Nik sighed heavily as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Her heart in her mouth, Shadow didn’t move a muscle as she waited.
Those ice-green eyes met hers. “All right, but we leave the moment I say so.” His tone brooked no argument.
“Thank you.” She hugged him. “You don’t know what this means to me.”
“I do understand, agápi.” His mouth brushed her head in a whisper of a kiss. “It’s why I do this.”
Night had settled as Nik reformed them in the narrow side street opposite The Shelter.
Shadow inhaled a steadying breath and rubbed her clammy palms down her navy, pleated skirt. The day had been a busy one, but Nik had taken time to show her how to summon her ability to dematerialize—ugh. It didn’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped, mostly because she was too anxious about this meeting. Maybe tomorrow would be better.
But finally, she’d get to see her brother.
She by-passed a crate and hurried toward the busy, main street.
“Slow down, moró.” Nik grasped her arm.
“I know-I know. I’m just a little nervous. I won’t speak to Liam, promise. I’ll check on Anna, a woman I helped settle here a few weeks ago. Nik—” She spun to him in the shadows of a building. “Did you find out anything about Joyce?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I would have told you this morning. But someone distracted me, dragging me off to the shower.”
She frowned, and at his smirk, she snorted.
The wretch. He enjoyed teasing her.
His expression sobered. “We found her and her boy. That thug gang leader had already gotten to her. The demon who lives underground in The Refuge managed to track them. It seems he has a liking for her.”
“Who?”
“Laex,” he said, studying the crowded shelter entrance.
“Oh, right. I know him. He’s one of the good ones.”
“It would appear so.” Nik shrugged, apparently still not convinced. “He’s also the one who pointed us to the human gang leader involved in the trafficking ring.”
“I hope you killed the sewer bastard. Poor Joyce, she must have been terrified.” Her mind slipped back to her beloved sister, and anger resurged.
You should have told Grandfather, Livy. Showed him your bruises.
A warm, callused palm gently rubbed her upper arm. “It is not your fault,” Nik said. “You cannot save everyone, moró. They must want it, too.”
She was starting to understand that. At least Joyce had someone who cared, and she’d been spared a horrible fate.
“Right. Let’s do this.”
In a blink, her tall, muscular mate shrank, taking on the form of the homeless man who’d stayed with her underground. The black leathers and t-shirt were replaced with old, faded black jeans and a threadbare, gray t-shirt. Even his tan, tattooed skin became a blank canvas. She missed his ink. But those eyes…nothing could change the core of him, the lethal predator barely leashed behind the façade.
He gave her a bland look, concealing his deadly stare. “Ready?”
She huffed out a laugh. “Yes.”
They entered the massive hall—the place reminding Nik of a hive—crowded with the downtrodden. The aromatic smell of something savory wafted in the air, muting the odor of unwashed bodies. To his right, volunteers of both sexes in their blue and khaki uniforms staffed the serving tables.
Shadow halted at his side, a wave of her emotions flooding him. He glanced at her, then followed her gaze to the last serving table at the far side, settling on the familiar, lanky teenager. The boy wore a baseball cap, the bill turned back, revealing lean features. His blue t-shirt hung a little loose on his wiry build. He spoke to a few of the homeless as he served them.
Starshine?
She shook her head slightly at his telepathic question, her gaze fixed on her brother. I wish I could say I’m okay, but I’m not.
Understandable, but he didn’t want her breaking down and drawing attention. Sure, he didn’t pick up any threat, but Nik didn’t trust the quiet. Perhaps we should do this another day?
“No. I’ll manage,” she whispered, dragging her attention away from the lad.
It’s gonna be okay. Just give me a few days, and you’ll have him with you.
She bit her lip and nodded. You should grab a plate, blend in, and get something to eat. She glanced around the place. I found Anna. Liam’s serving at the last table.
Nik waited as Shadow navigated through the crowd, then he made his way to the food line.
A huge dark-skinned human with muscles for days and sporting a wide smile approached Shadow. “Hey, girl. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Darwin.” She gave him an equally warm smile, one Nik didn’t care for, even though he knew this was the guy who ran The Shelter.
