“That didn’t stop you before with that leech from Los Angeles.”
My face paled. I’d never told anyone about my relationship with Roman—besides Amy, but I knew she didn’t tell anyone—especially not Sebastian. Roman was different. He was just there. No commitment, no complications, only a body to not make me feel so alone.
“You don’t know shit about Roman,” I gritted between my teeth.
“So you weren’t fucking a vampire,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Bash,” Jonah reached for him. “Calm down.”
My blood rose and my face went aflame with fury. I tried, I really did try, but I couldn’t bite my tongue. Not this time.
“Fuck you, Sebastian!”
“You already did.”
I flew.
Had someone been recording our exchange and put it in slow motion, I’m pretty sure it would be hilarious—I’d go viral, but right now I wanted to strangle this perfect specimen of a man.
I jumped across Jonah’s hospital bed, reaching for the Alpha of the Brooklyn Pack. Jonah in his weak state caught me mid-flight and was able to hold me at bay.
“You son of a bitch! You just have sore balls because shit didn’t go your way!” I thrashed in Jonah’s hold. “If you cared about me you would have understood why I needed space, why I couldn’t be with you at the moment. Instead you’re all up in your feelings over a man who I have no interest in!”
Sebastian leaned forward and pointed a finger so close to my face I saw red.
“So why was he in your apartment in only a towel?”
I stilled. “I owe Cas for helping me when I was at my lowest. And I damn sure don’t need to be explaining myself to you!”
He snarled, but I didn’t stay for his response. With a huff, I ripped myself away from Jonah and stomped out of the infirmary, slamming the door behind me. I leaned against it, waiting for my heart to stop thudding—it was ready to burst out of my chest. He made me so angry. He was so damn mule-headed that he let his dominance cloud his judgment. If he’d asked me about Cas I would have told him.
“You’re an idiot,” I heard Jonah whisper. I shouldn’t have stretched my hearing to eavesdrop—but I did. Whatever. I never said I was an angel.
“She’s with that Cas guy, and he’s only with her because of her status,” Bash growled.
“You don’t know that. Kenz doesn’t mince her words. You and I know that better than anyone, if something was going on she would have said so.”
“She’s gotten involved with previous work partners, what makes this guy any different?”
There was a pause. “I can’t answer that because I don’t even know him, but I trust Kenzie,” Jonah sighed. “I’ve spent too long trying to do what I thought was right for her instead of listening to her. I now understand why she chose you over me—you listened to her needs when I was deaf. Don’t tune her out now.”
I pulled out of their conversation, and stared at the beige wall across from me. These men were going to be the death of me.
24
I heard the yelling from the elevator—upstairs. When I pushed the doors into the squad room, it was empty of other personnel. Ranulf’s veins pulsed against his neck and I thought for a moment he would get an aneurysm.
“Ye were supposed to watch her, not let her go and almost get herself killed! Yer bloody useless!” He reprimanded Cassidy, who stood there like a good little soldier and took the beating from the King’s right hand man. Alexander no where in sight.
“Hey!” I put myself between them. “It’s not his damn fault. Shall I remind you how Alexander gave you the slip when you first arrived in New York City?”
Ranulf’s face turned beet red.
“I didn’t think so. I’m done having a fucking babysitter. No more,” I growled. “Now don’t you ever talk to him like that again or you and I are gonna have issues.”
The stare down of the century ensued as the guard held his ground. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing. I was pissed, but we looked like UFC fighters during weigh-ins—the dramatic face off.
“Ye’ve made yer point, darling. Ease up on the lad,” Alexander said as he came out of Briggs’ office. “We have more pressing issues at the moment.”
“Yes,” Briggs grunted. “Like what the hell were you thinking, Grey!”
“I wasn’t. I tend to not do so when the people I care about are in danger if you haven’t noticed by now.”
“Did ye see Drusilla?”Alex asked.
I shook my head. “We were jumped by a bunch of Fae warriors and I left one alive to send a message to Dru—she crossed the line with Jonah.”
