“I want to do this-”
“Diplomatically,” both Gerard and I said in unison.
We laughed as she glared, a small smile coming to her lips. “Good to know you listen to me.”
It was exciting to be in the field again. It had been a while since I’d felt true companionship with the other agents. My own shit was pushed to the back of my mind when Gerard took my hand, squeezed it once and let go. I would tell him. Just, not yet.
“Once inside, I want you to let Kurt do the talking. Cameron is a typical Scotsman. They’re amazing people, yet, a little…” She tried to search for the words.
“They hate the English,” Gerard said when I frowned in confusion.
Ah, still?
I didn’t say anything as Justina banged the partition to let Kurt know that we were ready. He was our driver, no exceptions. Shame, I would have loved to have a go at throwing the van around the streets of Edinburgh. I’d probably only hit one pedestrian or maybe two. Nah, maybe it was best that Kurt did all the driving.
“Right,” Kurt said, opening the partition. “I’m ready.”
The doors opened and we hopped out. Adrenaline thundered through my blood as we strode towards the double doors that led to the inside of the building. A security guard stepped forward, ready to stop us gaining access.
My gaze traced sideways. The three of my colleagues held their heads high, their backs straight. Their black or grey work outfits made them look super kickass. We were like the four musketeers of the modern era. I’d be d'Artagnan. Just cos.
“Hunted Witch Agency,” Justina announced, flipping her ID open.
We all followed, our photo’s flashing at the witch as he eyed us. Taking his walkie from the belt around his rotund waist, he spoke into it. His eyes shifted behind us. Oh no he didn’t.
Spinning, I kicked out my boot, grunting when it ploughed into a female security officer. She had been approaching from behind. His partner, obviously.
Crashing to the ground, she groaned. Kurt held his arm out in front of him, using a spell to stop the male guard from moving.
Justina gestured for us to follow her. Gerard put his gun away at the same time as checking over his shoulder to make sure I was with them. Butterflies exploded in my stomach when he winked.
How could I tell him that I had another choice to make on top of the endless others that always seemed to come into my life?
The doors opened quietly as Justina waited for Kurt to join us in the downstairs lobby. No one was around, which was a bonus. However, there were cameras, which meant somebody would be on their way down.
“Gerard, Devon, go up in that lift. We’ll take the stairs. Careful of using your magic, I can feel all sorts of protection spells going on.” Justina moved towards the door that led to the stairs, Kurt at her back. “And, remember…”
“Diplomacy!” we both called as the lift dinged open and we went inside.
The doors closed, leaving us staring at the buttons. “Er… what floor…?”
“It was the tenth floor. Justina pretended to be a caterer on the phone. Managed to get some sandwich orders.”
Light music played high above as the elevator took us up. Gerard stayed staring forward, his mind on our mission. I watched him, debating when to tell him what Mary had said, what the ancestors had said.
“Ready?” he asked, stroking one finger down my hand before the light blinked on the ten button.
Nodding, I smiled before looking away. Soon. I’d tell him soon. In the meantime, we had to kick some mob witch arse.
The doors bleeped open. Cameron stood there, right in front of us. His arms were hanging by his sides, his hands empty. We stepped out, our footsteps slow as the doors behind us closed.
“Can I help you?” His thick Scottish accent made the corner of my lip quirk.
He was sexy. There was no denying it. However, the man next to me was even better. We’d been hiding our identity from everyone in Scotland, but our cover was now blown.
“Yes,” Gerard said. “We’re here to see Cameron Fieldman.”
Almost snorting, I held up my hand in apology when the witch in front of us licked his bottom lip. The intensity of the energy in the lobby made my skin heat. A secretary was sitting behind her desk, staring.
Otherwise, there was no one around. Hhmm… that was fishy.
Cocking his head to the side, Cameron shook it. “You’re the pair that went to see Keith. I’m assuming he didn’t give you what you wanted.”
The doors of the stairs burst open. Justina and Kurt came through, their weapons raised. Justina stashed her gun as soon as she saw us. Kurt moved past her, his eyes on the mob leader.
