Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers) - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,127

another chance in Heaven if she broke it off with him. But she didn’t. She went to him immediately when she learned of his exile. I guess they really were in love, I’ll give you that much. But he was no good for her. He drained her energy a little at a time to keep a hold on his sanity now that he was souled. My team was dispatched to take care of Natalie when she made her last visit here. It became a two-for-one deal when your father got involved. And, Anna...” Connor’s eyes were haunted. “She was weakened by how much he’d been feeding on her and she...she got in the way. It was never supposed to be her, Sam. It wasn’t. But she got in the way of my blade...”

I stared at him, stunned. “You’re the one who killed her.”

Connor blinked hard. “It was the worst moment of my entire existence when I realized what happened.”

I could barely form words, my throat was so thick. “This is too much.”

“I’m sorry, Sam.” His expression darkened. “It should never have been Anna who was destroyed. But it all happened so fast. The Hollow took her. And Nathan nearly killed all of us before he jumped in after her. Thought that was the end of it. Wrong.”

Connor...it was Connor who’d killed my birth mother. Natalie had told me a different story—told me Nathan and Anna were part of the team to track down Natalie who’d escaped from Hell with her little hunger problem. It was how they’d originally met.

And I’d believed every word.

I shoved Connor against the wall. “Are you lying to me?”

He looked at me bleakly. “If I was going to lie, I wouldn’t admit being the one who killed your mother, would I?”

“Samantha,” Jordan said uneasily. “Don’t hurt him.”

I laughed at that, a hollow sound that hurt my throat. “Hurt him? He’s an ageless, immortal angel. You really think I could hurt him?”

“Uh, yeah. I really do. Remember, it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye. Or a wing. Or...whatever angels have worth losing.”

“Great,” I murmured. “Jordan Fitzpatrick, resident guardian angel to angels.”

“I’m sorry, Sam,” Connor said again. “But none of this changes anything. The Hollow and the one controlling it need to be dealt with. And it needs to be soon.”

“Sounds like we’re going to have to have a long talk, Connor.” Another voice cut through my concentration. I swiveled to see Bishop standing at the end of the hall, just past the open door. “You’ve been keeping information from the rest of us?”

“How much did you hear?” Connor asked grimly.

“More than enough.”

I stepped back from Connor and crossed my arms as the other angel drew closer.

Adam Drake. Guilty of the murder of twenty-five victims including his older brother, James. Sentenced to death by hanging for his crimes.

Connor hissed out a breath. “I was told not to say anything. Not until I knew more.”

“And what do you know now?” Bishop’s voice was low and dangerous.

“It’s my father,” I said quietly as the pieces clicked together. “I’m right, aren’t I, Connor? It’s him. He’s the one in control of the Hollow. He’s the one who let Natalie out, who let Marissa out. He’s trying to distract—who? You guys? The city? Everybody? What’s his big plan? What’s he trying to do?”

Connor nodded. “Heaven believes that Nathan used his ability to absorb energy to essentially draw the power of the Hollow into himself fueled by his rage and grief over what happened with Anna.”

“What else does Heaven believe that they didn’t bother to tell me?” Bishop asked.

“This was all decided after you left, so don’t take it personally.” Connor grimaced. “They believe he’s still trapped inside, that absorbing the power of the Hollow changed him in ways that prevent him from escaping.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, right?” Jordan said. “If there’s a badass, hate-filled demon who can suck up energy and kill people with a touch, I think it’s probably good that he can’t get out.”

“If he’s not in the Hollow itself, he’s well hidden. Watching, waiting.” Connor shook his head. “But for what? I haven’t figured that out yet.”

“Natalie and Marissa were tests,” I said, feeling cold.

“I’m sure of it.” Connor nodded. “And we took them both down. Nathan must know this and he’ll...adjust his plans—whatever they are. There’s only one problem I can think of now.”

“Only one?” Jordan regarded him like he’d just grown another head. “Wow, you must be looking at a whole other craptastic