by Ally Shields
“Cara mia.” Andreas moved across the room and pulled her into his arms. “This is not—”
“Don’t be nice to me.” Ari tried to push him away but he didn’t budge. “Let me go. I’ve made a huge mess of everything.” Her fists thumped on his chest and the tears fell. He continued to hold her, murmuring softly. She finally quieted and leaned her head against him. “I still miss Brando.”
“I know, but that was not your fault. You cannot hold yourself responsible for every bad thing that happens. You are trying so hard to be all things to all people that you are losing sight of who Arianna is.”
“She’s a broken witch,” Ari said darkly.
Andreas narrowed his eyes. “Now you sound like a petulant child.”
She stepped back, crossed her arms, and scowled at him. “Maybe I am.” She dropped her arms and walked away. “I don’t feel like myself. The fire is a big part of me.”
“It is still there, and we will find a way to set it free. Until then, Arianna the guardian, the cop”—he paused long enough that she turned to see a smile tug at his mouth—“and the strong woman I love needs to make an immediate reappearance to take care of this warlock.”
She narrowed her eyes in a long, unfriendly look. His gaze didn’t waver, and she looked away first. “Yeah, you’re right. I have to get it together.”
A sharp knock at the door interrupted them, but before either had a chance to respond, Ryan threw it open. He looked at Ari.
“Have you talked with Claris today?”
“Early this morning. Why?”
“I can’t reach anyone at the house or my mom’s cell phone or Claris’s.”
“Oh Goddess. Maybe Gerhard found them.”
Andreas grabbed his leather jacket off the back of the couch. “Here. Take this. It’s heavier than that flimsy windbreaker.” He helped her into it, and bent to kiss her firmly. “Be careful.”
* * *
Ari peered out the car window as they drove up to the Foster family home, a beige two-story frame house in the suburbs. The neighborhood appeared as quiet as anyone would expect on a cold winter night. The lights were on in the living room, dining room, and kitchen. His mother’s blue Dodge Dart was parked in the driveway.
“She should be home.” Ryan parked, and they walked up the steps to the front porch. He opened the door, calling out as he entered. “Mom, are you here? Claris?”
The large living room with its blue couch, matching chairs, and multi-colored cushions was empty, with nothing out of place.
Ari added her voice, calling for her friend, and followed Ryan into the kitchen. Well-organized, cheerful. Everything put away.
“Mom?” he called again, starting down the hallway. “I wonder if my sister-in-law picked them up and took them shopping or out to eat.”
Ari stuck her head in the dining room. Cards lay on the table with two stacks of pennies. But it was the chair that made her heart catch in her throat. It had been knocked over, one leg splintered.
“Ryan.” Her voice came out dry and unsteady. “I don’t think your mom would leave the chair like this.”
Ryan whipped around and joined her in the doorway. “Damn it. It is Gerhard.” He dialed his sister-in-law’s cell number. “Have you seen Mom? I don’t know. She isn’t here. No, Claris isn’t either. Yeah, I’ll call.” He hung up. “She hasn’t even talked with them today.”
They searched the rest of the house, found the cat hiding under a bed, then Ryan banged the back door on the way to check the toolshed and talk with the neighbors.
Ari called Andreas. “No one’s here. A chair’s overturned, but no bodies, not even any blood. He must have taken them, but where?”
Ryan came in stomping the snow off his feet. “Nobody’s been to the shed. The lady next door saw Claris go out and pick up the mail late this afternoon. But she hasn’t seen them since. We know they were here at dark, because the lights are on.”
The house phone rang in the kitchen. Ryan rushed to answer it.
“Hello?” He was quiet for a moment. “What have you done with them? What do you want?” he bellowed.
Ari ran to the kitchen. Gerhard? she mouthed.
Ryan nodded. “What?” he said into the phone.
“Let me talk to him,” Ari insisted.
“He wants to talk to you anyway.” Ryan nearly threw her the phone and vented his frustration by kicking the kitchen wastebasket.
She focused on the phone. “Kidnapping women, Gerhard? Isn’t that a new low for you?”
