Dead End

This was just perfect. I finally knew the name of the leader of the rebellion. The very thing Starla required in exchange for healing Adrik. But how could I turn Luca in? And what was I supposed to say in response to his offer to turn it all over to me? I was a cop, not a civil activist.
Every time I thought my life couldn’t get any more complicated, fate showed up to prove my ass wrong.
“You want to talk about it?”
The sound of Juice’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. I glanced over at him as he drove then shook my head.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” I said honestly.
“It’s a big decision,” he said.
Up ahead, the light turned green, and Juice hit the gas. The car sped forward, this one much more peppy than the van we’d taken earlier. Juice had upgraded since I’d last seen him. Business must be good.
“How did you get involved with this?” I asked. “And why? You’ve always steered clear of the supernatural world.”
“Truth?” he said. “I fell in love.”
“No way.” My jaw dropped.
“Her name’s Sonia. She’s a vampire.”
Juice glanced at my expression and laughed. “I know what you’re thinking. It doesn’t get more complicated than a she-vampire.”
Or more moody. But I wasn’t going to say that.
“Vamps are controversial,” I said finally, still studying him. “You must really care about her.”
His earnest expression said it all. “I do.”
I sighed and leaned back against the seat as Juice navigated us through the busy streets. “I’m happy for you, Juice.”
“Thanks. Means a lot.” He shot me a small smile that disappeared when he saw my expression. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Z tells me you’ve got a three-way going.”
“Don’t tell me you believe a word that asshat says.”
“Absolutely not.” He laughed. “I just wanted to see the look on your face.”
I scowled.
“Z’s still on your shit list, huh?”
“He’s…” I wasn’t even sure how to answer that. Z had been a royal douche bag when we’d dated, but that felt like a lifetime ago. And his help with Selaphiel had been a lifesaver. Literally.
“He’s working for the SSF now, I hear,” Juice added, and for some reason, my senses prickled with warning. Was Juice trying to get information out of me for Luca? Would he do that?
“I don’t know. Haven’t spoken to him,” I said.
“Don’t blame you.” We pulled to a stop in front of Juice’s garage.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
Juice handed me a set of keys.
“What’s this?”
“Your car was parked in the garage outside the Delta building, right?”
“Yeah.” I groaned, remembering the destruction from earlier. My car was toast.
“Figured you could use a new set of wheels.”
He dropped the keys into my hand and nodded at a car parked in front of us.
“Juice, that’s your 240SX. Are you shitting me? You don’t let anyone drive that car.”
He shrugged. “You’re not just anyone, kid. But listen, if you scratch the paint, I’m going to have to hurt you.”
I grinned. “Noted.”
I went for the door handle, giddy and impatient to see what his baby could do. I’d drooled after that car for years, but Juice never let anyone else drive it.
“Hang on.” Juice turned to me before I could get out. “Listen, I know Luca’s a bit of a hothead, but this thing he’s doing at the Underground . . . it’s important. I can’t speak for your kind as a whole, but Sonia’s told me how it’s been for her. With the other supes. And the council. At least, think about his offer.”
“What Luca’s asking . . . I have other things to consider.”
Juice studied me, and I knew his sharp eyes weren’t missing a thing. “Z wasn’t wrong then. About the two men in your life.”
“There’s really just one.” The words came out in a strangled whisper. Tears burned my eyes, and I blinked them furiously away. Juice was the only other person in the world besides my father I’d let my guard down this far with. And even so, it wasn’t something I did often. “His name is Adrik.”
“The Nephilim.”
Juice didn’t seem overly surprised. Which meant Z had told him more than he’d let on. At least, he didn’t seem upset, knowing what he did of the Nephilim council.
“He was wounded saving me and . . . he’s not well.”
Even with someone as loyal as Juice, I wasn’t going to divulge the extent of Adrik’s current injuries.
“What does Luca say about it?” Juice asked.
“I didn’t mention it yet.”
Juice nodded like he expected as much. “Luca Diablo is a lot of things, Gem, but at the end of the day, he’s always been loyal and devoted to you. If you don’t trust his methods, trust his intentions. We’re here for you when you’re ready.”