“We need to go to the Gate of Horns and Ivory. We’ve been lucky so far, but Mackenzie cannae face Drusilla unprotected,” Alexander suggested.
“Mackenzie was a damn beast today,” Bash said as he entered the room. “Ruthless.”
“This is war. No time to spare feelings,” I sneered at him.
“So ye sent a battle cry, now what? We cannae wait for the Queen to make the first move,” Ranulf said.
“Amara is hard at work trying to locate the Gate of Horns and Ivory,” I said, but he was right. There were too many repercussions if we attacked the Fae now. To begin, we had no clue where the hell they even were. With my link, they knew I’d be protected which protects them. Going through the Gate of Horns and Ivory was my best chance at defeating Drusilla.
“Hello?” A young man entered the squad room, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that promoted a flower shop. “I have a delivery for,” he paused and looked at the card in the bouquet of at least two dozen red roses. “Mackenzie Grey MacCo…sorry I can’t pronounce the rest.”
No one moved as we watched the teenager stand awkwardly at the entrance of the squad room.
“Did you?” I asked Bash and he shook his head. “That’s me,” I replied to the young man.
Feeling the tension in the room, he handed me the bouquet and dashed out of the SIU like his pants were on fire. I set the flowers down on the nearest desk and took out the card.
My blood froze as I read the four words scribbled on the card.
Thinking of you,
Drew
That disgusting prick.
“Mackenzie?” Bash approached and snatched the card away. He growled before crumpling the note in his hand.
Ranulf read it next and his gaze went straight to Alexander.
“Andrew,” I mumbled. “They’re from Andrew.”
A quiet took over the squad room. I tried to figure out Andrews game. He was taunting me, that much I knew, but for what?
Ranulf turned to Briggs. “Have ye found him yet?”
Briggs shook his head. “I have Michaels and Finn following up on some leads, but nothing so far. He could be anywhere by now.”
“No,” I said. “He’s nearby. Andrew won’t be leaving New York City anytime soon—not until he gets what he wants.”
“Which is?” Cas asked.
“Me.”
The crackling static of the police scanner came to life as we stood motionless.
“Lieutenant!” Michaels voice came through the scanner. “Lieutenant, code red!”
Before Briggs could reach the radio, I snatched it up and pressed on the speaker. “What’s going on, Michaels?” I released the button and waited.
“Grey, it’s bad. The Fae have started a goddamn war,” he yelled. “They’ve attacked the vampires. St. Paul’s Cathedral was set on fire.”
I dropped the walkie talkie, the connected cord stopping it from hitting the ground.
“Grey, do you read?”
My world spun as I thought about who was in St. Paul’s.
“I’m here, Michaels,” Briggs took over the scanner. “Are there any survivors?”
“We don’t know yet. The SIU’s fire department is still putting out the fire, but there’s more…” He paused and I held my breath. “They’ve hit vampire clans all over the country. Reports of fires are comi
ng down the pipeline. It’s bad, Lieutenant.”
Amy.
Lucian.
Roman.
Emma.
I spun around and ran right into Bash’s chest. His arms encircled me, trapping me in his hold. “Be rational, Mackenzie,” he whispered.
“Ye cannae go, child,” Ophelia murmured. Her fragile hand on my back. “She wants ye to react. She wants to get under yer skin.”
I gripped the front of Sebastian's shirt. My body vibrated with the need to punch someone, to do anything. I hated feeling so useless.
“She's doing a hell of a job,” I grunted. “That bitch is smart. I declared war and she's striking first. She got to Jonah and she's getting to the rest of the people I care about. She knows damn well what she's doing. It’s all premeditated, the question is how? How the hell is she fifty steps ahead of us?”
“What are you saying, Kenz?” Cas asked.
My mind raced as I put all of the pieces together. This was much bigger than we'd thought.
“Think about it,” I turned to Bash. “She's been around since the moment you found me—meddling where she shouldn't be.”