“Ah, Arianna, I can always count on you for such stimulating conversation. I haven’t harmed your friend or the cop’s mother, but that won’t last unless you do precisely as I say.”
“You really are a scumbag.”
He ignored her. “I’ve grown tired of Riverdale. It has little entertainment to offer me. You know why I’m here, Arianna. Meet me tonight. Goshen Park. West fountain. Come alone, unarmed, and I’ll release your friends.”
“How can I trust you’ll do that?”
“You may watch them leave. In fact, your cop friend can come as far as the park gate to retrieve them. They are nothing to me. It’s you I want.”
“Yeah, well, we all want something.”
“And you want your friends. I am confident you won’t let them die in your place. It’s unfortunate it has to end this way, but you did have a chance to join me. Now, I could never trust you. Not after you killed my dear, dear, brother Warin.” He gave an exaggerated sigh, a chill reminder of his insensitivity. “Shall we say midnight?”
“I’ll be there.”
His laugh was harsh. “Don’t worry, Ari. You can rest easy about Andreas. The O-Seven will see that he doesn’t grieve for long. I had to hurry to get to you first.”
The click in her ear echoed loudly.
A chill ran down her spine. She had to warn Andreas. Ari set the phone in its cradle and turned to face Ryan. “He said the elders are on their way.”
The cop frowned. “What about my mother and Claris?”
She blinked, then straightened her shoulders. “He wants to make a trade. Their lives for mine. I agreed.”
CHAPTER SIX
“You can’t go there alone. He’s going to kill you.” Ryan had been arguing with her since they left his mother’s house.
“He’ll certainly try. But I’m pretty hard to kill.” Ari did her best to be patient. If the situation was reversed, she’d be doing everything she could to stop him. But this was between her and Gerhard. She was the one who could settle it.
“Andreas isn’t going to allow this, you know.”
“We’ll see.”
Ryan let out a sharp laugh. “Are you kidding? The man would cut off his right arm to keep you safe. He won’t agree.”
“It’s not necessary for him to agree. This is my decision.” Ryan might be in for a surprise. Andreas’s alpha instincts would certainly want to do battle for her, but more than anyone else, he would understand that abandoning Claris was not an option. He also knew that the warlock was a problem she had to handle.
Ryan pulled to a stop in a no parking zone across from the club and slammed the car into park. “Then let’s find out what Andreas has to say.”
Ari stopped with her hand on the car door. “You don’t have to come with me. I’m going to tell him.”
“Yep, because I’m going to be there to hear you do it.” His rough tone and the determined set to his jaw left no room for argument.
Ari shrugged, annoyed but resigned. “Suit yourself.”
“I intend to,” Ryan continued more calmly. “Gerhard invited me to this meeting, and I plan to be there to pick up my mom and Claris. And to back up my partner whether she likes it or not.”
“Hey, I didn’t make the rules. Gerhard did. If you can hide a gun somewhere, by all means, do it.” She got out and walked into the club, turning left into the office.
Andreas met her at the door. “Anything new?”
“Gerhard called the hou
se, and we negotiated for their release.” Her voice was flat.
Andreas grew still. “And?”
“He’ll let them go, if I meet him alone, unarmed.” She met his intense look. “I’m going to go.”
The muscles tightened along his jaw line. “Where and when?”
“Midnight. At the west fountain.”
Andreas walked away from her and raked his fingers through his hair. She watched him fight for control, his power leaking enough to raise goose bumps along her arms.
“I told her she can’t go alone,” Ryan said.
Andreas turned then, his face devoid of expression. “But she will. She does not have much choice.”
“My God, Andreas…” Ryan took a step forward.
The vampire shook his head, anger glinting in his eyes. “You think I want this? I don’t have the right to stop her. Nor do you.”
Ari swallowed hard. She felt the pain, heard the understanding. It had cost him dearly to accept her decision. She went to him, rose onto her toes to hug his neck, and whispered, “I love you. I’ll do everything I can to stay in one piece. I promise.”
