Apollo, p.1
Apollo, page 1
Table of Contents
DESCRIPTION
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DISCOVER MORE BOOKS:
JASPER: BOOK ONE
CENTURION: BOOK TWO
AERON: BOOK FOUR
ORION: BOOK FIVE
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
END CREDITS
APOLLO: BOOK THREE
The Guardian League
TK LAWYER
Lauren was only an assignment. He wasn’t supposed to fall in love.
From her birth, Apollo watched over Lauren, witnessing all her milestones, and encouraging her through her pitfalls—all with a strong sense of pride.
Lauren is a survivor.
Sadly, she doesn’t want to live.
A drastic decision one day sets Lauren face to face with her own guardian angel—a being she never thought existed. But Apollo won’t leave her alone. He seeks a better life for her. Yet Lauren doesn’t welcome his advice. She considers them intrusions.
Still, she is hopelessly drawn to Apollo in ways she can’t explain. Apollo makes her feel alive when she was once dead inside. He is as necessary to her as the air she breathes.
Yet, he demands one thing—and one thing only—Lauren—forever by his side. Lauren is not sure if she can fulfill his desire.
Will Lauren take a chance on her angel when so many have failed her? Or will Apollo slip away, forever, lost to her world of misery and darkness?
PUBLISHER NOTE: Paranormal Romance. Angels and Demons. Rubenesque. 63,600 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.
APOLLO: BOOK THREE
The Guardian League
TK LAWYER
LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP
APOLLO: BOOK THREE
The Guardian League
Copyright © OCTOBER 2023 TK LAWYER
Cover Art by Poppy Designs
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
CHAPTER ONE
At twenty-two years old, Lauren was done with life. She rifled through the top drawer of her mother’s bureau and held out the bottle of psychotropic drugs in her hand, with a wicked glee of triumph. Her mom wouldn’t miss a few pills. Besides, she was never home. She took more of an interest in partying with men, giving them whatever they wanted to “take care of her” than she did caring for her own daughter. Lauren was, at best, an after-thought or more, an inconvenience. Love, affection, and responsibility weren’t words found in her mother’s limited vocabulary.
She stared at the bottle and then cried over the bathroom sink. All the pain she endured from her mom’s drugged-out, wasted boyfriends meant nothing at all to the most important woman in the world, whose single duty was to protect her: her mom. The fact that Lauren was almost molested several times by her mother’s pathetic definition of “good men,” meant even less. Lauren swiped at her tears, angry for displaying her vulnerability. She’d never cry in front of her mother or her idiot boy toys.
She hated her mother but even more, she loathed her useless life. There was no point in going on living day to day with no end in sight when all she wanted to do was sleep—forever. Still, she found it strange that every time she figured she was at the end of her rope, gasping for air from strangulation or repeated kicks to her body by one of her mom’s trashy men or from her mom herself, she somehow, survived. Why and how she’d like to know. At certain times there was no explanation. She recalled one occurrence when a greasy male fondled her on the bed while she struggled beneath his disgusting body, kicking and biting him relentlessly and anywhere she could, only to find his lifeless carcass, suddenly and violently thrown off the bed as if he’d been possessed like the famous little girl in a horror movie she saw one day. Lauren watched helplessly, as his body slammed against the floor, suddenly unconscious. She quickly rolled the useless piece of trash out into the hallway and closed her door, barring him from re-entry by lodging a chair underneath the doorknob. How was the guy dragged off her bed and onto the floor? She recalled his desperate screams and his attempts to claw his fingernails into the bed sheets for leverage. It was a failed, useless attempt just like her previous tries at suicide, but this time… she was sealing the deal. If some crazy being out there in the vast universe offered her reincarnation, she wasn’t coming back. That’s if something truly existed beyond her piddly life, which she highly doubted.
Whatever was out there was better than living life on Earth. Lauren regretted only one thing. She never got the chance to experience real love—if it truly existed. For her, love was a product of weakness. Yet, she yearned for it anyway. To have someone in her life who respected her, supported her, and voluntarily wanted to be with her would be… well… an unreal yet wonderful experience. She turned the labeled bottle in her hand. If only that man existed, but he didn’t. Her mother’s magic pills were her only way out. She screwed open the cap and stared into the short, plastic tunnel, marveling at the small round objects that would gain her final freedom.
“No, don’t do it.”
The message floated across her mind. It wasn’t the first time she heard the strong male voice, but it would be the last. She ran a glass underneath the faucet and filled it, preparing for her final journey.
“Lauren, please stop. You’re worth it.”
It was the voice in her head again. Lauren never considered herself crazy—her mom and her many men floating in and out the doors—yes, but if she wasn’t loony why did she keep hearing this same voice?
She emptied a handful of pills into her hand. Her mother would find her dead on her bed and after that, who knew what she’d do. Would she have the courtesy to bury her body or just toss it over the fence? Well, it didn’t matter to Lauren anymore.
“Good riddance, Mom.” She popped the pills down the back of her throat followed by several gulps of water and lay on her mom’s worn-out, squeaky bed. Closing her eyes, she awaited her last breath and the sweet release from life.
