Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
I get Gia all checked out and then we hit the road, heading back toward my house so Antonio can drop me off. We stop at a Chinese restaurant on the way.
“What I don’t get,” Antonio starts once we’re seated and are waiting for our food. “Is how the hell you snuck out at night. That place is locked and armed like Fort Knox.”
Gia shrugs. “I guess they forgot to set the alarm that night. And the code hasn’t been changed in a few weeks. I know it.”
Antonio looks at me and I give him an unspoken nod of agreement. It doesn’t make sense for Vivian or Marco to be that careless, even when they’re distracted and worried about their precious Larissa.
I grew up in that compound. It was damn near impossible to sneak away unnoticed even as a teenager who had magical powers.
“Why the Hilton hotel?” I ask.
“The VC hosts events there,” she goes on. “I saw it on Mom’s iPad.”
I can feel Antonio’s eyes on me and I know he’s thinking the same thing. This goes beyond careless and feels almost intentional. Whatever. Vivian isn’t going to win a mother of the year award anytime soon.
“Just don’t run away again.” I grab a fortune cookie from the middle of the table and open it. “It’s not worth the risk. Take it from us. There are bad things out there just waiting to snatch little kids off the street.”
Gia raises an eyebrow and looks at me with so much sass I can’t help but laugh. “That line might work on a regular kid, but not me. I’m armed.”
“Being armed and actually applying your skills in a high-stress situation are very different things,” I tell her, hating how much I sound like an Order higher up right now. But it’s true.
“Then teach me,” she says and looks from me to Antonio and back again. “You two are really good hunters. Why haven’t I gone out and started training yet? Gabby Mendez already killed three demons and she’s ten.”
“Her kill was like shooting a fish in a barrel, if you ask me,” Antonio mutters. “But don’t compare yourself to anybody else. Listen to what Wren is saying and do not run away. Come to me or Leo next time and we can figure this out together.”
“Fine,” she huffs and leans back, looking annoyed. Then she perks up and leans on the table. “How’s married life?”
I laugh and we spend the rest of the time talking as if things are more or less normal. I get up to use the bathroom before we leave and text Devon, letting him know that Gia is safe and sound, and I will be back soon.
I come out of the little, one-stall bathroom to find a woman standing close to the door. “
“Oh, sorry,” I say, assuming she is waiting to get in.
“It’s okay,” she replies, flashing a big smile. “Your Wren Malus, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” I say apprehensively.
“I’m a big fan!”
“Of me?” I question, but before I even think about it further, someone grabs me from behind, covering my face with a damp cloth.
Oh shit. The chemical smell hits me and only seconds later I black out.
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
Ifight against the drugs, bringing my head back and whacking Marco hard in the nose before the medication starts to take hold of me. My vision doubles and I have a hard time staying on my feet. A warm, floaty feeling starts to take over but instead of relaxing me, losing my inhibitions is fucking terrifying.
He shoves us forward and kicks my legs out from under me, forcing me onto my knees. I fall hard, the concrete floor biting into my bones as I go down. Marcus grabs my left wrist, long nails digging into my skin as he forces my hand out, holding it over the sigil. He takes the knife and puts it to my stitches, ripping them out one by one.
I scream in pain, feeling the threads being pulled through my already tender flesh. The knife clatters to the ground and he presses his thumb into my wound, separating my skin. The pain is like a punch to the gut, and I cry out again, feeling like I might throw up. Blood starts to flow and Marcus brings my hand down, pressing it down in the middle of the sigil.
A loud bang resounds from the garage door. It startles everyone, and Marcus looks up. I pull my wrist back, fighting against the drugs to stay conscious. The big door is ripped open and something runs inside, moving so fast it’s just a blur.
Marcus is shoved back, sliding to a stop against the ramp. His head hits with a sickening thud that echoes throughout the warehouse. Blood drips down his forehead and he slumps to the side, groaning.
The men with guns all take a defensive stance, looking for the monster that just came inside. But they won’t see them, because little do they know, the hunters have just become the prey.