Will turned and ran towards Dana, who had her back to him, obviously not anticipating any threat. A small axe appeared in his hand. My mouth dropped open. Oh my God, he wasn’t going to—
Close to her, he grabbed the hand with the ring. Before she could react, he pulled her to the ground, slapping her hand flat against the concrete. He raised his arm, and then swept the axe down.
Dana’s shriek was even more ear-piercing than the gunshot. I covered my ears as she continued screaming. I put my hand on my breastbone for support, ready to run if Will needed me. He would surely get pounded from all the agents, but they stood dazed. Many were blinking, shaking their heads, turning to one another with questioning looks on their faces.
Holy crap! Will had done it! I tentatively stepped forward and gazed around, trying to find James in the confusion. Had they already taken him to jail? Was he okay? Angelica was gone too, but Drake was on the floor, face down, still, blood pooling under him and spreading slowly across the concrete.
My breath caught in my throat. As much as he wasn’t my favourite person, my first thought was, poor man. My second thought, which made me feel guilty as hell, was, thank God it wasn’t James, Angelica or Beren. My third thought while I was backing away in horror was, shame it wasn’t Piranha.
I looked up. William dragged her to her feet. Her cheeks glistened with tears. She held her arm to her chest, her other arm protecting it. There was no blood, so I had to assume Will had done something to the blade, like made it hot enough to cauterize the wound, or maybe he just magicked it shut?
Could today get any more gruesome? Will’s arm hung by his side, and he held Dana’s dismembered hand. “Ew.”
He gestured to two agents. “Take her to the PIB and process her. Then lock her up.” Two men grabbed one arm each.
Dana snarled. “You can’t arrest me! I’m the PIB’s best agent. You’ve ruined everything. What’s wrong with you? I always knew you were an idiot, but I never realised how much of one you were. You useless, pathetic nothing. No wonder you could never be the man I needed.” She spat at him, as in germy phlegm. Wow, that was attractive.
“Give it up, Dana. It’s over.” Will shook his head.
Her eyes shone with psychopathic glitter. “It’s not over, Will. It won’t be over until we win. We’re just getting started. And don’t you think you’ll get away with this.” She tried to raise her stump, but one agent held her arm down.
She swivelled her head to look at him and growled. Then she looked at Will. “I’ll be back, and when I am, I’ll kill you all!” She turned her head and eyeballed the eight agents that remained. One or two shrank back, another shook her head, and the others smirked.
She really had lost the plot.
I felt the slimy touch of familiar magic. “Will, no one’s handcuffed her!”
Dana’s mouth opened wide, revealing her glistening teeth, and she cackled. Then she stared straight at me. “Until we meet again, petal. You can’t escape your destiny with us.” Anger twisted her features as she stepped towards me.
Will jumped between us, and I gritted my teeth, ready to stand my ground.
And then she disappeared.
“What the—?” I looked around Will. She really was gone, and so was the dirty magic. I had no idea if that’s what it was called, but it felt that way to me. My legs shook like jelly as I considered what her disappearing meant.
We’d failed.
She’d won.
I’d forever be watching out for her until she showed up again, and I had no doubt she would.
Everyone’s heads turned this way and that.
I grabbed my scalp. “How could you let her get away? Why wasn’t she cuffed?” The handcuffs would have prevented her from accessing magic. My throat burned, and I forced myself not to cry.
The shorter agent with the buzz cut, who’d been holding her, said, “I’m sorry, Agent Blakesley. I was going to, but she only had a stump. The cuffs would have fallen off.”
Will growled. “They would’ve worked even if they were only on one wrist.” He looked to the ceiling. After a few deep breaths, he addressed the remaining agents. “I want this place cordoned off. It’s a crime scene. I’m going to send forensics and someone to photograph and collect Agent Pembleton’s body.”