“My charge is in trouble.” The call hailed out to all members of The Guardian League, requesting immediate assistance.
Centurion answered the call first and enlisted Jasper’s help. Both angels guided and supported the single angel standing by Lauren’s side amidst a string of emergency workers summoned along the way.
Lauren’s guardian held a deep frown. Several tears streamed down his cheeks. He hung his head in shame. “I tried but she wouldn’t listen.”
“We know,” Centurion replied. “It’s okay. That’s why The Guardian League exists, my friend.”
The angel nodded. He caught a glimpse of something peeking out of Lauren’s body. He shouted at it. “No, it’s not your time. You’re not supposed to go yet and not like this. You must enter back into your body.” He pointed to Lauren’s lifeless form stretched across the bed.
“Who are you?” the white wispy form with Lauren’s features asked.
“You don’t need to know. You must return to your body. You’re taken care of.”
“But I don’t want to return. I have no need to. I’m happy and content right now.” The wispy form grimaced, swirled back into Lauren’s body, and disappeared.
All three angels watched as Lauren’s body was lifted onto a gurney and rolled out of the house into an ambulance.
“We will leave you now but if you need us again, let us know.” Jasper patted the angel’s back.
The angel rushed out the door. He shimmered through the back of the ambulance and knelt by Lauren’s feet while EMTs ran through their usual procedures. His charge needed him. He’d stay by her side until the end, even if this was it.
Lauren murmured and popped open her eyes one at a time. She spotted glaring fluorescent lights overhead illuminating sparkly white walls around her. She searched the room, finding several beige cabinets lining one side with a few chairs and a stool dotting her immediate area. A thin, flat-panel television suspended on a wall in front of her was too modern for her poverty-ravished home. A house that should’ve been featured on an episode of Hoarders, with all the junk lining the walls inside of it. She stretched her hands up to find cold metal railings on each side of her. Grasping at them, she used them to lift up and adjust herself in the bed. A tug of her left arm made her turn.
Her eyes locked with those of a beautiful male with gold wings at his back. His grip tightened and he smiled, a radiant glow framing his entire body. Where was she? She laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes. Wait. She jolted with a start and jerked her head at the man who should’ve been on the cover of GQ if not Playgirl. This man was gorgeous. Inexplicably handsome, he could’ve been anywhere. Instead, he was sitting next to her, concern etching worry lines across his forehead, forming wrinkles around his sensual mouth, and his eyes on her, watchful with something else clouding over them she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Its traits presented like sadness, wistfulness, and possibly regret, but how could that be? He didn’t know her, and they had no connection. His hand shot out when she tried scooting up in the bed.
“No, Lauren, be careful, you’re hooked up to an IV.”
His shirtless, toned physique peeking over a dark-colored kilt was amazing but his voice… she’d never heard something that deep and sexy in her life. Wow. Did she die? Was she in heaven? If she knew a hunky male with unparalleled beauty would rescue her at her death, she would’ve gladly relinquished her life years ago.
The male looked like a man, but he wasn’t. Lauren needed sunglasses because he, literally, glowed, surrounded by a bright, white light which made viewing his sexy, bare assets a bit difficult. However, what she found, she liked—really liked. He was tall and chiseled everywhere from his strong, tight cheekbones and jawline, across his muscled pecs and down to his washboard abs. She had a strong desire to touch him all over, washing every inch of him with her tongue, paying special attention to the area beneath his kilt. She licked her lips then flipped her eyelids up to find him grinning.
“Who are you? What are you and why are you holding my hand?” She shifted her weight to the railing away from him just in case he was a beautiful serial killer… with wings.
“Don’t be scared, Lauren. I’m not here to hurt you. I would never hurt you. I am Apollo.”
“Apollo? How do you know my name?”
“I know you.” His creepy answer should’ve had her cringing but instead, she found him comforting and she was at peace in his presence. How strange.
“You have wings or am I imagining them? They’re gold. I must be going nuts. No man has wings.”
“True. No mortal male does.” One wing dipped, brushing part of Lauren’s arm. She screeched. The wing stayed still. She reached out and stroked several, soft feathers.
“Wow. What a beautiful dream.”
“It’s not a dream, Lauren.”
“But I’m dead, right?” Lauren asked the wavy-haired Adonis.
Apollo placed a finger over his lips and pointed to the wall intercom. A voice boomed out of it.
“Ms. Decker, are you okay? I thought I heard a disturbance?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I was just startled. I’m okay now.” Lauren focused on Apollo. He had emerald-green eyes which contrasted well with his dark brown, shoulder-length hair.
“Okay. I’ll be down in a minute to check on you.”
“Thanks,” Lauren replied.
Apollo dragged a chair to the side of the bed, the legs groaning across the tile floor.
“Wait a minute. Are you the Angel of Death? But I thought that angel wasn’t as beautiful.”
Apollo’s lips curled up into a grin. Sheesh, his smiles were hot too.
