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“I followed him as far as I could, but he ran a red light and turned. I couldn’t get through to keep up with him. Bro, I’m sorry,” Chains apologized.
“It’s not your fault,” I muttered.
Venom grinned evilly at me in the rearview. “Don’t worry. We’ve got this. Do you forget who we have on our side? Traffic cams, Sabre. Facet is all over them. We know exactly where she is. Ghost has been there, watching to make sure they don’t leave. He dropped his pin for me.”
“Is she okay, though? She’s probably not like me.” I tried my best to remain stoic, but inside I was gnashing my teeth.
“That I don’t know, but Angel’s on his way just in case. He was volunteering at the clinic across town, or he’d have been with us.” Venom sounded like he hated to admit that to me. I think he knew I was on the verge of losing my shit. At least Angel was en route.
I glanced out of the window in frustration. As I stared at the passing scenery, I cleared my throat. In a monotone voice, I spoke half to them and half to myself. “You don’t know what they’re like. They have the strength of ten men. He could literally rip her limb from limb without breaking a sweat. At one time, I could’ve taken him, but I’m not as strong as I once was.”
“Facet said to tell you he’s trying his best to find the info you asked about. I’m guessing it has to do with a way to defeat this thing?” Venom glanced over his shoulder to pass the car in front of us, then moved over, and we shot by them. Finally, we made a turn, and I realized we were entering a familiar neighborhood.
“Now we just have to meet up with Ghost. He’s supposed to be waiting across the street.” Venom was on high alert as he slowly drove down the road.
When we approached the charred remains of the house we’d rescued Soleil and the other women from, my heart sank. How did the cacodaemon know about this neighborhood? And that specific address?
Venom passed the house and turned up the alley behind it. He parked at the end and cut the motor.
“This is where he took her?” I asked in disbelief, staring down the alley at the pile of debris visible at the back of the property.
“Ghost and Squirrel were out on a cleanup call in the area when we heard what happened. They followed Facet’s directions and caught up to the guy several blocks from here. We were a little surprised too. I’m sure I don’t need to say it, but I will. We all need to be extremely cautious,” Chains calmly explained as he watched me over his shoulder.
There was no telling where Ghost’s ass was at the moment, but Squirrel should be around here somewhere. Once I was out of the vehicle, I scanned the rundown neighborhood for signs of him.
“He’s waiting for my signal over there,” Squirrel whispered behind me, scaring the shit out of me.
“Motherfucker!” I ground out as I glared at him. “You and Ghost are the creepiest assholes I know.”
“We weren’t sure how he worked, what he was capable of, and what senses he had, so we waited for you.” Squirrel lit a joint and took a couple of drags before he held it out to me.
I declined with a shake of my head. Chains and Venom led the way around to the back of the charred house.
I shot Squirrel a questioning glance and he motioned to the windowless side of the dilapidated garage. Ghost was suddenly visible, and he gave me a chin lift before he motioned that there was only Soleil and one other person in there.
That, at least, was a relief.
“Think you can pop in there with Ghost without being detected?” Venom whispered to Squirrel.
“I’m not sure. If this guy is as badass as Chains’s vision and as evil as what Sabre described, well, let’s just say I’m not looking to be a Squirrel shish kabob today.”
“I’ll go in first,” I mouthed and started toward the door.
Venom tightly gripped my upper arm. “You be careful. And maintain your cool no matter what.”
I gave a curt nod and took the pistol Ghost handed me, not that I thought it would be worth a shit against him. Then trying for the element of surprise, I gently turned the knob. I winced when the door creaked. Using military tactics I learned in several of my past identities, I cautiously moved inside and froze.
The garage wasn’t big—a typical older two-car. But in the center of it, under a bare bulb like in some cheesy horror flick, was Soleil. Stripped naked, she hung from the rafters by her arms. Her head lolled to the side with a gash on her neck bleeding profusely. Road rash marred her pale skin, dark bruises mottled her torso, and garish red rivulets ran down her chest and body, then dripped onto the floor at her feet. She had a split on her cheek that had bled but was swollen and discolored now.
There was no sign of the cacodaemon, but I didn’t trust him.
Rage consumed me as I rushed to her side, sick to my stomach. The demon wasn’t lurking in the shadows, but I don’t think I would’ve cared if he was. Utter helplessness consumed me when I had to leave her hanging as I took the shirt from my back and held it over her neck. I didn’t dare waste time trying to get her down as she continued to bleed.
“Hang on, baby. You’re going to be okay,” I murmured soothingly, trying to sound hopeful. Her pulse was thready and weak under my fingers. Venom and Chains were by my side to support her weight.
“Fuck,” I heard Ghost mutter and looked up to see him shining the light from his phone onto the wall behind Soleil. Fury burned through me as my jaw clenched.
Written in what I knew was Soleil’s blood was the same warning Chains had seen in his vision.
