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When Samael stepped inside the local diner, all conversation stopped. It barely registered in his awareness. No, his complete attention was with the woman who’d offered him a ride. It took every ounce of determination he possessed not to look back as she pulled away.

A waitress with silver-streaked brown hair, wearing a bright red bib apron with Susie’s Diner embroidered in white across the top, waved at him from behind the counter. “Take a seat anywhere you like. I’ll be right with you.”

Ignoring the curious looks from the locals, he headed for the booth in the far corner and slid in so his back was against the wall. A metal napkin dispenser was flanked by salt and pepper shakers on one side and a bowl with packets of sugar and fake sweetener on the other. A laminated menu was tucked behind the napkins. Clean cutlery was rolled in a white paper napkin. A far cry from the fine dining at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten in… Well, he had no idea, as time passed differently in Shadowland. Suffice it to say, he was hungry.

The woman who’d greeted him bustled up to the table with a coffeepot in one hand and a bowl of individual creamers in the other. She was tall and thin, her blue eyes missing nothing. She efficiently grabbed one of the clean mugs on the table and filled it without bothering to ask if he wanted any. “I’m Susie. Welcome to my place.” She canted her head to one side. “You’re not from around here. Saw you jump out of the back of Adrianne’s truck.”

It was an invitation to converse. It went against all his instincts to engage in small talk, but if he hoped to escape Redemption sooner rather than later, he had to start somewhere. Information was critical, and there was no better place to get it than the local eatery. “She was kind enough to stop and offer me a ride just outside town.” He grabbed the menu and scanned the offerings. The prices were reasonable. Good thing, since his cash supply was limited.

“You passing through?”

The woman was tenacious, he’d give her that. “I may stick around awhile.” Not like he had a choice. “I’ll have the bacon cheeseburger with fries and a slice of apple pie.” He tucked the menu back in its spot. “And a glass of water, please.” He was thirsty after his trek through the woods. Normally, he’d never be bothered by something as mundane as thirst. He assumed this was simply another step in his father’s plan.

“I’ll put in your order and be right back with your water.”

Conversation resumed in the diner, but he had no doubt he was the subject of most of it. Small towns were the same everywhere—people knew their neighbors and a stranger was a topic of interest.

He lifted his mug and sipped the coffee, pleased by the full-bodied flavor. If the smells were anything to go by, the food would be good. With nothing else to do but wait for his meal, his thoughts ricocheted back to the woman on the road. Adrianne, the waitress had called her. He’d gotten a good look at her through the window of her truck. A loose tank top had displayed sleekly muscled arms, the kind that came from hard work and not the gym. Brown hair had been pinned up in a loose bun, not for fashion but to fight the heat. Tendrils had escaped, curling wildly around her face. Like him, she’d worn jeans, hers faded from wear and washing.

His dick stirred, prompting him to swallow a curse. The last thing he wanted or needed was to get involved with a local woman. He was here to do a job and get out. Nothing more.

Susie returned to the table and placed a glass of ice water in front of him. “Won’t be long for the rest.”

“Thank you.” It never hurt to use manners, especially not when he needed a favor. “Is there a phone I can use? Mine was stolen.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Is that right? You lose your car, too?”

In Las Vegas, he could snap his fingers and have a dozen people ready and willing to do his bidding. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. “Something like that.” There was no way to explain his current situation that wouldn’t land him in a psychiatric ward…or in a jail cell. Since he had no idea to what extent his powers were curtailed, he had to be smart. “I want to contact my brother. Get him to wire me some money until things are straightened out.”

Curiosity gleamed in her eyes. “Here.” Rather than walk away, she leaned against the edge of the table.

A grudging respect grew in him. He took the phone and punched in Alex’s number. It rang and rang and rang. No voicemail. No nothing. Hanging up, he tried his youngest brother, Kieran, with the same results. He went into her recent calls log long enough to delete his brothers’ numbers before returning her phone. “Thank you.”

“No luck?”

He shrugged. “Looks like I’m on my own.” The message from his father was loud and clear. That wasn’t anything new. It wasn’t as though he and Alexiares and Kieran spent time together regularly. The last time had been… He had to stop and think about it. They’d been in New York to celebrate the new millennium. That had been more than twenty years ago. Where had the time gone? They checked in with one another every few months, but those conversations had been getting shorter and shorter of late.

A hand fell on his shoulder. “If you’ve got troubles, you might want to talk to Chief Johnson. Police station is just down the road.”

He planned on staying as far away from the authorities as possible. He didn’t need any interference in his plans. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

But she wasn’t done. “If there’s anything I can do to help, ask. I know damn near everyone in a hundred-mile radius.”

