On the Prowl (Bad Things #2)(26)

Francis clawed at Julian’s hand, but Julian didn’t let him go. And it looked as if Francis’s face was starting to turn purple.

Because he can’t breathe.

“You’re going to tell me everything you know about Simon. You’re going to tell me about the Collector, and you’re going to lead me to the missing paranormals.”

Francis’s mouth opened and closed—like a dying, desperate fish—but no sound emerged.

Rose surged forward and grabbed the bars on his cell. She didn’t want to think too long or hard about why the Lord of the Dark had a prison installed on his island. A prison that you accessed through the guy’s house. “He can’t speak, Julian! You’re killing him!”

Julian’s head turned toward her. “There are two ways to do this.”

“Stop killing him.” That was way one for her.

He looked back at his prey. “The hard way…that’s my way. A way that involves pain and loss of consciousness…at least a few times…”

“Julian…” Rose snapped.

He flashed a smile at her. “And then there’s your way, love. The way you compel the truth from him, vamp style. If you’re up to the challenge, come on in.”

Step into my parlor…

But it wasn’t a parlor. It was a cage. Something straight from her nightmares.

Julian dropped Francis. The human fell to the floor, gasping. “I…I don’t…know…Simon!”

She saw Julian’s claws emerge. He bent toward the fallen man. “Stop!” Rose yelled. Oh, damn, she was going to do this. She yanked open the cell door and stumbled inside. “I’ll try, okay? Just…stop.”

Julian’s head lifted. He quirked a brow at her, as if to say…Knew you’d come in. And he had, of course. He’d played her.

“For a vamp, she’s not very bloodthirsty, is she?” Rayce called out.

No, she wasn’t. Rose exhaled on a slow breath. She rubbed her damp palms over her jeans. When she’d woken, fresh clothes had been waiting at the bottom of the bed for her. Jeans, t-shirt, shoes, even underwear. Everything had fit her perfectly. She had no idea where Julian had gotten the items, and she hadn’t been in the mood to look a gift horse in the mouth. She’d just been happy to say good-bye to her blood-stained clothing.

“Are you working on that whole lack of bloodthirstiness?” The werewolf wanted to know. “Cause it’s generally survival of the fittest, not the nicest, in our world.”

She tossed him a glare. “How do you think you’re helping here?”

He laughed. “You’re right. Please, do your thing. I’d love to watch.” He sauntered toward the cell.

“Help me, lady.” The desperate croak had her swinging her gaze back to Julian—and his prey. Francis’s face was splotchy and red, and he looked terrified. “I don’t know what’s… happening…I just want to go home. Will you let me go home?”

She swallowed and knelt on the floor before him. Julian stood right behind Francis. “I am going to help you.” She kept her voice low and easy. “I want you to just focus on me, okay? Look into my eyes.”

Rayce snorted. “Jeez, that is just like one of those old black and white movies—”

“Shut the hell up, wolf,” Julian snarled.

Rayce shut up.

Good. Great. “Look into my eyes,” she said again, but she didn’t feel like some monster from an old school movie. She felt more like a cobra, drawing in prey. Francis blinked, owlishly, and then stared into her eyes. She pushed forth her power—power that was currently running at high capacity thanks to the boost that she’d gotten from Julian’s blood. She could feel the strength in her veins, surging forth. Rose knew she could compel a human, but that didn’t mean she liked to do it.

Taking away someone’s free will didn’t exactly sit well with her.

“I want you to trust me, okay?” Her voice was soothing. She lifted her hand and touched his cheek. Julian tensed. Uh, oh. Someone doesn’t like me touching the human. Too bad, he could just deal with it. “I won’t hurt you. I’m just going to ask you a few questions, and you’re going to answer me.”

Easy enough. Simple enough.

Francis nodded. His mouth had gone slack and his eyes were unblinking as he gazed back at her.

A cobra’s prey. No…a vamp’s prey.

“Who strapped you into that vest on the Pandora? The vest that was wired with explosives?”

A croak came from his mouth. Just a croak. As if he were trying to speak, but couldn’t.

She didn’t look away from him. Looking away would lessen her control over his mind.

“Francis.” She pushed more power forth. “Francis, tell me why you told us…‘Simon says’…right before you activated that bomb?”

Sweat trickled down his face. Francis’s body shuddered. “G-game…playing a game…”

Their near-deaths had been a game? Not likely. “Who told you to play the game?”

His breath shuddered out.

“Tell me the name of the person who ordered you to play the game.”

Behind her, she heard a groan. “I thought this would work better,” Rayce grumbled. “That it was supposed to be all wham-bam, you’re under my control, and he instantly tells you everything.” He sighed. “Julian, you may need to pull out the claws again.”