Текст книги "Wicked Edge"

Автор книги: Rebecca Zanetti

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Chapter 22

Felicity’s cheeks burned as she walked past all the soldiers outside. She probably shouldn’t have just blurted out the information about the mating, but her mind was spinning, and she’d just gone with it. The breeze slapped her face and rain sprinkled down, but she followed the metal hangar around another corner, her stockinged feet slapping the wet concrete. Trees covered the area past the concrete, silent in the breeze.

Zane followed right behind her.

She finally stopped and turned around.

For the moment, she could only gape. How was it possible the sweet boy who’d picked her flowers had grown into such a strong man? So big and dangerous looking. But his green eyes were soft nonetheless.

She smiled, her heart full. “How are Janie and Hope?”

He blinked. “Fine. Mom—”

“Fine?” She put her hands on her hips. “How are the girls, Zane?”

He shook his head, his dark hair spraying rainwater. “You just saw them a month ago at Hope’s first birthday party. They’re fine.”

Men. Even when you had known them their entire lives, they still didn’t know how to communicate. Felicity nodded. “Thank you. What would you like to discuss?”

His eyes widened. “Seriously?”

She bit back a grin. “Let’s just nip this in the bud now. You have an entire nation to worry about, and I can take care of myself.”

A vein in his neck filled. “Mom. I have no idea how Daire Dunne got you to go along with this ridiculous mission, but I promise I’ll take care of it. And him. You don’t need to stay mated.”

What a sweetheart. “I will decide whether or not I want to stay mated.”

“Ah, no.” Zane grasped her arm and tugged her closer to the building so the eaves shielded them from the rain. “I’ll take care of it.”

Wow. Sometimes her kid was a little dense. “I’ve got things under control.”

Zane took a step back. “Control? Are you kidding? You just robbed a bank.”

Warmth fused through her. “Yes, I did. Quite successfully.” She leaned in, even though the rain surely masked their voices. “I had two other banks robbed at the same time. I’m telling you, Zane, if the demon nation ever needs cash, I have some ideas.”

He shook his head like a dog with a face full of water. “We’re good,” he bit out. “No cash problems.”

Truth be told, the answer was a little disappointing. “All right.”

He crossed his arms. “What were you saying about a polar bear attack?”

“Oh, that.” She dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. “I was checking out the mines on Fryser Island and ended up in a little scuffle.”

He jerked. “In Norway?”

“Eh, close enough. I think there might still be some dissension about who owns the island.” She wiped rain off her cheeks. “We done here?”

“No,” he exploded, his cheeks turning a deep red. “We are not done here. What was that about a helicopter crash?”

She winced. Nobody wanted their mom to be in a helicopter wreck. “Daire and I flew from the island, but enemies shot at us and we went down.”

“In Barents Sea?” Zane shouted.

“Well, close. Sjenerøse Island is actually in the Arctic Sea.” She tilted her head. Her eldest son usually kept a much better rein on his temper. His face had now lost all color, and he was looking at her like she’d completely lost her mind. “I’m fine, Zane.”

He took several deep breaths. “I’m going to kill Dunne.”

“Why?” she asked.

Zane’s chin dropped. “Why? Well, how about his extreme bad judgment in taking you to the Arctic and getting you shot at, attacked by bears, and then in a wreck? Or how about his getting you shot in a bank robbery. Or how about his getting you shot at all?” By the end of the statement, he was yelling again.

She couldn’t very well tell Zane that she was on her own mission and had been lying to him most of his life about Ivan Bychkov. Zane had a baby and mate to worry about, and this was her fight. But she also couldn’t let Zane blame Daire. “I’m not working for Daire.”

Zane stilled. “You are working for somebody?”

Ah ha. “Yes.” She grabbed on to the idea the way she would a lifeline in the middle of the Arctic, easily creating a little cover story and lie. “I’ve been hired to do a job, and part of that includes researching the planekite situation.”

Zane frowned. “And bank robberies?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “I needed to get into a couple of safe-deposit boxes for my, ah, job.”

“You don’t need to work.”

She shook her head. “Honey, I’m only a hundred and twenty-five. That’s younger than most demons are when they first get mated. I can’t just sit around and goof off.”

“But, Mom, you’re—”

“What? What am I?” Anger and hurt careened through her. “Weak?”

“No.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Crippled?”

He sighed. “Of course not.”

Water soaked her socks, and she fought a shiver. “I can’t attack minds or teleport. So what exactly am I, Zane?”

