The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(63)

He saw the look of surprise that Leo threw his way. What? Did the guy really think they were just mindless killing machines?

Agent Lang is the one that Mina liked. She said he was kind to her. Luke would repay that kindness. “Cut the ropes off him, Julian.”

Julian sliced through the ropes.

Then Luke bent forward until he was eye-to-eye with the human. “Did you enjoy watching the paranormals suffer?”

His brother moved to stand at the man’s back. Leo put one hand on the guy’s shoulder. When it came to his precious humans, Leo had a special gift. He could always tell when they spoke the truth, as long as he touched them when they spoke.

“I-I didn’t,” Timothy answered. “Made me…sick.”

Leo nodded.

“Then why did you stay?” Luke demanded.

Timothy’s eye lashes fluttered. “We were supposed to be the good guys. I thought…I thought we were helping the weak.” He licked his lips. “Too late, I saw what we really were.”

And, once more, Leo nodded.

“If I let you go,” Luke said, “what will you do?”

“Run as fast as I can,” the guy blurted.

He didn’t need Leo’s confirmation of that truth.

“And will you try to rejoin Garrick’s merry crew?” Disdain dripped from Luke’s voice.

“No.” Timothy’s voice had gone hoarse. “I never want to see them again.”

Leo nodded. Another truth.

“Do you know what atonement means?” Luke tilted his head to the side.

“Y-yes…”

“Good.” He nodded. “Because you’re going to f*cking atone for your crimes. You’re going to tell me everything that you know about Garrick and his men. You’re going to help me make sure that any paranormals they have are freed. You are going to help me put all of this right again.”

Timothy nodded. “You…aren’t killing me?”

“Not right now.”

Leo’s hand remained clamped around the agent’s shoulder.

“Who is Garrick’s boss?” Luke asked.

“I-I don’t know.”

His gaze snapped toward Leo. And, dammit, his brother nodded.

Snarling, Luke stepped back.

“But-but I know the guy is connected to the vampire!”

That desperate outburst had Julian snarling once more.

“Connected?” Luke asked, attention caught. “How?”

Timothy’s wide eyes were on Julian. Or rather, on Julian’s claws. “I don’t know for certain—I swear, I don’t. I just know that Garrick said his boss is the one who told him about Rose Kinley. The boss is the one who said we had to bring her into the program.”

“Your boss is a dead man,” Julian promised. “You bastards starved her!”

“I didn’t!” Timothy cried out. He lifted his wrist to reveal an old bite mark—two small circles. “I gave her my blood when the others weren’t looking. I wanted to help her!”

And that small act was helping to save his ass right then. “What else do you know?” Luke asked him. This guy was their lead. He’d pry all the information out of Timothy’s head.

Timothy’s hand dropped. “I-I know where the other paranormals are being held.” He licked his lips. “I can give you a list of the locations.”

Good. Luke intended to free all of the others. He turned to Julian. “Take Timothy back to the island. Once I’ve dealt with Garrick, we’ll need those locations.” Then he headed for the door. There was another blood trail to follow in that hell-hole. He had to get to—

“No.” Julian’s voice was flat. Hard.

And it was the first time the guy had ever refused an order from the Lord of the Dark.

Luke stilled. He didn’t look back. “Excuse me?”

“Rose is out there. I saw them hurt her. I have to find her. I have to go after her, right the f*ck now.”

Luke’s shoulders were tight with tension and fury. Carefully, he turned to face Julian. “I just pulled your ungrateful ass from the jaws of death.”

“She is out there. They starved her. Kept her prisoner. My Rose.” His hands were clenched at his sides. “You don’t know what it’s like to care about a woman this way. You don’t understand and I can’t make you, but I have to help her. She needs me, and I won’t let her down again.”

I understand plenty. He was walking around without his heart. Trying to do one job. Eliminate Garrick McAdams and the threat that his “agency” posed because Luke could never allow them to go after Mina again. She had to be safe.

Always.

Luke blew out a slow breath. “I will bring your Rose back.”

“She needs me! She—”

“She’s on the boat with Garrick,” Leo interrupted.

Luke fired a glance his way.

Leo shrugged. “I trailed them earlier. I told you this already. Remember? The boat that left thirty minutes ago? I saw them and it would have been rather hard to miss a vampire being carried around in a coffin.”

Julian flinched.

“She’s on the boat, traveling far and fast.” His twin was just the helpful one with information. “And, unless I’ve missed something in the last bit, panther, you can’t sprout wings to find her so you’re going to be grounded on this one.”