“That’s all I know, Cassel—”
Darien twisted the pliers. “Oh, I highly doubt that.” More blood dripped to the table, the salty tang of it flooding Darien’s airways.
Cain bellowed, “All right, all right, ALL RIGHT.” Sweat ran down Cain’s face in streams. “I heard something else. There are people looking for the target—for the girl. The same people who have her friend. They put a message out that they’re willing to make a trade—a ransom. If whoever is hiding the girl turns her in—or if the girl turnsherselfin—they will set the Van Arsdell girl free.”
Darien felt the blood drain from his face.
Star in heaven. He’d suspected this would happen eventually, but for it to be so soon…
If Loren heard about this… If she even had an inkling that turning herself in would save Sabrine, she would have that talisman ripped off in an instant.
And then she’d walk right into their trap the moment Darien wasn’t looking.
“Let go of me,” Cain bit out, flexing the fingers of his shaking, bleeding hand. “I’ve told you everything. Now let me go, dammit.”
Darien crushed Cain’s face into the table. “When I’m good and ready.”
“Fuck you,” Cain bit out, spittle flying from his lips. “Fuck your daddy. Andfuckyour dead mommy.”
A weightless feeling shook through Darien; one that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with rage.
Maximus murmured, “You shouldn’t have said that.”
No. No, he really shouldn’t have.
Where he was crouching within Darien’s shadow, Bandit growled and said to Darien,Do you think if I bit him in the ass, he’d be a bit more respectful?
Cain seemed to realize his mistake, but it was too late. “Wait,” he panted. “Wait, I didn’t mean that, man. You know I’m only playing—”
Darien tightened his hold on the pliers. And everyone in the room, including his Devils, was holding their breath as they waited for him to act.
But he removed the pliers and straightened, shoving Cain’s face into the table as he moved. “It’s alright, Max,” Darien said, a smile in his voice as he put the pliers into his pocket. “I’ll tell you boys what,” he began, speaking to Cain’s men now, who watched him with vigilance. “How about we all put the weapons away and settle this the smart way? No killing—just fists.” He held his arms out in a what-do-you-say gesture.
Cain slowly sat up in his chair and looked up at Darien. A bruise was already forming on his face; there would be more where that came from tonight.
“Stand up,” Darien ordered. “I’ll even let you get the first hit in.”
Cain had turned pale. “You can’t be serious.” His eyes flicked about the room.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” When no one moved, Darien gestured for his Devils to lower their weapons. “Come on, everyone. Put the weapons down. Let’s have some fun.”
The Devils did as he’d instructed, and soon Cain’s men were following suit. Lace would square off with a man bigger than Max, but she didn’t look daunted by it. In fact, she was smiling. She could hold her own in any fight.
There was only one of Cain’s men who wouldn’t lower his weapon, and who Jack addressed with a grin. “What are you afraid of? Don’t you enjoy a good, old-fashioned brawl?” A manic glint entered Jack’s eyes. “Or are you too chicken-shit?”
After another moment, the warlock lowered his magic stave.
Cain lifted himself to his feet with a grunt and faced Darien.
Darien gestured to his own chin. “Go on,” he crooned. “You get one hit in, and then I’m going to punch your teeth down your throat. Maybe that’ll teach you not to blow up malls.”
Cain had turned paler, and he reeked of fear. “Is that what all this is about?”
“Having your ass beat is clearly long overdue. Now hit me.”
No one moved. No one breathed.
Until Jack shouted, “Let’s dance, boys!” and nailed his opponent right in the jaw.
