Falling for Heaven (Four Winds) by Anne Conley Page A

her abruptly, stepping back.  "One way or another, willing or unwilling, I will have you."
    Heather found the strength to open the door , wide.  “Get out, Damien.”
    He sauntered past, slowly, antagonizing her with his movements.  “See you later, Heather .”
    Fingers shaking, she locked all of the locks on the door, then moved her wingback chair in front of it, feeling incredibly vulnerable. Expelling wracking sobs, she sank to the floor in a heap.
    Damien was the devil.
    She knew this, as sure as she knew that her sister was addicted to meth.  She knew it as sure as she knew her mother would never be the same again.  She knew it as sure as she knew she would never see her dad or her brother alive again. 
    She knew it as sure as she knew Uri was an angel.
     
    Chapter 13
     
                  Uri was pacing his apartment, restlessly waiting, again trying to figure out his mission, when his phone buzzed on the end table.  Uri was surprised to receive a text message from Heather so soon.  He didn’t think she’d contact him today.  When he saw the message, he couldn’t understand the flutter of panic in his gut.
     
    Can you meet me and Taco at the park in an hour?  Please?  I need to see you.
     
                  He wasn’t sure why it caused the flutter, it seemed innocuous enough, but something about the pleading quality of the text didn’t seem like Heather.  It didn’t seem right to him.  He texted back.
     
    Sure.  See you then.
     
                  True to his word, an hour later he was sitting in the same place they had met last time.  This time he wasn’t meditating.  He was waiting, and he was on alert.
                  He felt her first.  The burning sensation in his stomach calmed the fluttering, and when Taco came running around the bushes, he bent to stroke the chihuahua’s belly.  He rose when Heather came into view.
                  “Hello, Heather.  What’s wrong?”
                  She didn ’ t speak
;
, she walked up to him and gave him a fierce hug around his waist, knocking the breath from him.  He could hear her sniffing deeply, inhaling his scent.  Then he knew.  The Deceiver had touched her.  And Uri was furious.  
                  “So, the Deceiver has contacted you?”  Bile rose in the back of his throat at the possibilities.  He had seen the Deceiver's work, and it was disgusting.  Uri's head spun
, knowing what
with what he could ha
ve been
d done to the woman
he
Uri was quickly starting to
think of
associate with as his own.
                  She nodded, not looking at him.
                  “Are you okay?”  Uriel had seen the others that the Deceiver had touched. Some of them never came back from the experience.  He felt a pang in his gut and realized it was worry.
                  She didn’t respond immediately, just continued holding him.  He brought his arms around and held her tightly, trying to impart some comfort, not knowing why, or if it was even working.
                  Finally, she released him, and took a step back.  “I thought he was you.”
                  The fury that Uri was trying to suppress kept him from responding verbally, so he merely nodded.  He had never been so angry.  He realized that he was becoming attached to this assignment, and he still didn't understand what it was…
                  Heather sat on the grass, motioning for Uri to join her.  He sat next to her, wondering at the sudden urge to pull her into his arms again.  He suddenly felt so empty without her there.
                  “He’s been at the club, but I didn’t realize who he was.  I mean, I knew he was trouble, but I deal with trouble there all the time.”  Uri clenched his jaw.  “He sent me roses, to my apartment, and I was scared because he knew where I lived.  That’s