by Mary Abshire
“Aziel, any word from your agent or Zale?” Gordon asked through the speaker on the phone.
“Anna is with me right now,” Aziel said.
She set her glass on the desk and it clanked. “Demons showed up at the meeting. Zale ordered Derek to escort the leaders to the roof to leave in the helicopter and then had Trevor carry me up with them. He gave his life to delay the demons from reaching us. The last thing I saw was Derek and Trevor facing a couple demons. I need your help to find Zale and the agents. I think the demons will keep them alive to see if they can gain any information from them.”
“I’m having my surveillance department pull the video to see if we can spot any vans leaving the hotel,” Aziel said.
“This is bad,” Gordon said with a heavy sigh.
“I have a plan,” she said. “Tell your agents monitoring the homes to break inside and gather as many clothes as they can. Tell them to return to your headquarters. Gather as many men as you can and send them here with the clothes. We should learn where the demons took werewolves by the time your team arrives. In the event we don’t, we can search together and your agents will have the scents you need to help us find the masters.”
“If you can’t determine where the demons took the agents, where will you start looking?” Gordon asked.
“Zale found me in a building being renovated. I would start with the same type buildings,” she said.
“I have teams already doing that. They check during the days mostly. They haven’t stopped since Zale found you. So far, they haven’t found any signs of demons,” Gordon said.
“Did you have scents of the masters to work with?” she asked.
“No,” Gordon said.
“Get the clothes from the homes. We don’t have time to waste. If Zale is alive they will torture him for information,” she said.
Aziel stiffened. “He knows the location of our office. He has your code to get inside. I can change the code, but it won’t stop the demons for long. If they have enough firepower or equipment, they could tear down the doors.”
Anna swallowed hard. She hadn’t even considered what valuable information he could give the demons. “We have to find him soon.”
“She’s right. We have to move fast,” Gordon said. “I’m calling the agents watching the homes and giving them authority to break into the properties. Since they’re closer to you, I’ll send them straight there. I’ll gather other men from here and send them too. Hopefully you’ll know where the demons took my agents by the time the others arrive.”
“I’ll send you a code for them to enter,” Aziel said.
“Contact me if anything changes and I’ll do the same,” Gordon said.
“I’ll be in touch.” Aziel hit a button, ending the connection.
Anna leaned her elbows on his desk. She covered her nose and mouth with her hands. Now, she had to wait for the results from the surveillance department. And with each passing minute, she feared the man she loved was in agony. She hoped and prayed he had the strength to survive. She would find him and as soon as she did, she planned to look for the masters. She wouldn’t stop until she sent their evil souls back to Hell.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Clank, clank, clank. “Zale, wake up,” a familiar voice said. “Wake up, Zale! Someone’s coming.”
A rattling noise followed.
Zale struggled to lift his eyelids.
“Get up, Zale. They’re almost here,” the man said in an urgent tone.
Thump, thump, thump.
The dark cloud weighting on his thoughts made it difficult for him to break free, but he did and forced his eyes open. He found more darkness. The scent of blood thickened the musty air. His body felt hot, wet, and sore. He took a deep breath and the pain increased.
“Zale, wake up!” Trevor whispered. Tap, tap, tap.
Voices and heartbeats outside his door alerted him to people approaching. He pressed his palm to the floor and it slid in a dark fluid. Memories returned in a rush of where he was and what he’d done. Applying more pressure to his hand on the ground, he pushed his body up until he was able to lean against the wall. His abdomen ached while his injury burned. Liquid oozed from his wound. He needed to shift to seal it, but his time had run out. Five heartbeats stood outside the door.
“Zale!” Trevor whispered.
Metal clanked in the lock. Following a snap, the door opened. Rodney led the way into Zale’s prison cell as the florescent lights hanging above flickered and buzzed. Zale squinted and blinked to adjust his vision. A taller man with dark skin followed Rodney. Two other men, larger in size and carrying bats, entered last. The one with the buzz haircut and round face looked familiar. A man stood outside and shut the door.
“That looks painful,” Rodney said, his gaze directed at Zale’s abdomen.
“Ew, that’s nasty,” the African American man said.
Zale stared at him. His face looked familiar. Zale recalled the photos from the file Anna had given him. The picture he’d seen of Reggie had showed him with a full beard. Now, he had a thin goatee, which made him appear younger. Instantly, a deep growl formed in Zale’s throat. Reggie held the soul of Christopher.
“I don’t think he likes you, Reggie,” Rodney said, bouncing his gaze between Reggie and Zale.
“You mean, Christopher,” Zale said.
Reggie’s brows twitched. “Do I know you?”
“No.”
“Werewolves freed Anna,” Rodney said. “He could’ve been one of them.”
“But how would he know my real name?” Reggie asked and then faced Zale. “You must know Anna.”
Zale swallowed hard while he considered his response. If he lied, they could beat the truth from him. Why hide the fact he knew her? But he would resist telling them she was his mate.
“I was working with Anna to help track you two,” Zale said.
“That explains it,” Rodney said.
Reggie stepped closer to Zale. The big guy with the buzz cut swung his bat and smacked it on his hand. The man failed at trying to look threatening or intimidating.
