Forgiven by Jana Oliver Read Free Book Online

a stakeout across from the recycling plant. Time to tell me why the demon hunters have decided you’re Public Enemy Number One.’
    Riley wasn’t sure how to start. ‘They’re after me . . .’ she began.
    Silence. He wasn’t going to make this easy.
    ‘Because of Ori. I met him at the market. He said he was a freelance demon hunter trying to kill the Five that murdered my dad. He saved my life at the Tabernacle so I believed everything he told me.’
    ‘Is that the dude Simi was raving about?’
    It appeared Riley’s friends had been talking about her social life. That was a bit unnerving. ‘Yeah, that’s him. Last night he killed a Five at Harper’s place and –’ She paused.
    Peter knew some of what she was talking about when it came to the different kinds of demons, but not all the details. Demon trappers ranked Hellspawn according to cunning and their ability to kill. Grade One demons were nuisances while Grade Fives were so ferocious they could destroy whole cities It was important her friend understand exactly why she had come to trust Ori.
    ‘A Five is really dangerous. It creates earthquakes and windstorms. The demon that attacked us flattened Harper’s place. If Ori hadn’t come to our rescue, we’d both be dead.’
    Her companion frowned. ‘Go on.’
    She had to tell someone, and Peter was more like a brother than a friend.
    Riley took a deep breath. ‘I met Ori at the cemetery later and we . . .’ Her voice hitched. ‘We spent the night together.’
    ‘Together like . . . together ?’ Peter asked, his voice rising along with both eyebrows.
    She swallowed hard. ‘Yes.’
    ‘I thought you’d never. . . ’ His voice trailed off.
    ‘No, not until last night.’ Just tell him all of it. ‘There’s something else. Ori’s an angel, wings and all. Honest.’
    Her friend stared at her. ‘You went horizontal with an angel in a graveyard? Isn’t that like blasphemy or something?’ he spouted.
    Riley’s cheeks burned in acute embarrassment. ‘Probably. After we . . . I found out he works for Lucifer. Ori’s a Fallen angel and he’s after my soul.’
    Peter’s mouth fell open in shock.
    ‘Oh, and I got to talk to the Prince himself. He’s one spooky guy, that’s for sure.’
    Peter’s brain reengaged. ‘You got hot and heavy with a fallen angel and then you chatted up the Prince of Hell?’
    ‘Yeah. I owe Lucifer a favour so he doesn’t let Ori kill everyone I love.’ Like you.
    ‘A favour,’ Peter said flatly, then swiped a palm across his chin. ‘What about the soul part?’ he asked, quieter now.
    ‘It’s still mine.’ She laughed bitterly. ‘Lucifer didn’t want it. He said I was better as a free agent, whatever that means. And I owe Heaven a favour too. That’s why Hell came after me.’
    Peter pushed off from the roof and stalked a few feet away, his back to her now. ‘Please tell me this is all some kind of a sick joke.’
    ‘It’s the truth. All of it. That’s why hunters are after me.’
    ‘How did they find out?’ Peter asked, swivelling towards her now.
    ‘I think Beck ratted me out. I went to his house this morning and told him what had happened. He was furious, Peter. I’ve never seen anyone that angry.’
    ‘Duh! Now there’s a surprise,’ her friend replied sarcastically. ‘I saw the way he looked at you at your dad’s funeral. Of course he’d be mad. You’re about the only one on the planet who doesn’t realize how he feels about you.’
    ‘He never said anything,’ she retorted.
    ‘Hey, we guys don’t blurt out that kind of stuff,’ he replied. ‘It’s against the man code. Beck may never have said how he felt, but everything he did for you should have been a big clue. I mean, come on, how slow are you?’
    She glowered at her friend. ‘I figured he was doing it because of my dad.’
    ‘Maybe, but the guy is really into you, Riley.’
    ‘No way. If he’d liked me, he wouldn’t have blown me off and—’
    ‘Ancient history,