by Dannika Dark
Audrey swung the blade and sliced off a lock of Christian’s hair. I charged my light and blasted her from behind. She gasped, teetering for a moment with her arms raised. When she lowered her arms, I expected her to go down. But instead, I glimpsed the sword spearing my gut. I think I made a sound, but the only thing that registered in that moment was the searing pain.
Christian’s expression blackened. He launched to his feet, but before he could get to her, she withdrew the sword and sliced the air between them. Christian’s shirt ripped across the chest, and blood speckled Wyatt’s face.
Audrey wielded that sword as if she were born with it in her hand. I clutched my stomach and watched Christian dodge every swing until he knocked the blade with his forearm, breaking the steel in two. Undeterred, Audrey threw down the pieces and pushed her glowing red hands against his chest.
Christian blanched, and witnessing that vulnerability triggered a protective side of me that I’d only felt for my father.
“No!” I leaped forward and held her head between my hands. Before she could wrench free, I channeled a current of energy and blasted her in the skull.
Audrey made a guttural sound before Christian slammed her against the floor. He straddled her, locked his fingers around her throat, and squeezed until her face turned purple and I heard small bones cracking. She was still seizing from my attack, her eyes rolled back and drool sliding down her face.
“Stop!” I yanked on his shirt, still clutching my stomach with the other hand. “Don’t kill her.”
Wyatt sat up and rubbed his face as he came out of his trance. “Yeah, don’t kill her. Not until I get out of here.”
Christian whipped his head around and threw me an icy stare. His fangs were out, and he was in murder mode. “Anyone who harms you is fertilizer.”
Wyatt stood up and swayed. “Viktor wants her alive. But hey, if you want to drag her corpse home and explain yourself, by all means, carry on.”
Christian loosened his grip, but I could tell it was killing him to do so. Just as he leaned away, he suddenly descended upon her like a monster and buried his fangs in her neck.
Wyatt catapulted off his ass and knocked my partner off the woman, by far the bravest act I’d seen him perform. Even I wouldn’t interrupt Christian in the middle of dinner.
“Get off me, you eejit!”
Wyatt locked his legs around Christian’s head. “You can’t eat the prisoner! It’s not allowed.”
Christian slowly shifted his body so that he was facing Wyatt’s family jewels. Wyatt’s eyes rounded at the sight of Christian’s fangs, and he scrambled away.
I slumped to the floor, afraid to look down and see my intestines hanging out. I kept a firm grip over the wound to stanch the bleeding.
Christian held out his hand to Wyatt. “Give me your shirt.”
“This is my lucky shirt.”
“You’ll be lucky to live if you don’t give it to me.”
Wyatt peeled it off and flung it at Christian’s head. Christian flipped Audrey onto her stomach and then used the fabric to bind her hands together. Then he stood and forced Wyatt to sit on her back. “Stay there.”
When the elevator chimed, we all turned our heads. Niko slowly emerged, his swords stained in blood as he looked right and then left. He took a moment to assess the situation, though I couldn’t imagine how he could tell what was going on by looking at energy alone.
“Are there any steps?” he called out.
Christian moved my hands away and examined my wound. “It’s a straight walk.”
Niko set his swords on the floor and knelt beside me. “Is she all right?”
I smiled reluctantly. “’Tis but a flesh wound.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
I flicked a glance at the sword and shuddered. “How many did you kill?”
“None,” he said on a breath. “But they’ll be hurting for a while until someone heals them. I presume there’s a lot of blood on my sword.”
“Yep.” I grimaced when Christian lifted my shirt to get a better look. “You should clean them.”
“I will. Is the building safe?”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see. “We got the woman. Pablo’s dead, and Viktor’s upstairs. How’s everything down below?”
“It was pandemonium for a short while, but we had help rounding them into the pit.”
“What about the Shifters? Is someone looking after them?”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “Rest easy, Raven. Your work here is done.”
