“I’m not sure. You’re looking at an angel, after all. That’s usually a bad sign.”
The boy laughed weakly, and it turned into a cough. Gabe softened and smoothed the dark curls back from Foster’s sweaty brow.
“Foster,” he murmured. “You did so good, son.”
“Speaking of,” a new voice sounded at the shattered window, and Gabe startled. They were on the third floor of the hospital. “I thought I told you tostay away from my son.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Iwas wondering when you’d show your face, Lucifer. You missed the main event, but make the after party? Classic.”
“Gabriel,” Lucifer stepped through the shattered window, brushing aside the tattered remains of the hideous curtains. His focus was solely on his son, cradled loosely in Gabe’s arms and slowly regaining his strength. “I need you to shut upimmediately. Because I will kill you, and my brother will be cranky about it.”
The angel snorted. “As if you care what he thinks.”
“Not usually, but unfortunately, I’ll need him on my side as much as possible when I present you for treason.”
“Me? Treason?” Gabe laughed. “A little too pot-kettle there, isn’t it?”
Lucifer’s eyes glittered dangerously as he moved slowly into the room. “I know what you did, Gavri’el.”
Gabe went very still. “A very long time…has passed since you called me that.”
“A very long time has passed since I knew you well enough to do so.”
“What has changed?” His voice was hoarse, with an almost desperate undertone.
“I told you.” Luce went down to one knee beside the pair, and gripped Gabe firmly by the chin. “I know what you did.”
There was a tense moment where they were both profoundly aware of how badly Lucifer wanted to snap his neck. His fingers tightened enough to bruise, and they spent a moment wondering if he would do it. Then Foster’s hand came up, weakly, to grip his father’s wrist.
“Don’t…hurt him.” His cold tone sent a shiver down Luce’s spine. That was not the voice of the son he knew.
“Foster, I know that for whatever reason you care about this man. But you have no idea what he’s done.”
“Saved…my life.”
“Now, son, I know I haven’t been there for you, but I think that’s an overstatement.”
“Not a... metaphor... asshole,” Foster groaned. His voice was getting stronger, his breathing evening out and relaxing. “Literally....just now.”
Luce hesitated, glancing from his son to his former friend. “Is that true?”
Gabe blinked. “Well, yes.”
Luce released his jaw. “Well, that earns you another five minutes of consciousness.However,since I’m entirely certain it’s your fault he needed saving—again—I expect I’ll be threatening your life again shortly.”
“Such a prick,” Foster grumbled, shifting out of Gabe’s hold and into a sitting position. “You’re such aprick.”
“You have no idea.” Luce rose from his crouch. “This man is dangerous, Foster. Possibly the greatest liar I have ever known, and clearly willing to risk your life for his goals.”
“At least he shows up when I need him,” Foster carefully shifted his weight, getting his bearings as he rose to his feet slowly. Gabe was quick to get back up as well, reaching for theyoung man’s elbow to steady him. Foster shot Luce a look that said ‘see?’ and Luce rolled his eyes.
“Oh yes, he can put on a good show.” He turned back to Gabe and stepped closer, gripping him firmly by the upper arm. “He performs like few others could, even when he has to playother roles.”
Gabe tensed but said nothing.
“I went back, Gavri’el.” His eyes flashed, the gold deepening and lighting up like disks of molten metal. “Isawyou. We both did, and now everyone knows.”