His gaze softened again. “A grandmother.”

Well, geez. “Only because I had you incredibly young, and then you had Hope very young. I’m not ready to retire from life, Zane Kyllwood.”

“I’m not asking you to retire. I am asking you not to get shot at.” His shoulders seemed to vibrate as he tried to control himself. “Who are you working for, Mom?”

“Can’t tell you,” she retorted.

“Is it the Coven Nine?” he asked.

She smiled. “Nope.”

“Then why is Daire Dunne apparently accompanying you on every insane mission?”

Footsteps sounded around the corner. “Because she’s my mate,” Daire said evenly, a jacket in his hands. “Now stop bugging her.”

Zane tensed and his hands fisted.

“There will be no fighting,” Felicity ordered. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. Thank goodness. She needed an update on what deeds had been discovered in the other two bank robberies. “Excuse me for a minute. You two play nice.” Without another word, she opened her phone and sloshed through water to a few feet away. “Hello?”

“Felicity. I can’t believe how soon we’re going to meet. Finally,” rumbled a hoarse voice.

She squinted. Adrenaline zinged through her blood. “Ivan?”

“Ah, how nice you remember my voice.” He chuckled.

She pressed the phone closer to her ear, a chill clawing through her. “How did you get this number?”

“Oh, it was in a phone I borrowed,” Ivan said.

Her breath whooshed out, and her head lifted. Oh God. “Whose phone?”

“That opens up our next issue. I have something of yours.”

No. She swallowed. “Is that a fact?”

“Yes. Here.”

A small scuffle sounded, and then the crunch of bone being cracked. “Fucker,” hissed a low voice.

Her heart stopped. “Logan?”

Ivan chuckled. “Your youngest has a head stronger than rock. I’ll enjoy chiseling through it. I’ll be in touch.”

Tears burned her eyes. She turned, her mouth agape, her heart shattering. Daire and Zane stared at her, both frowning.

She coughed, fear piercing right through her breastbone. “They have Logan,” she whispered.

Daire caught her before she fell and lifted her up. “Bychkov?” he asked.

She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t think. I just didn’t even consider he’d go after Logan. Why didn’t I think?”

Daire hadn’t considered Logan being in danger, either. “It’s okay. We’ll figure this out.” He turned and headed for the SUV waiting quietly for him by the doorway.

Zane grabbed his arm. “Who is Bychkov, and where is Logan?”

Felicity wiped tears off her face. “Bychkov is an enemy, and I don’t know where Logan is. Yet.”

Zane opened his mouth and Daire held up a hand.

“Meet at my penthouse in thirty minutes to figure out a plan. For now, reach out to every ally you have and prepare them for war. Once we find Logan, we’ll need to go in and fast,” Daire said. He didn’t wait for a response but jogged through the rain to place Felicity in the front seat. She trembled, and her face had gone so pale that light blue veins could be seen under the skin. “We’ll find him, baby. I promise.”

She lifted tear-filled eyes and basically sliced his heart in two. “What was I thinking?” she asked, dazed.

He lightly shook her arm, struck by how fragile she appeared. “On the ride to the penthouse, you need to concentrate. I want you to tell me absolutely everything there is to know about Bychkov by the time we get home.” He shut the door, wanting nothing more than to gather her close and soothe her fears. If he was going to find Logan, the cuddling would have to wait.

Running around the car, he barely took note of Zane moving his soldiers out. He twisted the ignition, already barking orders into his phone for reports on Bychkov and his consortia. He also put on ready all Coven Nine forces before making a call to Garrett Kayrs.

“Yo,” Garrett answered.

Daire swerved to avoid an idiot in a minivan. “Garrett? We’ve had reports that Logan has been taken by Ivan Bychkov. Do you know anything?”

Garrett sucked in air. “No. We hit the bars last night, scouting for Apollo distributors, and Logan went home with a redhead. Sexy woman.” Rustling came through the line and then running footsteps. “He’s not in his room.”

“Where are you?” Daire used one hand to steer around a kid on a scooter.

“Simone’s penthouse. She’s the only one with food in the cupboards.” A door slammed shut. “Who is Bychkov, and why would he have Logan?”

Daire rolled his shoulders and tried to keep his mind calm. Terror flowed from his mate, and he had to block some of the emotion to keep his brain engaged. “We’ll have a full debriefing in thirty minutes in my penthouse. For now, you try to trace where Logan went last night.”