“We’re from the Hunted Witch Agency,” he said, his Aussie accent stronger than usual.
Without uttering a word, Cameron flung his arm in the air. A wall of fire shot up in front of us, blocking us from getting to him. His back disappeared into his office. That didn’t matter, it wasn’t as if he could go far.
The lift behind us pinged, releasing a bunch of security guards as the doors opened. Throwing a punch before shooting, Gerard knocked the first one to the ground. Kicking out my leg again, I cursed when the witch I was aiming at grabbed my calf. Spinning, he tried to twist me, almost wrenching my foot off. Shouting, I flicked my fingers towards him. A spell came out of my mouth before I could even think.
Ten small cracks resounded as he let go. My leg landed on the ground as he crouched down in pain, his cries echoing around us as the fire raged on. It didn’t spread. Cameron obviously wanted to protect his building.
“You bitch!” Spittle flew from his lips as he shouted, his back bent forward. “You broke my fingers!”
Aw, didums. My pity switch was off. Sorry, friend.
“Devon!” Justina shouted. “Get through there!”
Pointing at the fire barrier, she turned back to the woman she was almost wrestling. Why were we being so diplomatic? We needed something, and we were here to get it.
Without replying, I closed my eyes, ducking when a fist was thrown in my direction. How I knew it was coming, I didn’t know, but luckily, my intuition informed me.
“Go.” Gerard pushed my arm gently. “I’ve got you covered.”
Connecting to the ley line beneath my feet, I tugged the pure magic into my body. My dagger palmed, I let it filter straight through me and into the handle.
Looking down, I stared at the glowing white blade. I loved my power. I loved my magic. I… was talking like an addict.
One step towards the fire barrier and my arm thrust down, slicing through. The fire spluttered briefly, allowing me time to slink between the cut in the spell.
The secretary was gone from behind the desk. The door to Cameron’s office was closed. Not for long. My feet were about to rush forward, but I paused. The mob boss would probably have a very strong protection spell around his office. One that could break my bones if I tried to physically thrust my way through.
Treading carefully, I reached out to trace my fingers over his frosted glass door. Electric shocked me, making me pull back. There it was.
“What are you waiting for?” Kurt called from behind. “Get your arse in there!”
Without looking back, I zoned in on a noise within the office. Using the same spell I’d cast at the golf club, I listened to the voices inside.
“Go down in the elevator and raise the alarm. I’ll be in the next one. I’m just getting some documents.”
Ah, of course. The witch had his own private lift to his office. That made sense.
“Devon?” Gerard called.
Standing on the other side of the barrier, they watched me. The guards were down, their numbers beaten.
Running back, I looked at Justina through the flames. “He’s got a private elevator. Someone needs to go and find the bottom to stop the secretary from telling others that we’re here. He’s going down in a moment. I can’t get in, though.”
“Devon,” Gerard said, his husky vo
ice drawing my attention. “You’re linked to both witch and warlock magic. Of course you can get in.”
My hesitation in using my power was borne from Mary’s words of warning. I didn’t want to become too addicted.
“Stop thinking, start doing. I command you,” Kurt shouted. “We’ll go downstairs. Gerard, you stay here and help Devon. Remember, believe in yourself.”
His last words were aimed at me. He was right. I had more power than any being in the world right now. I just didn’t know how to use it.
As their retreat resounded, I dug deep and whispered a dispersing spell to get rid of the fire. It tried to hold, but eventually the pure magic stifled it, allowing Gerard to come to me.
“Okay,” he whispered. “Just keep doing that.”
Turning in unison, we went to the office door. I could hear Cameron shuffling around in there. A ding of the elevator made me take two steps back. He would leave any moment. We couldn’t lose him.
Throwing my arm out, I felt into the ground for my warlock link. The hot burning power came through my soles, making the heat boil me from the inside out.
“Do it,” Gerard whispered, his presence bolstering my confidence.
Closing my eyes, I almost hummed as I envisioned a ball of bright blue magic, the centre swirling, ready to explode.
“Jeez, that’s huge.”