I’d lost track of the time since capturing Audrey, but it had been at least twenty minutes. Niko and Christian briefly argued over who would heal me, but I insisted that Niko’s nonaddictive Healer magic was a far better choice under the circumstances. Christian’s blood came with too many distractions. Since the cut on Wyatt’s neck was superficial, Niko didn’t bother healing him. Wyatt didn’t mind. It would only provide him another tall tale to tell at the dinner table. While Niko went on an errand and Christian guarded Audrey, I followed Wyatt into the room where we’d first found him.
From my seat on the table, I watched him typing on the computer. “What are you doing?”
“Erasing everything.”
“What?”
“Viktor’s orders. I couldn’t risk it earlier because of the little guy. Usually we turn over evidence, but there’s a lot of sensitive stuff in here that we can’t trust with the Regulators. I copied everything, and that’s what we’ll show our contact before destroying it. They’ve got more than enough witnesses down below, and I’m sure plenty of them will sing for leniency.”
I swung my gaze up to the monitors on the wall and watched Keystone and a few unfamiliar faces secure the prisoners.
Wyatt cleared his throat. “There’s a shower on this floor, just so you know.”
I stood up on the table. “What’s the matter, Gravewalker? Scared of a little blood?” I jumped down. “It’s too bad we don’t have video of you cowering in the corner.”
“I wasn’t cowering. I had a chair, and she had a sword.”
I frowned at Pablo’s headless corpse. “Why did she kill him?”
“Seems the little guy was in on the whole thing. He’s a snitch.”
I jerked my head back. “Pablo?”
Wyatt scooted back and locked his fingers behind his head. “Oswald. That’s the name his ghost girlfriend gave me.”
I warily looked around. “Is he still here?”
“Nope. He went into the light or wherever they go. Took the blonde with him.”
“Is the light heaven?”
“How should I know? I don’t see that part. When they go, they just go. I’ve heard about a light, and sometimes they talk to someone I can’t see. I’m not supposed to see it, and I don’t want to see it.”
“Why not?”
He looked down at his hard nipples and frowned, probably thinking about his favorite Pac-Man shirt. “What I’d really like to know is who sent me the blueprints to this place at the last minute. It couldn’t have been the headless horseman. He was too busy with you at the time.”
“Why hasn’t Viktor come down from the lobby?”
“Christian busted the steel shutters, so Viktor’s guarding the entrance until the Regulators show up. See?” Wyatt switched on a camera in the main room. Viktor’s wolf was sitting very still, facing front. “I hope Niko finds Viktor’s clothes before everyone shows up. Otherwise that’ll be an awkward introduction when he shifts back.”
Chatter drew my attention to the hall. Two formidable men swaggered toward Christian. One had a shaved head, broad shoulders, and piercing blue eyes. The other was a tall Chitah with reddish-blond hair. Both had what looked like gold wedding bands on their fingers, which wasn’t something you saw in the Breed world.
“Everything under control?” Blue Eyes asked.
Christian stood with his hands clasped. “Aye.”
The two men looked at us and then at Pablo’s corpse
.
“Who are they?” I asked quietly.
Wyatt unhooked a cable from the two computers. “That’s HALO. They were our emergency backup. You can always tell by the rings they wear.”
“Since when are we asking other organizations for help?”
“Viktor doesn’t make it a habit, but we all have an understanding in case there’s an emergency on a high-profile case. We’re not exactly competing for the same jobs, so they’re not our enemies. I think a raid against a group of hostile women qualifies as an emergency.”
“Not all of them were women.”
“According to the files, the majority are. What went on down there before we showed up?”
I inched toward the door. “Mage against Shifter, but they wanted the Mage to win. Women against men.”
While Wyatt rambled on about reverse sexism, I stood in the doorway, trying to eavesdrop on what the men were discussing. Given the history of women in the Breed world, an underground racket like this wasn’t a real surprise. It made me wonder if, in another life, I might have willingly taken a job like this. I would be doing what I loved for money. Wasn’t that what I was doing now?
