I argued, but only for a second. It wasn't the restaurant's fault that Gabriel had caused my husband to nearly choke to death. "Then I insist you take this tip." I grabbed a couple of bills from my purse, made sure they were both twenties, then pressed them into his hand. "Sorry for the commotion."
Gabriel had disappeared, of course. I scurried for the car, unwilling to leave Lucian alone. Gabriel might try something else. I was going to throttle him.
"Luc," I called as I tottered across the parking lot. "Hang on."
He stopped in the middle of the lot and turned back toward me. "Sorry, sweets. That embarrassed me."
I'd figured. "I know."
A car sped out of the back of the parking lot, headed straight for us. Lucian, facing me, didn't see it coming at all.
It would hit him far before it got to me, killing him, and sending Lucifer back to Hell.
In all of his previous lives, he'd lived on the edge. Either a daredevil or into some dark, underbelly activity or another. Once he'd been a part of one of those fight clubs where they fought to the death. It had never been an issue. Generally, in his early twenties, he died.
And since God had cursed me to be tied to him, I died very soon after. Generally, my heart stopped, then I woke up in Hell with my husband, while the humans that had been in my life mourned the woman that died of a heart attack too young.
"No!" I threw out my hands and channeled something inside me I'd forgotten I had access to.
My magic.
The trajectory of the car altered, and it swung wide, missing both Lucian and me.
"Geez!" Lucian held his arms out toward the driver of the car as it sped away. I knew it was Gabriel, but he couldn't have known. "Jerk!" He tried to yell, but his voice was scratchy from the scene in the restaurant.
He put his arm around me. "Let's go home. Almost dying twice in one night is enough for me."
Arching an eyebrow, I took his arm off of my shoulder and clasped his hand. I wanted to be able to keep my eyes open for any more attempts by Gabriel.
I was going to make him pay for decades for ruining my fun on Earth. And if the baby was harmed, it might mean the end of our relationship.
I drove us home, my gaze flitting from mirror to mirror as I tried to make sure Gabriel didn't appear again. I didn't think he'd directly hurt me and the only way for him to get to Lucian was to hurt me, too. We made it home in one piece. "You go up to the bedroom," I told Lucian. "I'm going to pee, then I'll be right there."
He kissed me. "Don't be long. I need lots of kisses to soothe my throat."
I hummed and pressed my body against his, which meant I squished Turtle, earning a big kick, which Lucian felt. We laughed, then I pushed him toward the stairs.
When I was sure he was out of earshot, I closed myself in the office and locked the door. "Gabriel," I hissed. "Get in here!"
He appeared in front of me with his hands up in supplication. "I'm sorry, but Lil, it's bad. He's got to go home, pronto."
Stalking toward him, I knew I didn't look intimidating, but damn it, I was pissed. "When I get out of this human body, you're going to regret what you did."
"I already do, I swear." He whispered, but his voice was full of desperation. "I don't want to ruin this for you, Lil, you know that."
Pulling back, I shoved him as hard as I could, which in my human body wasn't very hard. "Gabriel, youwillwait three to five weeks until I deliver this child. At thirty-five to thirty-seven weeks, the baby will be safer. Right now, it's too early."
"I can't wait any longer. I'd rather cut off my toes than hurt you, but Lucifer must return to Hell. I have no idea how much longer the gates will hold, but I can't be sure they'd last another three weeks."
"I guess we're going to find out because I won't let you kill him." Stepping back, I arched an eyebrow at him. "I love you, Gabriel, I do. But it's not about me or Lucifer. It's about this baby growing inside of me. If you kill Lucian, I'll die, and the baby might be hurt."
Gabriel nodded. "I know. That's why I want to kill Luc myself, so I can be nearby to help you and get the baby to a hospital."
I threw out my arms. "And then what? What if it comes out an angel?"
He shrugged. "Then I'd bring it to you in Purgatory."
"And if it's human?"
