his professional persona, not the murderous piece of shit he had been at my house. It was the same face he had given me at the rented home in Scottsdale, his normal face.
But now I knew there was something lurking beneath the surface, something that hadn’t been there in the eighty or so years I’d dealt with him.
“Tell me, do you really think we’ll keep your crimes a secret?” I asked loudly.
“I think you’re morally grey enough to do whatever is necessary,” he answered, smiling. “You’ve always been…bad for the people around you. Friend or enemy doesn’t really matter.”
How right you are.
“We have no intention of trading. I’m willing to let you and Tommen walk if you hand over Carter to us,” Cassius said, his posture telling me he was ready for a fight. Tommen, Tom—Cassius knew this fae.
“You have no authority over me, Lord Cassius, the one without a Clan,” Tommen sneered. “You ran from power when it was offered to you after your piece of shit of a father walked away from us. Your entire family has proven to be nothing but worthless. Oberon and Titania would be ashamed.”
“Be careful,” Cassius whispered, his voice carrying on the wind. “They might be ashamed, but they haven’t taken my power, and my line is far more powerful than yours.”
“Not that you ever use it,” Tommen said, spitting in the dirt. “Sinclair warned me you might try to help the nagini once she got involved. I don’t know why he’s worried.”
“Let me warn you of something then,” Cassius said with a smile. “If you think Sinclair is going to share any of the spoils with you, you’re a fool.”
“I don’t betray my business partners,” Sinclair said blandly, almost bored with the conversation. “Your offer is denied, Cassius. I’m not here to make deals. I’m here to see if my offers were accepted or rejected.”
“Reject—”
In a blur, able to move faster than anyone there, I pulled my hunting dagger from my left thigh sheath and brought it up to Cassius’s neck. In the exact same moment, I pulled my Beretta from my right thigh holster and pressed the muzzle to the side of Raphael’s head.
There was silence as everyone realized what I had just done.
“Start walking,” I ordered Raphael softly.
“But…”
“He has something I want,” I snapped. In my head, a small voice called me a hypocrite. I told Cassius we couldn’t do this. I fought with him over it. But now, there was more on the line. “I’m not letting it get away from me.”
Raphael stepped forward, and I kept the gun aimed for his head. Cassius was smart, not moving. I had the blade pressed directly to the skin of his neck, and we both knew who was faster. If he made any move, I would give him a very serious injury.
“Send Carter,” I ordered, looking across the rocky desert at Sinclair. He nodded and handed something to the young vampire, who walked fast. Tommen released the light bindings he had put around Carter’s arms and legs, giving him the ability to run.
Raphael walked, though, confused, scared, and I felt terrible for each step he took.
“Kaliya, why?” Cassius begged. “There were other ways.”
“I made my choice,” I answered, hoping he understood the meaning, hoping he put the pieces together. I could have it all if he understood what I wanted. I pressed the dagger against his neck harder. I hadn’t treated it with venom for this reason. If Cassius or I moved at all, it would slice him open, just a little. A little more pressure and I could kill him without having to work at it.
We watched Carter draw closer, running as fast as he could. He held up a USB when he was close enough for me to see it.
“This must be for you,” he said.
“Get in the car,” I ordered sternly. We didn’t have time for chit chat. I needed him to get ready to leave. Once I heard the door close, I lowered the gun pointed at Raphael and the knife I had on Cassius. Now was the time. It had to go perfectly right. “Raphael, now!” I roared.
He turned and made it three steps before light bindings whipped around his legs.
“Cassius!” I snapped, lifting my gun to fire at Tommen. Sinclair was moving fast for Raphael, his face not angry or upset—just determined.
“I hate you,” Cassius growled at me. He pulled up his rifle and started firing.
Sinclair was fast, and grabbed Raphael, yanking him up. A