Christian stayed quiet, his arms folded and posture rigid. The Chitah did most of the talking, and I caught a few things here and there about the raid. The tough guy rubbed the tribal tattoo on his bicep, and I felt like I’d seen him before. The Breed world was a small one, and I occasionally ran into the same people in different bars and clubs. After another minute, the Chitah threw Audrey over his shoulder and headed toward the main elevator. The blue-eyed man clapped Christian’s shoulder before joining his companion.
I strolled into the hall and watched them disappear past the far door.
Christian turned and gazed at me earnestly. “It looks like someone’s getting a bonus. Good work.”
“I didn’t do this alone.”
“Take credit where it’s due.” He cupped the back of my neck and rested the pads of his thumbs by my ears.
When he leaned in, I tilted back. “I’m not kissing you with another woman’s blood on your lips.”
He gave me a crooked smile. “You’re complaining about a few drops on my lips when you’re drenched in blood?”
“That’s different. I didn’t suck on this person.”
Christian tossed back his head and laughed. When he regained his composure, he wiped a tear from his eye with the heel of his hand. “I would have passed my condolences to the unlucky lad.”
I rested my head against his chest and slipped my fingertips inside the tear in his shirt. Thank God this job was over. Hopefully I’d never have to see another sex club again. At least we’d freed the captive Shifters. That satisfied me more than capturing Audrey and all her little cohorts.
“The Shifters downstairs are victims,” I said. “Make sure nobody hurts them.”
“Aye, but our work isn’t done.”
I tilted back. “What do you mean?”
“We—or the Regulators—still have to round up everyone else who knew about the fights, including the fighters.”
“Flynn.” I sighed and turned my gaze upward. “He’s a paid scout who works at the club. Just when I thought I could have a little reprieve.”
“No rest for the wicked.”
“I know where he lives and what time he gets off work. Let me take a quick shower before we leave. I can’t go out like this or I’ll get arrested. Feel like coming along?”
Christian practically purred as he pulled me in close. “I could use a shower.”
“I meant to Flynn’s house.”
He lightly squeezed my ass before lifting me up. “I can do that too. Can I tear away your clothes?”
“No. I need something to wear.”
“I’m afraid Tide won’t take out those stains.”
“There’s a bag down below. Someone can bring it up.”
“Ah, then I can tear away your clothes,” he said, walking toward the shower room.
“If you insist.”
“Aye, Precious. I insist.”
Chapter 33
Christian parked his old Ducati in front of a small house. After dismounting, I rubbed my cold arms to get the blood circulating. The only clothes I’d stuffed in that plastic bag were a white tank top and black shorts. Christian had retrieved my boots, so at least my feet weren’t frozen from the bike ride.
Christian shut off the bike and stared at the house. A streetlamp cast light on a holly tree, which was in full bloom. “Are you sure he’s here?”
“It’ll be sunrise soon. According to his schedule, he gets off at 2:00 a.m. That was over an hour ago, so he’s had plenty of time to make it home.”
“What’s his Breed?”
I shivered. “Mage.”
After striding up to the porch, Christian gripped the knob and shouldered the door open. The wood splintered as the frame broke.
He glared at me. “I suppose you’re going to rabbit on about trying the knob.”
I stepped over the threshold. “No, I was only going to suggest using the doorbell. People are less likely to run.” After switching on a lamp, I looked inside the tiny house. “Flynn? It’s me, Robin.” The back door in the kitchen was visible over the pony wall that divided it from the living room on the right.
Christian headed that way.
I went behind a partition wall on the left and searched the bedrooms. The first one was empty and only contained workout equipment. The second bedroom was also empty, so I checked the bathroom. Whiskers covered the sink, towels were on the floor—still damp—and yet I saw no toothbrush or shaver. I returned to the larger bedroom and flipped on the light. A few clothes were askew on the closet floor, but all the hangers were bare.