He turned around and stared at Drake’s sprawled form, and then at me, the fight in his gaze fading. He stepped closer and gave me a tentative smile. His voice was gentle when he said, “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“This is probably a stupid question and too early, but are we okay? I can’t remember everything that happened while I was under her control, but I’m sorry. I do remember today, and that day you were kicked out of the PIB. I know I’ve helped put you through hell. I don’t expect you to forgive me right now, but I hope you’ll be able to one day, same as I hope I can forgive myself.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the effort.
“It wasn't your fault.” I shook my head. “You two have history, and she had that ring.” I screwed up my face and kept from looking down at the severed appendage. Why was he still holding it?
“Before she spelled me, I was pretending to be okay with her. I would never trust her in a million years. Something seemed off about her, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. Her showing up out of the blue—well, it’s not like her. She plans everything—always has. She never does anything without a good reason. When she arrived, she said she’d missed me and London.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you then, but I didn’t want to put you on her radar. It was hard keeping it from you. And if she’d known we were friends, you would have been even more of a target… at least, that’s what I thought. She seems to have a particularly violent hatred of you. I tried to keep the fact that I cared about you a secret. But I obviously didn’t do a very good job.” He tilted his head to the side, his eyes boring into mine with the sexy intensity I remembered.
The last bit of my resolve to hold a bit of anger disappeared. Will had been who I’d thought all along, but then Dana turned everything to crap. “Well, she obviously wanted to run the PIB. I doubt she would have admitted that.”
“I sense there’s more to it. And you heard what she said when she left. Do you have any idea what that’s about?”
“No. I have no idea.” I braced myself and looked at the five-fingered lump in his hand. “Can we maybe stow that at the PIB and check on James and Angelica?”
He looked at Dana’s hand, and he started, as if he’d forgotten it was there. O… kay.
I made my door first and stepped through. Will arrived a split second after me and hurried to beat me to the reception-room door. He pressed the intercom. “I want to make sure everyone knows you’re with me. I don’t want anything happening to you, Lily.” The look he gave me was sincere and full of emotion. My heart was a gooey, melted-chocolate mess. Sappy, I know, but I’d been waiting for this for a long time. He was cute, even holding a severed hand.
A female agent wearing an earpiece opened the door. He took her aside, far enough away that I couldn’t hear, and they had a quick discussion. He returned to me, relief relaxing his face. “Angelica and James are fine. They’re in the boardroom, trying to sort everyone out. When Dana’s link to the ring was broken, everyone was pretty much in shock and had no idea what they were supposed to be doing. James has been asking about you, though.”
“Well, let’s not keep him waiting.”
We hurried along the hallway, stabbing pains in my sternum making me breathe faster and shallower. We still reached the boardroom in record time. Will knocked but didn’t wait for an answer before he opened the door. James was sitting in his regular spot next to Angelica. He did a double take when he saw me. He jumped to his feet, ran over and threw his arms around me. I grunted at the shooting pain in my chest.
“Are you hurt?” He leaned back.
“I think so. It might just be cartilage. I got a bit squashed against the shelves.”
“
Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt, Lily?” Will stared at me, his brow wrinkled in such a familiar pattern.
I placed my palm on my sternum and shrugged. Oops, shouldn’t have done that. I grimaced. “I wouldn’t worry about this. But could someone please take that hand away?” I cocked my head towards Will’s side.
He lifted the hand. “Oh, this old thing? Oops, I forgot.”
“Ew, man. You got Dana’s hand? You could’ve bagged it, for God’s sake. Dude!” James wrinkled his nose, and a plastic evidence bag appeared in his hand. He held it open, and Will dropped it in. “I’ll take this to evidence. Be back soon. And wash your hands, you grub.” He hurried out.
Will mumbled something, and his hands were clean again.
Angelica spoke from her spot just to the left of the head of the table. She’d left that seat vacant, probably for Drake. I hung my head and let a small wash of sadness lap against me. He’d been there to help at the end. He hadn’t been the bad guy after all. “We’ve transferred Gabriel to a cell. He’s going to stay there until the trial in six weeks. Where’s Agent Pembleton? And is Dana in the cells?”
