I was wokenup Monday morning by the sound of my phone ringing. My heart sped up at the sight of Sam’sname on the screen. Sam was less averse to using a phone than Nate, but he still didn’t usually call just to chat.
“Hey, is everything okay?” I asked.
“You tell me. What the fuck were you doing with Hayden Blake last night, wearing a wedding ring?”
Last night Hayden had taken me out to dinner for Valentine’s Day. And I’d obviously underestimated how fast news traveled if my brother had already heard about it.
“I fail to see how that is any of your business,” I said calmly.
“Tell me you didn’t get married.”
“You want me to lie to you?”
“Dammit, Danielle. Does Micah know?”
“I didn’t want to bother Micah. It’s temporary and on paper only. We’ll go back to our own lives in the fall.”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Why? Sierra’s been working with him for years. He’s friends with Piper’s brother. It’s not like he’s a stranger.”
I moved into the empty kitchen, propping the phone between my ear and shoulder while I made myself tea.
“He’s high-profile. People are going to be watching every move you make.”
“So what? Are you worried I’m going to accidentally tell the world I’m an angel? Give me some credit. I’ve managed to keep that secret from Hayden, and I’ve been living with him for weeks.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“You’re living with him,” Sam said finally.
“Yes. That’s what married people generally do.”
“And you didn’t think that was something you should have told us about?”
“No, I didn’t. You are not my father, Sam. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I’m not a child and it’s not your job to take care of me.”
There was another heavy pause before Sam said, “If he hurts you, he’s dead.”
I didn’t even get a chance to respond to that before he hung up.
The next call came in the afternoon.
“Are you also calling to complain that I dared to make a decision for myself without asking your permission?” I asked, not bothering with hellos.
“Is he blackmailing you?” Nate asked, ignoring my comment.
I was honestly a little insulted. “You actually think a human could blackmail me?” A grand prince of Hell on the other hand…
“Just answer the question.”
“No, he’s not blackmailing me.”
“You’ll let me know if I need to threaten him with bodily harm, right?”
“I think that’s his job now. He’s the one who’s my husband.”
“Is it real?”
