Eve of Destruction by S. J. Day Read Free Book Online Page A

She made it to the end before saying she’d given it her all.
    “You know,” she began, “I’ve gone through this training with a ‘one-day-at-a-time’ attitude.”
    “That’s not a bad attitude to have, angel. Sometimes, it’s the only way to get by.”
    “Yes, but in this case, I think I need to see the bigger picture.”
    Alec pivoted in his seat. His movement was fluid despite his size. At six feet four inches and two hundred and twenty pounds of lean, mean muscle, Alec had a body that was coveted by both men and women. Even with the mark—which made him preternaturally powerful—he worked out regularly to maintain his prime physical condition. He took his work very seriously and she admired him for that, even as she chastised herself for being far less committed.
    “And what would you do with the bigger picture?” he asked.
    “Hell if I know.” Her shoulders lifted lamely. “Ijust can’t help feeling as if throwing myself headfirst into the whole marked business makes it easier for God to keep me here for a while.”
    His fingertips stroked down her forearm. “Jehovah doesn’t recognize easy or hard. He does what he thinks is best.”
    “Well,
I
recognize easy and hard,” she retorted. “And what used to be hard is becoming easier and sometimes it’s not so bad. But then sometimes—like dying in a dirty men’s restroom—it’s really fucking awful.”
    “So try it out this week,” he suggested. “Give it your all for seven days and see what happens.”
    Eve’s fingers wrapped tighter around the steering wheel. “I don’t want to like this, Alec. I don’t want to become comfortable.”
    The van turned a corner, taking them into a less-populated area. The homes on this street were dark, the yards yellowed. The sun was setting, adding shadows to the mix. Suburbia faded into desolation and Eve shivered.
    “What do you want, angel?”
    “I want normal. I want marriage and kids. I want to grow old.” Eve glanced aside at him. “And I want you. Most of the time.”
    When the van pulled into one of two parking spots in front of a darkened duplex, she stopped in the street and stared at the home. The Suburban passed her and took the remaining space.
    Alec’s head turned away from her. “I don’t come with normal,” he murmured.
    “I know.”
    The van rear door slid open and Ken leaped out, stretching. Then he set his hands on either side of the frame and leaned in, appearing to listen to instructions passed along from someone inside. He glanced at Eve idling in the street and gestured for her to park at the curb.
    She sighed. “Here goes.”
    After parking the car, Eve climbed out of the driver’s seat and joined the others. The rest of the group poured out of the van. Gadara stood between the two vehicles and waved his arm in a sweeping motion. The exterior lights blazed to life.
    “Brilliant,” Laurel said, popping her chewing gum.
    Shedding some light on the situation didn’t ease Eve’s discomfort. Instead, it brought the disrepair of their living quarters into stark relief. Paint peeled from the siding and trim, cracks marred the cement walkway, and the asphalt in the drive was crumbling. A cockroach ran between the two cars and Laurel screamed.
    Izzie rolled her eyes and stomped on the bug with her Dr. Martens. “It is dead,” she said in a tone made gruffer by her German accent. “You can quit screaming now, please.”
    “I am not staying in a place infested with bugs!” Laurel cried.
    “I told you this place was cocked up,” Edwards said. “I brought some insecticide.”
    “We do not kill God’s creatures,” Gadara admonished.
    Claire snorted. “Are you certain they aren’t Infernalcreatures? I believe cockroaches and mosquitoes are demon spawn.”
    “They are moving out, Ms. Dubois. Give them a few minutes and they will find another home in the area to occupy.”
    Richens shoved his hands into the front pouch of his hooded sweatshirt. “We’re truly holing