Page 102 of The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter

As I turned to grab the sun-dried oregano and salt, I saw something that put my entire future in doubt. The time for truth had come sooner than I thought. Death loomed next to me, in the original form, the one I had first seen him in all those years ago on the plantation. His energy flooded the room, pressing every corner, the enormity of it stealing my breath away.

“Thought you’d be rid of me that easily?”

Anger threaded through his voice, dark and crackling, like the energy of a night storm, with destruction guaranteed to follow.

The glass saltshaker fell, shattering to pieces, a plume of white salt dust rising around my feet.

“Carmella! Everything okay?” The couch squeaked as Diego stood up. I ran to the door, blocking his view to the kitchen.

“I—dropped the saltshaker. Would you run to the store and get another one?”

Diego frowned. “I think there’s a container on the shelf.”

“Nope. Fresh out.” I swallowed thickly. He needed to leave. Immediately.

“Let me help you clean up first.” He moved toward me, and I put a hand out to stop him.

“No!” I moved away from the kitchen. “Also, it’d be great if you could get me two cans of tomatoes. I need them for the sauce.”

“But we have tom—”

“I used them already. Please?” I walked over and pressed my hands against his shirt despite the sick feeling in my gut. “Please.”

He kissed my temple. “I’ll grab my keys.”

“Don’t, there’s glass everywhere!” I backed up, snatched the keys from the spot by the stove, and tossed them to him.

He gave me a weird look, but with one last glance at the score, he headed to the door.

“Salt and two cans of tomatoes? Nothing else?”

“Wine?”

He grinned, his trust shining out of every pore. “Now,thatI can do. I’ll be back in a bit.”

I could only exhale once the door had shut, the cheers from the fans still blaring on the screen.

I swallowed and turned around. Death glowered at me, the energy in the room ratcheting higher.

From the look on his face, the world would end that night.

A Visit From Death

Nella held her hands up at Death slowly, as if disarming a bomb. Smoke wafted up from the pans, shifting from gray to black.

“Before you get upset, I left a message.” She eased toward him, gesturing in a calming motion. She reached gingerly, touching his shoulder as if to soothe him.

It was a mistake.

A wave of excess energy rolled off him so fast and thick it was a wonder the kitchen didn’t burst into flame.

“You dare?” he said, snatching himself from her touch, the rage deepening his voice.

Nella stepped back in shock, eyes wide, hands braced before her. “You need to calm down.” She walked across the kitchen and plucked a black folio from the table. “I was already done. Everything is right here,” she said, offering it to him. “We can talk now,” she said, swallowing. “I think you’ll like these—”

Death slammed a hand against the refrigerator, sending it thudding into the wall. Pictures and a golden sun leaped to the floor from the force, all shattering upon impact. “You don’t set the terms of our arrangement. You’re only here at my mercy. By missing this meeting, I don’t think you understand what game you’re playing at.”

Her eyes grew wide, staring between him and the jumble of wood on the floor, clutching the folio to her chest. “I didn’t think you’d be this way.” She swallowed again. “It’s our anniversary. It was important,” she whispered.