“You got it.” Determination and irritation filled the vampire’s young voice. No fear. That was good.

“And Garrett? Be careful.”

“Copy that.” The kid hung up.

Daire glanced at Felicity, who huddled with her arms around her legs. “Garrett will call all their friends and then trace Logan’s movements last night. The kid is a bloodhound.”

She nodded and rested her chin on her knees. “I was so stupid.”

He frowned, much preferring her spunky, slightly crazy attitude. “Trust me, mate. It’ll be okay.” He cleared his throat and punched in another phone number, a call he had to make for both diplomacy and his peace of mind.

“Daire?” the king of the Realm asked.

“Hi, Dage. Quick update. We think Ivan Bychkov kidnapped Logan from a Seattle bar last night. Garrett is fine and is investigating, but I figured you’d want to know.”

“Do you need troops?”

Daire shut his eyes. The question came from a friend and not an ally, and there had been no hesitation in the offer. “Not until we have a location.” Daire purposefully refrained from explaining more, not wanting to alarm Cee Cee.

“You think he’ll be moved from Seattle?”

“Aye.” If Daire had to guess, Logan was already on a plane bound for a more secure location. Maybe on the East Coast? The kid had been gone at least fifteen hours, so he could be anywhere. “If your computer gurus wouldn’t mind finding out everything you can about Ivan Bychkov, I’d appreciate it.” If all his allies were looking into Bychkov, the better.

“Not a problem.” Dage cleared his throat. “Did Zane find you?”

“Aye.”

Silence ticked across the line. “Well?” Dage asked.

Damn vampire was the nosiest person on the planet. “Well, we had a nice talk, found out his brother had been kidnapped, and we’re going from there.” Daire sighed. “And I mated his mother.”

Dage coughed. “You did what?”

Daire pressed harder on the gas petal. They had a limited time to trace Logan before he disappeared, and Seattle traffic was pissing him off. “You heard me. I’ll be in touch.” He clicked off.

Felicity reached across the seat and took his hand with her chilled fingers. “Please make me a promise.”

“Anything,” he said, fully meaning it.

“When Ivan calls to trade me for Logan, let me go.”

Chapter 23

Felicity stepped over the threshold and followed Daire into his penthouse. Smoke still clung in the air from the flash grenades, but the broken window had been boarded up with rough plywood. She bit her lip, noting a scorched area on the leather sofa.

“Man,” Zane breathed, following her inside. He’d arrived right on the heels of the SUV. “What happened here?”

“Your mother happened,” Daire retorted, dumping several of the bags from the robberies onto the damaged sofa.

Zane’s lips pursed and he slowly scouted the room, his brows drawn down. Then he cut his eyes to her. “What in the world have you been doing?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Watch your tone.”

“Who’s Ivan Bychkov?” he returned evenly.

She sucked in air.

Daire cleared his throat. “I’ll go grab Simone and some drinks. I’m all out.” He nearly passed her and then paused. Slowly, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead before pinning Zane with a hard look.

Zane narrowed his gaze.

Felicity breathed deep and waited until Daire had kind of shut the damaged front door. “Ivan Bychkov is a demon, and my brother betrothed me to him years before you were born.”

Zane coughed. “All of this is about a lover’s spat?”

“Of course not.”

“Who are you working for?” he shot back.

She faltered. Her stomach hurt. “Nobody. This mission is all mine.”

“Why?”

She had to tell him the truth for Logan’s sake. “I figured that Ivan would leave me alone after I mated your father.”

Zane’s chin lowered. “He didn’t?”

“No.” She took a deep breath and put her shoulders back. “Ivan killed your dad.”

Zane stepped back. “Excuse me?”

“Ivan is the demon who killed your father.” Her heart hurt now.

“But, but you said Uncle Suri killed the man who murdered Dad.” Zane flattened his hand on the wall as if needing support.

She clasped her hands together, trying not to throw up. “I know.”

“You lied?” Shock glimmered in Zane’s eyes.

“Yes.”

“Why?” he shouted.

Her head jerked. “Why?” she shouted back. “Are you kidding me? You were barely a teen, while Sam and Logan were even younger. If one of you, and I mean just one of you, knew your father’s killer was alive, you would’ve been obsessed with finding him.”

“Damn straight,” Zane bellowed.

“You would’ve been killed,” she said, her voice softening.

Zane swept out an arm. “So you waited until now, until we were all safe, to go after the bastard yourself?”

“Yes.”

