Sins of the Innocent: A Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

leaned over to get a look at his shoes.
    He observed me with amusement.
    “Converse?” I asked.
    Without hesitation, he slogged his leg onto the table with a thud, revealing a pair of red-black-and-white sneakers.
    Bex’s face twisted in disgust.
    “You’re going golfing later?” I asked.
    He pulled up his pant leg. “Puma Ferraris, love. C’mon.”
    “Don’t call me love. You have thirty seconds,” I said simply.
    “What shall I call you? The Merovingian? That’s what everyone calls you behind your back.” He looked up at nothing, faking a thoughtful moment. “I feel it’s derogatory though, and I hate being ru—”
    “Ten seconds,” I said.
    Levi was unfazed. “That’s not long enough to finish your coffee.” He sat up. “I’ve intruded. My apologies. I’ll wait for you outside.”
    I puffed out a laugh. He at least pretended to be confident, and he couldn’t be all bad. He was too pretty.
    He stood up, politely nodding to Bex.
    Bex narrowed his eyes, incensed. “What are you up to, Levi?”
    “No agenda.” He winked at me. “See you outside, Eden.” He walked away, amused at my disbelief.
    “Is he suicidal?” I asked.
    Bex fell against the back of his chair, exasperated. “I don’t know, but something is off. Really off.”
    “He’s alone,” I said. “That’s weird, isn’t it?”
    Bex confirmed with a nod. “The rest of them came and left. He’s been using the drudens to avoid detection.”
    “Pretty smart,” I said, impressed. Then I wondered how long he’d been hanging around. I’d been sensing drudens for months. “What’s with his eyes?”
    Levi’s irises were the trademark silver-blue of an angel or hybrid. No one from that far south of Heaven had eyes that color.
    “He’s a Cambion, Eden. He’s Leviathan.”
    My smug smile vanished, and I leaned forward. “ The Leviathan? You mean, the son of Satan?”
    Bex nodded.
    “And he’s a Cambion ? As in half-human? How is that possible?”
    “Christ did the same. They have to choose a mortal life. I hear Levi’s mother sells life insurance in Miami.”
    “Figures,” I said.
    We finished our coffees, not at all in a hurry. I was curious, but I wasn’t going to give Levi the satisfaction of running out to meet him. Contrary to what he’d said, Levi was playing a game, and I would play but by my rules.
    The moment I stepped outside, I trailed the curious scent to an alley behind the café, but I found myself alone. Bex stood at the mouth of the alley, looking ominous with his arms crossed, keeping an eye out for more unannounced company.
    My skin tingled, and I closed my eyes, seeing myself from Levi’s perspective as he barreled toward me from the opposite end of the alley.
    My instincts didn’t request otherwise, so I didn’t move.
    Levi crashed into my side, mowing me down onto the asphalt, sending us sliding more than fifty yards. We stopped not far from Bex’s feet. I could tell from his expression that he was wondering why I had allowed the tackle, but still, I didn’t move.
    Large hands pinned my shoulders to the cement beneath me, gravel and tiny shards of broken glass poking through my shirt.
    Levi looked upon me with a wide grin.
    “Feel better?” I asked.
    Levi dug his fingers into the skin of my shoulders. “Aren’t you going to fight back?” he whispered. “I’ve seen you spar. You’re better than this.”
    “You just wanted to pick a fight? No.”
    “No?” he asked. “What do you mean, no?”
    “I’m not fighting you.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because you want me to.”
    He blinked, an indeterminable expression on his face, and then he reared back his elbow, ready to strike. I lay there, waiting for him to land the blow, but then I saw Bex above, anticipating his own attack.
    Before either of them could move, I was behind Levi, grabbing his shirt with both fists. With a thud, I slammed him face-first into the brick wall behind the café.
    “Eden?” Bex called, a strange look on his