His chest constricted at the simple but genuine offer. “Thank you.” His voice was rougher than normal. He picked up the water and took a sip. Susie didn’t know him at all, yet she offered to help.

As Adrianne had.

With a nod, she left to make the rounds to the other booths and tables, refilling empty mugs and making conversation.

Time to get down to work, but he was at a loss at how to begin. How did one learn compassion? He didn’t view himself as cold and unfeeling but practical and professional. Okay, every now and again he got impatient, like he had with Clayton Jessop, but who could blame him? He’d reaped enough souls to populate a major city.

There were other reapers, of course. As the population had exploded, it had become necessary. But he and his brothers weren’t merely reapers. They were the sons of the head guy himself.

And where did he begin? Unlike every other job in the past, he had no idea when he’d be pressed into duty. This time, he was stuck here until it happened. It was all part of his father’s master plan.

Uncertainty was a new emotion. He damn well didn’t like it. He could pilot any plane, handle a car like a NASCAR driver, and swim like a Navy SEAL. The stock market was child’s play for him. Being immortal had given him plenty of time to learn new skills. Lately, the thrill had worn off, leaving him jaded and, if he admitted it, slightly dissatisfied.

He had everything a man could want—money, power, willing companionship with no strings attached—not to mention preternatural abilities. What more could he desire?

An image of Adrianne popped into his brain. There was no getting around it, the woman fascinated him. He’d sensed her uneasiness, yet she’d stopped. No doubt about it, she was a mystery.

“Here you go.” Susie set his meal in front of him before depositing his pie to the side. “Enjoy.”

After giving a nod of thanks, he picked up the burger, more than ready to enjoy his food. Before he could take a bite, a cold breath whispered in his ear, an unmistakable signal from his father he was about to meet his next assignment. Maybe this wouldn’t take as long as he’d feared. He paused and looked toward the entrance in anticipation.

Two seconds later, the door of the diner opened. Samael lowered the burger. He’d come here to reap a soul and now knew their identity. As if sensing his gaze, the person standing in the doorway looked toward him. Brown eyes met black, and Adrianne frowned.

…

I should have gone grocery shopping and skipped the diner.

Yet, part of her was curious about the mysterious man she’d picked up. There was something about him that drew her. Their gazes met and held.

And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death…

The quote was one her granny had read to her from the Bible as a child. It had played on Adrianne’s mind these past months. Death stalked her, but it had nothing to do with the stranger and everything to do with her former life in Chicago. Why had it come to mind now? Goose bumps ran up and down her arms. Sweat beaded on her brow.

“Hey, girl.” Susie waved.

“Hey, Susie.” Getting control of herself, she wove around the tables, stopping long enough to say hello to several people as she made her way to the booth in the far corner. All the while, she was aware of him watching her. Now that she was here, she cursed the impulse. Something about him made her act out of character—first the ride, now this.

He continued to stare, his expression unreadable. Unsure what to say, she shifted her weight from one leg to the other before blurting out the question that had been nagging her. “Where are you from?”

“Why do you want to know?”

It should be illegal for a man to have such dark, thick lashes. His face was strong, with a high forehead, sharp cheekbones, and a firm jawline that gave him a dangerous edge. His unfathomable black eyes were…compelling. “Despite your clothes, something about you screams city.”

A corner of his mouth quirked up but stopped short of a smile. “I’ve lived many places, most recently Las Vegas.”

Not Chicago. Her shoulders relaxed and a weight fell away. She hadn’t realized how tightly she’d been holding herself. Of course, he could be lying, but her instincts screamed the opposite. This was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to tell the truth, no matter how much it might hurt.

She frowned, wondering why she’d think such a thing. She knew nothing about him beyond an extremely short conversation and a car ride.

Something flickered in his gaze before he canted his head to one side. “You might as well join me, Adrianne.”

Her stomach dropped, and she stiffened. “How do you know my name?” Oh God, maybe he did have something to do with her stalker. She’d left everything behind, not contacting former colleagues or friends—not that she’d had many of the latter—sneaking out of the city in the middle of the night to avoid detection. No one who’d known her in Chicago knew where she’d been raised. She’d glossed over her past, wanting to appear more worldly than what she indeed was—a small-town girl. She’d relaxed these past months, assumed she’d left the madness behind.

“Susie mentioned it. She saw me get out of the back of your truck. She had…questions.” He seemed more amused than put out by that observation.

She pressed a hand to her stomach and swallowed heavily. Susie had never met a stranger and loved to gossip, but in the best way possible. There wasn’t a mean bone in her body. “I see.”

“Sit down before you fall down.” He motioned to the bench across from him. “My lunch is getting cold.” He took a bite of burger.

