My shot hit him square in the shoulder, and the force launched him backward off Rack. He moved before the vampire even landed.
One second, he was on the ground, and the next, he was on top of him with a silver blade that flashed through the dark.
The knife carved upward through the vampire’s chest in one brutal stroke, then Rack slowly lifted his free hand. Air twisted violently around the vampire’s body, and the thing screamed.
Its chest caved inward before the heart ripped free in a spray of blood and slammed directly into Rack’s waiting palm. Blood streamed down his wrist while his fingers crushed around the organ hard enough to split it open. Then he drove the silver knife straight through it.
The vampire collapsed instantly.
Rack stayed crouched over the body for a second, breathing steadily, while blood dripped from his fingers onto the concrete. He looked up at me, gave one short nod, and immediately turned toward Olivia.
Her face had gone pale, but she was still standing there gripping her weapon with both hands.
Rack crossed the space quickly and caught her hand with his blood-covered one, helping her fully climb through the breach.
“Thank you,” he breathed quietly.
More gunfire erupted outside. Pop. Pop. Pop. Screams followed immediately after, and I smiled. Riot was causing absolute chaos out there.
We carefully moved deeper into the hangar, weaving between stacked cargo crates while staying low behind cover. Every few seconds, another vampire sprinted past us toward the front entrance, trying to reach the fight outside.
“Shit! She’s moving again!”
“Take her down!”
“She’s on the roof. Get her!”
Riot sounded like an entire army all by herself.
Olivia pressed her back against one of the cargo containers beside me and glanced around quickly.
“What exactly are we looking for?” she whispered.
“Anything weird,” I muttered back while peeking around the edge of the crate.
Most of the interior guards were abandoning their posts to deal with Riot. Good for us. Terrible for them. My sister was going to murder them all.
I scanned the remaining dots on the watch display. “We’ve only got the mage and the demon left inside.”
Rack checked the layout once more before speaking calmly. “I’ll handle the mage. The demon’s yours.”Of course you would.I glared at him, but he ignored my ire beautifully.
Demons were unpredictable, their magic depending on what circle of hell they came from. At least a mage had limitations.Dick.
“On the count of three,” I whispered. My eyes stayed locked to the demon moving near the far wall as I crouched, hoping I could catch him off guard before he could use his powers.
“Wait!” The sound of Olivia’s voice grabbed our attention. “What amIdoing?”
Her head bounced between us, weapon clutched tightly against her chest.
Rack answered first. “Stay here.” She opened her mouth immediately, but he pointed at her before she could argue. “Cover us. If either of us starts losing, you fire that gun immediately. Understand?”
She straightened at that responsibility, nodding at her new job. “I’ve got your backs.”
God, she’s adorable when she tries to sound intimidating.
The surge of affection hit me so hard I grabbed the front of her suit and pulled her straight into me. Her surprised noise vanished against my mouth.
The second my lips touched hers, her breath caught and she stumbled against me.
