They both looked at each other at the same moment and muttered, “Oh, shit.”
“Haul ass to HQ right now.”
“It will be a few minutes. We’re in our bathrobes.”
“I don’t care what you’re wearing. This is an emergency. Get over here.”
She clicked the phone off. “I’m not going downstairs in a bathrobe. I’ll wear my uniform.” Drawing a bracing breath, she headed toward the master suite.
He stood. “Do you want me go with you?”
“Sure. You need to change too. You’ve already seen me naked on the couch, so you might as well watch as I put it all back on.”
A deep, lazy laugh rolled out of him. “When we’re done with this crap, we’re going back to my room. I’m keeping you in bed with me for the rest of the weekend.”
She smiled, loving the thought. As they walked down the hall, her hands tingled like they’d been scalded. She rubbed her palms together and bright orange flames blasted out. The sparks drifted to the floor. “Whoa!” She stomped the embers on the carpet out. “Did you see that?”
“I couldn’t miss it. I guess you do take after dear old dad.”
Lifting her hands in front of her face, she stared. “I’ve never done that before. My hands get hot and I can reheat coffee by sticking my finger in the mug. Now and then I’ll make a spark, but it’s rare. I’m an empath, for Christ’s sake, not a firebrand.”
He looked her in the eye. “But today you weren’t an empath. That skill was blocked or repressed or—”
“Or under attack by some outside force. Kai, I’m getting a real bad feeling.”
They entered the suite.
“About what?”
She went straight to the bed and picked her uniform off the floor. “Something is bugging me.” She stepped into the slick polyester pants she’d come to hate. “I can’t pinpoint it. Marvin knew about you. Obviously, someone knows about me too. So much for living a quiet life. The real questions are how much do they know, and what would they do with that information?”
He shook the wrinkles out of a pair of dark-washed jeans and stepped into them. His long legs were a stunning sight, topped with a solid butt. Carefully tucking his semi-hard cock inside the pants, he buttoned the fly.
“You’re going commando?” She winked. “So am I. Somebody forget to leave us underwear. Oh, well. Live dangerously.”
With his thumb hooked through a belt loop, he shot her a smoldering look. “Just don’t get hit by a truck.”
“Or a skinwalker.” She buttoned her vest then reached for her shoes. “Damn. No socks either. How am I going to fight evil without socks?”
He pushed his arms through the sleeves of a silky black dress shirt. “We’ll have to use our wits.”
“Don’t count on it. I am so sleepy. My wits aren’t going to last much longer.” She slipped her bare feet into her shoes and winced. “I’m burning everything after we’re done with it.”
“Speaking of burning, do you think you’d be able to shoot fire at will?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. It might come in handy. Do you carry a gun?”
“No.” She wasn’t sure it was safe for a firebrand to be in contact with live ammo. “I’ve never needed one.”
“You might need one tonight. Do you know how to fire a gun?”
Her heart dropped. “Please don’t hand me a gun. I’ll probably shoot my foot off or set the bullets off like popcorn.”
“Three men are dead. One had his forehead blasted to hell, another had his heart ripped out, and the third donated his liver the hard way. How are we going to defend ourselves from homicidal skinwalkers with magic water dolphins and a few weak sparks? I’m not taking any chances. I’ve got two Glocks in my room. You’re taking one of them.”
She tied the laces on her shoes and said in a droll tone, “Just because you went down on me and rocked my world doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do. I’m not comfortable with a gun.”
“Adara.” His crooked smile melted her every time he said her name. “I’m trying to look after you. I should put you over my knee for being so stubborn.”
The thought of being chased, caught, and tossed over Kai’s knee to have her naked ass spanked stuck in her mind. “Can I have a rain check?”
He slipped his bare feet into his boots. “You bet. You know, something just occurred to me.” He headed toward the door of the suite and she followed. “All the other victims were hunted down then quickly and decisively killed. No fooling around. So why wasn’t lethal force used in any of the attacks on you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think I’ve been looking at this all wrong. The question isn’t why were you attacked. The real question is why you are still alive.”
