his lips.
After a moment, he paused, staring at the computer screen. I grew restless. I wanted to see it for myself. He shook his head and muttered a few obscenities.
“I’m surprised that didn’t work,” he mused. “The spell that was used is stronger than I thought. Let me try something else.”
Tapping his fingers against the tabletop, Gabriel’s thoughtful gaze fell upon me. I raised a brow in question, but his expression remained unchanged. He began to speak the words again, slower this time. Again, the stone glowed, brighter this time. I sensed a shift in the atmosphere, the build-up before a transfer of energy. Was it working?
Without so much as a stutter or a stall in his words, Gabriel leaned across the table and grabbed my hand. He uttered the last word, and an intense ticklish sensation shot up my arm. Our energy merged into one, directed by Gabriel’s spell. The crystal responded with a bright cerulean light that was nearly blinding.
“Sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin. He released my arm and turned the laptop toward me. “I needed a bigger energy source than myself. You’re obviously the natural choice. But, I think it worked.”
I dragged the computer over with the eagerness of a kid on Christmas morning. Holding my breath, I clicked the first file of the dozen or so. It opened without issue. I almost squealed with glee.
“Thank you,” I gushed. “You’re a lifesaver. I owe you one, Gabriel. Seriously.”
He sat back in his seat with a nonchalant shrug, but I could see that he was pleased with himself. “Sure. It was no problem. With power like yours, you could easily do stuff like this on your own. If you learned a few spells.”
“No thanks.” I smiled. “I’ll leave that to you guys. Spells are really not my thing. I’m more of a point and shoot kind of gal.”
I poured through the file, finding a blueprint of the FPA building as well as information on how to access the various entrances. That could be handy, as long as the FPA remained in that building. Clicking on another file, I was surprised to discover a copy of what appeared to be a contract. Raoul’s signature caught my eye, and my heart began to pound.
Without another look at the document, I backed up all of the files online and closed the laptop. This stuff was better viewed in private, where I could freely exhibit an emotional response to whatever I might find.
“I should go.” Gabriel stood up and stretched his lanky body. “If I’m late again, my mom is going to shit a brick.”
“How is she taking everything?” Brogan asked with a gentle smile. “Any better?”
“Nah, not really. I’m forbidden to do magic in the house. She’s been pretty freaked out since she caught me floating the cat.” Gabriel chuckled. “I’m glad that’s all she caught me doing.”
Brogan’s smile faltered, but she carefully twitched it back into place before the boy could notice. “Well, be careful. She’s freaked out because she cares about you. Don’t give her a reason to worry, and she’ll come around.”
Gabriel opened his mouth to reply when a crash from the front of the store cut him off. Brogan and I gasped in unison. Before we could react, a figure appeared in the doorway. It was Falon.
He didn’t so much as glance my way; his angry pale gaze was locked on Gabriel. Falon crossed the room in a motion too fast to follow. He grabbed Gabriel by the throat and shook him violently.
“You little shit. Did you think we wouldn’t find out?” Falon shook the frightened teen so hard his teeth rattled. “You can’t lie to a demon and get away with it.”
“I didn’t see anything,” Gabriel choked out. His face turned a dangerous shade of red. “I couldn’t. I tried.”
I was on my feet, confused but ready to intervene. “Falon? What the hell is this about?”
“Not a word out of you, wolf. This doesn’t concern you.”
Falon lashed out at me without a move or look my way. I rolled ass over teakettle until I landed splayed against the heavy-duty rear exit. Before Brogan could act, Falon hit her with a slap of power as well. It held her frozen in her chair, unable to come to Gabriel’s aid.
Rubbing the back of my head, I grimaced as pain shot through my skull. I got to my feet slowly, wary of Falon’s temper. I didn’t want another taste of it. Though I loathed the fallen angel