“I’m a little surprised she would’ve mentioned me,” Reggie said. “I was under the impression she had a vampire partner. How long have you known Anna?”
“Long enough,” Zale said.
Reggie gave him a crooked grin. “Were you two lovers? Are you lovers?”
Zale glared at him. Anger boiled hot and fierce in his veins. He balled his fists, resisting the urge to beat Reggie to a bloody pulp and make him suffer for what he’d done to Anna. Although the physical marks had healed, she still carried the emotional scars Reggie had given her.
“She confided in me,” Zale said.
Rodney chuckled and smacked his hand on Reggie’s shoulder. “I think that’s code for yes.”
Reggie’s grin widened. “This couldn’t have been sweeter. We are going to have a great time working together, you, me, and Rodney.”
“I will never help you,” Zale ground out between his clenched teeth.
“I think you will,” Reggie said while he flexed one of his hands.
“We want to get answers from him first, so go easy on him for a bit,” Rodney said.
“I have nothing to share with you,” Zale said.
“That’s what your friend, Derek, said. He eventually told us where the UoJ has been looking for us. He didn’t have much information about vampires, but he said you would know. I guess he was right about you working with them,” Reggie said.
“You’re all going to burn in Hell and Anna will be the one to send you there,” Zale said.
Reggie moved closer and then shot his fist at Zale. The smack to Zale’s eye stung and his ear began to ring. The master had far more muscle than a human or average demon. When Zale straightened his head, Reggie thrust his balled hand at Zale’s face again.
“How long have you been working with the vampires,” Rodney asked.
The
ringing grew while half of Zale’s face pulsed with pain. He struggled to see clearly from his aching eye. Swallowing, he lifted his chin. He said nothing as he looked at Reggie.
The master shot at Zale again. This time, he hit Zale’s nose and it crunched. Warm fluid trickled down.
“How long have you worked with her?” Reggie asked.
Zale licked his lip and tasted the coppery fluid. “Told you, long enough to know who you really are.”
Reggie slammed his fist into the other side of Zale’s nose, forcing it back into place. More blood poured out. The pulse in his head strengthened.
“Do you know where the headquarters is located?” Rodney asked.
Zale spit to his side. “Never been there.” He scrubbed his forearm across his mouth.
Reggie lifted his palm up to the man with dark hair standing in the back. “Bat please.”
The large guy handed his weapon to Reggie.
“I think you know where the Divine Syndicate is located,” Reggie said.
Unable to breathe through his pulsing nose, he kept his mouth open. “She never told me. We always drove in separate vehicles and met at places.”
Reggie shook his head and pointed the bat at him. “You’re lying. Anna doesn’t like to drive. And I know you haven’t been to her house because I’ve had someone watching it since her donor killed one of my men.” He swung the bat up and then aimed it at Zale’s ribs.
Bones snapped and white-hot agony stole Zale’s breath. He bent sideways, clutching his rib cage. Had a demon been hitting him, the impact from the blows wouldn’t hurt as bad. But masters had much greater strength.
Bracing one hand on the floor, Zale tried to stay upright. But another hard blow to his shoulder ended his effort. He collapsed on the ground, groaning. Each little movement and breath brought more stinging and hammering pain.
“Hold him up,” Rodney said. His shoes scraped on the floor as he backed away. “If he’s important, maybe we can get someone’s attention. I can send a photo to her contacts since we still have her phone.”
“Great idea. I forgot we had it. Her belongings are in the trunk,” Reggie said. “I can call someone to get the phone.”
“Who knows, maybe they’ll negotiate with us. We can turn him over after he’s possessed,” Rodney said.
“Sit him up,” Reggie said to the men.
Zale struggled to push himself off the ground. His shoulder and ribs protested with burning spasms. More blood spilled from his bullet wound.
The big guy with the buzz cut handed the bat to the guy behind him and then moved closer to Zale. He gripped Zale’s injured shoulder. When the demon lifted him, Zale groaned loudly. The demon pushed his hurt shoulder to the wall before smacking Zale’s face. “Smile for the camera.”
The demon backed away, grinning. If Zale’s memory served him right, the demon’s name was Stan. Zale had seen a mug shot of him in Anna’s file.
Unable to lift his hurt eyelid more than half way, Zale stared at Rodney. The master held a phone in front of him.
Reggie looked at it and smiled. “Oh, that’s good. I wonder what Anna will do when she sees it.”
Fury replaced the pain thriving in Zale. Reggie could beat him as much as he wanted, but Zale would never betray his mate. Zale would rather die than give up her location.
Rodney lowered the cell and looked at Reggie. “Get him to talk.”
Reggie grinned and lifted the bat. “No problem.”
Zale held no fear as he faced the masters. Whether Anna could find him or not, he held fond memories of her. The courageous vampire had won his heart and soul. At least they’d shared one night together in each other’s embrace.
As the bat came shooting at the other side of his rib cage, Zale focused on the incredible woman he loved.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Anna snapped the gun harness under her breasts. The snug straps brought back memories of the time when Zale had tightened the last harness on her. He’d been so protective of her. Yet, he hadn’t tried to stop her. He understood her devotion to saving humans and wanted to help her. No man had ever offered to do the same. She had to save him.