She froze, mind spinning. “I know you’re going somewhere with this, but it still doesn’t sound very nice.”
He gathered his things in the living room. “Look. Montgomery Coldburn had a bone bead embedded in his neck followed by a gunshot wound that guaranteed he’d stay down for the count. His brother, Charles, had corpse dust blown in his face right before his heart was removed from his chest. Something similar happened to Viktor Petrova. You’ve had the bone bead and corpse dust treatment and you’re still in possession of all your vital organs.”
“So?”
“It means someone wants you alive. It makes sense. Fear and control, not murder, are the goal. Whoever they are, it could be the reason your empathetic skills were blitzed today as well.”
Alarm gripped her. “How and why?”
“I don’t know, but I want a Glock in my hand when I meet them. Grab what you need. Let’s get going.”
She tossed the silver purse into the shopping bag with the grimoire. “I’m ready.”
They walked out the penthouse door, allowing it to shut and lock behind them.
He took long strides across the foyer and swiped a card for the express elevator. The doors opened and they stepped inside.
She glanced at the scant selection of buttons. “I forgot we can’t get to the eleventh floor from this elevator.”
He punched M for mezzanine. “We’ll switch in the lobby. It’s worth a detour. I’m not heading into the night to hunt skinwalkers unarmed.”
The doors shut, and the elegant golden interior of the express elevator reflected an infinity of images. The drop was silent and smooth. She glanced at the mirrored surface. Her glamorous makeup and hairstyle were gone. “Well, it must be midnight. I’ve turned back into a pumpkin.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’re a very pretty pumpkin.”
“Thank you. I think.” She noticed he was tense and gave his hand a reassuring touch. “Nervous?”
His jaw muscles pulsed. “Yep.”
“Think about kicking skinwalker ass. That will cheer you up.”
He cracked a wide grin. “I’d rather think about taking you back to my bed.”
She reached for her still damp hair, divided and braided it. “Soon. I’d love that too.”
A soft ping signaled they’d arrived at the mezzanine. The doors opened and they stepped into a lobby crowded with people coming and going. They headed toward a bank of elevators on the far side. A stag party of loud young men meandered past on their way to the pit. Several of them looked absolutely tanked. One started to hiccup violently.
Kai scooped his arms around Adara’s waist and dodged aside seconds before the drunken man buckled forward to retch on the exact spot where they’d been about to step.
He shuttled her to safety. “See? You don’t always need to be an empath to know what’s going to happen.”
As they crossed the lobby, the doors of an elevator going up opened. They hurried to catch it. Kai strode inside first and hit the button for the eleventh floor.
A petite female with a swath of dark hair covering half her face darted over and held the door while a large man with a somber face stared
inside. The suited gentleman might have been handsome if not for a pronounced frown and jowly cheeks. He glared at them and offered a curt nod.
“Do I know you?” Kai demanded. “Are you going up or down? Make a choice.”
“You’re going down. Way down.” The man had a strong Eastern European accent.
The woman grabbed Adara’s wrist and yanked her so hard her shoulder popped.
“Stop it!” Overcome by the woman’s unexpected strength, Adara dropped the shopping bag and was involuntarily snatched from the elevator. The man grabbed her mid-stumble and held tight as she kicked and squirmed.
“Fuck you!” Kai burst forward.
The woman blew a handful of ashes in his face.
Kai gasped and coughed, rubbing his eyes. “Goddamn it!” He blinked and squinted with tears streaming down his cheeks as he groped blindly for the door.
Using titanic force, the woman shoved Kai to the back of the elevator, tossed a small corked bottle inside, and hit the button. The doors closed, trapping him. Deftly, she pushed a metal wedge between the door and wall and stuck a yellow “out of order” tag on the front. “That should stall everyone for a few minutes. Plenty of time for what I have in mind.” She turned toward Adara and smiled, a sickly grin that never fully took bloom. “Hello.”
Her heart hammered a frantic beat. “La Araña?”
