“You can keep your lousy money,” Shoe muttered, and I watched in alarm as Shoe took off his apron and threw it down in disgust. Turning to Ace, who clearly thought it was all a big joke, Shoe said, “You’re a freaking loser, Ace. You know that? You’re so stupid you can’t even keep your mouth shut. We’re done. Got it? You’re on your own.”

Ace’s face colored, anger etching his features in an instant. “Yeah?” he said loudly. “Well, you can go screw a rat, asshole!” Ace’s sudden shift to anger felt wrong, and I gripped my shake tighter, trying to figure it out.

My mouth fell open, and I dropped back a step. The entire food court was watching now.

“Out!” the manager shouted, his round face turning red. “Both of you!”

“I didn’t even want to come in today, you tub of lard,” Ace said under his breath, but I knew the manager heard him, because he started to huff as if he were out of breath.

Shaking with anger, the manager pointed at the mall’s doors. “Get out!” I scrambled back when Ace put a hand on the counter and vaulted over it. From the rear of the kitchen came the slamming of a heavy door as Shoe stormed off. Snatching his hat from his head, Ace dropped it on the tiled floor. “This job sucks,” he said, and he walked away, taking his apron off as he went and letting it fall.

The manager was fuming, and I hesitantly said, “Uh, how much do I owe you?” He looked up as if noticing me for the first time, his thoughts clearly on Ace and Shoe. “Nothing. It’s free,” he said. “I’m sorry you had to see that. He’s been smart-mouthing me all summer. I should have fired him the third day he was here.”

“Sorry,” I said, not knowing why I was apologizing. Feeling weird, I turned and went back to Nakita and Barnabas. Eyes down, I slid into my seat and took a sip of shake.

Barnabas cleared his throat. “What was all that about?”

The ugliness washed from me, and I looked up, smiling at Nakita, then Barnabas. “I found our mark. It’s Ace.” Nakita fingered her amulet as if she wanted to follow him out and scythe him in the parking lot. I was starting to understand why the seraphs believed light and dark reapers couldn’t work together. Getting Nakita to hold off until we’d given Ace a chance to change his ways wasn’t going to be easy. “Are you sure?” she asked, eyes alight and eager.