“I don’t agree with this,” Aziel said, standing beside her with his arms crossed. “You should stay here. Search through the video feeds of the city if you feel the need to do something.”
“I can’t stay here when Zale is somewhere out there being tortured.”
“Give the surveillance department more time to find the vans. We know they headed west. The technicians are reviewing all the videos in a seven-block radius. They should spot the vehicles at any time.”
“When they do locate the vans, call me. Until then, I’m going out. Every minute Zale is with the demons gives them time to torture him.”
“So you’re going to search abandoned buildings and hope you find him? That’s a waste of time, Anna.”
“Gordon said they hadn’t found anything, but they didn’t have the scents of the masters to work with. Now they have Rodney, Reggie, and Stan’s clothes. We might be able to find them. I’m sure at least one of them is with Zale or knows where to find him.”
“You’re still looking for a needle in a haystack. And you just recovered from a massive blood loss.”
Her injuries had healed and she felt much better having downed the two glasses of blood. If she had to rate her health, she’d say she was at least ninety percent able to work. Even if she’d been only fifty percent, she’d still hit the streets to look for Zale.
She took a gun and clip from the cabinet. After inserting the clip into the chamber, she slid the weapon into the holster. “Maybe it is a long shot, but he did the same for me. I’m going out there to find him. Don’t try to stop me.”
Forty minutes ago, the surveillance department had informed her and Aziel they’d found the vans leaving the hotel. Thanks to the city’s carelessness about security, many cameras failed to work properly. The tech guys said the vans had traveled west, but they’d lost track of them at the next block. The technicians continued to scan footage.
Ten minutes after the grim news, a small team of DS agents arrived at the hotel. They’d found Zale’s clothes and his car. They located traces of blood in the suite and on the roof. The news troubled Anna, but on the bright side, the agents hadn’t found any dead bodies.
About ten minutes later, Gordon had called. UoJ agents had broken into Rodney, Reggie, and Stan’s homes. The agents returned to the pyramids with the clothes and had spread them around the office. Aziel informed Gordon the DS hadn’t found bodies at the hotel and couldn’t locate the vans after they’d left. Gordon hadn’t taken the news any better than Anna had, but he’d committed all his resources to help find his agents. Five UoJ agents were on their way to the DS to help her. At least twenty others were heading to the pyramids. Gordon planned to send them into the field too, starting west of downtown. Anna would start in the heart and then spread out east. Until the tech guys located the vans, the plan was their best one to find Zale, Derek, and Trevor.
Aziel lowered his arms and stepped closer to her. “I realize you care about Zale, but please take into account you’re putting your existence on the line.” He had a calm, fatherly tone. “Yes, he did the same for you. But he can’t exorcise demons. Only DS agents have the ability. And you’re one of the best. If I lose you, if this organization loses you… The impact affects mankind and vampires.”
Although she believed his words were complimentary and intended to show his concern, they carried a high level of stress. He made it seem as if she worked twice as hard as the other agents. She loved her job and feeling of accomplishment it gave her to send evil back to Hell and save humans, but every DS agent held the same devotion. The organization was not a one-woman show. “There are plenty of other agents—“
“And they will continue, but you are the trainer and the one the agents look up to. Your dedication to saving lives goes beyond most. Many still see
this a job even though they understand the purpose. The few who have been here longer than you aren’t half as active exorcising demons. You play a huge role.”
“I’m not looking to end my existence. I’ll be careful, but if it’s my time to leave this Earth… I will leave trying to save others. Zale is the noblest man I’ve ever met—“
Aziel put his hand on her shoulder. “But is he worth the price of your immortality? Is he worth all the lives you can save? You’re emotionally attached to him. Think bigger and long term.”
Anna lowered her head. He’d been leader of the DS for over seven centuries, so it was natural for him to think at a higher level. He worried about the future state of humanity. She understood his logic and held the same concern, but she still believed trying to find Zale was the right thing to do. Yes, she’d give herself to save the werewolf. While her love for him was a big driving factor, the man held great value to his peers and mankind too.
She met Aziel’s gaze. “I won’t deny I have strong feelings for him. But we have to find him because he is the best in his field as I’m the best in mine. His life is equally important.”
Aziel stepped aside as Rachel strode into the armory. She wore jeans instead of the slacks she had on earlier. A pair of sneakers replaced her heels and a denim jacket covered her blouse.
“Victor is on his way,” Rachel said as she came to a halt next to Aziel.
“Do you need any more weapons?” Anna asked.
Rachel opened one side of her jacket and revealed a gun strapped in a holster. “I have two blades on me too.”
“If you have hesitation or fear about going out—“
“No,” Rachel said, cutting off Anna. “I’m more than ready to do this. I want to.”
Victor walked into the armory with a slight grin on his face. The weapon strapped to his hip created a slight bulge under his shirt. “When are we leaving?”
“In a little bit. Are you armed well enough?” Anna asked.
His grin widened. “Of course I’m well armed. A man must always be ready.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. Leave it to Victor to bring his style of humor regardless of the situation.
