The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(29)

Garrick motioned toward the other two agents. “We are searching this island. You can’t stop us, we—”

“I’ll go with you on that search,” Luke announced. “I’ll personally escort you around my home. Then you and your friends will leave—minus this mysterious Mina James because she isn’t in my home—and you will never show your face here again. If you do, I’ll be calling my lawyers and all of those friendly senators I mentioned.”

Garrick was seething. “Then get the hell on with that escort.”

Luke rubbed his chin. “You know, it wouldn’t kill you to use some magic words. Have you ever heard of please?”

Oh, if looks could kill…

“What about thank you?” Julian wanted to know. “That’s bloody magical, too.”

Disgust flashed in Garrick’s eyes. “You guys think this is a joke, don’t you? People are dying, and that’s no laughing matter. Mina James is a monster. She will be stopped and anyone helping her…I will take them down, too.”

Luke and Julian shared a quick look. “Well, I guess we’ve been warned. Good thing we aren’t helping that woman, eh?” Then Luke turned his back on Garrick. “Let’s get this show on the road. I have plans for the night.”

Plans that involved a woman who very much wasn’t a monster. And Luke should know. After all…

I’m the baddest monster of them all.

***

The helicopter slowly lifted into the air, sending out bursts of wind as it rose. Luke Thorne stood down there, a tight smile on his face, as he watched the chopper.

“I hate that man,” Garrick announced, voice biting. He had his headset in place and a microphone was near his mouth.

Madeline shot him a quick frown. “It was a thorough search. She wasn’t there.”

“She’s there.” He knew it. “He just hid her.” But that was okay. Because while he’d been escorted around by Luke, he’d given Thomas Lang a few orders, too. He turned, meeting the other agent’s dark stare. “Did you plant the devices?”

Lovely little listening devices that would be ever so helpful to him. It was a good thing Uncle Sam had made some nearly microscopic tech.

“In several rooms at the main house,” Lang told him. The guy had been nervous as all hell about that plan. He’d started sweating the minute they got off the chopper. “We’ll be able to hear plenty.”

And as soon as he heard Mina’s voice…

He looked down at the island, at Luke Thorne, still standing there, appearing arrogant. Cocky.

When I hear Mina, I’ll be back to take her from you.

“You think he’s under her control?” Madeline asked. “Because I’m not sure I buy it…a guy like that…I don’t think he’d be so easily manipulated.”

Garrick’s back teeth ground together. “And what? I was easy prey?”

Her lips parted. “I-I—”

“Mina is far more dangerous than she appears to be. She never used her powers on you or Lang, so you two don’t know what she’s capable of doing.” His chest seemed to burn. “But I do.” And I’ll have her back. “I do.”

He knew Mina far better than anyone ever could.

As for Luke Thorne…yes, he thought the bastard was under Mina’s spell. You’d better not touch her Thorne. She’s for me. Only me.

It was Mina’s fault. She’d made him this way. He knew the obsession he felt was dangerous but he couldn’t stop it.

She did this to me.

And he was going to make her pay.

***

“The sweaty guy left some listening devices,” Rayce announced as the chopper flew away. “Want me to destroy them?”

Luke pursed his lips and considered that. “How many? And where are they?”

“Saw him drop five of them. Bastard thought he was being sly.”

Luke was still staring at the chopper. “Nothing gets past a wolf.” Agent Lang’s mistake.

“Not much,” his friend conceded. “Not usually.”

But there was a note in the guy’s voice…worry? Luke’s brows furrowed as he turned to look at the shifter. “What is it?”

Rayce exhaled on a rough sigh. “You sure it’s safe to have her here? I mean…if they’re FBI, do you really want that kind of heat coming your way?”

Luke braced his legs. “You think I’m afraid?”

“No!” An immediate denial. “I’ve never seen you be afraid of anyone or anything. That’s the problem. If this escalates…if it gets too big…the paranormals will be out, man. Is that what you want? No more hiding, no more secrets. Do you want the world to know that they’re living with monsters?”

He would have been happy if the monsters had come out long ago, but his brother had been the one to demand the secrecy. “Leo’s law,” he murmured.

The law that said Luke and his dark brethren had to stay in the shadows. That humans were supposed to be left alone.

A basic peace. Delicate.

Most days.

“Are you trying to break that law?” Rayce asked him.

Luke considered that question. His shoulders rolled back. “Maybe I’m just sick of all the rules.” So damn many. “Maybe I’ve decided that I’ll start taking what I want.”