Sin City Collectors Boxed Set: Queen of Hearts, Dead Man's Hand, Double or Nothing

by Kristen Painter

  “My brother…” The words came out of him in a strangled sob.

  “I know,” Minka whispered. The thought that Caleb had been buried somewhere for nearly two hundred years, alive but starved of blood, slowly withering into some kind of husk…she swallowed down the absolute awfulness of what Gage must be dealing with and tried to get him to focus on her.

  The light in Gage’s eyes was cold and distant. “I’m going to kill him.”

  “I know, but we need to find out where Caleb is first.”

  The muscles in Gage’s neck corded, his eyes still glazed in pain. “He’s never going to tell me.”

  She put her hands on his face and forced him to look at her. “Yes, he will. He’s not going to have a choice.”

  Through the haze of rage and misery that threatened to drown him, Gage suddenly realized what Minka was saying. “You can’t dust him. You just used your power on the Alchemist. And you’ve got to be a little weak from blood loss, too. You need time to recover. I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You’re not asking me. I’m volunteering.” Her hands slid down to his arms. “No, it’s not going to be fun, but what choice do we have? We can’t let your brother spend one more night as Blackwell’s prisoner.”

  He wouldn’t argue with that.

  She glanced at Blackwell. “Because vampires don’t breathe, I can’t just exhale the dust down his throat like I did with the Alchemist. It’s going to take a little more effort, but I can do it.” She canted her head and stared up at him, her expression all business. “Besides, you’ll take care of me afterward, right?”

  New emotion choked him. That she even felt she had to ask… “Of course. I would do anything for you.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I’m humbled and grateful you want to do this for me. I’m not happy about the toll it’s going to take on you, but your willingness to sacrifice for me—for my brother—I…owe you so much.”

  “Hell yeah, you do.” She dropped her arms to her sides, causing him to instantly miss her touch. She snorted in Blackwell’s direction. “Smug bastard.”

  “We have to do this right.” Gage followed her gaze. The very sight of the man caused Gage’s jaw to tighten with the kind of rage only blood could satisfy. “You dust him, he gives us the info on Caleb and I rip his heart out. That’s about as right as I can figure.”

  “No, you can’t kill him.” Thinly veiled panic framed her words. “Not that quickly anyway.”

  He whipped around to look at her. “Why the hell not?”

  “My powers aren’t always foolproof. Not on a supe this old and skilled. Besides, we made the Alchemist fix up those syringes so we could knock Blackwell out and turn him over to the GCC for the crime against your brother.”

  “I’m not buying that about your powers. I’ve seen you dust supes bigger and badder than Blackwell.” Although he knew turning Blackwell over to the Gotham City Collectors would be a major coup. Still, it wasn’t like Minka to sell herself short. Pixies were proud of their skills.

  “He might be able to lie. That’s all I’m saying.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and frowned.

  “How is that possible?” Something was up. He knew her too well to think otherwise. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Irritation glinted in her eyes, and the hard set of her mouth was a sign of reluctance he knew well.

  “Minka, in your words, we’re wasting darkness.”

  “He bit me.” She sighed in exasperation. “He’s drunk my blood. It’s not something we ever reveal, but now you know.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “The only way to circumvent the power of pixie dust is to drink the blood of a pixie.”

  Gage’s jaw went south. “Is that why you never dusted me?”

  She refused to meet his eyes. “I almost did. That last night.”

  The night he’d come back from scouring the vampire nest for Blackwell. She hadn’t known yet what he’d done, just that he’d done something. Suspicious, she’d questioned him, but he’d charmed her out of her mood, and they’d made love. For the very last time. He’d left her the next day, knowing it was his only choice. It was the last time he’d seen her, until he’d awakened to find her in the cell across from his. “You had the chance after I fell asleep.”

  “I decided I’d rather not know the truth than have the man I loved lie to me. Although if I’d known then you’d already betrayed me, I might have taken a crack at it.”

