Read Online 03 Before The Devil Knows You're Dead-Speak Of The Devil by Patricia Eimer - Free Book Online Page A

cushions, leg room, double width for comfy sleeping, fire resistant, and it had cup holders so that we didn’t lose the remote during commercial break inspired tickle fights.
    Matt dropped to the floor next to me, keeping the barest trace of distance between us. I scrunched farther into the back of the couch to keep from touching him as Lisa and Malachi sat down on my love seat, both of them staring at me.
    Hope shrugged. “I was listening at the window. Tolliver is out there panicking. He’s having a bit of a crisis.”
    “I’ll pay to fix his car,” I said.
    “Nah,” she said, her voice high and tense, while waves of garlicky worry rolled off of her. “The car is fully insured. Plus he plans on suing the manufacturer for breach of contract and false advertising. Those things are supposed to be able to stop a tank and the front bumper crumpled during one measly hit-and-run?”
    “I’ll have you know I stopped, I did not run. And if it’s not the car, then why is Tolliver going crazy?”
    “I dunno, maybe because his baby sister became her own version of the walking plague? Some people might consider that a bad thing. Me, I say it keeps the door-to-door salesmen and those pesky Boy Scouts out of your business, so bring it on.” The couch dipped as she sat at the far end, carefully perching at the edge.
    “You wanna trade?” I gave what was probably a slightly hysterical chuckle. “Because I have to tell you you’ll get no complaint from me. I feel like I was the one hit by a truck.”
    There was a rip and then the smell of burned reality hit my nose, making my stomach churn, as my uncle stepped through the door between heaven and earth he’d just torn open. “Faith.” His deep voice was like warm chocolate sauce poured over vanilla ice cream and his eyes were warm.
    “Hey.” I struggled to sit up but it felt like there was an entire legion of imps sitting on my chest. “I sort of killed the angel of death.”
    “I’m aware.” His lips tilted upward. “Valentin said it was a traffic accident. How are you feeling?”
    “Like I’ve done ten rounds with Godzilla.”
    “It’s part of the change. You’re going to be sore for a few days. Taking over someone else’s life isn’t a walk in the park, you know.” My uncle stepped aside, letting my cousin follow him through the portal before it stitched itself closed again.
    “Well he can have it back.” I huffed as I shifted my weight and tried to sit up again.
    “Just take a second,” Matt said, his voice soft. “Don’t move too fast. Relax and let me get you a cup of tea.”
    “I don’t like tea.”
    “I don’t care. It’s good for you, and you need to drink it.”
    “Coffee’s good for me, too. It has caffeine and can perk me back up.”
    “The last thing you need is caffeine.” Matt scowled at me. “Lay here and relax and let me take care of you for once.”
    “I don’t need—”
    He brought his hands up to my face and froze, an inch from my cheeks, and his eyes filled with regret. The churning in my stomach grew and black power crackled against the skin of my arms. My horns tugged upward and all I could think was closer. Come closer. Don’t let go of me. You’re so full of warm, yummy life, just give me a little.
    “You could have died today,” Matt said. “I could have lost you.”
    “You have lost me,” I said, shaken by the thoughts that had been going through my mind. “I can kill you with a single touch now. Remember?”
    “You’re alive, and even if I can’t touch you it’s better than the alternative.”
    “He’s right,” the Alpha said, causing me to pull back and remember that we had an audience. “If Valentin would have desired to keep his form, he could have killed you. Drained you of your life force and prolonged his time here on Earth indefinitely.”
    “He didn’t, though,” I said, my chest clenching at the thought that I might have died today. “Why didn’t he?”
    “Simply put?” The Alpha