Angel in Chains (The Fallen #3)(14)

Jade started to run.

The motorcycle’s engine stopped growling and started to roar. Sparing a fast look over her shoulder, she saw that the demon had spun his bike around. He was coming right at her.

Some guys just had a death wish.

She zagged to the left. Felt the breath of the bike behind her.

So close now. So close.

She dove over a pile of garbage. Slammed into the cement. The motorcycle missed her right foot by about two inches.

Then the demon circled back around.

The beam from the headlight cut through the darkness. “No human bitch is getting away from me!” the demon yelled.

Jade rose to her feet. The motorcycle had braked about ten feet away. She walked forward, dodged the garbage, and stood in the middle of the street.

She’d left the saddlebag full of money behind the garbage. Her hands were down, half hidden behind her jeans. She lowered her head, offering a pose of submission.

Weakness.

All Other knew just how weak humans were.

Wait for him. Wait . . .

The motorcycle roared once more. He came racing toward her.

Jade tilted back her head and met his stare. She smiled. In that instant before impact, she leapt to the side, then struck out with her knife. His scream filled her ears even as metal screeched and the motorcycle slammed into the road.

Her shoulders hunched as she stared down at the body. The knife was in his chest. The back of his head had smacked right into the pavement, and his leg was twisted beneath him.

The motorcycle had rolled twice. Now it lay in a wreck just a few feet away.

“Bitch . . .” Not a snarl this time. Only a whisper.

Jade licked her lips. “You should have just walked away.” Didn’t he understand? Brandt wanted her back for a reason.

Because I’m as screwed up as he is.

Killing had come too easily for her. All she’d needed was a little guidance. Brandt had been so willing to guide her.

As she turned away from the demon, Jade could have almost sworn that the light scent of flowers teased her nose. She paused and glanced back. The demon’s eyes were still open. Still on her.

“I didn’t want to kill you,” she said and sadness made her words heavy, “but I’m not ready to die.”

The flowery scent seemed to deepen. She grabbed the money. Left the knife in his chest.

And walked away.





Brandt found the demon’s body. Tossed like garbage in the street. He bent and studied the knife that was still buried hilt-deep in the demon’s chest.

Jade had been shopping. The woman always liked her silver. He touched the handle, being careful to keep his hands away from that burning silver blade.

The demon gasped.

Still alive.

Brandt smiled. “You called. You told me that you had my Jade.” He made a point of glancing around the empty street. No partying here. No celebrating. Just death. “But I don’t see her.”

The demon tried to talk. Blood gurgled from his lips.

“Why don’t I see her?” Brandt asked and gave a little shake of his head. “I paid you money—very good money at that—to keep her for me.” He didn’t trust his pack anymore. Not with her. They kept screwing up, every damn time. So he’d branched out. Hired muscle.

And Jade had driven a silver knife into the guy’s chest.

Oh, but he f*cking loved her.

“Now where the hell is William?” He demanded. William was the demon in charge of this group of killers. The big boss demon. “If he doesn’t have her . . .”

But he’d seen the demon’s lashes twitch. Brandt stilled. “Where’s William.” Not a question. A demand this time.

“D-dead . . .” A gurgle of sound.

“By Jade’s hand?” Impressive. She was gaining new skills. He’d suspected she always liked the blood, but two demon kills in one night was just taking her game up to a whole new level.

“B-bastard . . . with . . . her . . .”

No, no, that was damn well not what he wanted to hear. Brandt drove that knife down as hard as he could. It ripped past bone and flesh and sank into the pavement beneath the demon’s body.

No more gurgles. No more whispers. Just wide open eyes and a demon that was looking at hell. Brandt sure hoped the guy enjoyed the view.

Riley paced behind him. “You think it’s the same man?”

Brandt surged to his feet. Fuck yes.

And was the man screwing her? He was sure killing for her. Twice now. And why else would he kill, why else would he get involved? The unknown * had to be f*cking her. “Find him,” it was hard to speak as a man when the beast inside was snarling so loudly. “Get every hunter we have in this city—and find him.”

“You want him dead or alive?” Riley asked quietly as he backed up a space.

Dead or alive—the same question that had been asked about Jade.

“Alive.” Because he’d be the one to kill the bastard. Jade would watch.

Just as she’d watched before.

She likes the blood, too.





Revelers still packed the streets of New Orleans. The parades had ended hours ago, but as Jade shoved her way through the streets, she knew the folks celebrating on Bourbon Street didn’t really care that the beads weren’t flying anymore.