Chapter 34 #2
“I thought Sam trusted me more than this, Kane.” Crew lowers his chin. “You were sectioned to babysitting duty?”
“Oh, piss off,” the demon spits.
“Have you been demoted?”
“Apparently,” Kane barks. “Taking care of fucking waste is in my job title now.”
“I’d tread lightly,” Crew responds, glancing in my direction.
“Please,” Kane laughs, folding in his leather wings. “He trusts you, Crew. It’s that trash he doesn’t trust.”
The man Crew refers to as Kane points his finger at me, and I swear I hear a hiss escape his throat. I can feel Crew's anger building within him, seeping into me and swirling with my own. This Kane fucker has a mouth on him, and what Crew said about ripping heads off also applies to me.
Crew steps closer. “Lower that fucking finger before I tear it off and shove it up your ass.”
Kane angles his head, studying us for a moment, refusing to drop his hand. “I don’t think anything good will come from the Hollow Huntress being here, Crew. You really shouldn’t hang with this slut.”
Before Kane can take another breath, I dislodge my gun and pull the trigger, firing directly at the finger that points in my direction.
The deafening blast echoes across the night sky and finds its mark, completely shredding the man’s finger from his hand.
A scream cuts through the gun’s blast, and I smile, letting the weight of the gun drop my arm to my side.
I roll my head around my shoulders and step forward as the others around us step away in shock and fear.
Kane’s shoulders slump forward as he grabs his mangled hand, and Crew gives me a stunned yet proud look as a smile curls the corners of his mouth.
“It’s rude to point,” I say, as the reverberation of the gun dulls around us.
“You… fucking bitch,” Kane groans, attempting to take a step in my direction.
Crew lunges at him, wrapping his hand around the man’s throat.
A woman gasps from behind, and I watch as Crew tightens his grip.
Kane’s eyes widen, his face turning bright red, and Crew leans forward, whispering something into the man's ear.
Blood continues to pour from his missing finger, slapping the ground in wet thuds.
“Crew,” I call, grabbing his attention.
He looks over his shoulder at me as I walk forward, positioning my body next to his. Crew doesn’t move his hand from the man’s throat, and I lean in, my lips almost brushing against Kane’s ear.
“If Sam doesn’t trust me, don’t you think it’s smart of you to shut the fuck up?” I ask, letting my calm mannerisms send a flash of panic through him. “Call me that again, and I’ll show you how I earned my nickname, Kane. Losing a finger is child’s play compared to what I’m used to doing.”
Crew huffs a laugh, a wave of madness showing across his face, and tightens his grip one last time before releasing the man. Kane stumbles back, and the woman who gasped is there in a flash.
“That looks like it hurts,” Crew says, stepping back with a shrug. “You should learn some manners.”
“Fuck you,” Kane groans.
“Remind yourself who you are dealing with next time. Coming from experience, you don’t want her on your bad side.”
I glance at Crew, because he’s right. He got the brunt of my anger for a while. Kane gasps for air as it whooshes back into his lungs, and I wait for him to rise. The other men and women step back, and the anger fades from my body, regret taking its place.
What the fuck am I doing?
By leading with fear, I’m no better than Lowell. His years of coaching, tormenting, and instilling fear have rubbed off on me.
“An angel assassin with severe anger issues,” a deep voice sounds from the darkness behind us. “Just who I need on my team.”
I whip around as Sam steps into the moonlight with Riggs and another man who resembles them by his side.
“Evening,” Crew says, turning to face them.
My body tenses, as if seeing Sam is triggering me, and I think the only thing I’ll be able to see for a long time is my blade going through his heart. I study the younger man next to them and quickly realize it’s the member of the Haber family Lowell wanted us to kill tonight.
Riggs dips his head while I keep my gaze forward, watching the three men approach on the crowded roof.
The third man frowns.
“This is Josh Haber,” Riggs points. “My first cousin, and the man Lowell sent you here to kill.”
I nod my head, feeling the awkward tension growing between us.
Sam prowls ahead, his elegance standing out against the others, and waves them away. The Voids leave the roof in a flash, returning to the skies.
“My eyes, although ones missing a finger now,” Sam says, as he watches them disappear into the dark clouds. “They are amazing scouts.”
“Looks like you’ve trained them well,” I say. “Are all Elders required to control hybrids? Or just the ones I know.”
Crew steps forward, nearly between us, and I roll my eyes.
Sam places his hands behind his back. “Yes, I’ve trained them, Mara, but I do not control them. That’s not the way we do things around here.”
I nod, and my lips form a thin line. “Exactly how you let me and Crew leave so freely. You had our apartment guarded.”
He laughs. “Yes, I can see how that might come off controlling, but need I remind you that I relayed critical information to you? And while I trust Bannermin, you are on my list of suspicious people.”
“Who else is on that list?” I ask, sarcastically.
“I’ve yet to see if Lowell has tainted your mind with his loyalty like he has so many others.” He steps closer. “But something is different about you.”
“I don’t belong to Lowell,” I snap. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
He tilts his head, glancing between Crew and me. “Well, that isn’t entirely true.”
I narrow my eyes. “Sam, you were once Elder of the Lyre Order. Act smart.”
Crew steps forward, his annoyance growing through the bond as he says, "Mara is not bound to Lowell."
As Crew approaches, Sam’s face twists into a sly grin. I wrap my hand around Crew’s forearm, stopping him from getting too close, as if he can’t stand another man being near me. Sam watches our quick interaction and doesn’t have to play dumb—I know he can sense it.
“No, she isn’t. Not anymore,” Sam says with a shrug. “And what an interesting turn of events now that Mara is bonded to someone else.”
“She is mine,” Crew snarls.
Sam chuckles. “How possessive of you.”
“Cut the shit, Sam,” I say.
The Elder laughs. “How are you two going to hide this? It took you both stepping toward me to smell it on you. The bond is deep, but surface-level compared to ones that can be hidden. Don’t you think Carver and Lowell will find it strange?”
I send a jolt through the bond, and Crew directs his gaze toward me.
“Stop being dramatic.” I roll my eyes, saying aloud, “You are getting what you wanted—two assassins bound to no one but each other.”
“Perhaps.” He strokes his chin. “But don’t worry, I’ll help you hide the bond from others.”
I glare at him. “Why?”
“Because if you’ve forgotten, I want you on my team.”
I cross my arms. “Then convince me.”
“Show her.” Crew steps forward toward the roof door.
I follow him with my eyes. “Show me what?”
I send another shock through the bond, and this time I try to send pain. Crew flinches, understanding I’m pissed he is being vague.
Sam nods at Riggs, sending a chill up my spine.
“Follow me, Mara. There is something you should see.”