I sat down on the bed just as Christian appeared in the doorway.
“The garage is empty,” he informed me. “The backyard is clear—no storage shed or place to hide. We should turn off the lights.”
“What for?”
“If he drives up and sees them on, he’ll know something’s wrong.”
“Flynn doesn’t have a car. Anyhow, he’ll know something’s wrong if he sees the door busted apart. I have a feeling he won’t be coming back.”
Christian furrowed his brow. “And how do you figure?”
“At first I thought he was a pig who doesn’t know how to clean up after himself. But look at that,” I said, pointing at the closet. “No shoes, hardly any clothes, and not a single jacket. There’s no travel bag, and what immortal or even human doesn’t have luggage?” I leaned back on my hands. “He split.”
Christian leaned against the doorjamb and folded his arms. “Viktor should have sent someone to the club.”
“It doesn’t matter. He won’t get far without a vehicle. Even if he did manage to get out of the city, we can check clubs and tattoo parlors since he has a special gift for imprinting light. If he took a bus, Wyatt can look into that. He mentioned coming from Manchester.” I shook my head. “Why did he cut and run? Even if he dumped a few of the bodies, he wasn’t the one who murdered them. Flynn’s a hustler, not a killer.”
“He’s just as culpable as everyone else involved. Your friend made his choice to become a declared outlaw. That means he’ll never have his life back. Bounty hunters will consider him an easy target.”
I tossed a sock on the floor. “I need to wrap up a few things at the club. There’s a bartender who might have information on Flynn’s whereabouts.”
“Need a lift?”
“No. I can flash there in less than three minutes.”
He shook his head and lowered his arms. “Why must time to a Mage always be relative to how fast you can run?”
I stood and shook out my tousled hair. “I can tell by your excitement that you don’t want to tag along. I need to check out of the hotel anyhow and grab my stuff. Meet you back at Keystone?”
“After I search the house. The little shitebag might have left behind a scrap of paper with an address.”
&nb
sp; “Wouldn’t that be nice? Too bad Flynn’s smarter than that.”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his soft lips.
Christian returned the featherlight kiss. “You make me feel things,” he said softly.
I got tingly just thinking about all the places his mouth had kissed me during our recent shower, but mentally exhausted, all I really wanted to do was finish my errand so I could curl up in a warm bed and sleep. After a drink.
Or two.
My hotel stay was on Viktor’s card, so I decided to swing by the front desk and let them know I was checking out. Once I made it to my room, I changed out of my boots and into a comfy pair of sneakers. The boots were too sexy to be flashing all over the city in. I had loads of money in the satchel I’d hidden in the closet, so maybe a cab ride was in order.
After collecting my things, I headed up the street toward the White Owl. The tops of the buildings were gilded in sunlight. Living in the country, I’d forgotten how beautiful the city was at dawn. The brisk walk got my blood circulating, making me forget the temperature was in the fifties. When I reached the club, most of the staff had left, and they were closing for the day.
“Simone!” I waved and caught her attention on her way from the staff room.
“Well, well. Look who decided to grace us with her presence.” She gave me a curt smile.
“I almost didn’t recognize you,” I said, looking at her oversized hoodie with the New England Patriots logo. “I guess you’re finally rid of me. I came by to clean out my locker.”
She arched her eyebrows. “You’re quitting?”
“Yeah, I guess this just isn’t the job for me. Maybe I’m better suited as a bodyguard or something.”
She tilted her head to the side and gave me a sly smile. “I can see that.”
“Have you seen Flynn?”
“He left hours ago.”
“I need to speak to him.”
“Did you try calling?”
I shifted the bags to my other hand. “I stopped by his house. It looks like he split town. He has something of mine.”
“That sounds about right. If he has something of yours, you’ll never see it again.”