My attention had been well and truly occupied when the shot rang out. Angelica and James must have been brought here just as that went down. I looked up at Will, my face solemn. “I think you should explain everything.”
He nodded, and we approached the table. Four agents I didn’t know were there, but Beren wasn’t. “Is Beren okay?”
Angelica nodded, her mouth slightly open. “Yes, thank God. I’ve sent him through the building to take stock of what we’re dealing with now that Dana’s not in charge. So, where is she?”
Will pulled a seat out for me, and I sat. Hmm, this was a nice change, and so was the lack of I-hate-you-and-wish-you-would-die vibes coming from around the table. I was totally going to enjoy my new Dana-free existence.
Except she could pop back at any moment. My heart palpitated, and I gripped my chair arms.
“Are you all right, Lily?” Will had sat next to me, and his face showed genuine concern.
“I’ll be okay. Maybe just tell Angelica everything. Then can we find Beren and get me healed?”
“Of course.” He smiled, then turned to Angelica. “You’re not going to like this. We stuffed up. She got away.” He bravely held her gaze.
She paused, maybe digesting the information? I tensed, waiting for her outburst, but it never came. “We all failed today, William. I did have a backup plan in case we were arrested, and it didn’t actually come to that, but I underestimated her, which meant we had to go along with what she wanted. We’re going to have to overhaul protocols. We’ll be studying that ring—we need to come up with protections to make sure nothing like this can ever happen again. We’ve been complacent too long. Dealing with petty criminals is one thing, but this is altogether something different.” She clasped her hands on the table in front of her and stared at them for a moment. When she looked up, I could see pain in her eyes. “Thank you, Will. He wasn’t always my greatest supporter, but he was a loyal agent who gave everything he had to this organisation.” She stood. “Excuse me.”
She left the room and shut the door behind her. “How did she know?” I asked him.
“I took down my mind shield.”
“Oh.” I guessed that was easier than having to say the words. Oh, crap! Olivia was probably waiting for news. I felt in my pocket for my phone. It was still there, miracle of miracles. I took it out and dialled Olivia.
“Lily! Oh my God, it’s so good to hear your voice! Are you okay? Angelica checked in a few minutes ago, but she didn’t know where you were. I’ve been so worried.”
“I’m okay. Piranha got away though, but Will chopped off her hand, so that’s something.”
“Oh. That’s… hmm. So, you got the ring?”
“Yes. It’s gone down to evidence. There’s more to tell, but I don’t have time right now.” My chest throbbed. That would teach me for taking a proper breath. “I have a small injury. I’m just off to have Beren heal me.”
“Is he back to normal?”
“I haven’t seen him yet, but I believe so. Will is too.” I smiled.
“That’s wonderful news. Look, I’ll let you go, but come straight home afterwards.”
“Of course. Where else would I go?”
She giggled. I glanced at Will and blushed. He raised his eyebrows in question.
“Um, I don’t think so, Liv. I’ll see you later. And thanks for today.”
“I’m always here for you. See you soon.”
“Are you ready to find Beren?” Will asked.
“Yes, thanks. If I don’t get this fixed, I won’t be able to sleep.”
He placed his hand over mine. “I’m so sorry, Lily.”
I looked over at the other agents, strangers, who were watching all this with bated breath. Bunch of gossipy pervs. “Let’s go.” I stood and led the way to the door.
We tracked Beren down to the front desk where he was looking over paperwork. When he looked up and met my eyes, I knew the old Beren was back. I grinned. “Hey, person who was a stranger and is now my friend again.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry, Lily. You have to know I never would have abandoned you if I was in my right mind. I could kill myself for the way I treated you. And I can’t believe we let Dana come after you.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his blonde hair. “I know I have no right to ask you this, but are we okay?”
I shared a smile with Will—it was the same question he’d asked me not twenty minutes ago. “Yep. We’re all good. Just don’t let it happen again.” I gave him a half smile.
