Angel of Darkness (The Fallen #1)(50)

“Sam!” Keenan’s voice boomed. “Get out here!”

But Sam wasn’t appearing.

A small guy with bright red hair and dark eyes eased from a shadowy corner. He was the same guy Keenan had spoken with when they first came into Temptation. His name had been Ray or Ro— Keenan grabbed the man by the shirt-front. “Where is he?”

A trembling finger pointed to the left.

“Playing games. Should have known.” Keenan dropped their helper and then he kicked in the door.

Nicole saw Sam whirl to face them. A woman stood behind him, but Nicole couldn’t see much of her because Sam’s body blocked her view. Deliberately, she was sure.

“Your timing is shit,” Sam said, crossing his arms and raising one dark brow.

“You knew.” Keenan launched across the room and grabbed Sam. In a heartbeat, he tossed Sam into the air. The Fallen’s body slammed into a mirror and the glass shattered.

Nicole glanced over her shoulder. Ron—that was his name—watched with bulging eyes. “You should probably keep everyone away,” she advised and flashed some fang.

He stumbled back.

Huh. Not very protective of his boss. Sometimes, it was just hard to find good help.

“You knew that Az would come, you knew—” Keenan snarled and lunged forward.

“Don’t.” From the woman. The blonde. It wasn’t a scream or a desperate threat. Just a flat order.

Nicole took a good look at her. The woman wore jeans and a loose white shirt. Her brown eyes were wide, and filled with cold determination.

And she had a gun. One that was aimed at Keenan.

“If you come at him again,” the blonde said clearly to Keenan, “I’ll have to shoot you.”

Sam laughed at that. A deep, rumbling laugh. Then he said, “You can try, but a bullet won’t keep him down.”

Good to know.

“And you’d do better to be aiming at her, anyway,” Sam added, pointing his index finger right at Nicole.

Asshole. This was the guy they were turning to for help? “A bullet won’t keep me down either,” Nicole felt obliged to point out.

But the woman’s aim didn’t falter. “She hasn’t done anything,” the lady said, voice clear and arctic. “You two are the ones with the fight, and I’m not looking to be collateral damage.”

Because being collateral damage sucked.

“Does the fact that she’s a vampire matter?” Sam asked, with mild curiosity flavoring his words.

“Doesn’t matter. Neither does the fact that you two”—now the gun swung between Sam and Keenan—“are demons.”

“Now that’s just insulting.” Sam brushed off the broken mirror shards and rose slowly. “Just because you’re in hell, it doesn’t mean we’re demons.”

Her arm lifted, and she pointed the gun at his heart. “Don’t move.”

He stilled.

“Good boy.” Her voice mocked him, but her eyes turned back to Nicole. “I’d advise you to leave with me. Whatever these two are doing, you don’t want to be part of it.”

“Too late,” Sam murmured. “It’s all about her.”

Nicole wet her lips. “Thanks, but ...” She stepped closer to Keenan. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The woman’s jaw clenched. “Your funeral.”

“She’s already had one.” Sam couldn’t seem to keep quiet, and—judging by the expression on his face—he seemed to be enjoying this.

The blonde with the gun shook her head and backed toward the door, never lowering her weapon.

“I’ll see you again, right?” Sam called. “Seline, you will be back to dance again tomorrow.” The guy made the last part sound like an order.

Seline didn’t speak. She kept her gun up, took a few more steps back, and disappeared through the open doorway.

Because she was watching Sam so closely, Nicole saw the flicker of his eyelids and the fleeting expression of ... disappointment on his face. Interesting. She filed that little flash away for later.

Sam brushed off more glass shards and sighed. “There a reason you came slumming tonight, Fallen? Or were you just looking to get tempted?”

Keenan’s hands fisted. “Az wants her.”

Sam didn’t blink. “Really.” No surprise there, but then, he’d all but told her this would be happening.

You’ll suffer.

“Guess you can’t cheat death,” Sam murmured, not sounding the least bit ruffled to hear that she’d be dead, again, soon.

Not his problem.

They’d made a mistake coming there.

“Sucks for you.” Sam stalked forward. “But what the hell do you think I’m going to do? Why do I care if another vamp bites the dust?”

She winced. “Keenan, let’s go.” She wasn’t going to beg this bastard for anything, not even her for her life. He won’t help me.

“Right.” Sam nodded. “Go, Keenan. Go screw your little vamp while you have the chance. And when Az comes for her, and you try to stop him—well, then you’ll find out just what death is like for a Fallen.” His lips twisted into a cruel grin. “Think you’re heading upstairs again?” He paused for a beat of time. “Think again.”