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  She could get to the knife at her calf, but what about the driver of the SUV and the other workers? She couldn’t take them all on with one knife, and Lexi was still out cold.

  Parker pushed Tori in the chest, and she fell into the table, quickly straightening herself. “Sit the fuck down. Now,” he ordered.

  The other guy emerged from the back of the SUV, carrying an unconscious Lexi.

  “Alexandra,” their mom cried, partially standing.

  Parker shoved Tori into her, and they both fell.

  “What should I do with her?” asked the guy carrying Lexi.

  Tori pushed off from the table. “I’ll take her.”

  The guy waited for Parker.

  “Put her on the floor,” Parker said, with a careless sweep of his hand.

  The guy looked at Parker and then shrugged, moving toward the table. He set Lexi down on the concrete floor, almost gently.

  Tori rushed over and smoothed the hair away from Lexi’s temple. A large purple bump was already forming. Tori felt her pulse. Slow but steady. Okay. Good.

  Her father moved around her toward Lexi. “This isn’t gonna be any fun if she doesn’t wake up.” He kicked her in the leg. She didn’t move. He kicked her harder.

  Tori saw red. Grabbing the knife from her boot, she lunged, jumping on his back and slashing as hard as she could. The knife went into his shoulder, and he howled, spinning around and trying to dislodge her. She tried to yank out the knife, shocked to find it embedded so well. Keeping her balance with her legs, she pulled it out with both hands and plunged it in again.

  Hands grabbed her from behind, hauling her off Parker and throwing her. She hit the side of the SUV, and agony crashed through her shoulder. She thumped hard and fell to the floor, her nervous system on fire with pain. Oh God. Her shoulder hurt like it had been ripped off. Tears filled her eyes.

  “Goddamn it,” Parker roared, trying to remove the knife from his back.

  The men on the other side of the warehouse looked up, surveyed the scene, and went back to work.

  The guy who’d thrown Tori spun Parker around and pulled out the knife. He lifted Parker’s shirt to look at his back. “You’re going to need stitches,” he said without inflection.

  Parker took the knife and stomped toward Tori, a killing anger in his eyes and his face distorted with hatred. She faced him, knowing this was it. So she shoved to her feet, not willing to cower.

  Her mom launched herself across the space, jumping on his back and pounding with her fist on his wound. She hit him so hard, blood sprayed every time she pulled back her arm.

  He screamed again, shock in the sound.

  Panic shot Tori forward, and she kicked as hard as she could, nailing Parker square in the balls. He made a sound like a pig being slaughtered and dropped to his knees, his eyes wide in surprise.

  Tori pulled her mom off him and hurried her toward Lexi. “Go out the door. Run for help, Mom,” she hissed, pushing Jennie toward freedom.

  The driver of the SUV calmly leaned against the exit door and crossed his arms. He didn’t seem interested in joining the fray, but his message was clear. Nobody was leaving the warehouse. The grips of two guns showed in his waistband, but he apparently felt no need to pull them out.

  Jennie faltered and then turned around. In her mussed up white pants and torn pink shirt, she looked small and vulnerable. The bruise across her jaw only intensified the look.

  Helplessness and fury consumed Tori. “Check on Lexi, Mom,” she whispered, turning to face their biggest threat.

  Parker Monzelle used the SUV tire and pulled himself to his feet, still partially bent over. He turned around, blowing out air, snot dribbling from his nose. “I’m going to rip out your throat.” He stumbled toward her, his hand on his lower gut.

  She set her stance again, ready for him once more.

  “Gun,” he bellowed, standing all the way upright.

  The guy at the door pulled a gun and tossed it to him.

  Parker caught it and pointed it at Tori’s head.

  She backed up, her hands out. “Let our mom go,” she said, her voice barely shaking. “She doesn’t deserve this. She was always true to you.” Well, until Jennie had pounded on his knife wounds.

  “No.” He smiled, and there was blood on his teeth. Walking toward her, he forced her to walk backward to keep between Jennie and the gun. “In fact, you’re about to learn a valuable lesson.” His beefy arm swept out, and he shoved her to the side. His hand nailed her in the neck, and she coughed as pain slammed up into her skull. Then he drew in a breath and pointed the gun at Lexi, who still lay helpless on the floor. “Watch this,” he muttered.