Oh, shit. Was he an angel? Could he read her thoughts? If yes, she was in big trouble. My oh my, he was delicious except for the wings. They kept her in check. She wasn’t supposed to entertain salacious thoughts about angels… or could she? Besides, weren’t angels supposed to have white wings? That’s what one of her friends told her a long time ago. So why were his gold?
Apollo sat beside her. He reached for her hands and held them, rubbing his thumbs across hers. The gesture soothed her.
“You have a lofty imagination but thank you for the compliment. I’m not the Angel of Death, but you do have it half right. You know what I am.”
She gazed at his golden feathers. “No, I must be hallucinating. I guess I had too many drugs pumped into me because I can’t be seeing this. You’re not real. You can’t be. I either died and I’m somewhere else or I’m officially going nuts.”
He cupped her hands in both of his. “No, Lauren, you’re not. I’m very real and I’m here for your protection. You are correct. You’ve seen me before. You’ve known me from birth. I’m your guardian angel.”
She burst out laughing. “All right, I know I’ve lost it now.” Just then a nurse knocked on the door and entered.
“Ms. Decker, it’s good to see you’re awake. I just have to take your vitals and I’ll be out in a jiffy. My name is Alice if you need anything.”
“Thank you. Mine’s Lauren, please.” She paused and found Apollo shaking his head. “Alice, you didn’t tell me I had a visitor.”
“She can’t see me, only you can.”
Lauren stared wide-eyed at Apollo. Did he just—could he—was he the voice in her mind? Holy hell.
“But, dear, you haven’t had any visitors. We keep a log up front and no one’s seen you since you arrived.”
“See I told you. Now do you believe me?”
Holy crap. The familiar voice in her head—it was Apollo who spoke to her.
After several more minutes, Alice left Lauren’s side and closed the door part-way. Lauren squirmed away from Apollo. Her hip bumped into the side rail.
“Don’t. You’ll hurt yourself.”
“Who are you, truly? Some stalker, maybe? Though I don’t know why in the world you’d be chasing me when there are plenty of better looking, thinner women out there. I’m nobody and I’m flabby. And besides, you’re gorgeous. You don’t need to stalk anyone. I imagine women flock to you from everywhere.”
She was wrong. Apollo’s laughter wasn’t half as good as his shy smile and light chuckle. He lowered his thick, lush eyelashes in between long peeks at her. Could anyone else pull off being suave and sexy at the same time? It was doubtful.
“You’re the one that’s beautiful, Lauren.”
Lauren smirked.
“It’s true. I’d never lie to you besides, I can’t. I’m an angel and angels can’t lie for their own purposes.”
Wait a minute. He was an angel and angels were supposed to protect, right? Where was he all this time? She gritted her teeth recalling all the fear, the violence, and the unwarranted punishment she suffered through the years. She straightened her back, glared at him, and slung words at him, her inner rage fueling the intensity of her tone.
“Oh, that’s a first! A man who doesn’t lie? You’re kidding me, right?”
Apollo fell silent.
“I–I don’t believe in you.” She averted her eyes, shame lowering her tone of voice.
“I know. I also know your fears, your wants, your needs, and your disillusions. I’ve been through all you’ve experienced. I’ve accompanied you since birth.”
She shook her head. Bad memories welling up inside, driving her fury and the force behind her words. “You say you know me, and you’ve been with me all these years? Then why didn’t you keep me safe from my mom and her string of idiot male companions? Men who abused me and—and—hurt—me. Even my mom with her neglect. Where were you?” She stopped and blubbered into her hands.
“I was by your side each time, helping when I could. Unfortunately, I can’t interfere with certain things, as your life lessons.”
“Life lessons,” She shrieked. “What the hell?”
“Those will make you stronger.”
She gasped in between tears. Her heart raced and her cheeks flushed. “You know what, you’re an angel, right? And angels are supposed to protect humans. Well, guess what? You failed me, so what the hell are you doing here now? You’re not welcome anymore. If this is the best you can do, you don’t need to be my guardian angel any longer. I’ll do fine on my own, in fact, better than you could ever do.”
“I’m sorry.” The words lingered in the air as his form disintegrated.
“Screw you!” Remorse hit her hard. She shouldn’t have lashed out at him with harsh words, but she was hurt and angry. All she wanted was peace. She turned her head away from where he’d just been and settled into the pillow, intent on dismissing him from her presence. He left her to fend for herself throughout her life, now he could do the same. Shame on him and on her, for falling into his carefully manipulated trap. What did she expect? Her mother was right. All men were trash.
Her mom didn’t notice her absence, but she reamed into Lauren about her missing pills. “How dare you take from me, child,” and “I never wanted you,” flew from her mother’s lips faster than lightning hit the sky. “You worthless tramp,” was another of her mother’s loving comments, interspersed with “…bitch, … whore, … and waste of space,” and her mother’s favorite, “…dumb, stupid ass.” Needless to say, Lauren breathed a sigh of relief when her mother left for the night to return sometime the following day, or not at all if Lauren got lucky.
