Counterfeit Cupid (Mt. Olympus Employment Agency: Cupid #2)(23)

He frowned and his voice softened. “I’m very sorry to hear that. Because I like you very much.” He put the car in gear. “So, let’s get this over with, so you don’t have to see me anymore. Apparently, there’s an elderly couple you matched who are in some serious trouble if we don’t unmatch them. They could even die. I need you to tell me where we’re going.”

I snapped my head around to look at him. “Seriously? What the hell is wrong with you?” I waved at him to take a left at the corner. “Your priorities are messed up. Next time, rather than starting the conversation with true love isn’t real, try leading with people’s lives are in danger.”

I knew exactly who he was talking about, and with every mile we drew closer to my apartment complex, my stomach grew tighter.

Some Cupid I turned out to be. I may have killed somebody.

*

Mrs. Browning was in Mr. Kingston’s apartment when we arrived in the hallway outside his door. We knew she was in there because there was a female voice yelling along with the male voice. The yelling was occasionally punctuated by the sound of something slamming against the wall and shattering.

Josh and I glanced at each other in alarm.

“What should we do?” I still had my wings, so I could go inside, but once I was there, I couldn’t do much.

He shrugged. “We need to get them out here, or at least open the door for me to go in. I can’t go through the door, and you can’t take off the love spell.” He held up his arm to show me his Love-Meter Deluxe. “It’s vibrating so hard my teeth are rattling.”

I flinched when another projectile hit the door. “I could give you the wings and you could go in and fix it.”

He shook his head. “You imprinted on them. They won’t work for me, now. Thanks for that, by the way.”

“Sorry.” So, technically the wings were mine, now. I wondered what else he hadn’t told me about all this. “I can’t knock on the door like this. Why don’t you start with that?”

He stepped closer, rapped hard on the door, then took a few steps back and one to the side, in case something other than a person came through the door. “Worth a try.”

The noise never paused. They obviously either couldn’t hear the pounding on the door, or they were too involved in their argument to care.

“We’re going to have to work together.” I moved toward the door.

He held his arm out. “Be careful. Don’t do anything stupid or brave.”

“You have to get in there.” I patted his arm. “I’ll be okay. I’ll go in, take my arm out of the elastic, unlock the door, and come out. I’ll be quick.”

“You’ll be in the direct line of fire.” He shook his head. “It’s not safe. We’ll call the police and wait for them to break down the door.”

Mrs. Browning screamed.

Mr. Kingston yelled something that sounded like a war cry. Behind us, two dogs whined from the other apartment.

At least the dogs were safe.

A thunk came from Mr. Kingston’s apartment, something much larger than a knick-knack or a plate. Possibly human-sized.

“We can’t wait that long.” I headed for the door.

“Wait!” Josh grabbed my hand as I marched past and pulled me toward him. His eyes were filled with worry. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. He stared into my eyes, holding my hand, his expression so intense I felt like the only person who existed in the world. “Please be careful.”

I nodded. “I promise.” I slipped away from him and went through the door.

Careful wasn’t enough to prepare me for what was inside that apartment.





11. Josh


My heart felt like a giant fist had punched into my chest to squeeze the blood out of me when Annie walked through the door and out of my line of sight.

I shouldn’t have let her go in. In the moment that I realized what she was about to do, I regretted everything I’d said to her in the car about true love. The funny thing was, as I told her everything I’d always believed, I couldn’t help but want to shield her from my own words even as I said them. I wanted to hold her and murmur words of comfort and tell her I was wrong and she was right.

And now she’d put herself in danger, and I knew for certain she’d been right. I’d never felt like this about anyone. The thought of something happening to Annie took away my breath and left me struggling for air.

I raised my hand to pound on the door again, then stopped. If she was visible, I might draw their attention to her.

An eternity passed in the hallway while thunks and crashes and shrill yells and shrieks came from the apartment. What was taking her so long? All she had to do was step through, wait for an opening between projectiles, become visible and solid, then unlock the door.

Impatient, I gave up on waiting and moved to knock again. Annie hadn’t appeared yet, and I was worried for her safety. What if she’d been hit and was lying in there bleeding to death? I’d break down the door if I had to.

I made a fist and swung my arm, landing on nothing as the door swung open. Annie stood in the doorway, her eyes wide and blood dripping down the side of her face from her scalp.

“Oh my gods, Annie.” I stepped inside and closed the door. I reached to touch her head, and she winced before I made contact.