  “No,” Tori screamed, leaping toward her sister. She threw out every invisible wave she could, mentally attacking the gun in his hand, picturing the mechanism locking tight.

  He squeezed the trigger.

  Nothing.

  Her eyes widened, and she landed next to her sister, blocking her. It had actually worked. She concentrated harder.

  Parker shook the gun and then pointed it at Tori’s face. “Fine. You go first.”

  Lexi finally stirred.

  Parker paused.

  Tori partially turned. “Lexi?” Her voice trembled.

  Lexi sat up with a groan, using the floor to push herself up. She rolled and sat on her butt, her gaze slowly focusing. The purple bump seemed even bigger than before on her pale skin. Her blue eyes narrowed on Parker. “Well, fuck,” she whispered.

  He grinned. “You’re just in time to see your sister die.”

  “Why?” Lexi asked, her voice soft, her gaze still cloudy.

  Parker reared back. “Why what?”

  “Why do you hate us?” Lexi asked, pulling her knees to her chest. “I’ve never understood. Still don’t.”

  Tori wanted to comfort her sister, but she couldn’t move. She looked at the man she would never love. “Yeah. Why?”

  Something dark slithered in his eyes. “Neither of you are worth love. Stupid women.”

  Lexi stiffened and then snorted. The snort turned to a chuckle. Then the chuckle increased to a full-out laugh.

  Tori turned her head, her mouth gaping at her sister. She was laughing? Really laughing. “Lexi?”

  Lexi gasped for air, her hand on her diaphragm. “We’re not worthy of love. Did you hear him? Really hear him?” She laughed again, merriment in her blue eyes.

  Tori coughed. Then she grinned. The humor bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her, somewhere the asshole had never touched. She chuckled and then laughed. “Oh my. Yes. I heard him.” And suddenly, it really was funny—the idea of Lexi or Tori or their mom not being worthy of love. They were love.

  “Stop it,” he yelled, shaking the gun. “It is so time you all died.”

  “Eh.” Lexi swept out her arm, and fire flashed across Parker’s knees.

  He jumped back, yelling.

  Lexi smiled. “I have a new skill.” She wobbled next to Tori. “Shit. My head.”

  Then hell descended.

  Kellach barreled through the far back door, instantly shooting one of the workers in the head. Adam rushed through the nearest door, sending the guy leaning against it flying to land hard on his face. Adam marched in, fire already dancing down his arms. He threw a ball across the warehouse to hit one of the workers, who was pulling out a gun just as Kell took out the third and final guy there.

  Lexi rolled sideways and yanked the second gun from the driver’s waistband, scooting back again.

  Parker grabbed Tori and flipped her around, pressing his gun to her throat. She tried not to cry out from the pain, but her entire neck hurt.

  Adam advanced, fury and death in his eyes. “Let her go.”

  Movement caught Tori’s attention. “Adam,” she yelled, just as the man in the lab coat skirted the shelves, firing an odd gun. Adam paused, looking right at the guy. What the hell was he doing? Two darts instantly stuck into Adam’s neck, and he dropped.

  Tori sc
reamed. Why hadn’t he jumped out of the way?

  Adam backflipped and rushed the shooter, sweeping the dart gun to the side. Then he punched through the man’s neck. The body fell.

  Holy crap.

  Adam yanked out the darts, his eyes morphing to a furious black. He advanced on Parker. “Let. Her. Go.”

  “And you won’t kill me?” Parker spat. “Right.” He looked toward the three dead workers as Kellach strode over from the far end of the warehouse. “What was that fire you had? I saw you with fire.” His eyes widened. “You take Apollo.”

  The guy on the floor came to and lunged at Lexi, spinning the gun out of her hands. She turned and punched him in the throat, and he swept his hand out, throwing her sideways.

  Kellach bellowed a battle cry and was across the entire span in a second, his knee connecting with the guy’s neck and taking him down to the cement. Kell lifted his leg up and then shoved back down with his entire weight, fire lighting down his arms. The guy’s neck broke with a sharp snap.

