"Have you heard anything from your Marine?"
Warren saw the woman tense for a split second, considering her options, and was impressed with the icy control that fell into place, even as he frowned. Did she know her man would be in danger the second he returned? There were already people watching.
"He's on the road."
There was only silence in response, and her worry grew.
It took Angela only a couple minutes to remove the small, rough piece of car hood from the child's bleeding shoulder, clean it, and start putting in the small, neat stitches.
"I'll leave medicine, but watch those lines. They fade, she's getting better. They keep spreading, you get her to me - STAT."
Warren paled, turning abruptly from the needle moving in and out of his daughter's pale skin. In the heavy silence, Angela could hear the thoughts of the other men as clearly as if they'd spoken.
"That's it. That's his weakness."
"Aaron was right. We'll use the girl."
Angela wanted to warn the Preacher that he was in danger, not for his sake but for his daughter's, and it was a struggle to remain silent as she stripped off the gloves and gathered her supplies. When she turned, she didn't meet his eyes. "Keep her lying down when you can and try to feed her more. You know where I'll be if you need me."
Warren nodded, and they both felt the tension thicken as she turned toward the door. The two men plotting against the Preacher were blocking her way out, had probably seen a little more in her reaction than she had wanted them to. As she had the thought, Aaron joined them.
"You'll be here!" the bald man informed her hatefully, moving closer. "You're not leaving!"
Angela paled, but followed the Demon's voice in her head that said to stand pat, call their bluff. She narrowed her eyes at the two nervous-looking men.
"Move and I'll hold my tongue."
Seeing only fear in their body language, Angela realized they were sidekicks with no real kick to them. "Let me by. I already have an owner."
Aaron's bitter face twisted at the reminder of her man, the Marine. "Not anymore! You're mine!"
As he grabbed her arm, the terror was nearly overwhelming, but the years spent in Hell allowed her to handle herself. These men were threats. Her man was deadly…and he wasn't here to stop her from using her gifts. Closing her eyes, Angela concentrated, raw power beginning to hum through the cold lobby of the college.