Gerard’s mutter made me grin as I opened my eyes. I couldn’t see past the electric colour of the magic that danced in front of me. Gosh, if I was this powerful, nothing could stop me.
“Step back!”
Planting my boots firmly on the ground, I thrust my weight forward, releasing the giant ball of blue power. It shot forward, exploding against the glass wall of Cameron Fieldman’s office.
Covering my head as debris flew around us, I smiled to myself as the barrier shattered into tiny pieces. I’d done it. I’d fucking done it.
“Come on,” Gerard said, grabbing my hand before the dust had settled.
Dragging me, he surged over the wreck on the floor, crunching glass under his feet. I followed, my gaze taking in every part of damage I’d left behind.
“Freeze!” Gerard shouted at Cameron Fieldman’s retreating back.
The mobster witch held his hands up when Gerard fired a shot in the wall beside him. He had a backpack slung over his pristine suited shoulder. His hair was slick against his head as he slowly tiptoed around to face us.
The lift was in front of him, the numbers winding up as it ascended towards his office. More guards were probably on their way.
“Get on the floor,” I said calmly.
His head twisted, his gaze reaching Gerard’s before it met mine. “I had a funny feeling about the pair of you at the club. Should’ve listened to my gut.”
Huffing, he lowered his backpack and slowly got to the floor. “Do you know how much this suit cost?”
“It’s okay,” I muttered. “It looks like your cleaners have done a good job this morning. The floor’s pretty clean. Where you’re lying, anyway.”
I ignored his grunt of … amusement? Annoyance? Either way, it didn’t matter.
My palms were sticky as we waited for the elevator to reach our floor. Going around Cameron, I left Gerard to handcuff him.
The ping sounded just as the doors slowly started to grind open. Justina’s eyes were there, so were Kurt’s. Phew. Although…
“Let him go!”
A guard pushed his way out, his gun held into Kurt’s side. Ah, they had been caught. Not such great agents now, were they?
Diplomacy? Nah, I was bored with being nice. We were agents, we weren’t supposed to be nice.
“No.” Twisting my hand in the air, I laughed when the guard clutched his skull and dropped to the ground, his body convulsing as he hit the floor.
Justina frowned at me, her eyebrows raising when I shrugged. The rush that had kept me going suddenly drained away. Ah, I was going to get a bollocking for hurting the guard. Oh well, my bad.
“Cameron Fielding, we’re detaining you for questioning regarding the magic drug trade.” Kurt patted Gerard on the arm, indicating that he should get him to his feet.
Once up, the mob boss glared at the others before his gaze landed on me. “So,” he said, his handsome face grimacing when Gerard yanked his handcuffed wrists. “You’re the beauty who’s got all that magic.”
Chapter Twelve
Avoiding my man’s gaze, I watched through the two-way mirror as Justina interrogated Cameron Fieldman.
Gerard was beside me, trying to get my attention. It had been hard not to tell him that if I wanted to stay connected to the ley lines, I would have to marry an Essex witch. There were only four remaining lines from the Essex families, but they had spread out over the years. Still, I was in love with Gerard, and in this day and age, I should be allowed to marry who I wanted.
“He was impressed by you,” Gerard said, tracing something on the glass of the mirror. “They should let you go in there.”
“Everyone’s impressed by me.”
Shoving him playfully, I regretted it when he turned his serious gaze on me.
“You’re-”
“Devon?” Kurt stuck his head through the door. “He won’t talk until you’re in there.”
Inclining my head, I squeezed Gerard’s arm as I went past. He was about to accuse me of being distant, I was sure. I didn’t blame him, I’d been battling myself over the last few days. Was it only a few days? Yes. Everything had happened so fast in Edinburgh, I could hardly keep up. That was the nature of the job. A hot lead made us chase it down until it was caught. Er, did I say hot?
Clenching my hands, I entered the interrogation room. The last time I had been allowed to speak to a prisoner, I had beaten the crap out of them. That wouldn’t happen today, no matter how much I’d like to wipe the smug grin from Cameron’s face.
