Page 93 of Till Death

Simon nodded as I spoke. “It’s a great idea.”

I pushed away from the desk and gave him a soft grin. “Are you proud of me, Simon?”

“You shouldn’t even have to ask me that, Jade,” he replied. “I’ve always been proud of you.”

“Even when I couldn’t see the potential in myself,” I continued for him. Appreciation swirled inside of me for this unlikely friendship, like so many of the other ones I’d made along this journey.

Like with Eli looking over Heaven in Michael’s place and doing a great job. Now, I had more time on my hands to actually stop and smell those roses. Or, in this case, stop and admire the connections in my afterlife.

“I have always been able to sniff out great talent,” Simon said and touched his nose. “It’s part of the animal in me.”

I laughed. “All these jokes now! You’ve become quite the funny man.”

“I’ve been hanging around you too much.”

“But youloveit.”

He smiled. “I do.”

As the golden elevator doors opened, the new light rock music spilled out and Cole stepped out.

The sight of him immediately had the fire in my stomach growing to epic proportions and I was surprised that smoke didn’t start curling out of my ears.

“Does a guy need an appointment to talk to you these days?” he asked and walked further inside and gave a quick wave to Simon.

“For you? I think I’ll make an exception,” I replied.

“I’ll see myself out.” Simon walked past us to the elevator. Once stepping inside, he turned to face us again and said, “Don’t get into too much trouble out there.”

“You know I will!” I shouted as the doors closed, cutting me off from Simon’s defeated look.

Now alone, Cole placed a feather light kiss on my lips, and my heartbeat skipped like it always did when he touched me.

“Are you ready to get to work?” I asked.

“Work? What do you mean? You know I’m not the pencil-pushing type.”

“It involves hunting,” I said, to sweeten the pot. “On the living plane. Which, if I remember correctly, is kind of like your favorite hobby.”

“Now I’m intrigued.”

“Well then, shall we?” I gesture to the elevator.

Cole grabbed my hand, and together, we strolled inside.

As we began our descent and the energetic music swirled around us, I stared at my distorted reflection in the shiny gold of the doors. I thought back to a time when I’d looked at myself, just like this, but hadn’t recognized the woman peering back at me.

But I’d always been there, deep down, waiting for me to find myself again.

I smiled

Damn, how much had changed since then.

I’d gone from Jade Blackwell, reaper with no memories, no past, and no clue what the fuck she was doing, to Jade Blackwell, former Archangel, new Angel of Death, and overall badass bitch.

Glancing at Cole, I caught him grinning at me, too. I was excited for an eternity of kicking more ass together, with him and my friends by my side.

Death really wasn’t the end.

It was just the beginning of another adventure.

THE END