The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things #1)(64)

Julian took an aggressive step toward Luke. “I need her. I will trade anything to make sure she’s safe. Get me on that boat. Help me, and I’ll make any deal.”

That wasn’t the way this situation would work. He whirled away and rushed out of the cell. He followed the lingering scent of blood into what looked like a small medical ward.

A man’s still body lay on one of the makeshift beds. Long, thin, pale. Tubes and machines were hooked to the man. They beeped steadily.

“I don’t see your spiders, Eli,” Luke said as he approached the bed. He put his hand on the other man’s chest, much like he’d done with Julian. Only this time, Eli was actually much better off. He looked like shit, but it appeared as if the humans had tried to patch him up before they’d hauled ass out of there.

Eli’s eyes opened as the machines beeped louder.

“Luke.” Leo’s voice was sharp. “We really need to get out of here. You know they left these men here for a reason.”

Yes, he knew. He wasn’t an idiot. They were all bait.

“And the fact that no guards are around?” Leo pressed. The guy had followed him—everyone had followed him in there, even a nervous, foot-shuffling Timothy Lang. “Doesn’t that give off warning signs in your head?”

Luke lifted his hand off Eli’s chest. “You aren’t done yet.”

Eli gave him a tired smile. “Didn’t…think I was.”

Luke helped him to sit up.

“Wh-what will I owe you?” Eli asked.

He gave that a moment’s thought. “I could use some new whiskey. Seems some fool agent destroyed my last shipment.”

Eli laughed. A spider tattoo had appeared on his throat. It seemed to move, just a bit.

“We need to get out of here!” Leo thundered.

Luke sighed. “Yes, you’re right. The building is probably going to blow up any moment.”

“What?” That terrified cry came from Timothy.

Luke hoisted Eli over his shoulder, despite the man’s protests. “You were all left behind for two reasons.” He motioned toward Timothy. “Leo, he’s human and since that makes him yours, you carry his ass out.”

Leo gave a curt nod.

Luke let his wings spread behind him. “Where was I?” he muttered. “Ah, yes. My reasons. One…bait. Garrick knew I’d come looking for you. He left a nice blood trail for me to follow so I would come deep into this building and get you all. I’m betting he had sensors and cameras and all sorts of things rigged to watch me. So he knew the minute I arrived. That was the minute that he probably gave the order for this place to blow.”

Julian sidled closer. “Uh, to blow?”

Luke nodded. “Reason two, you see. You were all loose ends. I was a loose end, too. If we all die in the explosion that’s about to happen, then Garrick walks away scot free.” He now had Eli over his shoulder, and one hand clamped on Julian’s arm. “Not happening, by the way.”

Leo was already hurtling straight up, going through the ceiling, making a nice exit hole as he dragged Timothy up and out with him. Luke’s wings fluttered and he shot into the air, following fast.

The explosion rocked beneath him seconds later. One explosion, another, then another…The rush of flames raced after them as the building itself seemed to erupt. The heat surrounded him but he just flew faster. Harder.

And Garrick’s grand plan? Not very effective. Try harder next time, you sonofabitch. And don’t ever use fire against a dragon.

Luke flew back to his island. He dropped off Eli right next to a stunned looking Rayce.

“As many whiskeys as you want,” Eli promised him quickly. “Forever.”

Leo lowered Timothy onto the ground. The guy looked queasy. Humans never seemed to adjust well to paranormal speed.

Luke pointed at the agent. “Rayce, don’t let him out of your sight. We’ll need this one later.”

“Right.” The wolf nodded quickly. Then he cast a nervous glance at Leo.

“Are we f*cking ready now?” Leo asked. “Or do we have a few more dozen pit stops you want to make while McAdams gets away?”

My, my. Someone was getting pissy.

Luke still had a strong grip on Julian. Ignoring his brother’s fury, Luke said, “I’ll take you to your vampire.” Someone should get a f*cking happy ending.

It sure wasn’t going to be him.

But then, it wouldn’t be Garrick, either. That man wasn’t going to ever get a happy ending. Instead, he’d just get a slow death. Luke’s wings spread wide and—

“Wait!” Timothy yelled.

Luke glanced at him.

“He’s…he’s on the boat because he’s going after her.”

Luke felt his blood begin to ice.

“Garrick McAdams has always been obsessed with Mina James. He can’t let her go.” Timothy was speaking fast, the words coming out rapid-fire. “When he had that collar designed, he made it to include a tracking device because he never wanted to lose her again.”

Luke’s jaw had locked. He forced it to unclench as he gritted, “I destroyed the collar.”

“But not until after the Ori had already deployed its stinger. The tracker was attached to the stinger. The tracker is in her. I heard Garrick talking to Madeline when they tied me up…he had Mina’s signal. He was going out on the boat because he was getting her. He isn’t going to stop, not until he has her again. I don’t…I don’t think he can stop.”