“Ah, our famous half-breed. I heard that the London warlocks planned to breed more of you.” Resting his elbows on the metal table between us, he eyed me as I lowered myself into a chair next to Justina.
Having my boss as an interrogation partner made me warm inside. There was something about facing our opponents together that made me feel more confident. Maybe it was the trust she had in me. Although, she did shuffle her chair forward so she was the one who was in the mob coven leader’s eye line. I was just there to please him. Shit, and there I believed that Justina thought I was fit for the job again. Maybe not.
“Once again, Mr Fieldman, we need a list of the names on your payroll.”
Quirking his head to the side as he stared at me, he frowned. “When I heard of the half-breed who had connected to a ley line and inherited the link of the warlock magic, I imagined someone a little…”
“Bigger?” I offered, holding my face deadpan as I rested my hands in my lap.
Raising one eyebrow, he smiled gently, shaking his head. “Not in statue but in energy.”
Ah, yes. His own power was obvious from the way he carried himself, and the magnetism that seemed attractive to all.
“My trade isn’t as illegal as you think,” he muttered, suddenly turning to Justina. “I just own the buildings.”
His words were a confession, of sorts. Weren’t they?
“Are you saying that someone else makes and deals the drugs?”
Keeping my face impassive as he ran his gaze over me, I fought the shudder that erupted, failing miserably by the time his eyes clashed with mine. What made him so powerful? Did he have a supply of extra witch magic like Helena had?
“How involved were you with Helena Welles?” I asked the words before my brain engaged. Nice one, Devon.
“I wasn’t. What she did was terrible. You may assume that I have no morals, but I do. My coven are portrayed as a mobster mentality.” Cameron snorted. “It really isn’t the truth of it. Yes, we might supply buildings for business men, but what they do with them isn’t anything to do with me.”
“Actually, it is.” Justina slid a piece of
paper across the table.
On it was over twenty small photos of the people who had died from the poisoned drugs. Humans and supernaturals alike. All dead because of him.
“Morals, Mr Fieldman?” Justina’s stare could cut through anyone’s heart when they doubted themselves.
Not Cameron, though. He stared straight back, his dark gaze cold, calculated. We weren’t going to be able to appeal to his compassion. He had none. We needed to hit him where it would hurt. Right in his balls. And, I was happy to do just that.
“Okay, we’ve offered you a chance to talk. You’re not playing ball.” Ha. Yeah, just a warning for him so he knew that I was being serious.
“You’re very beautiful,” he interrupted my threat bomb. “It’s amazing to think that all that power simmers under that stone hard facade. Have you ever been opened up, Miss Jinx?”
My throat contracted as a thump from the other side of the mirror drew his attention. I knew it was Gerard, probably punching the glass. He wasn’t exactly a full on jealous type of guy, but my whole body had reacted to Cameron’s question. It wasn’t the sexual undertone that got to me, it was the invitation to explore the magic I was forbidden to take advantage of. He was appealing to my addiction.
“If you don’t comply, we’re going to search every building on your property list. Both personal and coven. Which means that all those companies working in them will be disrupted. Maybe for weeks.”
His eye twitched. Good. See. Balls on a plate. The smooth running of the coven and its money making potential were higher on his list than human and supernatural life. Nice man. Not.
Blinking slowly, he looked at me. “What are you after, exactly?”
The huff of his breath made me almost smile. He was resigned, tempted. He couldn’t let his enterprise be distracted. If he was genuine in his claim that he just rented out a warehouse to a client, he wouldn’t want the hassle of the agency searching his whole property portfolio.
“You know full well what we want, Mr Fieldman.” Justina shoved another picture under his nose.
A small syringe with a tiny silhouette of a witch’s head imprinted on the tube. They couldn’t have made it more obvious. Although, the syringe wasn’t meant to get into the hands of anyone other than the victim. The tubes had been spelled to disappear as soon as they’d been discharged. Lucky for us, someone at a club had offered to give us theirs when their friend died.
Hunted Witch Agency Box Set Books 4-5 (Hunted Witch Agency Set Book 2) Page 11