  The man she’d loved. Her words gutted him almost as badly as the news he’d just gotten from Blackwell. “How would you have known if I had lied?”

  “It’s part of the power. We can tell when it’s the truth, and we can tell when it’s a lie.”

  “I wouldn’t have lied to you.”

  “You don’t know that.” She twirled her fingers around her head. “When there’s dust in your brain, you don’t know what you’d do.”

  “Do you regret that decision?”

  She finally looked at him. “Sometimes. I thought…never mind.”

  “No, what did you think?”

  “That…it was another woman. I never suspected you’d raided that vampire nest. Not until my team got there and they were gone.” She lifted one shoulder. “I guess I know now, right?”

  “Right.” He could apologize again, but that hadn’t done him much good so far. “For what it’s worth, I would never cheat on you. Ever.” He still hadn’t.

  She stared at the floor. “Look, about Blackwell, I’ll dust him. You just have to know there’s a chance he could still lie, but there’s a decent shot he won’t.”

  While it wasn’t the place or the time, he wished they could have discussed the past a little more. “Decent?”

  She raised her head. “It’s a percentage thing. He’s had some of my blood, but not a lot.”

  “Whereas I’d had a lot more.”

  She nodded and started back toward the front of the theater. “You’d have had no trouble lying to me.” She hesitated, giving him a cutting look. “Dust or otherwise.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Minka, I’ll never lie to you again. I swear.”

  She studied him, a thousand unspoken words shining in her eyes. “Let’s go see what Blackwell has to say.”

  He nodded and followed after her, more confused than ever. She was clearly still angry and had trust issues with him, which he understood, but she was also willing to help him, so maybe part of her still loved him? It was too complicated for him to suss out right now, especially when there was a chance to get Caleb back.

  Maybe he should just be thankful for that much and stop wishing things could be fixed between him and Minka.

  Then again, he’d never been a quitter.

  With Gage at her side, Minka stood before Blackwell and did her best to ignore the pissy look on the vampire’s face.

  He lifted his chin and sighed like he was dealing with idiots. “You two just won’t give up, will you? I’ve given you everything you’re going to get. You want Caleb’s location? Let me go.”

  Gage snorted. “And give you the chance to disappear again? Or worse, target us a second time?” He narrowed his gaze. “Not a chance.”

  Blackwell rolled his eyes. “So distrusting.”

  Gage jerked forward. “Like I have reason to be otherwise, you sanctimonious piece of—”

  “Gage.” Minka curled her fingers against her palms to keep from smacking Blackwell as she turned to Gage. Blackwell was infuriating, but that was part of his game. “I’m ready.”

  “You got it.” Gage vaulted over the row of seats to stand behind Blackwell.

  Blackwell laughed as he stared her down. “You’re the head of interrogation, are you?” He twisted as best he could to look at Gage. “The years have really softened you, but then I imagine letting a woman do your work is typical for someone of your class.”

  Gage raised a fist to cuff Blackwell, but Minka lifted her hand. Scrambling Blackwell’s brain wasn’t going to help her. “I need him clea
rheaded.”

  Gage stared at her, but kept his fist cocked back.

  Her brows rose. “Once I’m done, you can do as you like.” Although she hoped he made the right choice to leave Blackwell alive and turn him over to either the SCC or the GCC for trial and sentencing. He’d still be put to death most likely, but getting the whole sordid tale into the open would make things easier for Gage. Because there was no way his indiscriminate use of Collector funds and resources wasn’t going to come to light after all this.

  He lowered his hand, but she could tell by the strain around his mouth he didn’t like it. “Whenever you’re ready then. I’d really like him to stop talking unless he’s going to say something useful.”

  Blackwell let out another belabored sigh.

  She gave Gage a nod. “Hold him.”

  Behind her, the Alchemist whimpered as if he knew what was coming next. Maybe he was having a flashback. Those who’d been dusted said it felt like ants crawling through your brain on a mission to find something.

  Gage latched on to Blackwell’s head.