Chapter Nine
She struggled so hard in the man’s grip that Adara wrenched her back. “There are cameras everywhere in the lobby. Security has seen all of this!” she shouted.
“Good,” La Araña gloated. She held up her wrist to display a large tarantula tattoo. “I planned on that. I hope they all rush out of the armored office they hide inside.” She glanced at the man. “After Yuri buys Poseidon’s Palace, he’ll be closing that department anyway.”
“That’s right.” Yuri’s accent was thick. “With La Araña’s help, all supernatural beings in Vegas will be exterminated like the meddlesome pests they are. We’ll hand the Palace over to the Moscow cartel. I’m going to do Moana myself. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Russian was built like a cement bunker. Kicking and thrashing got her nowhere.
He clamped a meaty hand over Adara’s mouth. “Are you sure this is the one?” He scowled. “She looks like a big nothing to me. Why would Moana fight for her?”
La Araña’s lips curled. “That’s because you don’t know how elementals work. I’ve spent half my life searching for a matched pair, hoping to harness their power. They give strength to each other like catalysts. That’s why we had to separate them and take them on one at a time. Their raw potential is tremendous. You’ll see. And soon, that power will be working for us.”
Yuri shoved Adara forward. “I hope it’s worth the trouble. I only want revenge on Moana.”
With a light-footed skip, La Araña raced across the lobby as she headed toward the exit. “And you shall have it, Yuri. I promise.”
Adara went limp and allowed her feet to drag along the carpet like anchors. Her muffled screams were ignored. No one gave them a second look. Why the hell wasn’t anyone in Vegas paying attention to an obvious abduction?
They exited the hotel and crossed in front of the valet station.
Yuri’s hand smelled of fried onions, and she hated having it clamped over her mouth. She drew her lips back and bit.
He yelped. “Bitch!” Turning, he blustered at La Araña. “How long do I have to put up with this?” With a shove, he hustled Adara across the pavement.
With her mouth free, she screamed, but it came at the same moment as an announcement over a loud speaker reminding pedestrians to remain clear of the taxi lane.
“I know who you are!” she shouted at the woman. “Lupe Castaneda! Lupe Castaneda! Lupe Castaneda!”
“Such idiocy.” Yuri put his hand back over her mouth. “Why is she screeching your name like a parrot?”
Lupe glared. “Maybe she’s seen Beetlejuice too many times? She probably believes the old folk tale that saying a skinwalker’s true name three times stops them cold in their tracks.” A huff of disgust burst past her lips. “Sorry, sweetie, but that trick only works if you still have a conscience. I’d say you’re about two decades too late to catch that train.”
Yuri wrestled Adara under his arm with tendon-stressing force and lugged her through the hotel’s front garden. A semicircle of shadowy juniper hedges surrounded the massive reflecting pool. The statue of Poseidon loomed in the center, bathed in scarlet light. He glanced at Lupe, looking hesitant. “We’re going to drown her here within sight of the valets?”
Lupe’s eyes gleamed. “Yes.”
He appeared uneasy. “There are a lot of people around. I don’t want to be held responsible for killing a woman.”
“You don’t get it yet, do you, Yuri? I’ve cast a spell. Those people don’t see or hear us, and if they do, they won’t be able to recall anything. Remember, she’s not just any woman, and only a little bit human. Does that make it easier for you?”
“Not really. I wish I’d known about your crap scheme in advance. Why do I have to put myself at risk? That’s what I’m paying you for. I came for Moana, period.”
“This isn’t crap!” Lupe snapped. “I practice high-level sorcery, and I’ve gone to a great deal of trouble for you.”
“Then use your sorcery to punish Moana! I don’t give a shit about the woman.”
Lupe shook her head. “Adara’s a firebrand and an empath. I want both those skills working for me. Technically, I’m not actually going to kill her, I’m going to take her to the edge of death, into the limbo realm. That’s the place where I can get inside her head and turn her.”
The downward turn of Yuri’s mouth betrayed his doubts. “She has to be drowned? This is bullshit. I only want the guy to suffer.”
