Mercy for the Wicked by Lisa Olsen Read Free Book Online

that score.”  I rose to my feet to get going.  “Maybe you can try some popcorn when you come over to hang out at my place.”
    “It’s a date,” he smiled, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying out a modern phrase or if he did really mean a date. 
    “So, I’ll see you tonight then, when all the big bads come out to get me?”
    “I’ll be there with bells on,” he promised, and I gave him a quick hug. 
    “It’s good to see you again, Sam.” 
     
    * * *
     
    Daphne’s text said she’d be available to meet for lunch at our usual spot. I decided it was late enough to risk a phone call with my brother and not get my head bitten off for waking him up.  At least, I thought so… When his voice came on the line, he sounded like he’d been dead asleep. 
    “H’lo…?”
    “Hey, Matt, did I wake you?”
    “No, been up for hours,” he yawned, and I could picture him all bleary eyed.  “What’s up?”
    “I thought maybe we should talk.”
    “‘Bout what?”
    “It’s not the sort of thing to talk about over the phone,” I hedged.
    “Oh, come on, Merce, what’s with the need for all this cloak and dagger bullshit?  Tell me what’s up so I can get back to bed.”
    Not exactly the reaction I’d been hoping for.  “I thought you might be wondering why I left the party so early, especially after Sam showed up, that’s all.”
    “Sam,” he replied blankly. “I thought the cop’s name was Ben?”
    Why did I bother?  “It is, I’m talking about Sam, the angel.  Remember the whole angel thing?  Nevermind, Matty…”
    “Wait, I thought you were done with that angel stuff?”  He sounded more awake, and I wondered if he was trying to figure out how to make a bit of money off the situation.  Wanting to nip that in the bud, I decided to be a little more blunt.
    “Yeah well, they aren’t done with me.  Apparently, there’s a dangerous fallen angel who’s trying to be reborn into this world through me, and he can use magic to appear like anyone he wants.  So, be careful out there.  He might decide to use you to come after me.”
    “For reals, a shapeshifter?”  There was definitely a note of excitement to his voice and I started to regret calling him at all.
    “Yes, a dangerous one.  So, if you see anything out of the ordinary, try and be safe, okay?  This isn’t a good guy to mess around with, he’s not like the others.”
    “Yeah, sure.  I’ll be on the lookout then.” 
    “Good, that’s all I wanted to tell you.”
    “You sound kinda freaked out though.”
    “Wouldn’t you be if someone wanted to trick you into sleeping with them to escape being imprisoned for thousands of years?”
    “There are worse ways to go, Merce,” he laughed.  I swear, sometimes my brother acted like he was still twelve.  “Just keep your knees together and you’ll be fine.”  A woman’s laughter came through the phone, high and grating.
    “Is there someone else there with you?”
    “Yeah, why?”
    “Remember this is just between us, right?  No one else can know anything about it.”  I wasn’t sure he was listening though, because I heard him talking to her in the background.  “Matt!”
    “Right, yeah, of course,” he replied all too quickly and I was pretty sure he hadn’t heard a word I’d said.  My only saving grace was if he ever did say anything about my… situation, no one would ever believe him. 
    “I’ll let you get back to it then.”
    “Later, Merce.”
    I’d done my part in trying to warn Matty about the dangers headed my way.  More than likely it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest, but I felt better about giving him the heads up.  After the way that phone call went, I wasn’t sure if I should bother Daphne with my troubles.  Maybe I was making a mountain out of a molehill?  With both Sam and Ben looking out for me in the real world and Adam protecting me in the Ether, what could go wrong?
    Oh, how I wish I’d never tempted fate with