Page 29 of Baking and Angels

Helena rolled her eyes, “Well, I don’t know about protecting Chris right now…”

“A person like Chris would be a perfect target for a demon like Vassago,” he said. “Chris is important to Charlie and could be used to get to the rest of us indirectly.”

Her brows furrowed as she understood that. “And to save anyone else would make the price too high. I understand.”

Rafferty nodded. “If I’m honest, as a demon, he paid way too much for my silence, really.” A grin spread across his face. “It’s a really good deal.”

She nodded, even though she clearly didn’t like it. “And that’s what Agent Archon was trying to tell us. It’s not our job to stop him or catch him. We’re just supposed to keep ourselves safe and just try tomove on?”

“Yes. I suppose so,”he agreed.

“I see.” She nodded, thinking about it. “Then we are… okay?”

“We’re okay,” he agreed. “I care for you,” he said quickly, catching her other hand in both of his.“Deeply.”

“I know, Rafferty. You went through Hell for me,” she assured. “I suppose you could look at it like… when you were my demon, I was your whole world. Now you can have the actual whole world. And… if your feelings for me change, I’ll understand.”

“That won’t happen,” he insisted, hoping it wasn’t a lie.

“I’m not worried,” she also insisted, another possible lie. Then she turned to grab her coat and pulled a purse from her suitcase. “Come on. If we are safe now, then let’s escape this place.”

A knock came atthe door.

Alarmed, their eyes met, reflecting back the samequestions.

Helena moved first toward to door to answer it. “It must be the agents.”

Yet, when she swung it open, there stood an unfamiliar woman, wearing a long, expensive winter coat, a scarf wrapped over her hair, and wide dark glasses perched on her nose. In one hand, she clutched a purse, in the other kid leather gloves. With shaking hands, she slipped off the glasses and pinched her eyebrows with worry.

Rafferty did not recognize her at all.

“Can I help you?” Helena asked, politely, clearly not knowing the woman either.

Then, the worry line between the stranger’s eyebrows deepened, wrinkling it even more in the young face. Even though she wore no makeup, she clearly was beautiful and sophisticated.

Maybe there was something in the tilt of her head, but then Helena squeaked, her fingers flying to her lips.“Scarlet?”

Chapter 12

We ConfessedEverything

Tears bubbled up at the bottom of Scarlet’s young eyes. “Oh God, Helena,” she whispered. “I amso sorry.”

Before anyone could say anything more, Helena’s arms flew around Scarlet, pulling her into a tight, desperate embrace. Scarlet’s arms returned the hug, and the two women held each other in a shared grief. For the first time since waking up in her kitchen, Rafferty felt like he was finally seeing Helena’s true pain shared with someone who actually understood exactly howshe felt.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” Scarlet kept trying to repeat as a sob wracked her.

“No, no, it’s not…” Helena tried to admonish her, but it didn’t doany good.

Finally, becoming conscious of the impropriety of this show of raw emotion in the hotel hallway, Helena pulled her boss into the room and shutthe door.

The change of location seemed to give Scarlet a degree of control for her emotions, and she straightened, the poise Rafferty expected from an aristocratic lady like herself reasserting control.

“You must be the chef.” Scarlet’s damp gaze landed on him, then she stretched out her handto shake.

“How did you find us?” he asked, the only question he needed answered.Vassago couldn’t have told her,he thought, but he didn’t have another answer for it and that scared him.

Scarlet didn’t seem flummoxed or disconcerted by the question. “I have a private detective on retainer. He’s very good and very fast.” She licked her lips, squaring up with him. “I am so sorry for what I have put youthrough.”

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