"Because I came back to my office to find a new message waiting-he's looking for you, Ellie."
"I'll talk-"
"You're going nowhere near him," Sara snapped. "You didn't hear the message. If a naked blade could speak, that's what it would sound like."
Elena cursed under her breath. What the hell had happened between her leaving the Tower and the message? He'd let her go without a fight. So why was he hunting her now? "Are you sure he's that angry?"
"Angry isn't the word I'd use. Lethal would fit better." There was real concern in Sara's voice. "What did you do to piss off an archangel?"
Loyalty warred with the inexplicable need she had to keep what had happened in the office, private. "I hit him."
A long, indrawn breath. "You hit an archangel?"
She recalled the sense of danger that had blasted off him like heat radiation. "It was his own fault, so if he stops to think about it, he'll calm down."
"Archangels aren't exactly good at saying sorry." Sarcasm dripped from every syllable. "It doesn't matter what he did, you'll have to grovel or he'll grind you to dust."
"I won't grovel." Not for anyone. "You know that."
"Of course I know that, you moron. I was making a point."
"The point being that I'm dead meat." Because she wouldn't apologize to that bastard. Not even to save her own life.
"Pretty much."
"That proves my point."
"Which is?"
"That you need to get Zoe and Deacon to a safe house. If Raphael's gunning for me, he'll come after you and yours to get my location." She paused, swallowed bile. Her life was one thing, but . . . "I won't let my pride put your family in danger. I'll call him and-"
"Shut up." Quiet words. Furious words. "I'll get Zoe out of the city. Deacon and I can look after ourselves."
"Sara, I'm sorry."
"You really fucking think I'd let you barter your soul so easily?" She hung up.
Elena felt like shit, but knew her best friend would forgive her. And Sara angry meant Sara in action. About to return the receiver to the cradle, she hesitated. A swift glance showed that Vivek had pointedly turned his back to her. Taking the chance, she pressed the cutoff button, then quickly dialed an outside line. "Hurry up," she muttered under her breath as the phone rang and rang on the other end.
"Beth Deveraux-Ling speaking."
At the sound of that familiar voice, moisture threatened to film Elena's vision. She cut it off with the ruthless ease of practice. "Beth, it's Elena."
"Why do you keep using that name?" Beth asked and Elena could almost see her frown. "You know Daddy prefers you use your full name, or Nell if you must shorten it."
"Beth, I don't have time for this. Is Harrison there?"
"Harry doesn't like talking to you." Her voice lowered. "I don't even know why I do-you turned my husband over to an angel."
"You know why," Elena reminded her. "If I hadn't brought him in, the next hunter would've had orders to execute him. Angels don't like losing their property."
"He's not property!" Beth sounded close to tears.
Elena rubbed at her temples with her fingers. "Please, Bethie, get Harrison. This is important." Her sister was high-strung at the best of times, and quite incredibly spoiled to boot. "He'll want to know."
A stubborn pause before Beth finally folded. Elena waited for several seconds, eyes trained on Vivek's back. He'd know she'd made an outside call the second he exited the cubicle but she had to do this. And there was no danger to the Guild-even if someone traced the call, it was set up to come back to a dummy account.
"Elena?"