Breath burst from his lungs. “By robbing banks and blowing up mines?”

“For starters.”

“Are you crazy?”

She lifted a shoulder, trying not to cry. “Maybe a little.”

Zane shook his head and huffed out a sound of complete denial. “Who are you?”

She was still trying to figure that out. “Zane, I know I let you down, and I’m so sorry. But I’m trying to make it right. I’m trying to fix things.”

“I don’t understand.”

She bent slightly at the waist because her chest hurt so badly. “When Dane died, I didn’t know what to do. Ivan was still after me, and as you know, we demons weren’t aligned with the Realm, so I didn’t know Dage would help. I was so weak. I’m so sorry. You’ll never know how sorry I am.” Tears spilled out over her eyelids and cooled her face.

Zane frowned. “What are you talking about?”

She threw up her hands, finally speaking the whole truth. “I can’t attack minds, and I can’t teleport. I desperately wanted to fight Ivan, but I couldn’t leave you boys alone if I lost. More than that, I couldn’t protect you by myself. I’m so sorry. So sorry I had to take us back to Suri for protection. Everything that happened, all that you’ve been through, is my fault.” The guilt almost swallowed her whole, every night.

He frowned down at her. “No, it isn’t.”

“Do you think I don’t know?” she yelled. “About how hard he trained you? About your being forced to become a soldier, to fight and kill? I know all of it.”

Zane settled his stance, back in control. “I’m a soldier, Mom. Even if we’d stayed in Africa, even if Dad had lived, I’d be right here now.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t protect you.” A tear fell from her face to plop on her shirt.

“You protected all of us.” He reached her in one long stride and gripped her hands. “We’re strong, and we’re safe. Going back to Suri was the only way you could keep us safe.” Releasing her, he gently wiped the tears from her face. “Stop torturing yourself. We all did our best, and I love you.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Yeah, I do.” He smiled. “Let this go. Trust me.”

She wiped her eyes, finally releasing some of the burden. “I love you, too.”

He tugged her close for a hug, as always, holding her like she was made of glass. “I didn’t know you felt like this, and I should have. I’m sorry.”

She sniffed against his chest. “This is all my fault.”

“No, it isn’t.” He leaned back, green eyes serious. “You need to understand that I have never thought you were weak. Abilities like teleporting are just abilities and have nothing to do with strength. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.”

Well, geez. More tears filled her eyes. “Zane.”

“And I’m sure that a lot of this mess we’re in right now, even though it was your grand plan, is the enforcer’s fault.” Zane grinned.

Humor tickled up and she chuckled. “Oh, Zane. I’ve been just awful to him, and he’s tried so hard to keep me safe. I drugged him. Three times.”

Zane shot both eyebrows up. “And he let you?”

“Well, once.” She sobered. “Not once did I think Ivan would take Logan. He’s a bad guy, and now he has my baby.”

Zane lifted her chin. “Logan is as tough as they come. I know he’s young, but he’s fought in a war. He’s a soldier, and I’ve trained him. I promise he will be okay.”

She swallowed and nodded. “I know. Daire and I already talked, and he promised not to get in the way when I have to go and meet Ivan in exchange for Logan.”

The door opened. “I most certainly did not,” Daire said, fire crackling down his arms.

The cell deep in the mine was surrounded by black rock on every surface. A lone lightbulb had been strung across the top and hung down, swaying just a little.

Ivan sat on one of two metal chairs across from the young vampire-demon mix, curiosity burning through him. Logan Kyllwood met his gaze evenly, eyes sizzling, the bruise along his jawline already healing now that he’d fully gained consciousness.

They hadn’t had a chance to talk until now. “I’ve wondered about you,” Ivan said, the smell of rock and earth wafting around.

The kid leaned back in the chair, and a veil dropped over his eyes. Even bound tight with titanium shackles, a sense of danger cascaded from him. Not once had he complained or asked for any bit of mercy. His gaze had remained sure and determined, his body relaxed. “I don’t give a shit about you,” he returned.

“You might,” Ivan drawled. “Considering I’m going to be your mother’s mate.”

Logan smiled then.

A chill clacked down Ivan’s back, and he fought a shiver.

“There’s no way in hell you’re getting close enough to whisper to my mother, much less mate her.” Absolute confidence echoed in the kid’s low tone.

“Do you have her weaknesses?” Ivan asked.

Logan’s chin lifted. “My mother doesn’t have any weaknesses.”