“I know.” He held her tight. After a moment, he released her. “If your meeting is at midnight, we have less than two hours to figure out how to handle this and what kind of backup we can provide.”
* * *
At ten minutes before midnight, Ryan pulled his cruiser up to the west gate of Goshen Park. Ari got out, and Ryan joined her. Andreas had left twenty minutes earlier to find a hidden position somewhere in the woods. With his shielding, he should be able to hide his presence from Gerhard, as long as he didn’t get too close. It wasn’t likely he could get there fast enough to save her if Gerhard struck unexpectedly, but he might be close enough that Gerhard wouldn’t leave unscathed.
“OK, I guess this is it.” Ryan’s voice was rougher than usual. “As Claris and my mom pass you, tell them to stay out of my line of fire. I want a clear shot at him.” A pistol was hidden in his right boot. He wore his regular service pistol in a visible holster.
She placed a hand on his arm. “Don’t blow this by shooting too soon. It’s an iffy pistol range from here. Besides, he could throw up barrier shields all night if necessary, and still get away. Wait until I’ve had a chance to end this. Of course, if I’m down, it’s up to you and Andreas.”
“I got it.” Ryan wouldn’t meet her eyes. He looked toward the fountain. “You better go. It’s almost midnight.”
Ari opened the wrought iron gate, and tramped her way through the snow. The swan fountain was nearly covered, the swan’s spreading wings caught by the drifts. Only its head stretched above it all as if refusing to bow to the elements.
Her senses prickled. Gerhard was here. Watching.
Seconds ticked away. Why was it taking her so long to reach the fountain?
The park felt different. More than the deep snow and bitter, gusting wind, it felt unfriendly. Maybe that was her imagination, knowing Gerhard was nearby. She pulled Andreas’s jacket more tightly around her neck. She liked having a tangible part of him with her.
Her psychic link to Andreas was open. She could sense his presence—it kept her steady—but they wouldn’t use it unless it was necessary. She couldn’t afford to be distracted. He was staying at a physical distance to avoid detection by Gerhard and also not to interfere with Ari’s magic. They still hadn’t solved that problem.
She peered ahead. The air swirled with flakes tossed by the brisk wind. She couldn’t see anyone, but she felt another energy out there. The humans, Claris and Mary, would hardly be a blip on her radar, so it had to be Gerhard. Had he brought the women with him? Or was this whole thing another ruse?
There was no moon tonight, just the hazy glow that layers of snow crystals made in the dark. She noticed other tracks. Small. Probably children playing during the day. Tonight, with the sharp drop in temperature, not even the animals were out. She hugged the jacket, ran her bare hands up and down her arms. She came to a halt about twenty feet from the fountain.
Ari stomped her wet boots and brushed the snow off her jacket as an excuse for taking the zipper down the rest of the way, giving her access to the gun tucked in her jeans at the small of her back. Her hands were icy cold, and she stuck them in her pockets. The feel of the spell capsules and the second Walther in her left jacket pocket were reassuring.
Where the hell was Gerhard? If he waited much longer her fingers would be too cold to pull a trigger. She felt several sets of eyes watching her. Gerhard, Andreas, and Ryan for sure. Maybe even Claris and Mrs. Foster. She shifted her feet. It was creepy being watched like this.
She cocked her head. Footsteps crunched in the snow.
“I wasn’t positive you’d come, guardian. Show me your hands. Let me see you’re unarmed.”
“I’m not completely stupid, Gerhard. Of course I’m armed.” Ari pulled the Walther out of her pocket to show him. “This stays in my hand until you keep your side of the bargain and release Claris and Mary.”
“That wasn’t the deal.”
“This is my deal. Do you want my compliance or shall we just shoot it out?”
Gerhard’s tall figure and the smaller shapes of the women appeared at the edge of the woods and moved in her direction. The warlock was heavily bundled against the cold, except for his uncovered hands. The women weren’t restrained, but they shivered in shirts and jeans.
Damn him. Ari’s nostrils flared, anger warming her. Couldn’t he show the least decency by letting them have their coats?
