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Finally, she catches the scent of something and darts off toward one of the furthest outbuildings – a low stone lean-to with a pile of rusting tools stacked out front. She wiggles her ass into a narrow gap in the wall and disappears inside. A few moments later, I hear a voice murmur.
“Here, kitty, kitty. Brutus has some nice tuna for you…”
Fuck.
We found him.
He’s really here.
My body tenses. My fingers slide into my sleeve to caress the blade I’ve hidden there. Antony grips my arm, his eyes boring into mine. He gestures that he and Noah will move around the rear of the building to close off his escape. Eli and I are to follow Gizmo in the front.
I nod, counting to twenty in my head as the pair of them slip away, giving them time to get in position. When I reach one, I tap Eli’s hand. He looks over at me. Our eyes meet, and it’s like a bolt of lightning striking my soul. He’s burning me to a crisp, but I can’t stop drawing him in.
We move toward the entrance. I can hear the man murmuring inside, cooing at Gizmo. Eli’s finger trembles on the trigger, and I know he’s regretting putting his cat in the middle of this. I raise an eyebrow at him, wishing I knew a facial expression or sign language that could convey, “I’ll die before I let anything happen to Gizmo.”
She’s part of the family now.
The air crackles with tension – a storm rolling and tossing around Eli and me. I can’t stand it any longer – inside that stone building is the man who threatened George and Eli’s lives, who broke into the manor and hurt my cat, who killed my father, who pushed my head into a pillow and—
I step into the doorway. My shadow blocks the moonlight casting a rectangle over the beaten-earth floor. For a moment, I’m blind in the gloom, and panic licks at my chest.
A light flickers. A man coughs. A large oil lantern splutters to life, illuminating the aquiline features and cold blue eyes of a man I once regarded as family. He clutches Gizmo against his chest, a knife held to her throat.
“Welcome, Mackenzie,” Brutus purrs, his voice like broken glass. “Or should I say, my dearest niece, Claudia.”
Eli
My gaze flicks from Claudia to the man holding my cat hostage. They’re related, all right. He has the same cold, blue eyes like chipped sapphires, the same proud nose, the same bloodthirsty smile. His fingers tighten around Gizmo, and she hisses and slashes at his face with her claws.
Hold on, girl. I’ll save you.
I notice a strange pattern of scars on the back of Brutus’ hand. It looks like a tattoo image – a sword wreathed with a vine, one of the insignias from the club – but it’s not made with ink. The design has been burned into his skin.
My finger slips from the trigger. I’m ready to rush forward and offer myself in Gizmo’s place. I’d rather he slit my throat than lay a finger on her, but I know if I move even an inch he’ll drive that blade into her flesh. Don’t hurt her. Please don’t—
“Brutus,” Claudia’s voice is even. She steps toward him, deadly calm.
“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to find me.” He coughs again, his words slurred.
As my eyes adjust to the light, I force myself to stay calm, to think my way out of this. Nothing makes sense. I can’t imagine this hardened gangster squatting in a shed like an animal, yet that looks like exactly what he’s been doing. I observe the objects surrounding him – a camping stove, empty cans, a sleeping bag, water containers, a foul-smelling bucket in the corner, as well as packages of expensive cigars, expensive vodka, and – sitting on a small silver tray on top of an upturned crate – some small grey rocks that look like cement mixture.
Shit.
He’s high on grey death and he’s got my kitty.
“I’ve been busy. Contrary to what you believe, you’re not the center of the universe.” Claudia glides closer, her body so still and her eyes so steady I barely notice the movement.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Brutus chuckles, staring down at the squabbling kitten in his hands like he only just noticed her there. “I know exactly why you’ve come. Oh, Aaaaantony?” he calls out in a singsong voice. “My loyal tribune. You’ve done well. I’ll reward you when we return—”
Antony steps out of the shadows – there must’ve been a rear entrance to the shack. All I can see of him in the gloom is his hard grey eyes glinting and the flickering lantern light striking the barrel as he points his gun at Brutus’ face.
Brutus’ eyes bug out as he sees the gun in Antony’s hands. “What is this?”
“Something we should have done a long time ago,” Antony growls. He clicks off the safety.
“Not yet. Put the kitten down, Brutus.” Claudia tilts her head to the side, her golden hair spilling over her shoulder. “We’ve a few things to discuss.”
Brutus shakes his head, a crazed smile spreading across his face as he cradles Gizmo against his chest, using her as a kitten shield.