  “Say now, what are you doing?” Blackwell’s voice took on an irritated tone as he struggled to move. “What’s the meaning of this?”

  He’d figure that out shortly. This was not going to be pleasant. Focus. She closed her eyes. The power began to gather in her throat. Energy poured in from every part of her body, bringing her nerves to life with the subtle tingle of a mild electrical charge. When her throat vibrated like a high note being held, she was ready. With a deep inhale, she opened her eyes, clasped Blackwell’s face and pressed her mouth to his.

  He opened his cold lips in shock, exactly what she’d been counting on. She expelled the breath she’d been holding and forced the dust from her throat into his body. He writhed, trying to break free, but Gage held him fast.

  Her fingertips touched Gage’s. She clung to that small comfort, because kissing Blackwell, no matter what the reason, was revolting.

  The last of her dust expelled, she backed off. Her head spun, and her muscles threatened to drop her. She held on. She had to. Gage would never know if Blackwell was lying or not. “Where’s Caleb buried?” No games. She didn’t have the energy.

  “In the ground.”

  She slapped Blackwell, doubting it had any effect with what little strength she had left, but pain, even a slight amount, could cause him to lose his last little grip on reality and spill the truth. “Specifically. Exact directions.”

  Blackwell grinned, a loopy, drugged-out smile. He was under the influence of the dust, all right, but he was still maintaining a smidgen of control. “The potter’s field where Washington Square Park now stands. Good luck finding him.”

  The static of deceit made the words garbled and distant. She grabbed on to the arms of the seat for stability and looked up at Gage to confirm. “Pretty sure that was a lie.”

  “It was,” Gage answered. “He took Caleb in 1827. That cemetery closed in ’25.”

  She scowled at Blackwell. “Try again. The truth this time. Or I’ll let Gage kill you right now.”

  Blackwell’s mouth opened and started to form a new word, then the shape of his lips changed, and he blurted out, “The basement of my brownstone.” The statement was followed by a curse.

  But the words had a crystalline ring to them. She raised her head and made eye contact with Gage. “That was the truth.”

  Relief erased the worry creasing his handsome face. Job done, she slumped to her knees and gave in to the energy drain.

  Gage leaped over the seats and scooped Minka into his arms. Her lids flickered. “You did great, baby. You were perfect.”

  “Thanks,” she mumbled.

  “Just rest. I’ve got the heavy lifting from here on out.” He’d happily shoulder whatever came next.

  “Get…Blackwell and the Alchem…ist to headquarters,” she added. Her voice was thready with exhaustion.

  “I can’t promise Blackwell.”

  “You have to,” she whispered.

  “I can’t.” He didn’t want to argue with her. Not after all she’d done. “Rest, okay?” He carried her out the theater’s back entrance and to the Alchemist’s car. Still dark out for another hour or so. Plenty of time to turn the Alchemist in.

  “Please.”

  He opened the rear door and eased her into the backseat, laying her down gently. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart.”

  She grabbed his hand, her fingers closing around his with a trembling grip. “Gage. Turn him in. There’s no…way you’ll survive this…if you don’t.”

  “Babe, you need to sleep.”

  She held on, staring him down.

  He sighed. “I’ll turn him in if you agree to go to dinner with me.” It was dirty pool, but he didn’t care. He wanted more time with her. Time to talk about second chances. Having Blackwell in SCC custody was a small comfort. Killing him would have been better, but not if it meant losing her again.

  “Good.” She let go of his hand. “Fine.” Her eyes closed, and within seconds, she was asleep.

  He raced inside, a hell of a lot happier than he’d expected to be. Not only was he going to get Caleb back, but maybe Minka, too. He grabbed the duffel they’d left by the door and took it to the Alchemist. He pulled the Alchemist’s leather roll from inside and unfurled it. “Which syringe knocks him out?”

  “You swear you’re going to go easy on me?”

  The man really had no room to negotiate. “Yes. Which one?”