“We have your fave tonight,” he said. “Chili.”
She laughed, and the sound wrapped around Nik like a warm hug. “Nah, I’m good.”
Nik got a bowl and shuffled to the boy. The teen glanced up, and though he smiled, Nik recognized the strains of pain and sadness in his blue eyes. “Not eating anything else?” he asked Nik, taking the bowl. “The food’s good.”
Nik shook his head. “I just want…” He did a quick sweep of the massive containers of cut-up fruits. “Yeah, that.”
The boy cast him a puzzled look, then nodded. Nik had no idea what he’d sensed and did a quick scan of him. A slight buzz of the boy’s psychic abilities brushed against Nik’s psyche. Right.
Liam handed over the bowl of diced fruit. Nik stepped to the side, his attention shifting back to Shadow, now seated beside a thin blond woman feeding a toddler. Yeah, his mate also possessed psychic abilities. Did it occur because of the otherworldly blood running in her veins, or was it…genetic? Contemplative now, he popped a grape into his mouth.
What are you eating? her soft voice coasted in his mind.
Fruit, he said, tone dry. So, you like chili?
How do you know—never mind. She cut him a furtive side glance and scrunched her nose when she met his stare. Stop eavesdropping.
A small smile playing on her mouth, she refocused on the woman. Nik wanted to laugh. Hell, Shadow was his entire life. He would do anything for her.
“She helps get the homeless settled here,” the boy said, drawing Nik’s attention back.
Faint color streaked his cheeks at Nik’s arched brow. He hurriedly added, “Seen her here a time or two.”
Even unaware, the sibling bond was strong.
And that gave Nik the perfect opening. He popped another grape into his mouth. “You’ve been here long?”
Liam shrugged. “Yes.” Then he added, “Doing community service.”
“For?”
A deeper red tinged his face as he served another person. “Stole a car. It gave me what I wanted.”
Aaand understanding pinged. It wasn’t for the thrill of it or that the boy wanted the Porsche—since he possessed an expensive Suzuki—it could only be to either rile Enzo-fucking-Argo or get away from him.
“Yo, Liam?” A skinny, dark-haired female came over, ignoring Nik. Yeah, the homeless were invisible. “I’ll take over here. The kitchen needs clean-up.”
“Excuse me,” the boy murmured and shuffled for the door.
Nik did a quick scan of the place and surrounding area, but all appeared calm. He followed Liam. Shadow, I’m in the kitchen, he telepathed her.
Okay. Liam?
He heard the worry in her tone. He’s fine.
Liam glanced back, opened his mouth, then shut it, seeming not to care it was against the rules or whatever. Fruit bowl in his hand, Nik wandered to the exit door and remained there.
The smaller prep room was even more chaotic with chatter and helpers moving about. Liam gathered several bulging refuse bags and hauled them outside. Nik left his bowl on the crowded table and trailed behind him.
In the narrow alley, the boy made his way to the dumpsters farther up. Two sturdy humans dres
sed in black strolled toward them. Nik’s warning radar stirred.
The shaven-head man seized the boy, slamming him against the wall.
“What the hell do you want?” Liam snapped.
“You shouldn’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong.” He plowed a fist plowed into Liam’s stomach.
Nik flashed, grabbing the skatá, and flung him away from the groaning, doubled-over lad. Shaven-head hit the asphalt with a hard thud, and he lay there unmoving. Nik pivoted and punched the bulky one rushing him straight in the face, then put himself in front of Liam.
“Why are you hasslin’ the boy?” he added a compulsion to his cold tone.
“A fucking homeless thinks to take us on,” Bulky snarled, swiping the blood from his nose. He whipped out his Glock, eyes flat. “I’m gonna kill you, and no one will care.”
Faster than the humans could track, Nik moved, twisting the goon’s arm behind him, popping his shoulder. His pained shout ricocheted in the air.
“Talk, or I break it.”
“Fuck you—”
Nik rammed him face-first into the wall, another howl tore free.
“What the hell is taking you two so long?” a familiar, suited figure snapped, storming closer.
Nik tossed the moaning goon aside.
“I don’t believe it. You two let a filthy homeless man overpower you?”
