“Alright,” he finally says. “See you later.”
“See ya.” I press the end call button on the screen. Grabbing my bag from the passenger seat, I get out the car and make myway over to the front door of my shop. I started Diva’s three years ago. After going back to school and getting my esthetician and beauty licenses, I opened up the business. We’ve been the number one beauty spot in the area since I opened my doors. On site are two masseuses, five nail techs, three lash and brow techs and two waxers. It’s a one stop shop.
Before I could walk into the building, the screeching of tires stops me in my tracks as I turn to face the parking lot. Tanisha’s dark blue Altima pulls into the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
Her car isn’t even at a full stop before she jumps out. She runs up to me and immediately wraps her arms around me.
“I knew you’d come back to work. I’ve been looking all over the city for you,” she says, pulling back from the hug.
Her eyes are bloodshot, with dark circles under them. She looks as if she hasn’t slept in days.
“I’m okay, Nisha. I swear. Come inside.”
She quickly turns off her car and locks it up before I escort her into the shop.
As the owner, I’m always the first to arrive. We make our way back to my office. As soon as we enter, she wraps her arms around me again.
“Did he hurt you?” she asks, pulling back.
“No, actually….” I stop speaking as she pulls stuff out of her bag.
“I’ve been doing my research,” she says, placing a bunch of different items down on my desk. “I have holy water, a cross, a Bible, and some rosary beads blessed by a priest. These crystals I have were charged by a girl that claims to be a witch. And I even got herbs from a shaman. One of these should work against that fucker.”
Seeing my cousin pull out a plethora of spiritual things has me cracking up. I hold my stomach as I laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Tanisha pouts, placing her hands on her hips.
“Nisha, I’m sorry, but girl you went to every religion and asked them for a relic?”
“Hell yeah. I even went and knocked on Mrs. Betty’s door. You know Mama always said she practiced root work. She didn’t answer, but if none of this works, I will sit outside her house until she comes home.”
I shake my head, feeling honored she went through the trouble. “I doubt any of this will work. Raziel is a forsaken angel, not a demon.” I place my bag down and take a seat in my desk chair. Tanisha is quiet for a moment. Her brown eyes narrow as she watches me.
“What?” I ask when her staring makes me uncomfortable.
“Your lips are swollen, your skin is glowing, and your roots are sweated out.”
I pat my fresh silk press. It took me two hours this morning to get my natural curls straight.
“You’re fucking him,” Tanisha gasps.
I jump to my feet. “Keep your voice down.” There is no one else in the shop, but that doesn’t mean I want her shouting my business.
“Biiiiitttcccchhhh,” she says looking at me side-eyed. “Are you suffering from Stokholm?”
Probably, but I don’t tell her that.
“No. It’s a little more complicated than that.”
She pulls out the chair across from my desk and plops down in it. “I called off today because I thought we were going to be fighting demons, so I have time.”
Rolling my eyes, I retake my seat behind my desk. In as much detail as I can, I fill my cousin in on the last two weeks.
I explain the bond that Raziel created with me as an infant. We talked about the time I ran and called Jamieson. Sheswooned when I told her about the library he created for me. I even briefly explain what he is. After I tell her about how I caught Jamieson and Rochelle, she sits back in her seat.
“So that’s why he was in the hospital with a concussion and a fractured vertebra.” She shakes her head.
I didn’t know the outcome of the damage Raziel did. I figured he was injured, but I knew he wasn’t dead. Razzy explained that there is a lot of red tape involved in killing a human. The only way he could have killed Jamieson without repercussions is if I had offered him up to take my place for the debt. Despite being pissed at him, I still couldn’t see myself allowing him to die just so I could go free.
