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And now I was finally going to find out who the Devil Claw Killer was. I was nervous about how to get DCK to my kill room. I had no fresh ideas. The team planned to get Ronin to the safe house so that he could tell me all I needed to know. After that Ronin would be released and we would keep an eye on him. We knew that Devil Claw would want to come for him asap. We were even prepared for him to come to the safe house itself, and Storm had posted a couple of mages there, hidden and waiting, in anticipation of our arrival.
Ronin had not agreed to be bait, and we had not informed him that DCK had flushed out Constance Ashbeck for us. We suspected that DCK must be keeping an eye on Ronin and would be aware when he was removed from prison. A savvy serial killer like Devil Claw should have no problem tracking down Ronin. And when he came, the team and the mages would be waiting for him.
We were all in Strom's office. I had on a pair of magical bracelets that had the effect of creating an invisible bulletproof vest over my torso. I had a clip in my hair that created a second invisible shield over my head. I had been loaded up with an Agency stunbommer too in case Ronin tried to attack me during our conversation. And Storm already knew about my sword.
Even then, Storm had given me a panic button alarm to carry. I had already told him that Theo had given me two shield bracelets of his own invention that would throw out an invisible blast if Ronin tried to rush at me. In reality Theo had provided those for my confrontation with DCK, but I had not told Storm that. I felt fully loaded with all manner of protections but even so, Storm was worried.
“Ronin has insisted that we can’t be in the room when you interview him but we will be waiting just outside. All of the entrances and exits in the room will be fully secured to deter him from thinking he can attack you and escape. Stay at least five meters away from him at all times once you are inside the room. We will be listening, but make sure you press the panic button the moment you feel a hint of a threat.”
“Relax,” I told Storm. “I made a deal to get him out of prison in exchange for information. He won’t attack me. And we already know that his mesmerism doesn't work on me. It will be fine. There is no reason for him to try to hurt me. You’re being too cautious.”
“There’s no such thing as too cautious,” said Storm, frowning as he checked the bullet-proofing bracelets around my upper arms as if worried they might be defective. The feeling of his fingers on my skin gave me a flip-flopping feeling inside that other people might call butterflies. I called them damn annoying since I had no idea whether he was feeling the same.
“So how’s everything with Saskia?” I asked.
“Good,” he said. “It looks like she took your advice on board. She flew to New York yesterday and seemed quite excited about finishing her final year of university. That’s Saskia all over. All or nothing. A bit like someone else I know.”
I scoffed. “I’m not all or nothing! I might be all, some of the time, but I’m definably never nothing.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” he said seriously.
“Aw, Storm! You do care!” I said in a jokey voice. But really I felt kind of terrible. He was conspiring to keep me safe and I was conspiring to deceive him.
He bit his lip and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, a gesture which took me completely by surprise. “Just promise to be careful, okay?”
And hell if that didn’t make me feel even worse.
Chapter 30
DIANA
Steffane Ronin had a bounce in his step when he walked out of the secure part of the prison and into the free world. Storm and Leo watched him with identical scowls on their faces.
“Yow!” Steffane yelled loudly, stretching his arms above his head and shaking himself loose. “It feels good to be free man, and it’s all thanks to you little lady.”
He came right towards me as if he was going to sweep me off my feet and twirl me around. Storm stepped forward to shoulder him away.
Ronin laughed. He put his arms up in the air in a gesture of compliance, and said, “Chill out, big man. We’re all friends here.”
“We are not friends,” said Storm, scowling at the dhampir.
Steffane made a sad pouty face at me. “I don’t like your friends. They’re mean.”
“They’re here to keep you safe,” I said. “Until you tell us what we need to know.”
Steffane tapped the tip of my nose. “You,” he said. “Until I tell you what you want to know.” He jerked his head towards Storm and Leo. “These guys are rubbish. They put me in prison and threw away the key! For a crime I didn’t even commit. Tut. Tut. Tut.” He shook his head in exaggerated disappointment.
Storm put his hand flat in the middle of Ronin’s back and shoved him towards the exit and the waiting car.
Ronin resisted. “Dude! Go easy, man. I’m a free fellow now. I’m only coming with you because I promised the little lady that I’d give her a reward for helping me out.”
“We need to get you to the safe house immediately for your own safety,” said Leo.
“Safety shmaftey!” said Ronin. He gave me an wink. “Am I right?”
“I’m with them,” I said. “You are no good to me dead. Not until you give me what we agreed.”
“You’re hurting my feelings,” he said. “And anyway, it’s past lunchtime and I am starving! I haven’t had a decent meal in six whole years. And a guy has been really looking forward to eating.”
