Read Online A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford - Free Book Online Page B

shook his head. “I have to decide to go home. I have to want it. The Bound don’t fight for anyone. Ever. I would have to choose to go Upstairs for them to not see me as Fallen.”
    He swayed on his feet, and Eden took his elbow. “The Bound didn’t fight for me, and I got thrown out for love . Without the wings, and with…” He paused. “With what he did, Gabe’s not getting a second chance.”
    Eden helped Az to the doorway of her room. Jarrod followed.
    “This isn’t about Gabe,” Jarrod insisted. “This is about you and what happened and the crazy shit you were saying about Upstairs after seeing the Bound!”
    Eden’s hand tensed on Az’s waist. “Jarrod, let it go. I’m sure it was a weird coincidence,” she said.
    Jarrod opened his mouth to protest until Eden glanced back at him over her shoulder. The look they shared was the same.
    She wasn’t buying Az’s flimsy story either.

CHAPTER 9

    E den lay in her bed, propped against the headboard, listening. She’d left the door to her bedroom open a crack. Jarrod had shut down the laptop and gone to bed half an hour ago. Az had tumbled onto the couch shortly after. Now, everything was silent.
    But are they sleeping? She tucked her phone under the covers to hide the light and checked the time. After midnight. Normally, the apartment would still be active, but with Jarrod’s new job and the stress of everything Az had gone through, both the boys were out. She rubbed her neck, refusing to acknowledge how much she longed to lie back and give in to her own exhaustion.
    No. She slid quietly out of bed, fully clothed under the blanket. The boys could rest tonight, but they couldn’t all afford to take the night off.
    Eden slipped on her coat, grabbed her shoes. Before she left, she dropped a pre-written note onto her bed. If Az came into her room and found her gone, at least he would know she was okay.
    She took a deep breath and held it as she crossed the living room, intent on the soft sounds of Az’s breaths. They stayed deep and even. She made it to the front door, turned the knob slowly, and wriggled through into the hall.
    Scrolling down her contacts list, she yanked on her shoes.
    “You’re late,” Madeline said as the call connected.
    “Only a few minutes. You’re here?” Eden kept her voice a whisper. Sound carried in the hall, but she knew she was being paranoid. She opened the security door and hung up when she saw her.
    Madeline lowered the phone she held. “What the hell are you wearing?”
    Eden’s skirt rode high up on her thighs, the leggings she wore underneath razor ripped and shredded. Under her open coat, her shirt’s neckline skimmed across the top of her breasts, leaving damn little to the imagination. She sighed at Madeline’s outfit with disdain. The straight-laced fashion sense bugged her on the best day. Tonight it set her teeth grinding. She eyed the pastel blue top Madeline wore.
    “Gabe’s Fallen. He’s most likely to be in some back alley. Under a bridge. Squatting.” Eden started walking down the sidewalk, Madeline beside her. Already she regretted calling, but she didn’t dare go out searching alone. The angels weren’t the only ones Eden would need to worry about tonight. “The places we look aren’t safe. And the people we find there don’t take kindly to people in clean jeans and sweater sets.”
    “Clearly you’ve given this some thought,” Madeline said, sounding impressed. “The problem is—” She hesitated for effect and Eden rolled her eyes. “Why would he be on the street if he could kill someone for their wallet and sleep in a cushy bed?”
    Eden exhaled an angry cloud. “He wouldn’t do that.”
    “You don’t know the Fallen. They con, Eden. They steal and trick and deceive. They want for nothing.”
    “You said you heard there were complications, though.” Eden gave her a sidelong glance. “Gabe—”
    “Is one of them. Stop pretending he’s not.” She shoved her hands deeper