He came in for a hug, but I held my hand up. “Um, no hugs. I’m a bit broken. It happened in the drama at the warehouse.” I pointed to my sternum. “I’m not sure, but it might be cracked or strained or something. I have no idea, but it hurts.”
“Come with me.” Will and I followed Beren to a small, white room that had a vacant desk and two chairs. Once we were all inside, he shut the door. “Sit.” He pointed to the chair.
I sat. He pulled up the other chair and sat opposite me, our knees touching. “Where does it hurt?”
I placed my hand in the middle of my chest.
“Okay. I’ll put my hand on your shoulder. You might feel a moment of pain. Ready?”
“Yes.”
Will knelt next to my chair, held out his hand, and gave me a questioning look. I blinked back tears and nodded, then placed my hand in his. He squeezed it and gave me a reassuring smile.
I shut my eyes. Beren placed his hand on my shoulder and got to work. Heat radiated down my arm and through the bones in my chest. Pinching caused me to gasp, but it didn’t last long. The warmth travelled from the middle of my chest to the back of my ribs. Then it was over. Beren removed his hand, and I opened my eyes.
“How does it feel?” Beren’s gaze was assessing.
I twisted one way, then the other, took a deep breath. “Fantastic. No pain. Thank you, B.” I stood and gave him a hug. His arms came around me, gentle and familiar. We would all heal and get past this. Dana’s evil wasn’t enough to destroy us. That made me smile.
Will tapped me on the shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”
Beren grinned. “Yeah, I could do with another hug.” He released me and held his arms wide for Will. I snorted. Ah, these were the guys I remembered. They both laughed.
Beren clapped Will on the shoulder. “I know when I’m not wanted.” He winked. “But don’t be too long. Just before you found me, I got a message that Angelica’s calling an emergency meeting that starts in”—he looked at his watch—"ten minutes. Behave, you two.” He waggled his brows and shut the door.
Will gazed down at me with a fierceness I recognised only too well. Seemed like the body was happy to jump in before the brain was ready. “Can I give you a hug?”
I nodded. He slid his hands around my waist, and I snuggled into his chest, just breathing in his familiar scent. Before I could stop it, my mouth
said, “I’ve missed you.” Stupid mouth, giving everything away too soon. We’d only just reconciled like thirty minutes ago. I knew it hadn’t been his fault, but I couldn’t erase the weeks I’d felt abandoned by him and rejected.
He kissed the top of my head. I froze at the unexpected affection. He really did like me. “I know it might take some time for us to fix things, but I promise if you can learn to trust me again, I’ll make it worth your while.”
I smiled but kept my cheek pressed against his warm chest. “Yeah. How so?”
“I’ll supply you with endless cappuccinos and double-chocolate muffins. I promise to go running with you whenever you want and not trail behind. I also promise to always have your back. From now on, you’ll always know where you stand with me. I’m so sorry.” He rubbed circles on my back.
As much as I didn’t want this to end—God knew I’d spent long enough waiting to be in his arms—we had to be at this meeting soon. I gently pushed back to look up into his eyes, my hands settling on his waist. “Thanks. It’s going to take some time for me, though. I’ve been through a lot these last few weeks.” A tear escaped and trickled down my cheek. I’d have to have a word with that renegade tear duct later. I hadn’t given it permission to make me look as sad as I felt. “I know this is probably TMI, but you broke my heart. I know we weren’t dating, but I thought there was something there. Maybe I read too much into it….” I looked down. I never wanted to put myself in that position again. I needed to get it out, and he could do what he liked with the information. If he didn’t feel anything stronger than friendship for me, it was best I knew it now. Then I really could work on moving on and leaving these feelings behind. “I was hoping we’d date, Will, but if that’s not a direction you can see us going in, I’d like you to be honest with me. And none of this is your problem. I’ll be cool with being friends. It just may take me a while to adjust.”
Witchslapped in Westerham Page 18