“Claris, are you two OK?” she called.
“Go ahead, answer her,” Gerhard ordered.
“Y-yes.” Claris’s teeth chattered. “Just a little cold.”
“We’re unharmed,” Mary said. “But don’t trust him.”
Gerhard backhanded the older woman. She staggered, but Claris caught her arm to keep her from falling into a snowdrift. “That’s enough. We don’t need your opinions.”
Ari clenched her fists, struggling to keep her mouth shut. If he knew how much it bothered her, he’d do it again…or worse.
“Ari, throw that gun toward me.”
“Not until you release them.”
“You act as if you haven’t figured out who’s in control of this situation. This is my call. The gun. Now. Or I’ll burn them both in front of you.”
“You do, and you’ll have a bullet hole in the middle of your forehead.” She widened her shooting stance and held the gun in two hands. “If you want me to surrender, you have to do this part my way. I have to know my friends are safe. Release them.”
He was silent a moment, then beckoned to her with his hand. “Come forward to the fountain. They’ll meet you there.” He shoved Ryan’s mother away from him. She and Claris took a few tentative steps, and Ari moved toward them.
The three women reached the fountain without incident, and Ari tossed the gun at Gerhard’s feet. She clasped Mary’s cold hands and began to shrug off her jacket.
“What are you doing?” Gerhard yelled, watching her suspiciously.
“Just giving her my coat. They’re freezing.” Ari palmed the two capsules, then slipped the jacket over the Mary’s shoulders. She lowered her voice and whispered, “Ryan’s here to help you. Stay out of his line of fire and run for the closest cover if things go bad.” She met Claris’s eyes for a moment.
“Ari, I—” Ari shook her head, and Claris’s voice faded.
“It’ll be OK. Go. Hurry.”
“What’s the holdup?” Gerhard was getting impatient. “I kept my promise, it’s time to keep yours. Come toward me with your hands out at your sides palms up. I want to see you’re not holding anything.”
She fumbled with the coat until she had the capsules wedged between her fingers, taking a quick peek to be sure they didn’t show. At least she hoped they wouldn’t from where Gerhard stood. She slowly brought her arms out, palms up but slightly curved and started toward him. When she was twenty-five feet away, he walked to meet her.
Please Goddess, let them be at the gate by now. If she didn’t make her move soon, it would be too late.
“Down on your knees!” Gerhard stopped ten feet away as if he thought she might tackle him if he got closer. He held one hand out, his fingers pointed at her, his face twisted in a malevolent grin. “Beg me for your life. It won’t do any good, but I’d love to hear it.”
“Go to hell.” She clutched the fingers of her left hand, crushing the capsules and releasing the spells. She flung the magical essence toward him, using her mind to direct its path, and dove sideways into the snow as he released a bolt of fire. Rolling to avoid the stream of flames, she snatched the gun at the small of her back and fired.
Gerhard turned toward her rolling figure to send a second ball of flames, but the spell magic hit him and he faltered. A loud blast of gunfire echoed through the park, then he keeled backward.
Ari sprang to her feet. The body sprawled in the snow had a bullet hole in the forehead, but red also blossomed from a second hole in his chest. She’d only fired once. A head shot. She looked back at Ryan.
Andreas was the first to reach her, gripping her so tightly her ribs hurt; Claris reached her next. Ryan and his mother were close behind. Claris burst into tears, then so did Mary Foster.
Ari leaned against Andreas for a moment, then shivered and pushed away. “For Goddess sake, can we please get someplace warm?”
* * *
Ari hid a smile when Ryan attempted to take the chilled women to the hospital. He was out-voted by his mother.
“I hope after living my entire life in the Midwest that I can take the cold,” she declared. “What I need is a hot bath and a hot meal. I want to go home.”
That’s where they all went. Claris jumped in the guest shower, while Mary soaked in the master bathroom tub. Ari stayed with Claris, talking with her through the shower door, the two women assuring each other that they were fine. Ari asked what had happened over the last few hours.
