Page 67 of Grayson’s Challenge

“It’s Gabriel’s gift,” Grayson explained. “He can delve into a person’s memories. If Abel told this guy about his plan, and where he’s hiding Cain and Samson, Gabriel will find the information.”

“That’s quite a gift.” Monique reached for his hand. “About our discussion earlier…”

“You mean the job in New Orleans?”

“Yeah. I think you’d make a good CEO.”

He smiled. “As would you. You’re a smart woman, Monique. And strong. Many others would have crumbled already under the stress.” He brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. “But you’re right in there, in the thick of it, without a break. You must be exhausted.”

“Not any more exhausted than you.” Though she had to admit, she wouldn’t say no to an hour or two of sleep.

Grayson leaned closer. “We’ll find them. We won’t stop until we do.”

“I know. It’s just so frustrating that we don’t seem to make any progress.”

“We defeated Abel’s men in New Orleans. I wouldn’t call that no progress,” Grayson said, his voice kind and soft. “And your brothers will hold the fort there. Now it’s up to us to do the rest. We can do it. We’re a good team.”

“Funny,” she said with a smile. “I never really thought that the Grayson Woodford I knew would turn out to be a team player and a leader at the same time.”

“We all play different roles and adapt to what’s needed in the moment. And I can be more than just a team player or a leader. For you, I want to be much more than that.”

His eyes began to shimmer golden, and the sight warmed her heart. “You are,” she admitted, but didn’t get any further, because Gabriel stepped out of the elevator and marched toward them.

“Hey, guys, glad all went well in New Orleans,” Gabriel said without stopping, and swiped his access card over the card reader outside the cell.

A beep sounded, indicating that the door was unlocked. Gabriel pushed it open and entered. Monique and Grayson followed him into the sterile looking room. There was no furniture. Rather, a bed, two chairs and a table were built in. Made of concrete, they couldn’t be moved or destroyed, offering the inmate no chance of fashioning a weapon out of them.

The prisoner was chained to the wall by a set of silver chains that burned his skin wherever it wasn’t protected by his clothes. The stench of burned hair and skin stung her nostrils, but she felt no pity for the man. He’d tried to kill her and her brothers, and had probably killed countless guards and personnel loyal to the royal family. He deserved more than just a few painful burns.

Oscar glared at them, jerking forward as far as the chains allowed, his fangs extended. He laughed like a madman. “Go ahead, torture me. I won’t tell you anything.” He spat, but his spittle didn’t hit anyone.

“Oh, I’m not gonna waste my precious time with torture, because you, asshole, would probably enjoy it,” Gabriel said with a shrug.

Monique watched as Gabriel stood still in front of the prisoner, remaining just outside of the guy’s reach, and closed his eyes. She exchanged a look with Grayson, who simply nodded confidently.

The prisoner, however, seemed more perplexed than peeved by Gabriel’s behavior. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Nobody answered him, which seemed to annoy him even more. He glared at Grayson. “What is he doing?”

Grayson didn’t even acknowledge the question and ignored him.

“Leave me the fuck alone!” the vampire yelled.

A few more minutes passed in the same fashion, until Gabriel turned to her and Grayson. “I’ve got everything I could find. He’s yours now. I’ll be outside.”

Gabriel left the cell. Grayson reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a stake. The prisoner’s eyes went wide with fear.

“Hey, what are you doing?” He tried to shrink back, but the chains prevented him from escaping.

“I’m not gonna do anything,” Grayson said evenly and handed her the stake.

Monique met his gaze.

“He killed your people. I’ll kill him if you want me to, but I figured you’d like to do it yourself.”

She appreciated that Grayson gave her a choice. “You assumed correctly.” She wrapped her palm tighter around the wooden weapon, before she looked at the prisoner’s face. “Look at me, look closely, ‘cause I’m the last person you’ll ever see. I want you to remember me when you get to hell.”

She took aim and plunged the stake into his chest. For a millisecond the prisoner froze in terror, then he dissolved into ash, and the chains swung back and clanged against the wall. It took a few seconds before they stopped moving, and the clanging sound subsided. When silence descended onto the cell, Monique handed the stake back to Grayson.