Well, well. The mafia thug himself. Yeah, Nik had done some deep-down digging about this shithole. He hadn’t said anything to Shadow, didn’t want to worry her. But this skatá was steeped deep in the darker side of life with his money laundering and drugs biz.
Enzo’s angry dark eyes locked on Liam, who stood near Nik. “You’ll regret this, boy.”
“I did nothing—”
“Breaking into my office. Prying?” he snapped.
Nik stilled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Liam muttered.
Enzo’s dark gaze became brown ice. “I’m gonna hurt you so badly, you’ll never lift a finger again for a long while. Let’s go.”
“You can’t threaten me.”
“I can do whatever I want. No one cares about you.” The human pulled out a gun with a silencer. “Move your fucking ass.”
He didn’t seem to care Nik was there. Clueless dick.
Liam suddenly slammed into Enzo and spun around.
Dammit! Nik shoved Liam aside, and a thwack sounded.
The boy stumbled back, a pained grunt escaping him. Shit.
Unable to use his powers, Nik leaped across and grabbed Enzo, slamming him head-first to the wall. The gun fell in a thud, and the human groaned. Nik twisted his hands to the back, summoned some twine, and secured Enzo to the drainpipe. The need to deal out retribution garroted Nik by the throat, and he hated that his fucking hands were tied by his Guardian’s oath.
He pivoted to the boy.
“Liam!” Shadow cried out, racing toward them as Nik knelt and scanned him. “Oh, god, oh, god!” She fell to her knees and lifted his blue t-shirt, revealing the seeping lesion on his side. “He’s been shot.”
“Let me go, you fucking piece of garbage!” Enzo snarled, a string of deadly promises flying free.
Nik ignored him and crouched near the lad, scanning his injury. “It’s a flesh wound,” he said, feeling his mate’s pain. “The bullet grazed him.”
His body blocking Enzo’s sight, Nik laid his palm over the seeping injury and let his power coalesce into the wound. The bleeding stopped, and the skin knitted together.
Liam groaned and sat up, his hand going to his side. He blinked, staring down at his unblemished but gore-smeared skin, then at his bloody shirt with the bullet rip, and back to Nik. “How…what did you do?”
Nik lifted a hand, stopping him. He pulled out his cell from his pocket and made a call. “Tagg, have one here for you. Attempted murder of a minor, and the death of one Olivia Montgomery.”
“Be there in a moment.” The call dropped.
“You have no idea who’re you’re dealing with,” Enzo barked, fighting his restraints.
With a cold stare at the scourge, Nik glanced back and met Shadow’s furious gaze.
Chapter 26
Rage stormed through Shadow at hearing Nik’s words. She picked up her brother’s fallen cap, knowing she would never forget the feeling of gut-deep terror sweeping through her and had her rushing outside to see her brother get shot.
“Are you all right?” she asked him.
Blue eyes looked her over, his brow creasing. He shoved back his overlong brown hair and nodded. “I guess I am.”
“Liam…it’s me,” she whispered, unable to hold the words back. “Shadow.”
His eyes widened, and she knew why, because no one but he had called her Shadow before she went missing.
“Gemma?”
Tears fell. “Y-yes.” She sniffed and pulled him into a hug, arms tightening around his surprisingly strong body.
“Gemma’s dead,” Enzo snarled. “The bitch’s an imposter!”
Hearing the cruel voice that haunted her dreams, Shadow handed Liam his cap and slowly pushed to her feet. “Is it true what you said to Tagg?” she asked Nik. “He’s responsible for Olivia’s death?”
Nik rose to his feet. Nodded. “Yeah. Last night I visited the penthouse. Seems he got a little scared of my spectral serpent form and spit it all out.” Shadow had no idea what Nik had done, didn’t care, rage flooding her, hot and deadly. “Release him.”
Nik strode over, snatched the gun from the ground, then touched the twine and snapped the thing with his mind. He remained close, just in case Shadow needed help.
