this was how he was repaying me! I should have let Rafe choke him!
He paused, one eyebrow raised. “I was just going to give you my jacket, Gabi. Thought you might be cold.”
I crossed my hands over my chest. “No, I’m fine. I’m hot, actually. You don’t feel hot? Man, I’m almost sweating to death here!” Never mind that my teeth were chattering so badly Evan was probably having a hard time understanding what I was trying to say.
Evan sighed. Peeling off his jacket, he tossed it at me. I let it drop to the floor. Rolling his eyes, he said, “Put on the jacket, Gabi.”
“No.”
Evan looked annoyed, but he didn’t press the issue.
Wise move, that.
“So,” I said. “Anyone want to clue me in on what I’m doing here? Or are we just going to stand around staring at one another?”
Creepy Suitman cleared his throat. “A few months ago, I received a very interesting phone call from Evan, someone I never expected to hear from ever again. He had written us off, wiped his hands clean long ago, you see.
“But it wasn’t the phone call that was interesting. It was what he had to say.”
My heart was pounding fast enough that I was worried I was going to have a heart attack and drop dead right then and there. Because if this guy was who I thought he was, I was so screwed.
I hoped I could kill Evan before I died of my heart attack, though. At least then I could die relatively happy.
Creepy brushed imaginary lint from his coat (he probably practiced that super villain move in the mirror) before continuing. “Apparently, Evan had nearly died that night, and you, Gabriella Harkins, healed him.”
“Gabiella,” I corrected automatically.
Creepy frowned. “Excuse me?”
“My name is Gabiella. There’s no ‘r.’”
“That’s a strange name…” He looked thoughtful when he said that, like he was trying to remember something important.
“Well, you’re a strange guy, so I guess we’re even.” I shook my head. “Who are you, anyway?”
He pulled himself up to his full height. (He was about my dad’s height, so nothing too impressive compared to Rafe the Giant.) “I am Charles Adler, director of the New York branch of Silver Moon.”
Trying not to let my fear show, I sneered. “ Woop-de-doo. Is that supposed to impress me?”
Charles shot Evan a disapproving look. “You didn’t say she would be difficult.”
“Actually, that’s exactly how I described her,” Evan replied. “I told you she wouldn’t be agreeable if you made me kidnap her.”
So if you knew that, then why did you do it, Evan?
“I needed to know if you were telling me the truth, or just wasting my time.” Charl es directed his next question at me. “Is it true?”
I decided to keep being difficult. “Is what true?”
His dark eyes flashed with annoyance. “Are you a Soul Healer or not?” His raised voice echoed across the warehouse. I wondered if anyone out there would hear him shouting, but I doubted it. It was late, it was snowing—all the sane people were indoors, sleeping .
I bit my lip. “Okay, I still hate you and want to make your life a living hell, but I’m telling the truth when I say I have no idea what a Soul Healer is.”
“Did you or did you not heal Evan?”
“No clue.”
“Excuse me?” Again Charles turned to glare at Evan.
“Hey , man, she goes into a trance and passes out and doesn’t remember it after waking up.” Evan shrugged. “I told you all of this. Multiple times.”
“Yes, but I want to hear it from her.”
“I’m not telling you anything,” I cut in. “Except that I want to go home. Take me home. Now.”
Charles smiled and it was so creepy , ugh. Nightmares forever. “Home? You’re not going home, Gabriella.”
“IT’S GABIELLA, YOU STUPID—”
“Whoa,” Evan broke in, waving his hands. “Came down, Gabi.”
“ Calm ? You want me to be calm after you kidnapped me!” Who the freak was Evan kidding? I thought he had been