Underworld Lover (A Guardian Angel Romance #2) by haron Hamilton Page B

they were greeted with the news that Beau would make it, but that he’d had another heart attack and would probably need to remain in the hospital for an extended period of time. But he’d survived the evening.
    “Is he conscious?” Josh asked the physician on duty.
    “Yes, but he’s to have absolutely no visitors. He’s out of danger now, but any strain will kill him.”
    Josh didn’t think that would be such a bad idea. He and Audray thanked the doctor, left their names as next of kin, and huddled together in the cramped waiting room.
    “We’d have lost him if he died this way.”
    “But he overdosed. He did that to himself.”
    “Accidents don’t count. He has to want to take his own life. I think he just couldn’t count the pills.” Josh gave her the grim details of how a person close to death had to be handled.
    “God, I don’t think he’ll last much longer. Look what he’s done to himself.”
    “My dear, death by overconsumption is considered ‘natural causes,’ didn’t you know?” Josh drew a long arm around her shoulders, bringing her into tight proximity to his body. He liked her there. But he was aware she did not melt into him like Melanie had. Like even Helena had. Whatever affection he had for Audray was apparently not returned.
    “So what do we do?” She looked up at him with those luminous black eyes a dark angel could get lost in. She was scared, but not dead. She had a heart, but just not for him. But she was sexy as hell.
    “We make him want to go,” Josh whispered, patting her shoulder.
    “But if he dies of a heart attack, then he’s lost to us?”
    “No, we ask his permission. Come. You’ll see.” Josh took her hand. Unlike Guardian angels, dark angels couldn’t disappear, but he shape shifted their bodies into two uniformed hospital workers. He checked the hallway up and down quickly before willing himself through the door to Beau’s room, pulling Audray behind him.
    At the sight of Beau propped in bed, with tubes and wires hooked up to various machines, it was clear to Josh the man was nearly dead. They hadn’t even moved him into the CCU unit.
    “Beau. Hey buddy, you look like hell.” Josh whispered into Beau’s ear. The hair around Beau’s face was wet. A few beads of sweat adorned his forehead and upper lip. Beau’s eyes slowly opened as he raised a hand encased in plastic tubing.
    “Hey. What a trip, man,” he sputtered through the breathing mask.
    “This your idea of a trip?” Josh frowned at him. “You almost bought the big one, you know.”
    “Yeah. I saw the golden stairway, man. I almost think I saw Heaven.”
     Josh stepped back as if he’d been slapped. He looked quickly around the room. No sign of a Guardian.
    “What are you looking at?” Audray whispered, obviously puzzled.
    “Looking for a Guardian. They sometimes come at the end.”
    “Wow. The colors...” Beau continued babbling.
    “Look, I can do something for you. Something I think you’ll like. You wanna live forever? Gotta make up your mind quick, though.” Josh delivered his message to the blurry-eyed ex-rocker who was immobilized by the dark angel’s fingers. Josh noticed the beeping on the heart monitor was starting to pick up speed.
    “Cool. A vampire. I always knew you were a weird sonofabitch, but a vampire! I like it.” Beau pulled aside his hospital gown revealing the jugular vein on his neck.
    “Beau, you idiot. I’m not a vampire.”
    “Sure, sure you aren’t, you kinky asshole. Go ahead, give me the bite. Bite me, goddammit!” Tubes were rattling as his fingers fluttered to his neck again. The beeping got louder and faster. Beau was struggling to sit up, but began coughing and sank back down into the bed.
    “This is insane, Josh. You can’t…” Audray started in.
    Beau reacted immediately to Audray’s voice and turned to address her. “Hey, how’s my girl? You gonna do it? I think that’s just awesome!” Beau was gasping for air, trying to pull off his