Fair enough. Ivan gathered strength from the atmosphere around them, centered himself, and pushed images of death and decay toward the kid’s brain. He waited a beat and propelled blades of pain into Logan’s frontal cortex.

A mental shield slapped so quickly into place, Ivan’s head jerked back.

Satisfaction filled him. “So you can shield.” Good. Any kids he had with Felicity wouldn’t be weak like her.

Logan didn’t answer.

“Any chance you’ll attack me back?” Ivan asked. If he could just determine that the kid had basic demon-fighting abilities, he could rest easier.

“Fuck you.” Logan stretched his neck, his eyes blinking.

Was the kid getting sleepy? Jesus. He wasn’t scared at all.

Ivan cocked his head to the side. “I could decapitate you right here and now.”

“If you were gonna take my head, you would’ve already done it,” Logan drawled.

“Maybe I’m waiting until your mother offers herself as a sacrifice.”

Logan lifted a shoulder. “Even if you do take my head, saying you could, I have two brothers who will gladly take yours, plus a best friend who’s more dangerous than you’ll ever be. And allies, including the Coven Nine enforcers.” He kicked out his legs. “My mom will be safe from you, which is all that really matters.”

“Well, aren’t you cocooned in love and security?” Ivan snapped.

Logan chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so. Who knew we’d end up here?”

Ivan shook his head. He really was going to have to kill the kid, and it was almost a shame. “You ever kill anybody, kid?”

Logan sobered. “None of your business.”

“I thought so.” Rumor had it Logan had fought during the last war and was a hell of a soldier. “Stays with you, doesn’t it?”

“Fuck you.”

Ivan smiled. His phone buzzed, interrupting his fun. He sighed and glanced down to see Phillipe Sadler’s contact information. Slowly, he lifted the phone to his ear. “Have you found your brother?” he asked without preamble.

“No, but I’m tracing his whereabouts, and if you hurt him, I’ll end you,” Phillipe said, his voice a throaty threat.

Ivan sighed loudly. “I don’t kill my business partners, and if your brother met with trouble, it’s more likely that the enforcers tracked him down.”

“You know, I think you’re full of shit, Bychkov.” A rustling echoed over the line.

“I don’t know where Rudger is,” Ivan said evenly. “If he’s working against me, or if this is some sort of power play put on by the two of you, then I’m going to come at you with everything I have.”

“Is that a fact?” Phillipe asked. “Do you really think I’ve just been on a wild ride trying to find him?” Another rustle came over the line, and a woman’s low cry pierced Ivan’s ears.

“Ivan? I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what—”

Ivan shut his eyes. “Millicent?” The stupid cow. She’d seen Rudger’s corpse and had cleaned up the blood.

Phillipe came back on the line. “If you want her back, you’ll meet me in Seattle.”

“Kill her.” Ivan ran scenarios in his mind. “Your brother was weak, and you’re definitely the brains of the duo. Don’t let emotion rule you right now.”

“You killed my brother.”

“Yes, but he was an idiot. I’m sorry he’s dead, but you and I have a business to run.” With the young demon watching him alertly, Ivan kept the conversation as vague as possible and tried to hide the flush of anxiety roaring through him.

Phillipe coughed. “I’m going to find you, and your death ain’t gonna go easy.”

The line went dead.

That stupid woman. He should’ve killed her the second she’d finished cleaning up the office. Now he had the demon nation, the Coven enforcers, and Phillipe Sadler after his ass. Not to mention the consortia members. He needed to mate Felicity Kyllwood and move his next plan into motion. “Your mother had better show up.” If nothing else, just having her captive would give him leverage until he could take care of his enemies.

Logan snorted. “My mom is gonna be pissed, asshole. Believe me, you do not want her to show up.”

Ivan frowned. “You know how weak she is.”

Now Logan full on laughed. “Man, don’t let her size fool you. You’re pretty much a dead man sitting there talking to me.”

Impressive. Such loyalty and blind faith from a real soldier. Ivan smiled. “Well, she’s mad at me anyway.”

“I’m sure.”

“Considering I killed your father.”

The atmosphere altered. The young demon changed into a soldier right before Ivan’s eyes. “Excuse me?” Logan asked.

Ivan forced a smile. The promise of death in the kid’s eyes didn’t unnerve him even a bit. “You heard me.” He expected an explosion and a string of threats. What he got, instead, was dark silence.

He swallowed. Maybe he would have to kill the kid before Felicity arrived.