  Adam’s focus didn’t move from Parker. “Release her. Now.” His voice was low. Gritty. Threatening. The Apollo from the darts hadn’t slowed him yet. God. Was he okay?

  “No.” Parker pulled Tori back, edging toward the SUV.

  Jennie reached for the gun Lexi had lost and slowly stood. She used both hands and pointed it at Parker. “Let my girl go. Now.”

  Tori couldn’t breathe. Her mom held a gun in her hands, and a deadly calm light had entered her eyes. In Tori’s entire life, she’d never seen that look.

  Adam edged toward her. “Jennie? Let me have the gun.”

  “No.” Jennie didn’t waver. “I swear to God, Parker. Let her go, or I’m going to blow off your fucking head.”

  Tori’s breath stalled. “Mom,” she whispered.

  Kellach lifted Lexi to her feet and set her squarely behind him. “Monzelle? You’re definitely surrounded. All your people are dead. Let her go, now.”

  “No.” Parker’s voice sounded wild. “I won’t. You don’t win. I win.” As he spoke, he moved just enough.

  Tori shot an elbow into his gut and followed with her fist in his balls. She let her body fall in a dead weight, and he wasn’t fast enough to stop her.

  Three shots rapidly rang out.

  Parker’s body jerked behind her, and blood sprayed out in front of her. Tori hit the ground, her gaze on her mother’s gun. Jennie had shot him. Three times. She’d shot him.

  Adam reached Tori in three steps, yanking her away from her father. Her entire body went numb. She turned to see Parker’s mean eyes wide open in death. She coughed. Adam pivoted, pulling her into his body. “Don’t look, baby.” He moved her over to her mother and took the gun from Jennie.

  Jennie’s mouth was pinched, and her face pale, but her eyes were clear. She reached and enfolded Tori in a hug. “You’re okay, my girl.”

  Tori didn’t have any words. None. She looked toward Adam. She’d known he’d come. Every feeling in the world assailed her. Adam. She’d trusted him, and he’d come in on fire. Literally.

  Shit. Adam had used all his powers. The Nine would be able to find them now. Without question.

  He looked at the rows of Apollo on all the shelves and whistled. “That’s a lot.”

  Kellach brought Lexi toward them, his arm over her shoulder, his eyes blazing. “What should we do with it?”

  Adam’s jaw hardened to what looked like solid rock. “Oh. We’re gonna blow it up.” He looked around. “Get everybody in the SUV. I’ll just be a minute.”

  Kellach nodded and slipped his other arm over Jennie’s shoulders. “Tori?”

  She shook her head, careful not to look at her dead father. “I want to help Adam blow everything up.” It was the perfect way to end her relationship with her asshat of a father. “We’ll be right out.”

  Kell nodded and led the other two women away.

  Adam reached Tori and ran a knuckle along her aching jaw. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  His kind words brought tears to her eyes. “I am. I really am.” She coughed. “Why did you let that man shoot you with darts?”

  He looked at her through lowered lids. “Aren’t you smart.”

  She blinked. “Huh?”

  “Cameras.”

  She shook her head. The man wanted anybody watching to know he’d been hit? Weakened? “I don’t understand.”

  “That’s all right.” He took her hand and led her over to where the workers had been making pills. “Don’t look at the dead.”

  There were dead people around them. She swallowed down bile. Now that the fight had ended, her mind was starting to shut down. Once they reached the far wall, he set her away from him and then made fireballs in his hands. Taking aim, he blasted ball after ball at the liquid, breaking vials and jars along the entire length of the shelves. The liquid arched in every direction and covered the floor.

  She watched it slide around. So now he wanted his powers to be known?

  Then he grasped her hand and took her outside. “Watch this.” Holding her with one hand, he formed a morphing ball in the other. Then he threw it to the center of the warehouse.

  The entire floor, covered in the drug, ignited within seconds. Fire hissed and crackled.

  He kicked the door shut and kept her hand, running into the rain. “Let’s get to the SUV.” They’d made it around two warehouses when he paused.

  “What?” she asked, stopping. Rain smashed into them, and the wind bit into her skin. “Why are we stopping?”

