by Dannika Dark
Darius leaned forward, his voice softening. “I don’t want you to give me information. I want you to kill them.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“I know you can do it,” he continued. “You’ve shown me the weak spots in my security. If this Keystone group is allowing you into their home, then they trust you on some level. Trust is an Achilles’ heel.”
“They’re not inviting me to any weddings.”
He sat back, his expression pensive. “On second thought, I’m beginning to have doubts that you can pull off something this big. Perhaps it’s too much. What a shame, because I’m eager to share my fortune with a capable partner.”
I thought about it. “The mansion is huge, and most of them stay in separate areas during the day. It wouldn’t be hard to take them out one at a time without alerting the others.”
“You’re just a street scavenger, and I’m not sure if money is motivation enough for someone like you.”
I huffed quietly. “What do I care what happens to them? They made a joke out of me. And you’re right; money isn’t what I’m after. I’m not saying I won’t take it, but I’d rather have someone who respects what I can bring to the table.”
A smile touched his lips. “Before you think about betraying me, just remember that I know the places you frequent and the people you interact with. I’ll eventually find the one person who matters. I can make your life hell before I eventually kill you, or I can be your mentor.” He reached out and moved a few strands of hair away from the burn. “Would you rather have more misery, or do you want a chance to become someone that people respect and fear? Work for me and I’ll furnish you with nice clothes, a home—anything your heart desires. No more sleeping in alleys or eating cold apple pie at an empty table in a diner.”
It was then that I realized Darius had been spying on me for the past week. He probably knew all my hangouts, where I slept, and the people I came in contact with. I flinched when another sharp wave of pain lanced my cheek, reminding me that I wasn’t going to escape.
“Your fate is in your own hands, Miss Black. Make the right choice and you’ll prosper for many years to come. Be loyal to yourself first and claim what’s rightfully yours in this world.”
“Untie me,” I said, holding his gaze.
“If I let you go, what is your intention?”
“To kill every last member of Keystone.”
Chapter 24
Every promise I’d made to Darius was a lie.
He’d tempted me with money and power, and had I been a weaker woman, I might have accepted. But men like him didn’t take on equal partners. They manipulated people to get what they wanted.
Darius might not have trusted me, but he was consumed with the fear that an organization like Keystone knew about what he’d been doing and that they had connections to the higher authority. I was his only chance, and after seducing me with promises and indirect threats, he seemed certain I wouldn’t betray him—especially with the incentives he offered. We spent an hour laying out plans, but he didn’t seem willing to send his men in with me. Either he didn’t want to risk losing the few people who were loyal to him, or he was afraid that if someone captured them, they would give up incriminating information on him.
I had until midnight to complete the mission. At first, he wanted me to bring their heads as proof. I finally convinced him that taking a cab with a bunch of severed heads might attract attention.
The plan didn’t matter. I would have agreed to dance naked in moonlight, wielding a battle-axe while singing show tunes if it meant getting the hell out of that house.
He let me keep two daggers but held my other weapons along with my bag.
Then he made a final proposal: “If you fail or turn your back on me, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Before you die, I will force you to witness the deaths of everyone you’ve ever cared about, starting with that sweet old lady in the diner. If you succeed, you will return to my house and confirm the body count. I’ll send two of my weakest guards to verify your claim. If they don’t return, our deal is off. Succeed at this mission and you’ll have my unwavering trust. I’ll reward you with the highest rank in my house and pay you handsomely for your partnership. We can do many great things together.”
One of his men had dropped me off down the road from the Keystone estate before turning around. Because Keystone was located in an area with a primary road and no neighborhoods, an unfamiliar vehicle parked on the road would draw attention. I told Darius that in order to execute our plan, I needed his cooperation and to keep his men away. Aside from that, he didn’t want to send them in until he heard back from me.
I drew the hood over my face to protect myself from the light breeze and sprinkles of rain that reawakened the pain in my face. There was a lot of open country out here—no sidewalks or houses near the road. The only things indicative of there being property in the area were iron fences, stone walls, and hedges that marked certain territories. Much of it was untouched—just rolling hills of green, overgrown trees, and wild animals.
I reached the private road on the left and approached the gates. After I pressed the button to request access, the gates opened. I trudged up the paved road, dreading what was to come.
It was late afternoon, and pockets of fog appeared to be lifting. Not that I could see sunlight, but Niko’s comment about the stars always being there reminded me that somewhere high above those dark clouds was a blue sky and warm sun.
I reached the door, and the knob turned easily. With my head down, I made my way through the house toward Viktor’s office. My shoes were quiet against the stone stairwells, but not quiet enough.
“And where do you think you’re going, lass?” Christian asked from below.
I ascended another flight, hearing him catch up with me.
“Are you deaf, woman?”
“You sound drunk.”
“Just a pint or two. We’re celebrating, you know.”
When I reached the second floor, I turned left down a long hall with lanterns hanging from the ceiling. There weren’t any windows, and despite the arched ceiling, the walls closed in on me.
