Demon Fire (The Angel Fire Book 3), Marie Johnston [books suggested by bill gates TXT] 📗

“Not from Green Valley, but from far enough away that they don’t know who I am.”

Isolation had been her punishment, but he craved it. His honesty staggered her and fueled a healthy dose of guilt in her belly. “Boone, I got people hurt too.” His gaze shot to hers but it was her turn to be lost in the past. She’d mentioned it before, but he hadn’t pressured her. She wished she could give him the whole story. Let him decide if he should kick her out on the spot. “I thought I had no choice and I thought . . . I dunno. I thought I’d get away with it and no one would know.”

“But it didn’t happen like that.” It wasn’t a question.

“No,” she whispered. “Someone I admired very much got hurt and lost his job because of it. And I betrayed a lot of people close to me. I’m not proud of the fear that made me do it. There’s no way to take back what I did. I had a job where I did a lot of good and I guess all I want is to get back to where I can do more good in the world.”

“It’s not as simple for the ones you hurt.”

She dropped her head. “No. It’s not.”

It wasn’t enough to blend into the human world and exist. She wanted to keep stoking the good side of her. Her life would mean more than secrets and betrayal. She would never know how Director Richter was doing. If he’d been able to move on with his life, or move beyond his hatred for her. Would he find his own peace like Boone had?

Boone cleared his throat and looked around the room like he was seeing it for the first time in a long while. “What do you like to read?”

She sat straighter, the stretch in her muscles not painful like it used to be. They were both trying to move past their experiences. He didn’t know the details of what she’d done, but he wasn’t going to hold it against her. She appreciated it more than he could know, but she would do well to remember that she didn’t deserve his consideration.

“Programming for Dummies.” She allowed herself a small smile. “I already read that one.”

“You were into computers?”

“Yes. I don’t have a hobby otherwise.”

“You’re good at cooking.”

It wasn’t a hobby though. It was a way she could contribute. Otherwise, she’d been a warrior. Her life had been work. She’d spent her days monitoring humans and reporting to her team. “Cooking is fine, but there’s two of us.”

“We can go to town again later this week.”

She shouldn’t go and risk getting noticed by more creatures from Daemon, but she had to live this life. Navigating her place in this world was a necessity. She only wished she knew the cost.

Chapter 5

“Ohmigosh, look.”

Boone held back a groan as Sierra scrambled to her hands and knees to peer into a hole he’d drilled into the frozen bed of water. How could an ass be that fine through a layer of long johns and snow pants?

He’d poured his damn heart out three days ago. He hadn’t told anyone his story. His parents were gone. Any friends he’d thought he’d had were absent during his recovery and the trials. Sierra’d had the sympathy in her eyes that he’d been dreading, and then it was gone. She hadn’t treated him differently since.

They’d gone to town like he’d said they would. She’d waited in the pickup while he’d run into the gas station for bait and other ice-fishing supplies. Out of the garage, he’d dug the auger he’d gotten his first winter in the cabin and the two fishing poles he kept on hand. He’d packed a propane heater and a shelter he could throw up like a tent. Last in the pickup had been a tackle box that had everything else they should need.

Then he’d driven to one of the two small lakes outside of Green Valley. Three other fishermen had their spots chosen and were hunkered down for the waiting game that was fishing.

Sierra’s excitement while he set up was as fresh as the mountain air around them. It didn’t faze her that he’d forgotten stools to sit on while waiting for fish to bite. She had used the tackle box and he’d taken the cooler he hoped to fill with a couple of fish. It’d be a nice change from rabbit and pheasant.

She sat on her knees. “I swear I saw something swim by.”

“You probably did.”

She bit her lower lip and leaned back over the hole for one more peek before she rocked back onto the tackle box. Tapping the fingers of her gloves together, she puffed her breath out to make a cloud of condensation. “I’ve tried to think of some hobbies, but you’ll have to help me brainstorm.”

“You’ve seen the extent of my hobbies. I don’t think I’m the guy to ask.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to tolerate the smell of the bait to give fishing a go.” She wrinkled her nose. “It must be the lack of pollution. My sense of smell is so sensitive now.”

“You don’t always have to use bait. Figuring out when and where you want to use it is part of the hobby.”

She pressed her gloved hand against her belly. “We’ll see how I react to catching a fish.”

“If we catch a fish.”

“If.” Her innocent smile wormed its way further into his being.

Alarm bells went off. He should find somewhere else for her. There were places set up for people like her. People with little for identification who needed a fresh start. Did Green Valley have a women’s shelter?

The thought of dropping her off and leaving her in his rearview made him cranky. Not even the thought of stretching out on his bed instead of a cramped couch cheered him up. His quiet cabin was a little less quiet with her and he didn’t mind. This winter was already