  Cars screeched. One helicopter and then two came into view, hovering what seemed like mere yards above them, their floodlights pointed at Adam. His shoulders went back. “Well now. They’re exactly on time.”

  “Wh-what?” she asked. “The cops?” Three black SUVs careened toward them, stopping close with overbright lights.

  “No.” He growled. “It’s the Guard.”

  Chapter 32

  Adam barely kept his temper in check as they arrived at the private airport in the SUV. Thank God Kellach and Alexandra had gotten away.

  The Guard soldiers hadn’t said one word as they’d taken him hostage along with Victoria. He could feel the Apollo from the darts eating through his blood, so he combated it with healing cells the best he could. At some point, he needed to shut down completely. Not yet. He exited the SUV and held Tori’s hand, walking her toward the plane and through the rain. Guns were trained on them from every direction, and even if he could see a target, he couldn’t risk her life in a firefight with the Guard.

  She pulled against him. “No. I can’t. Adam. I really can’t.”

  He paused, his vision hazing for a second. “Do you trust me?”

  She stopped struggling, pure panic showing on her bruised face. “I do trust you.”

  Taking a moment, he leaned down and brushed her lips with his. “Then trust me right now. We’re going to get onto that plane, and we’ll be fine. Take the chance, Victoria. I’ve got you.”

  Her eyes were luminous in the stormy night. Almost numbly, she nodded.

  Her trust, something he had no doubt she rarely gave, humbled him. “Good.” He hurried her toward the stairs and climbed in first, just in case a gun waited.

  A gun waited.

  “Enforcer Adam Dunne,” said a Guard lieutenant Adam hadn’t met, his gun pointed. “I’m Jasper Marks. We finally found you.”

  “Aye.” Adam kept his body between the soldier and Victoria. “The gun isn’t necessary.” He let himself sway in place.

  “Those darts are taking effect, I can see.” Jasper simply smiled.

  “I am aware of that.” Adam could feel Victoria trembling behind him. “How did you find us, anyway?”

  “We’ve had feelers out for a week all over town. The second you used your powers to such a degree, you hit the grid. Finally.” Jasper studied him. “Your signature was extremely strong.”

  That’s because Kellach was using his as well. “I am a badass,” Adam said easily, looking around
, allowing his shoulders to slump just enough for Jasper to take notice and, hopefully, report back to the Council.

  The plane had six wide seats and a private bedroom and bath in the back. “We just took out a huge shipment of Apollo and could use a rest. I’m assuming your plan is to lock us in the back?” he asked politely. God, he needed to rest and heal himself.

  “It is,” Jasper confirmed.

  Adam drew Victoria with him down the aisle.

  She stumbled. “Huh. I think I was already kidnapped once in this plane.”

  Adam pulled her into the large bedroom, and the door shut behind them with the audible click of a lock. He had no doubt Jasper would be facing the bedroom door during the whole journey, gun out and ready to shoot.

  Victoria turned, panic on her face. “Adam, I can’t—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips. “You can. First, we are way away from the engines. Second, you are extremely capable and can control your gift. Third, I have every plan to distract you.”

  Interest deepened her eyes to the color of the sky right before midnight strikes. “You do?” she asked.

  “Yes.” He ran the pad of his finger across her lips and over to the bruise darkening her cheekbone right beneath her eye. He growled and tamped down his fury. “I do.” The engines ignited, and she stiffened, so he leaned in and kissed each bruise marring her smooth skin.

  She made a hum of appreciation. “I thought you were dizzy.”

  “Good. Hopefully, Jasper thought so, too.” He tugged her shirt off and reached to release her from the bulletproof vest. They had just enough time to get her out of her head before he passed out.

  Her sigh was pure relief as he tossed the vest into the corner. “I can’t believe how heavy that thing is.” She lifted his shirt over his head, and he ducked to assist her. “Do you think Lexi is okay? She really got hit hard.”

  Adam nodded, leaning in to kiss another bruise along her slender neck. If Parker Monzelle was still alive, Adam would take great pleasure in ripping him apart piece by piece, starting with his fingers. “Your sister will be fine. Kellach got her and your mother to safety, and if I had to guess, they’re on their way to Realm headquarters right now.”