The moment Enzo was free, he launched himself at Shadow. “I’m going to make you wish you’d stayed dead, bitch. Don’t think this beggar—” He sneered at Nik. “Who took me unaware will protect you—”
Shadow spun around and let free a flying kick, the icepick heel of her boot nailing him across the face, slicing open his cheek. He staggered back in shock. Blood gushed. He swiped his face and stared in disbelief at his gore-covered fingers.
“I wouldn’t talk big without your goons around to protect you, you murderer!”
“Puta!” Enzo lunged, a fist flying.
She ducked, but he caught her on the jaw. Stars exploded in her head, and she stumbled back. A meaty arm grasped her around the neck in a chokehold.
Nik moved. She flashed out a hand, stopping him. He’s mine!
Fuck this—
Nik, stay back!
“Let her go,” Nik snapped, eyes a burning white, ignoring her order. “Or I will kill you.”
Dammit. Shadow shook her head at her furious mate, and that tic on his jaw beat faster when he met her glare.
Footsteps thudded.
Enzo laughed, dragging her back with him toward the mouth of the alley. “Too bad you didn’t think this through. My men are here. I’m gonna enjoy making you pay!”
“Oh, shut up,” Shadow growled, despite the suffocating hold on her neck.
Nik’s rage bled through to her like an open faucet—he shot past her. Grunts sounded, then silence.
Enzo squeezed harder. Goddamn the fucktard!
Obsidian dagger summoned, and with every bit of strength she possessed, she twisted aside and plunged the blade deep into Enzo’s stomach.
A howl of pain erupted from the jerk.
Enzo’s stumbled back. Shadow lurched few feet away, inhaling massive gulps of air.
“That’s for my sister. For the months of pain and abuse she went through with you—” She smashed her fist into his mouth. His head snapped back. “And that’s for threatening and hurting my brother.” Damn, she shook her throbbing knuckles, then rubbed her sore throat.
Grunting and cussing at her in a flood of Spanish, his mouth and cheek dripping blood, Enzo yanked and tugged, trying to remove her mystical blade from his gut but to no avail. She glided closer to him, ignoring Nik’s warning growl, and spat, “Never, ever threaten my family—”
“I’ll take over if that’s okay with you,” a new voice cut in.
Shadow’s gaze snapped to the tall, brawny man standing a short distance away. Built like a linebacker, with close-cropped dark hair, and bronze skin, the huge man strolled over. A law badge clipped to the waist of his pants, glinted in the moonlight.
The cop, Tagg.
Lips pressed tight, Shadow stepped back.
Tagg grabbed Enzo by the arms, cuffed his hands to his spine, and reached for the dagger protruding from his belly. It didn’t budge.
Shadow, get your dagger, Nik telepathed her.
Mouth tight, she grasped the hilt and removed her weapon. At the blood gleaming on the black metal, she swiped it on Enzo’s designer suit. She didn’t want his shit marring her blade.
Enzo’s dark eyes gleamed with hatred. He panted, “You and this vagrant will regret—”
She kneed him in the nuts, and he grunted, folding to his knees on the pitted asphalt, finally shutting up.
“Try.” She stood over him. “And I swear on Olivia’s grave, you’ll breathe your last.”
Tagg hauled Enzo to his feet. “Kill him, then you defeat the purpose of payback. Death is too easy.”
Callused hands pulled her back into a narrow chest. Breathing harshly, even in that homeless glamour, the familiar smell of stormy nights and cedar, of her mate, cracked through her fury, and she inhaled a shuddering gulp of air. Nik’s palm gently rubbed her spine. “It’s over, agápi.”
She pressed her face into his pecs and nodded, hoping wherever Olivia was, she would be at peace now.
“Shadow?”
The low, raspy voice, edged with worry, wrapped around her like a gentle hug. She glanced over her shoulder at her brother, tears misting her eyes. “I’m okay, Liam.” Her gaze lit back on the brawny cop reading a snarling Enzo his rights. Then Tagg glanced at Nik and nodded.
“Wait,” Liam called out to the cop. “I have something for you. Be right back.”
Tagg arched an eyebrow as her brother sprinted back into The Shelter.
Footsteps echoed, more cops arrived. They hauled the unconscious goons over their shoulders and left.
Shattered Dawn (Fallen Guardians Book 5) Page 29