“Going to say your good-byes to Viktor? Well, doesn’t that warm the cockles of my heart,” he said dramatically.
I rapped my knuckles against the door, and Christian eased up beside me, leaning his shoulder against the wall. “You have a peculiar smell about you.”
My hood shielded my face, and I had my arms crossed defensively. “I’m not here to talk to you.”
“Well, that’s a shame.”
“Come in,” Viktor said.
When I entered the room, I felt Christian behind me, so I stopped, blocking him in the doorway. “I need to speak to you alone,” I said to Viktor.
Because of my hood, I couldn’t see Viktor, but it sounded as though he was setting something down on his desk, maybe a book.
“It is unfortunate that you wasted your last day. If you came to ask for an extension, then the answer is no. We had an agreement, and I always stay true to my word.”
“It’s not about that. Tell Christian to leave.”
A quiet exchange passed between the two men—maybe a nod of the head or hand gesture. In any case, Christian left the room and closed the door behind me.
Viktor’s chair creaked as he rose to his feet and crossed the room. I took a few steps forward to meet him in the middle.
“What is this about? If you are asking me not to have Christian scrub your memory—”
“Darius sent me to kill you.”
After a pregnant pause, he quietly chuckled. “And here you are. What kind of joke is this?”
I pulled back my hood and reduced the space between us. His eyes widened when he saw the raw wound across my face. Viktor actually backed up a step, flicking a glance at his desk. He probably kept a weapon in those drawers.
“I’m not here to kill you, Viktor. I came with an opportunity to attack Darius. This might be the only chance you
’ll get in the near future.”
He folded his arms. “And how do I know you speak the truth? That scar on your face leads me to believe—”
The door crashed open, and I spun on my heel.
Christian strode toward me, his eyes narrowing. When his brows sloped down, I fell back a step, ready to flash out of his grasp if he tried to deliver a crushing blow with his powerful fists. When he didn’t stop, I gathered up my energy and flashed around him, but he reached out and hooked his arm around me. Christian gripped my chin between two fingers and turned my head to the side.
“Who did this to your face?”
Viktor raised his voice. “Christian, leave us.”
I tried to wriggle free, but his grip was tight. His obsidian eyes settled on mine, and I looked away before he could think about charming me.
“Christian!” Viktor bellowed.
Christian suddenly let go and charged toward the door, slamming it shut. “I’m not moving one inch until I find out who put that mark on her face,” he said with tempered rage. He kicked his foot like a mule and left a crack in the door.
Butterflies circled in my stomach.
“Let us hear what she has to say,” Viktor said.
The room grew uncomfortably warm, and I pushed up my sleeves. “I have until midnight to finish the job. This isn’t something I can run from. He threatened to hunt me down and kill everyone I know—innocent people. He wants me to return when I finish so he can send in two men to confirm everyone’s dead.”
“And what did he offer you?”
I swallowed, my throat dry.
Viktor stroked his beard. “He wouldn’t have set you free on a promise of letting you live. That’s not enough motivation to assure him you won’t run.”
“He offered me money and a position working as a partner.”
“A partner,” Viktor repeated. “That’s a generous offer.”
“He thinks I’ll either complete the assignment or flee, but he won’t expect what I have planned.”
“And what do you propose?”
“Attack him when he’s least expecting it. Tonight. His mind will be so preoccupied with what I’m doing here that he’s not going to think for a second that I’d actually return and raid his home. He doesn’t think I have a strong enough alliance with you, and maybe I don’t. That’s what I’m here to find out. He lives in an old brownstone building on the east side, and I happen to know they have underground tunnels that lead to some of the basements. Wyatt probably knows about them from his research, but I once heard two guys who were planning a robbery talking about it. The tunnels were built around the turn of the twentieth century as an escape route from humans. I guess they were afraid if humans discovered them, they’d burn the buildings or something. Anyhow, every basement has one, although some might be sealed off. He said most people had just forgotten about them over the years, especially as properties changed hands. The entrance looks like a storm drain.”
Viktor waved his hands and circled around his desk, taking a seat. “Wait a minute. You are suggesting we raid his home and fight who knows how many guards?”
“He has exactly four in the house, excluding a personal secretary who only works days. Is that too many for you?”
Christian crossed the room like a slow-moving shadow, his eyes still on my face. He stood in front of the desk, gripping the edge and facing toward me. “And how do you know so much?”
I lifted my chin. “Darius likes to talk, and he had no problem telling me about how he’d outgrown that little building—that it was too small and he was always running into his guards. He wants more security but doesn’t have the room. I offered him my protection since I’m worth at least four of his guards.”
“Was this before or after he burned your face?” His knuckles whitened as he squeezed the edge of the desk.
“Darius didn’t do this to me; one of his men did.”
Christian lowered his head until all I could see was his scruffy beard and dark hair.
