you need.”

“You are.”

But Cyril understood why Vale was worried. It was his first serious relationship, too. Neither of them knew what they were doing. They had to work together, but sometimes it wasn’t easy.

Cyril was relieved when Vale took the last turn on the street where they lived. His emotions were all over the place, and he’d need a few days to recuperate. Maybe he could take an actual vacation now that this mess with Katie and Sam was over.

“Hey, what do you think of leaving the city for a few days?”

Vale smirked.

“You mean like a real vacation, like Eva suggested?”

“Do you think I could get away with not telling her if we go? She’s going to be so smug.”

“You’ll have to tell her if you want her to take care of Oscar. I don’t think she’ll be smug, anyway. She just wants you to be safe and happy.”

“And I can be safe and happy on vacation.”

“You do need to relax. A vacation sounds nice.”

Vale parked the car and turned to Cyril. He leaned forward to kiss him, but Cyril was distracted.

“What’s John doing here?”

He’d been standing by the door of their building, but he stepped forward when he saw them. Cyril gasped.

“He’s bleeding.”

He was in rough shape. There was blood at the corner of his lips, and he was holding an arm against his chest as if it were broken.

“We have to help him.”

Vale groaned.

“There goes our vacation.”