“She’s a fire elemental. For her, drowning is the only path to the dark portal. Kai is a water elemental; he’ll have to be burned, preferably inside the elevator. The incendiary spell I cast should become active soon, if it hasn’t already.”
Adara kicked like mad at Yuri’s ankles. “You’re sick!”
Lupe got in her face. “Adara!” A deep male voice rumbled out of her mouth. “This is Sam.” She perfectly imitated the officer’s voice, and the effect was chilling. “My God, you’re so stupid. After I turn you into a zombie and enslave you, I want you to consider it an upgrade.” Picking at a tiny spot on Adara’s throat, she gloated. “This morning, before your shift started, I shot you with a bone bead. You didn’t even notice, did you? That lack of awareness gives me the right to repurpose you.”
She scoffed. “What happened at the restaurant? I sure as hell noticed that one.”
“I had to be sure, so I struck you a second time. I want your empathy skills. You’re wasting them here. Knowing what others are thinking could be very profitable on a corporate scale. Isn’t that true, Yuri?”
The man grunted in assent.
“Sneaking up on you was tricky. I used the bone bead to blunt your skills. You see, I’m human, and you would have known what I was thinking.”
Sounding annoyed, Yuri blurted, “Why did you kill the others? I don’t like the added attention.”
“No mystery.” Lupe recoiled. “Two were old acquaintances. I hold grudges. The third, Viktor, I threw in as a favor to you. By the way, you forgot to thank me for doing Viktor.”
“I asked you to capture Moana and bring him to me.” Yuri’s mouth twisted in an ugly snarl. “Why should I thank you for putting me and my business at unnecessary risk?”
“Your business?” A predator’s stare froze Lupe’s face. “Our business. I’m not a hired hand. I want my fair share of cartel profits.”
“What!” Yuri laughed, but it sounded wretched. “Bruja bitch, I’ll pay your fee, but you are not and never will be my business partner. Understood?”
Lupe’s eyes turned to liquid acid. “We had an agreement. I killed for you. You can’t back out now.”
�
��Bitch, please. You didn’t even kill the right people! Why are we fucking around next to a fountain when I should be inside the hotel popping a cap in Moana’s forehead? Tell me?”
“Because Moana’s out here!” Kai called to them from across the expanse of the fountain. The colored lights made his face glow crimson.
“Oh, fuck,” Lupe glared. “How did you get out?”
“The Palace maintenance crew is excellent. Picked the wedge free with a screwdriver. The rest of your skinwalker voodoo shit went in the trash.”
Yuri drew a gun from his jacket.
Kai shouted. “Let her go and I’ll give you a running start.”
“No!” Lupe shoved Adara headfirst into the fountain and straddled her back, weighing her down.
A burst of bubbles exploded in her face. Adara screamed when she should have held her breath. Her arms flailed, but she couldn’t buck Lupe off. Panic made her burn through her scant breath quickly. Lupe pushed hard on her neck and squeezed. Her lungs ached to gulp air.
It occurred that if she could control herself long enough to go limp and stop struggling, Lupe might be fooled into letting her up. With lungs on fire and sheer will, she forced herself to give up and play dead. Her hands floated motionless in front of her. The moments ticked. Pressure built behind her eyes. Her head was bursting at the temples and still she was trapped below the surface. Why wasn’t Kai doing something? Had he been shot and she’d not heard it?
Mortal fear set in. She struggled. An intense vibration spread across the pool. Through slatted eyes, she saw a monster wave rolling toward her and braced for impact. A second later, it picked her up and wrenched her free of Lupe’s grip. She was flung atop a prickly juniper hedge, gasping.
She glanced to her right. The fountain was nearly dry, the pavement as flooded as a lake. A tidal surge knocked Lupe and Yuri off their feet and washed them toward the street. Just as they scrambled to their feet, prepared to flee, an RV jumped the curb, sped toward them, and ran them over.
Shocked, she covered her face. After the screams and crunching sounds died down, she dared to look. Yuri and Lupe lay on the sidewalk, writhing and cursing. Lupe’s leg was turned at an unnatural angle.
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