“I’m begging you, Viktor. This isn’t a trap. I’m here because… Darius is going to kill my father. Please…” Tears stung my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away before they reawakened the searing pain on my face. “Please don’t let him kill my father. I can’t do this alone.”
Viktor shaded his eyes and fell silent.
I advanced a step. “I want Darius gone, and so do you. There’s enough evidence to support any action you take. You have motive, and you also have that Mage buried in the cemetery that the higher authority could question. Whether you turn me away or not, he’s still coming after Keystone.”
Viktor flashed me a stony glance. “And what does he know about Keystone?”
I looked between him and Christian. “I told him.”
Viktor sat back. “Yes. You told him.”
Christian spun around to face Viktor, waving his arm at me. “Of course she told him. Just look at her! He burned off half her fecking face. What do you think a man will say when he’s put to the fire?”
“You would have said nothing,” Viktor replied.
I pointed at Christian. “But he’s a loyal member of Keystone; I’m not.”
Viktor laced his fingers together, resting his chin over them. “Your motives are self-driven. How can I trust you?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You can’t throw me out and still expect my loyalty. If you’re not convinced, have Christian charm the truth out of me and you’ll see that I’m not lying. After tonight, Darius is going to be on the defense. He employs several men who rotate their duties, but there are only four in his house at the moment. Consider that. He’s also talking about moving, and if that happens, you’ll have lost your chance. Maybe you just have to trust me.”
Christian kept his palms on the desk, his tone more calm. “We should do this, Viktor. Now that he knows we’re after him, he’ll be doing whatever he can to protect himself. I think it’s time we show this weak battery who’s boss.”
Viktor abruptly stood up. “Very well. I have been contemplating our attack, but you have forced my hand with this new information. I have enough evidence to supply motive, but nothing to link him to the crimes. The laws are not going to support a capture without proof, and there is too much red tape. Gather up the team. We’re taking him down. I want you to scout the area and make sure we have a clear exit. And get Niko to heal her.”
“No,” I blurted out.
They both stared at me slack-jawed.
“Are you mad?” Christian said. “Without sunlight, it’ll take weeks before that heals up entirely, and you’re not even sure what your limitations are.”
He was right. Without Mage light, wounds healed naturally. Broken bones usually had to be set to seal together properly. What did it matter? Maybe after all the screwups, this was what I had coming.
“Let me worry about myself,” I said, turning away. “Viktor, call me when you’re ready. I don’t want to face the house just yet.”
I pulled my hood over my head and hurried down the hall. Footsteps closed in from behind, and the next thing I knew, Christian pinned me to a wall.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you a masochist?”
I shoved him. “Go drink your beer and finish celebrating my eviction.”
His lips thinned, and he flattened his palms on the wall behind me, caging me like a bird. His gaze was penetrating and his voice baleful, sending a chill up my spine. “We’ve had our differences, and I don’t particularly care for the way you live your life. That aside, I’m not the kind of man who takes kindly to seeing a woman tortured. You can think whatever you want about me, precious, but I promise you this: I’ll crush the man who did that to your face.”
My blood heated like fire. “Let me take care of my own business.”
“Do that. You can take Darius and stretch him on the rack if you like, but the coward who did this…” Christian moved the hood away from my face, his voice falling to a whisper, his fangs sliding out. “That one’s mine
.”
After slithering away from Christian’s grasp, I hurried down the stairs, turning my head away as Shepherd walked toward me, his phone in hand. In a mansion this enormous, it was probably just easier to text everyone a message than yell out.
Why did I have to kiss Christian Poe? Had he not kissed me back, I might have gotten over it. Now I couldn’t even look at him without having childish fantasies about rushing into his arms. So hearing his promise to kill Declan had incited unexpected emotions in me, made me feel protected. I hadn’t felt the shielding comfort of someone looking out for me in a painfully long time. Maybe that was why Keystone was such an attractive proposition. It was security—a place to call home.
After emerging from the back door, I crossed the open grounds and crested a hill. This part of Cognito was magical—a place I never knew existed, as if someone had plucked locations from a fairy tale and placed them in the real world. I fell to my knees, uncertain if I’d made the right decision. What if my going after Darius would cost my father his life?
“What do I do?”
A mystical glow illuminated the landscape when the sun found a breach in the clouds. An orange shower of light descended from the heavens, sliding in my direction until it engulfed me. The grass glistened, and the air grew heavy with the sudden heat. It seemed as though I hadn’t seen the sun in a lifetime. I’d forgotten how pure it felt, how extraordinarily powerful.
I opened my hands, sunlight drenching my fingertips. Without a second thought, I concentrated on opening the channel, fighting the immense energy that was surging against my palms. Too much at once could either kill me or knock me out for days, but if I could extract just enough…
My skin prickled, the energy sifting in and working its way through my body. I closed my eyes when the heat flooded my face, mending the skin and healing the raw burns. It tickled for a brief moment before the pain vanished as if it had never been.
When I opened my eyes, I shut off the connection and gazed down at my hands, tears splashing onto my palms as I wept like a child.