Damn, she’s not taking shizz from that caller. My brows arch. This is the same woman who now spends an hour to choose a frozen dinner from the freezer. I never imagined she could be so decisive.

The stranger walks around the room, studying the pictures lining the walls, his long arms clasped behind him. He moves with a calculated grace that I find oddly soothing.

Mom kicks at the base of the wall, her features cringing into her ‘exasperated face.’ She takes a deep breath. “Senator Myung holds the Afterlife Management seat, I head Other-Realm Diplomacy. As I’ve told you before, I have no formal say in this matter but I promise to make your request known.” She pauses, listening. “Excellent, goodbye.” She slams the receiver onto the phone. “Hells bells! That’s the fourth time this week.” She twists about in her chair, seeing the stranger in her office for the first time.

Mom’s chocolate eyes narrow into slits. “And you are?”

The man reaches out his hand. “Xavier Cross.”

Mom doesn’t flinch. “You have an appointment in one month, Mister Cross. Tim should have stopped you.”

Xavier seats himself in a chair across from Mom’s desk. “It won’t take five minutes, I promise.” He smiles. His face is handsome with a square jaw and high cheekbones.

Mom stares at him, her lips pursed. “Five minutes.” She glances at her watch. “Go.”

I click my tongue. Nice move, Mom!

Xavier taps his knee with his pointer finger. “You’re new to the Senate, aren’t you?”

“My family’s held the Senate Diplomacy Seat for eight hundred years, but yes, I’ve served in this particular role for six months.”

“I saw your pictures on the walls. Annual Lewis family picnics.”

“Yes, we’re a close group. Four minutes.”

“And you have a ghoul assistant.” The look in his eyes says ‘and that’s the stupidest idea ever.’ My eyes flash with anger. Leave my Mom alone.

Mom drums her fingers on the table, her face the picture of cool. “I drive connections across all the five realms: Heaven, Hell, Antrum, the Dark Lands, and Purgatory. Most of my staff are members of the Lewis family, but I’m extending my team to other realms as well. Three minutes.”

“Do you trust that ghoul?”

A muscle twitches along Mom’s jaw. “Mister Cross, what exactly is this about?”

There’s something in her tone that’s protective of Tim, maybe even loving. My possible ghoul dad. Barf.

“I’ll tell you.” He leans back in his chair. “I am the lead angel Ambassador and you don’t seem to know who I am or why we need to meet. I wonder if you’re more suited to duties outside the Senate. Perhaps your interest lies closer to the ghouls?”

I let out a low whistle. Now he’s asked for it.