Demon Fire (Angel Fire #3) - Marie Johnston Page 0,50

in the same room as Sierra.”

“For speaking her name,” Urban said.

“You aren’t here for me,” Sierra said tightly.

Jagger rolled his hard gaze to her. “You wanna rethink that? You were one of us. We trusted you with our lives. Dionna hasn’t found a replacement that can work with human technology like you, and until she finds a warrior as good as you are, we’re working short—and we were already short since Bryant became the director. And we all know how that happened.”

Sierra’s jaw clenched and Boone connected the dots. Want me to tell Director Richter you said hi? Director Richter could no longer be director because he’d been hurt thanks to Sierra’s betrayal.

Jagger continued. “It’s me, these two, Dionna, and Bronx. Five warriors, Sierra. Five warriors, two of us with mates who are at risk because we’re helping you. Because after everything you did, we still want to believe you when you tell us something is wrong.”

“Then don’t help me,” Sierra said hoarsely. “Let me and Boone go. I’ll stay hidden.”

“As soon as you go, he will too.” Harlowe jerked her head toward Sandeen. The demon snapped a puzzle piece in place, pretending he was ignoring them.

“Felicia’s working the case with the senate,” Jagger said. “We can’t ignore fallen like we used to. Not after my father.”

Sierra’s face paled. Boone clenched his muscles to keep from going to her. She’d made horrible choices, and instead of holding it against her, he saw a woman dealing with them by herself. Anyone else involved had gotten the easy way out. Being the one left behind sucked.

“Between the five of us,” Jagger continued, “we’ve kept tabs on the club, which isn’t much since we can’t get close. Demons are all over the place. But as far as we can tell, it’s business as usual. I think Andy’s hiding the fact that my father is dead. While we work on getting close to this Andy without putting more humans at risk, my mate will work on getting our mission officially sanctioned by the senate, thus keeping our wings on our back.”

Sierra hugged her arms around her waist, pulling her shirt tight against her breasts. That bra she had on hid nothing, but the sheer blandness of the color helped with the thin shirt. “You don’t think the senate will change their ways, do you? After eons of shunning us?”

“You should all be monitored at the very least.” His tone was cold, accusatory. “Sandeen, care to come join this meeting?”

“Nope.” Sandeen tried to fit a small puzzle piece, turning it in three different directions before giving up.

“Demon,” Jagger said.

“Angel,” Sandeen said, his tone bored.

Jagger stomped to the table and lifted the woman from her seat.

“Hey, watch the host,” Sandeen cried. “She’s fragile.”

“As if you care.” Jagger eased Sandeen onto the couch.

Alma’s shirt was twisted around her torso and her black slacks were hitched up to her knees. Sandeen harumphed and straightened the clothing out. “Alma bruises easily, asshat.”

“We need answers, demon.”

“You haven’t even asked the questions.” Sandeen settled into the cushions, his expression appraising. Whatever he said next was going to piss off someone in this room. “Sorry to hear about your father, by the way. Was it quick?”

Jagger’s hand twitched and rage clouded his expression.

Urban jumped off the couch, placing himself between the two. “Stop it, demon.”

“No, seriously, though. If we’re not ignoring the fallen anymore, should we call Jameson by his real name? James?”

“Shut it,” Urban said.

“I say we take him out.” Harlowe studied her nails. “If he’s going to cause trouble and backstab us as soon as possible, we should get rid of him right now.”

“Do it,” Jagger ordered. “He’s worthless to us.”

A half smile tipped his lips. “Am I?”

“You can do it now, Harlowe,” Jagger said.

A sinister grin curved Harlowe’s lips. “I beat you once, demon.” She flicked open a pocket and reached inside. Words Boone didn’t understand came out of her mouth.

Sandeen’s eyes flared, panic deep in their depths. “One, I was in a human, it wasn’t a fair fight, and two, Sierra is pregnant. She was pregnant when she fell.”

Chapter 11

A strangled gasp stuck in Sierra’s throat. “You bastard.”

Sandeen did a half bow from his seated position. “Most demons are.”

Boone shook his head. The others stared at her. Harlowe’s hand dropped. She was no longer intent on killing Sandeen. Urban sank into the couch where he’d been sitting earlier. And Jagger.

Oh, God, Jagger. It stung that he was the one who’d confronted her about her betrayal. He’d been a