“I have a plan,” she whispered back. “But we might have to spill some blood.”
“Excellent.” Gabriel cracked his neck and grinned at her. “Been a while since I committed mass murder. Kind of itching for it, to be honest.”
“You need therapy. You know that, right?”
“Says the woman presently liquifying her former boss from the inside out? Besides, murder can be quite therapeutic, given the right circumstances.”
Jaci shrugged. “Fair point. On both counts.”
“Say the word, Duchanes,” one of the mages called out. “I willendthis ridiculous charade and the witch and vampire who—”
“Save it,” Jaci said. With one more glance at Gabriel, she stepped forward to address the crowd. “Listen up, people. Right now, a deadly poison is coursing through Renault’s bloodstream, eating him alive. The only way to save him is with an antidote located in a secure lab offsite. No one knows its location but me and my companion. So from here on out, we’re in charge. Clear?”
“Duchanes,” the angry mage pressed. “Give thefuckingorder.”
Renault’s response was little more than a shake of his head and a few broken words. “Do… do what they say.”
“Bring us Cole Diamante,” Gabriel demanded, “or your man dies.”
Underscoring the point, he gave Duchanes a swift kick to the back, sending him sprawling face-first onto the concrete.
Jaci planted a boot on his scrawny neck, grinding down hard.
“Tick-tock,” she said to the lingering goons. “The road to recovery is long and winding, and this vampire is fading fast.”
“Do it,” Renault croaked out, blood spilling from his lips. “Get… get the wolf.”
She’d never seen the vampire so emasculated. So pathetic.
A new smile broke across her face. This time, she didn’t bother hiding it.
“Jacinda Colburn.” Gabriel leaned in close once more, the low timbre of his voice making her shiver. “You are absolutelybrutal.”
“Only when provoked.”
“In that case, remind me not to provoke you.”
“I thought youlikedbrutality, Mr. Let’s Slaughter a Warehouse Full of Supernaturals For Fun.”
“Not for fun, for therapy. Remember?” Gabriel shook his head and laughed, and warmth rose in Jaci’s chest. Renault was nothing but a weak, docile sack of shit pinned beneath her boot. Cole would soon be back in their care. Eventually, they’d have to deal with the grays and her sister and the rest of the riffraff holing up in this warehouse, but right now, inthismoment, it felt as if the magic of Winter Solstice had conspired with the universe to finally grant them a victory.
Jaci closed her eyes and sighed, welcoming in the return of the light, the promise of the new day awaiting them just outside the warehouse walls.
But then the mage had to go and fuck it all up.
Chapter Four
Gabriel had just enough time to grab his witch and blur her behind the farthest row of shelving before the mage unleashed hell.
A flash of blinding orange light exploded behind them, taking down a section of cages and shelving, setting loose some of the grays.
And then…
Total fucking chaos.
“Gabriel!” Jacinda gasped in his arms, trying to get her bearings after the blur.
“Time for a new plan, witch.”