“That doesn't mean anything, Mackenzie,” Bash said, but I could see it in his eyes, the wheels were turning, there was doubt.
“She brokers a deal with the Brooklyn Pack for protection in Central Park. Why? The Fae have magic, they're warriors, what do they need protection from or…what are they protecting?” I paused for dramatic effect, a sinister arch to my eyebrows. “She starts a relationship with Jonah, a Beta of a Pack, why not go for the Alpha? Or was the son of the Alpha of the Northeast region a better fit?”
“Mackenzie,” Ranulf tried to stop me, but I was on a roll. Everything was making sense. The veil had been lifted and I was seeing it clear.
I waved him off. “She has tried to take me—not once but twice.”
“She has also tried to kill you,” Bash countered.
I shook my head. “She did until she found out my mother was an Oracle. After that Andrew and Ivana were the ones trying to kill me. Dru stayed out of it as if she knew something…”
“Ye think she has an oracle?” Ophelia raised a brow.
“That's ridiculous,” Ranulf scoffed. “Ye would know, Ophelia.”
“Aye,” the old lady agreed, “but never rule out the impossible. Nothing ever truly is.”
“Come on, this can't all be coincidence,” I threw my hands in the air.
“Say it’s not,” Bash countered. “What does it matter now? She got what she wanted, now we need to figure out her next steps.”
“Sorry to break up the party,” Briggs hollered as he emerged from his office. “Just got word from Michaels. They're bringing the survivors here. We need all hands on deck. Let’s move.”
Cassidy and I went to our desks, grabbing our utility belts and vests. We strapped up while everyone watched us, minus Ophelia of course. Damn that's a bad joke.
“Ranulf,” I called out. “Get Alexander to a secure location. It won't be a secret that we're bringing survivors to SIU headquarters. In case of another attack, I want him as far away. Take Ophelia with you—”
“I’m nae going anywhere,” Alexander refused. He rolled up the sleeves of his button-up shirt and pushed back his wavy black hair out of his face, that one curl falling back to the middle of his forehead. “What can I do to help?”
I smirked. I wasn't going to argue with him—like father like daughter, I guessed. “Fine. We're going to need to secure the building. Cover all our exits and make sure no one comes into the building who shouldn't. Coordinate with the officers at the front desk downstairs.”
“I can assist with the ill,” Ophelia volunteered.
“Head upstairs and tell Amara I sent you,” I said and my gaze fell on Sebastian. His blue eyes were alight with a fire I didn't recognize, but he wasn't angry. That much I knew. “What do you want to do?”
His gaze went from me to upstairs where Jonah and Jackson were. If he left, he'd leave his best friend. Sure, we had officers covering this building from head to toe, and Jackson, Ranulf and Alexander would be here, but knowing Bash, he wouldn't trust anyone but himself.
“Stay,” I whispered. “Protect him.”
His features grew cold, and he gave me a tight nod.
He didn't like having to choose between me and Jonah, but I could take care of myself. Jonah was vulnerable at the moment, he made the best decision possible.
“If Amy is one of the survivors brought in, call me right away.”
The screams from inside the cathedral traveled along the block. Cassidy drove as fast as he could. I wasn't in the right state-of-mind to get behind the wheel—my leg bounced the whole way there. The flames still licked the building when we double parked on the street. A tent propped up across the street protected the surviving vampires from the sun—it didn’t hurt them, but it made them weak. I tried to scan the faces covered in soot that were huddled underneath, but I didn't see her.
Cassidy and I ran to the front of the church where Michaels and Finn were talking to some firefighters.
“What’s the update?” I demanded.
“Most of the fire has been put out, but there's a compound in the back that is still going strong. We won't have a death toll until the fire is extinguished and we get everyone out of the building,” Michaels reported. I stopped listening. The back compound was where Lucian's office was located. He'd taken Amy under his wing, and if he'd been in there, so was Amy.