If she could turn back the clock, she’d have stayed home this morning. But if there was one thing she’d learned, it was that there was no going back. All you could do was deal with life as it arose. Her granny had believed people crossed paths for a reason. Adrianne wasn’t so sure it was no more than chance rather than some sort of divine guidance.

“You joining your new friend or getting a table of your own?” Susie’s arrival startled her, making her jolt.

“Ah, joining him.” She dropped onto the seat as Susie slid an ice-cold Coke in front of her. Smiling, Adrianne lifted it. “You know me well. Thanks.” She was hot and sticky from the drive and dragging parcels into the post office. Who was she kidding? It had more to do with the stranger and the potential danger he represented. The caffeine and sugar rush were what she needed to settle her.

“You having lunch?”

That had been the plan, but her stomach was tied in knots. “Maybe a slice of pie.”

“We have apple, pecan, and lemon meringue today.”

“Lemon, please.” Through the entire exchange with Susie, the man seated across from her had continued to eat, swapping out the burger for an occasional french fry. She took a sip of her drink, letting the bubbly, sweet liquid slide down her throat. Settling the glass in front of her, she wrapped both hands around it. “You know my first name. It’s only fair I know yours.”

He finished chewing and wiped his mouth with a napkin. She couldn’t help but notice the preciseness of the gesture and the shape of his lips. They weren’t too big or small. They were enough to give a woman notions if she dropped her guard, which she had no intention of doing. At least not more than she already had.

“Samael, but call me Sam.”

“Unusual name.” It was a biblical one. Her granny had read from the Bible every day of her life. Adrianne had listened, not so much for the stories, but because she’d loved spending time with her, loved the sound of her voice. Those memories were most precious but also bittersweet.

“Blame my father.”

Susie arrived with her pie, momentarily halting their conversation. “You need anything else?”

“More coffee, please.”

Once they were alone again, she picked up her fork. “What brings you to Redemption?”

“Inquisition time, is it?” He studied her over the rim of his mug.

She shrugged unapologetically. “I’m curious.” There were plenty of drifters around, people down on their luck who trekked across the country in search of work. His clothes might be casual, but there was something about him that screamed success. Nor was he one of the homeless who were lost due to mental illness, drug problems, or tragedy.

“It’s a family matter.”

“You have a big family?”

“Do you?”

She set her fork down on the side of her plate without taking a bite. “Not anymore. It’s only me now that my granny is gone.” The finality of that, the wasted years and lost possibilities, weighed heavy on her.

“I’m sorry.” The words were perfunctory, without any actual sentiment behind them. Not that she could fault him. He hadn’t known her granny. He didn’t really know her. She was nothing more than a woman who’d given him a ride and then invaded his lunch.

“I’m the one who’s sorry.” Pushing the full plate of pie aside, she started to stand. “I have no right to ask anything of you. Good luck with whatever business you have in town.”

He reached across the table and wrapped his hand around her wrist, keeping her there without exerting any undue pressure. The heat from his fingers sank into her skin. The muscles in his forearm flexed. This was a man aware of his strength, who tempered it accordingly.

“I don’t mind questions, as long as you don’t expect answers.”

Blunt should be his middle name. He certainly didn’t pull any punches. Surprisingly enough, she liked that. There was so much game-playing and one-upmanship in the corporate world that she’d forgotten how refreshing it was to be around someone who blatantly didn’t give a damn. “Fair enough.”

“Sit and eat your pie. Please,” he added. “I’ll feel bad if I run you off.” There was the slightest hesitation. If she hadn’t been watching him so intently, she would have missed it. “Tell me about yourself.”

She had no right to bristle after her pointed questions. “I don’t mind questions, as long as you don’t expect answers,” she shot back at him.

His eyes widened. Then a slow smile spread across his face. The bottom dropped out of her stomach. He’d gone from dangerously handsome to drop-dead, panty-melting gorgeous. To disguise her reaction, she grabbed her drink and chugged half of what remained.

She hadn’t been attracted to a man in… Well, it had been a long time. Too caught up with advancing her career, she’d barely dated. After the stalking started, it was out of the question.

“Hey, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” His deep voice yanked her back to the present.

Pull it together. She set her glass down. “Not much to tell. Small-town girl leaves home to go to college and make a name in the big city. Things don’t go quite as planned. Girl returns home with her tail between her legs and picks up the pieces. Not exactly an original story.”

“What city? You know where I’m from.”

It wasn’t exactly a state secret. Her granny had talked about her to friends. Plenty of people in town knew where she’d been; still it was tough to share. “Chicago.”

His gaze narrowed and he nodded, looking thoughtful. The more time she spent around him, the more she understood this was a man who missed little, a man in control of his life.

That begged the question: What, then, was he doing in Redemption?