Tiffany Aaron - Fallen: William (Fallen Angels, Book 2)

Fallen: William

Tiffany Aaron

(c) 2004

Fallen: William

Tiffany Aaron

Published 2004

ISBN 1-59578-071-8

Published by Liquid Silver Books,imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis,Indiana 46235. Copyright 2004, Tiffany Aaron. All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording orotherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Manufactured in the United Statesof America

Liquid Silver Books

http://lsbooks.com

Email:

raven@lsbooks.com

Cover Art

by Fabiano Fabris

This isa work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are ofthe authors imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblanceto actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Dedication

Chris, my dreams would benightmares without you.

Bill and Kelly, you raised awonderful son and I thank you for him.

Dougand Jamie, thank you for repopulating the world so we dont have to.

Wendyand Shane, may your new life be filled with occasional storm clouds so youappreciate the sun more.

Char,again you managed to clean up my act. Thank you.

Sandy,thanks for those lunchtime walks and helping me think my way through an idea.

Andfinally to the man with the pipe and the trash bag I see every day while I goto work. Every day you break my heart and every day you make me smile with yourdetermination.

CHAPTER ONE

WilliamBradford took a peek at the two cards the dealer gave him. Damn, the queen ofhearts and the two of spades. Studying his opponents, he wondered if he shouldtry to bluff his way into the pot or just cut his losses. Maybe if he checked,he would get the chance to catch something on the flop.

He knewhe could cheat and read their minds to see what kind of hands they had.Shuddering, he wasnt sure he wanted to do that. There was no way of tellingwhat kind of slime lurked in their brains and just because he could read mindsdidnt mean he should. There had to be a rule somewhere in the Enforcer codestating Thou Shalt Not Cheat. Sometimes being a fallen angel didnt live upto the hype. One of the men raised the pot. He threw his hand in with disgust,pushed back his chair and climbed to his feet.

Imcalling it a night, guys. He smiled at the other men around the table as hegathered his chips.

Thenight is still young. You usually dont quit until the sun comes up, one ofthem said, even though William knew they were thrilled to see him leave.

I flewin early this morning and came right to the tables. I havent seen my own bedin a week and Id like to reacquaint myself with it. He nodded as he left.

Strollingthrough the Golden Phoenix casino in Reno, William wondered what kind ofdesperation drove these mortals to gamble away their money and their lives.What flaw in them made them long to bet everything on the roll of the dice orthe turn of a card? He had seen that moment happen so many timesthe momentwhen the addictive haze cleared and horrified guilt took its place for a while.He had seen grown men weeping on street corners with no money and no way to gethome.

He usedto give them money to help them out and then he realized they would go andgamble it away again. Now he did nothing for them. Maybe as an angel, althougha fallen one, he should comfort the most beloved of Gods creatures. Mortalsmight be Gods favorites, but he hadnt seen much proof of their willingness toaccept comfort from Him.

Headingto the bar, he wished he could drown his thoughts; unfortunately whiskey didnthave any effect on him. The bartender recognized him and had his drink readyfor him by the time he sat down.

Cardsnot falling your way, Mr. Bradford? the bartender asked.

Williamlaughed because except for that last hand, the cards always fell his way, whichexplained why he chose to make his living as a poker player. Im just tired.Ive been busy for the last week and need to catch up on my sleep.

Burtlooked slightly surprised and he realized those two sentences were the most hehad ever spoken to the man. He shrugged. He didnt like talking to people. Theonly person he had ever felt the need to spend time with was Celeste, but nowthat she was attached to that arrogant mortal, Adam Montgomery, she didnt needhim anymore. Burt seemed to be a good listener, but then wasnt being a goodlistener a requirement to be a bartender? Burt set another whiskey on thecounter.

Imnot done with my first, William pointed out.

Itsnot for you. Burt nodded towards the door.

Heswung around and felt his lungs deflate as he took in the woman walking towardshim.

She waspetite with an hourglass figure he would love to get his hands on. Her amberhair sparked with burgundy highlights and was the color he had alwaysenvisioned hell fire would be. A black and white bandana kept her hair off aface meant to break a mans heart. Her eyes were wide, reminding him of therichest Swiss chocolate. Her creamy skin was flushed and he could feel theanger rolling off her.

A greent-shirt filled with lush breasts he knew would be featured in his dreams baredher stomach and he caught a hint of glitter at her belly button. Jeans huggedher hips with loving accuracy and delicate toes painted a blood red peeked fromblack high-heeled sandals. As he ran his eyes down her legs, he imagined themwrapped around his waist as he thrust into her. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Flingingherself down on the stool next to him, she grabbed the whiskey and slammed itback. Burt had another shot ready when she set the glass down.

Slowup a little, Abby, Burt said as the redhead slammed the second one back justas fast as the first.

Iswear if the pay wasnt so good, Id blow this fucking job. She ignoredWilliam.

Thompsondo it again?

Yeah,he grabbed my ass. He cant believe Id turn him down. What is it about you gamblers?Her brown eyes shot knives into William.

Hedidnt think she was looking for an answer so he kept quiet. Obviously some guyhad groped her and it pissed her off. Standing, he reached into his pocket topay his tab.

Abbyreached out and grabbed his arm although she wasnt sure why she was talking tothe man. His bloodshot blue eyes said he hadnt slept for days. He had all themarkings of a professional gambler and was just the kind of man she had alwayssworn never to get involved with. The hard muscle flexed under her hand as shemet his glare.

Iasked you a question.

Burtshook his head and moved down the bar. The stranger raised an eyebrow.

Youdid? I thought you were stating a fact. Im sure you werent looking for myopinion. His voice came out smooth and lit a fire in her stomach.

Itsjust the whiskey, she thought. Youre a professional, always on the lookoutfor the next game. Do you know the meaning of the word no? Do you force yourattentions on women?

Darling,no woman Ive ever wanted has turned me down. He gave her a slow bone-meltinggrin.

No,Im sure they havent .Giving him the once over, Abby found she liked what she saw. By the way hetowered over her he had to be around six-four. A wrinkled blue t-shirt coveredbulging chest muscles. His faded jeans were sinfully tight, letting her knowthat it wasnt just his muscles that were bulging. Scuffed cowboy boots completedthe package.

Almosteverything about his face shouted angelic perfection until she met his eyes.Even though they sparkled with blue fire because of her thorough inspection,their cynical darkness held a hint of pain. The man beside her had been to helland was still haunted by his visit there.

Angryat her thoughts, she jerked her hand away. Damn arrogant men. Why do you thinkthat if a woman works in a casino, she must be a whore?