The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(49)

No, they were terrifying.

“I control you now.” His fingers curled around her neck. “Only I can remove the collar.”

Collar. Now he wasn’t pretending. She wouldn’t, either. Mina let him see the hate in her eyes.

“You will speak when I allow you to speak. You will follow the orders that my agency gives to you. You will do exactly as you are told…or I will see to it that you never speak again. I can take your voice from you. Take it completely, and you will be helpless for the rest of your days.”

No, she wouldn’t be helpless. She wouldn’t have the power to compel others, but she’d still be able to fight. He didn’t understand her, he never had. She’d gone to Luke because she’d wanted that terrible power taken away.

But losing her voice wouldn’t destroy her. Just as Garrick wouldn’t destroy her. She wouldn’t let him.

“Guards!” Garrick called, raising his voice. “Get Eli to the med ward! Patch up the guy before we start swimming in his blood!”

He was…he was really going to help Eli?

Garrick’s hand slid away from her. “See…it’s that trust I spoke about. We’ll fix the rift between us. Soon enough, things will return to the way they were before. You’ll want me again.”

Insane. No doubt.

He caught her hand and lifted it to his shirt-front, putting it right above his heart—and the scar there. “And I’ll forgive you,” Garrick said.

She waited until the guards had removed Eli. Waited until he was out of there and on his way to get help. Then she smiled up at Garrick, and, moving her mouth slowly so that he’d be able to read her lips she told him, “Screw you.”

He just laughed. “Doesn’t work, baby. Not without the voice.”

He turned away. Sauntered out of the cell. Shut the door and left her there.

“We are going to be great together,” he said, his words drifting back to her. “Just you wait and see.”

She grabbed for the necklace and began to claw it, but the choker—the collar—just tightened, threatening to cut off her breath.

“Oh, don’t do that.” His voice had sharpened.

Her head jerked back and she stared at him through the glass.

Garrick wiggled the remote in his fingers. “Only I can get that off. Try to cut it, try to pry it loose, and it will just keep tightening. It will tighten until you can’t breathe. You’ll die long before it comes off.” Then he smiled. “God, I have missed you. Welcome back, baby.”

Her hands fell to her sides and fisted.

***

The scent of blood led to the Naval Air Station on the island. Luke hovered above the facility, his gaze on the humans he could see moving below. Like desperate bees, buzzing around.

Wind whipped against him and he knew just who’d appeared to ruin his fun. But then, he’d smelled Leo coming this time. Righteousness could reek.

“You can’t kill those humans.”

Luke just stared at him. “After all these centuries, after all of the wars we’ve seen, you should know by now that humans aren’t innocent. Sometimes, they are the monsters.”

“It’s not our place—”

“Then who should be punishing them? Who should be stopping them? They took what was mine, and that crime will have a cost.”

Leo gave a grim shake of his head. “You are to stay just with the paranormals. I handle the humans. You know—”

Luke grabbed his brother’s shoulders. “I know that you’re a pain in my ass. I know that you’ve stood back and just watched for far too long. Well, guess what, brother? The time for watching is over. Now, you’re about to get down and dirty in my hell.” Then he didn’t hesitate. Using all of his considerable strength, Luke shoved his brother straight down, sending him barreling for the building below. He kept up the force on his brother’s shoulders, flying down with him as they got closer and closer to impact.

He wanted to get in that facility. So…why not just bust his way inside?

Right before impact, Luke let his brother go and he watched as Leo slammed straight through the roof of the facility, leaving a big, gaping hole in his wake.

How absolutely perfect.

***

When the ceiling caved in on her, Mina screamed. Or, well, she tried to scream. But the collar made sure that no sound slipped from her lips.

Something big—with giant, black wings—had just broken its way into her cell. The wings were huge—easily six feet long but they were…sharp. Gleaming. She backed up against the wall, trying to flatten herself because she had no idea what fresh hell this was and—

The wings vanished. In a blink, they were gone. A man knelt in the middle of the rubble, his dark head was bent and what looked like dust and plaster covered his broad shoulders.

His familiar shoulders.

He tilted back his head and his dark gaze met hers.

Relief swept through Mina, almost making her dizzy. She’d known that Luke would come for her. Okay, maybe she hadn’t known, but she’d really, really hoped. Mina ran to him, feeling a wide smile stretch her lips.

He blinked at her, as if in surprise, and he rose to his feet.

She threw herself against him, holding him tightly. She shot onto her toes and her mouth pressed to his as she pulled his head toward her.