Page 86 of Peacemaker

She leaned a little closer, her lip curled. “You being a fucking damsel in distress grates on me, Sinclair. Maybe I’d lose the contempt if you weren’t such a whiny little bitch.”

“I’m not a damsel in distress.”

“No? Then why can’t you so much as take a piss without having to surround yourself with big, strong men?”

“Because they’re so damn sexy.” I shrugged, then smiled. “And because they’re mine.”

“Hey!” Alejandro jogged toward us and Jade withdrew from the window. She threw her head back and sighed at the sky. “Don’t tell me. You’re adding yourself to the “let’s all go where Trinity goes” club.”

He got into the back seat with Clayton. “You have enough people here. Bay Town is in less danger from rifters than these guys are from the crazy mayor.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said. “Fucking whatever.”

“What is her problem?” I asked, as Shane drove us out of there.

“She’s having a bad night,” Al told me. “Still, she’s one of the good guys.”

“A good guy who doubles as an asshole,” I muttered.

“Not all the time,” he replied. “Sometimes she doubles as a bad guy.”

I didn’t ask him what he meant, because my phone rang. “Rhys,” I said, relieved. “Are you okay?”

His voice was quiet but brusque. “I had my phone off. I have to go, love. I’ll find you later.”

Then he was gone.

I put my phone away when we entered the city, both unsettled by his call and relieved. He was okay, but he’d sounded…different. Closed off.

Dark.

And I wondered again what task Himself had set Rhys Graver.

The city was lit up like a Christmas tree, but it was quiet. Fear hung in the air, though, because every human there knew something was coming.

The streets were empty except for slowly patrolling police cars—we passed four of them before we reached the station.

Crawford was waiting outside when we drove up, standing with a couple of other men, a cigarette in one hand and a coffee in the other.

“Trinity,” the captain greeted. He gave the men a nod. “It’s quiet for the moment. You have news?”

I nodded. “We fought the demon who was attacking the human women,” I told him. “He’s dead. There will be no more rapes.”

One of the men standing with the captain put his fist to his mouth, then whispered, “Thank God. I have to call Michele.” He hurried away. The other cop followed him, probably to make his own calls.

“Come with me,” Crawford said. “Reporters are waiting inside. They’ll get you on TV.”

“Good,” I said. “Because there’s something else you and the city need to know.”

He sighed. “Yeah. There usually is. What a mess. The mayor is fucking useless.”

“Where is Delaney?” I asked. “Inside with the reporters?”

He gave me a look. “He’s home. Surrounded by men, guns, and doors that not even a mad vampire can break down.” He’d barely finished speaking before a man hurried from the building, calling his name.

“What now?” Frank muttered.

Then the uniformed man began murmuring into his ear, and the captain’s eyes went a little cold.