Phenex said. “I’m also your new bodyguard, so you might as well get used to me. I’m not going anywhere.”
It took a moment for the words to sink in. When all the pieces clicked into place, Sofia let loose with a string of curses that were a mix of English, Spanish, and completely unintelligible.
And the man—or whatever he was—had the audacity to laugh.
Chapter Seven
It was a good thing she was cute when she was angry, because Phenex was beginning to think he might see a lot of that from Sofia. At least until she came to terms with the fact that he wasn’t going anywhere.
He watched her bang a few things around in the kitchen while she got herself some coffee, noting that she hadn’t asked if he wanted anything. Nor would she, from the couple of infuriated glares she’d shot him since he’d laid it all out for her. He’d given her the basics: asshole vampires, witness protection, and, of course, how lucky she was to have a former Hell-dweller at her disposal. Sofia hadn’t said a word, but her face left no questions about what she thought of all this. He didn’t really blame her—she’d had her universe upended. But he didn’t feel sorry for her, either. This was the sort of thing that caring too much about others got you. Better she learn that now.
Actually, the point where he’d mentioned that was about when she’d gotten up and walked away. Humans—always so oversensitive.
As Phenex watched her, with all her misdirected anger, all her useless caring, the irritating wound deep within that had plagued him so much lately opened anew, flooding him with unwanted memories. Ages ago, when his wings had been the color of snow, he’d tried to inspire humanity to beautiful, wondrous things. He’d cared. Until he’d watched passion born of that inspiration destroy one too many lives. He’d hated them for wasting what he’d given them. Just as he hated them for experiencing emotion with a depth that he had never been able to muster for anything but song itself.
His Fall had not cured the emptiness inside him.
“Here.”
Phenex jerked his head up. He’d been so lost in his own thoughts that he’d forgotten where he was for a moment. The way Sofia was looking at him suggested she’d seen more on his face than he would have liked. The mask he’d perfected slipped more and more often lately. Justin was right. He was wallowing. He needed to get a grip.
He needed to figure out what was so special about this woman who made him coffee even when she was completely pissed off at him.
“Maybe I don’t like coffee,” he said, just to see whether Sofia would throw it at him. It was better than pity, or whatever this was. Instead, Sofia just shrugged, her fury channeled into cool detachment for the moment. It fascinated him—her beauty covered steel.
“More for me if you don’t. You just looked like you could use something, since you’re sitting here looking like you lost your last friend.”
“I don’t have friends,” Phenex said, unpleasantly confused about his reaction to her small act of kindness. She was gorgeous. Her fire entertained him. The heat between them promised to be even more entertaining. But this…he didn’t know what to do with this. Was it compassion? Simple manners? Nonplussed, he took the coffee and sniffed it.
“No sugar?”
Without a word, she dangled two packets of sugar in front of him, along with a spoon.
Chagrined, Phenex took one of the packets and the spoon, then set his mug on the coffee table to doctor it.
Sofia tossed the other packet on the table and headed for the love seat, apparently unwilling to get too close. For now. Phenex eyed the extra sugar packet, considered, then decided that now was a lousy time to develop a sense of shame. So he dumped that one in his cup, too, stirred it, and took a sip. The sweet, smoky taste was soothing, despite the fact that he didn’t particularly want to be soothed.
Sofia watched him silently with those catlike green eyes, drinking her own coffee. He ignored her, mostly, until she got tired of it and spoke.
“So you really think you’re just going to stay here until this Justin figures out who’s messing with his clientele?” She still didn’t sound like she could quite believe it, and she sure as hell didn’t like it.
“I don’t think I’m staying here,” Phenex replied. “I am staying here. You need a bodyguard until