  “The green one. But you’ve got to inject it into his heart.”

  “Got it.” Gage slipped the correct syringe from its holding place, then ran to Blackwell, who was still showing signs of grogginess. As much as he wanted to kill the man, he knew Minka was right. There was no way they could hide their abduction, especially not once the Alchemist was turned in. And when the reason behind their imprisonment was out in the open, Gage was going to need proof of what had happened to exonerate himself. What better proof than Blackwell?

  He lifted the syringe. “You better thank the pixie for this.”

  Blackwell’s gaze shifted to Gage and tried to focus. “That little git best not come near me again or I’ll—”

  “You’ll do nothing.” Gage leaned into the man’s space. “In fact, you’re never going to touch another member of my family ever again.”

  Blackwell opened his mouth, but Gage jammed the needle into his chest. Blackwell gasped. Gage shoved the plunger down, making sure the entire vial of sedative was empty.

  Blackwell’s eyes rolled back, and his head fell back. Gage slapped him. No response. He yanked the syringe out and put the cap back on it. The clock had started. The sedative would last no more than an hour.

  He left Blackwell to grab the duffel bag and the Alchemist, both of which required only one hand to carry, and take them out to the car.

  The Alchemist whined, as expected, when Gage dropped him into the trunk. “Why are you putting me in here? No! Put me up front—”

  Gage slammed the trunk and went back for Blackwell. He unlocked the chain, pulled Blackwell’s limp body off the seat, then rewrapped and secured him. Gage threw the unconscious vampire over his shoulder and headed out to the car.

  He unlocked the trunk. The Alchemist squinted up at him. “You better have come back to get me out of here.”

  “Nope.” Gage dumped Blackwell beside the Alchemist, who shrieked like a baby.

  “What are you doing? You can’t put him with me! What if he wakes up?”

  “Then I guess your sedative didn’t do its job.”

  “What?” The Alchemist’s eyes went wide in fear. “That’s not fair. You can’t do this!”

  “I can and I am.” Gage started to shut the trunk, then lifted it again. “Listen, if he does come to, scream as loud as you can before he tears your throat out, all right? Thanks.” He closed the trunk before the Alchemist could respond.

  He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. He’d made the drive to the Blue M
oon Casino many times. Logged in the Collections. Done the paperwork. There’d be none of that this trip, at least not for him. There wasn’t time. He wasn’t even officially here, and getting into the mess of it now wasn’t happening.

  He pulled onto the freeway, put the sedan in cruise and pulled out his phone to dial an old number. It rang three times.

  “Gage Hudson?”

  “Hello, Romero.” At least his former handler remembered him.

  “Funny you should call. I guess you heard the news.”

  Gage wasn’t sure what the man was talking about. “I don’t think I have.”

  “I hate to tell you this, but Minka Winslow’s gone missing.”

  “No, she’s not. She’s with me.” It was unlikely the Gotham branch had reported him as missing. He hadn’t been on a job, and it wasn’t that unusual for him to take several days off with little word. Although if they’d tried to reach him…he realized Romero hadn’t said anything. “It’s not what you’re thinking. We got ambushed, but we’re fine now. It’s a long, complicated story.”

  “I’m sure it is. Why don’t you try explaining anyway?”

  “I’m twenty minutes away. I’m about to dump two unofficial Collections on your doorstep. One’s the Alchemist.”

  “He’s on our fugitive list.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “How’d you end up with him?”

  “He’s the one who ambushed us.”

  “Damn. Lemme guess. Payback for his wife’s death?”

  “Jackpot. The other Collection is a little more personal. Spenser Blackwell. He’s been holding my brother hostage for almost two hundred years. He was bankrolling the Alchemist and would have killed Minka and me if his plan had succeeded.”

  Romero whistled. “You two sure know how to make friends. Any word on your brother’s location?”

  “Yes. Which is why I need transportation back to New York ready and waiting.”

  “Minka going with you?”

  “I’d like her to. You okay with that?”