When her apartment building came into sight, I wanted to rush down the sidewalk and barge right in. But I couldn’t. G.R. might be watching the building. I ducked into an empty stairwell across the street and watched for signs that someone else might be out here watching or waiting.
After a few minutes of seeing nothing suspicious, I had enough and decided to just use my speed and zip inside. Just as I was preparing to run, the door to her building opened and a man stepped out.
It was G.R.
My breath hissed out between my teeth and I ducked back into the opening when what I really wanted to do was beat his ass. But then my anger dissolved and fear spiked through me. He had been upstairs, inside that apartment with her for a long time.
What if she was hurt?
What if she was dead?
His car pulled down the road and I flew across the pavement. I don’t even know if my feet touched the ground. I stopped only when I came to her door. I tried turning the handle to just barge right in, but it was locked.
I pounded on it. “Frankie!” I yelled. “Frankie, open the door.”
Storm appeared behind me.
“You need to go in there, unlock the door.”
The lock on the door slid free and the door swung wide.
“Frankie,” I said, relief making my voice weak.
“Olly?” she said, her eyes going wide as she stared at me.
I nodded. “I know I look different, but it’s me.”
“You look…” Her voice trailed away as she just stood there and stared.
I wanted to snatch her up, to crush her against me, but I wasn’t sure if she would want that. I finally knew exactly what I wanted, but I had no idea if she wanted the same.
“Can we come in?” Storm said.
Frankie stepped back, allowing us in and then closing the door. I stopped short seeing Piper was here. There were too many people here… too many eyes.
I turned my back on them and looked at Frankie. “I saw the Reaper leaving. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“Your eyes are still green,” she murmured, staring at me.
I smiled.
“He tried to kill her,” Piper announced. I spun around. “What?”
“He was going to touch her. Got a couple inches from her face.”
Bile rose up in my throat and my hands fisted at my sides.
“But he didn’t touch me. Piper stopped him.”
“How could Piper stop him?” Storm asked.
“She touched him first.”
I swung my head in the direction of her words. “Come again?”
Frankie nodded. “Piper touched the Grim Reaper and she didn’t die.”
Everyone stared at Piper. Her cheeks turned pink. “I really need to be going. I have to work.”