While they talked it out, I looked around the church for easy access when I saw someone I shouldn’t have seen. Between two fire trucks stood none other than Andrew Duncan.
My blood ran cold and for a split second, I was frozen in place wondering what the hell to do. The sound of more sirens snapped me out of it and I marched over to him, making sure no one followed me. I didn’t want to make a scene. The SIU needed to take care of that fire—I’d handle the fugitive.
“You’ve got some balls of steel to show your face here,” I snapped.
He grinned. “Lovely to see ye as well, sis. Did ye get my flowers?”
“I’m not your sister!” I growled as I pointed my finger a mere two inches away from his face. My hand shook with the urge to wring his neck, but I had to keep my impulsivity at bay. If I killed him now, I wouldn’t be able to get more information on the actual threat: Drusilla.
“Do ye like my handiwork?” He looked over my shoulder to the flames. “I got to say, fire and vampires aren’t a good mix. Such a shame,” he tsked.
“You did this?”
“The first of many, my dearest,” he reached for my cheek, but held back, clenching his hand into a fist. “Ah I keep forgetting,” he said. “I keep forgetting how much I want to kill ye.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
He chuckled. “This is my one and only warning, Mackenzie MacCoinnich. No one in yer city is safe.”
I snarled. “The name’s Mackenzie Grey and don’t worry about my city. I’ll protect them.”
“Ye cannae be in two places at once,” he smirked. “Drusilla wants what is owed to her and I intend on delivering. Trust me, Mackenzie Grey. Yer fighting a losing battle.”
“No. Trust me, Andrew Duncan. You have no idea what I’m capable of.” And that was no bluff. If I could get my Oracle visions under control, we might stand a chance in this war.
His grin widened. “Ooohhh, looks like someone has a trick up her sleeve. Interesting. We’ll be in touch, sis.” Andrew turned to leave, but I snatched him by his shirt.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
He looked down at my hand and then over my shoulder. “I heard about what happened to yer human friend. What was her name again?”
I growled.
“Right,” he plucked my hand away with unbelievable strength. “It would be such a shame if she were stuck in that fire. Defy the odds just to die again. Pity,” he smirked.
Without a second glance, I ran over to
my team who were still talking to the firemen. Andrew wasn’t bluffing. Amy was in there, he would have made sure of it.
“Grey, where have you been?” Finn asked.
I didn’t waste any time. “Transport the ones in the clear to the SIU. The witches are ready and clearing up more beds as we speak. We'll get a head count there. Top priority is getting them out of the sun stat.”
“Copy,” Finn said and headed toward the tent.
Taking out a hair tie from my pocket, I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail as I ran toward the back of the church.
“Grey! Where are you going?” Michaels hollered behind me.
I took off my vest and utility belt, handing it to Cas who stared at me with a raised brow. “What are you planning?” He asked.
“I’m going in,” I said.
“Mackenzie,” Michaels snatched my arm before I could make another move. “Are you insane? If anyone is in there, they’re already dead. Vampires cannot withstand fire.”
“You never know,” I mumbled. “I have to try.”
He gave me a dumbfounded look. “Why do you even care?” He whispered.
“Because my best friend is in there!” I pointed at the back of the cathedral that was still aflame. “If you keep me here any longer, you keep me from saving her. Now shut the fuck up and let me go.”
Like I’d burned him, Michaels released me and I ran toward the fire. Whether she was in there or not, I had to at least try.
I rushed inside the back compound of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Down the corridor, I went first into the nun’s living quarters that had been turned into an infirmary. Coughing from the smoke, I lifted the front of my shirt, and hooked it over my ears to cover my nose and mouth. It was a temporary fix so I needed to work fast. I might be a wolf, but too much smoke in my lungs could do serious damage.
When I made it out to the corridor again, the fire grew and I wouldn’t be able to go through it without burning myself alive. I went back into the infirmary and tried to remember the layout of the church. I had to get to Lucian’s office.
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