“You’re lying and we both know it.” To Azriel, I said, What’s his name?
He hesitated, then said, Trent Fagan. He is a killer for hire. The Directorate had a death order on him, but Hunter had it removed on the proviso he work for her.
Why would she do that, when she has the Cazadors at her beck and call?
They do not work for her, but the council as a whole. Kill orders must be cleared through the council before they can be enforced. He studied me. She is gathering her own personal hit squad; you are one of them, Risa.
But I don’t —
Not yet, he agreed. But it is what she wants, nevertheless. You – and the remaining keys – would give her the ultimate command over not just the council, but the world.
I blinked. Even she’s not that crazy —
Oh, but she is. His mind tone was grim. She wants power. Hungers for it. And she will never be satisfied until all who live bow at her feet.
Wow. Just… wow. And yet it certainly made more sense than the council wanting the keys so they could use hell as their own private jail. Not that I’d ever really believed that particular statement – or, at the very least, I’d always suspected there was something more. I had no doubt that if Hunter did get the keys, then she would use hell. It would amuse her greatly to cast those who annoyed her into that place.
I returned my attention to the vampire. “Look, I know your name is Trent Fagan, and I know you’re a contract killer for hire. Tell me the truth about what happened here today, and I might just let you live.”
Surprise flickered briefly through his eyes, but he remained mute.
I sighed. “Fine. But consider this, the Directorate are on their way, and we both know they had a kill order out on you. It might have been rescinded, but do you honestly think you’ll be given such a chance a second time?”
He contemplated me for a moment, very obviously weighing options. “Living probably isn’t in my future, given capture was never part of the plan.”
“And what was the plan?”
Something flickered in his eyes. Annoyance or acceptance, I couldn’t tell which. But after a brief hesitation, he said, “To kill Jak Talbott.”
“Why gut him? Why not just drain him?”
“Because gutting is the more painful death.”
I clenched my fists. God, what I wouldn’t give for Amaya to be buried in Hunter’s flesh right now. “And who sent you here?”
Again he contemplated me. “What makes you think someone sent me here? That reporter has stepped on more than a few toes in his time.”
“He certainly has, but you’re not one of them. Besides, you don’t work for free, even on kills you desire.”
That last part was a guess, but I was betting it was a correct one.
A slight smile touched his lips. “If you know so much about me, then likely you’ll also know who sent me.”
“I suspect I do, but I nevertheless want it confirmed.”
“And if I tell you that, you’ll let me run?”
“If you can still run, then yes.” Even if he escaped the arriving police, he’d still have to face Hunter. She’d know in an instant I’d questioned her killer, but what she wouldn’t expect was me recording it. “But only if you’re honest with me. And I will know, trust me on that.”
He smiled, but it held little amusement. “The truth will do you no good, because my employer is beyond anyone’s reach. Even the Directorate’s.”
“She may be beyond the Directorate’s reach, but no one is beyond the reach of death.”
“Madeline Hunter is.”
He’d finally named her, but I felt no elation. I’d need a whole lot more than this confession alone to protect me from her. But it might go a ways toward convincing both her brother and the Directorate that there were extenuating circumstances if – god forbid – she and I ever came to blows and I managed to survive the encounter and she did not.
If you and Hunter came to blows, Azriel said, voice grim, she would not survive. And no one – not the Directorate, and certainly not her brother – would ever know of her death. Valdis would consume body and soul. There would be nothing left to find, and nothing left to move on.
Good. Even hell was too nice a place for the bitch. I once again returned my attention to the vampire. “Madeline Hunter? The woman in charge of the Directorate?”
“The same one.” He coughed. Bloody spittle lined his lips.
“Did she say why?”
“No. And I didn’t ask. I’m paid to do a job, end of story.”
It was the end, all right, for Jak and for him. Hunter wouldn’t let him live, and we both knew it. Amaya, I said, and reached out a hand.
She didn’t want to leave without a kill, and she hissed noisily, the sound rebounding through my brain. But she nevertheless withdrew, her hilt hitting my palm with a heavy thump. Letting me know she was unhappy by action as well as voice, I thought, amused.
I sheathed her, then said, “As much as I’d love to avenge Jak’s death with yours, I think the fate that awaits you is far worse, vampire. Enjoy what is left of your life.”
With that, Azriel took me in his arms and swept us out of there. It was only when I was home that I finally allowed myself to grieve for the man I’d once loved.
Hunter’s phone call came as no surprise, but it took all my willpower not to hit the Answer button and call her every name under the sun.
That would not only be a stupid move, but dangerous to those I loved.
“What?” is all I said. My voice was tight, and my hands clenched. It was a wonder I didn’t crack the phone, so tight was my grip.
“Did you get my message?” she all but purred. A cat enjoying playing with her mouse.
And the mouse had no option but to take it. At least for the moment.
“Yes.”
Her eyes gleamed with maliciousness. “And did the message get through?”
“Yes.” It came out as little more than a spit of angry air. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and added, “But why Jak? He wasn’t doing anyone any harm —”
“Which made him the perfect specimen for my little demonstration,” she cut in. “I would have chosen Rhoan, even though his death would have annoyed my brother greatly, but that would also take out Riley. I have no wish to come to blows with Quinn just yet.”
Meaning a confrontation with Quinn was in her cards sometime in the future?
More than likely, Azriel commented. Your uncle is not the type to sit back and let Hunter’s plans proceed unheeded. She would need him gone to openly make her move for domination of all.
The bitch wasn’t only certifiable, she was a glimpse of our future if we didn’t stop hell’s gates from being opened.
Because she sure as fuck had to be one of hell’s finest.
“But do not doubt,” she continued, in that same soft but deadly tone, “I will take out Rhoan, Riley, and even Quinn if you do not find me those keys.”
“I’m doing my best.”
Her expression was amused, but the specter of death shimmered in the depths of her eyes. “Your best is not enough, dear Risa. Try harder.”
And with that, she hung up. I swore and raised the phone to throw it at the nearest wall, only to have it plucked from my hands by Azriel.
“Taking your anger out on defenseless electronics is a waste of money and electronics,” he commented. “May I suggest this instead?”