The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(71)

I yanked off the corset and slid into a bra and my favorite black T-shirt—one that was tight and fit comfortably against the leather pants I decided not to remove. Next were my socks and shitkickers. The boots wrapped around my leather clad-legs like a second skin, more comfortable than I would have imagined.

When I finished dressing, I opened the top of the case and retrieved the holsters nestled inside. They fit comfortably around my shoulders, so that I had an easy range of movement. The tactical belt I banded around my waist provided me with plenty of slots for my weapons and ammunition. I made sure I grabbed the sterling silver butterfly knives Disco had given me, sliding them into the empty grooves at my sides, as well as the gun magazines stocked with the silver bullets I’d acquired from Bane.

Speaking of which...

I removed my cell from my jacket, searched the memory and found the number I was looking for. Yesterday I wouldn’t have considered making the call, but twenty-four hours can change a lot of things.

“That was fast,” Bane said when he answered. “I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

“What can I say?” I asked, proud that my voice sounded only mildly scratchy from screaming and crying. “I got a clue.”

“So what do you need?”

“You said I reminded you of someone. I want you to tell me who she is.”

It didn’t hit me until the car ride home that Bane had offered to help me because he obviously wanted something. He knew about vampires, that I was connected to them, yet he reached out in my direction. That meant I had value, that his wasn’t a one-way offer.

“I’m hanging up,” he said.

“Then you’ll never get what you need from me. I’m living on borrowed time. I wouldn’t have called you otherwise.” Truth, truth, and truth. It was best to put it all out there, right from the start.

“I see.” He paused. “My cousin. You remind me of her.”

Now it was time to push his limits. “Why?”

“She was a lot like you.” His raspy timbre was hard to read. I couldn’t tell if he was angry, calm, or malcontent. “Young, stubborn, made some decisions she shouldn’t have. Like getting involved with vampires.”

“It got her killed?” Damn. The phone call might not work in my favor.

“It got her missing,” he clarified. “I made the move to New York in 2006 when she stopped calling home. I’ve been here ever since. Now that I’ve shared, it’s your turn. Why did you call me?”

“I need a safe place to lay low until I can get out of the city.” I hated the nervousness that made me tremble. “A place big enough for three.”

“You’re bringing people with you?”


“That’s what I just said.”


“One of them wouldn’t happen to be the vampire who gave you that mark on your throat, would it?”

“Is that a problem?” His cousin was missing because of vampires, but he hadn’t indicated that he hated them, or that he had a vendetta against them.

“If I said it is?”

“Then this conversation is over. If you mean to harm the vampires I care for, it’s best we don’t associate.” I wasn’t going to risk my life to save Disco and Jennifer only to put them in danger.

He didn’t speak for several seconds, and I wondered if he’d tell me to f*ck off. Finally he said, “I don’t know what you’re involved in, but if you need a safe place, I have one you can use for a few days. No harm will come to the people you bring with you.”

“Do I have your word?”

He laughed. “People still ask for that?”

“I do.”

“Fine, you have my word. But I’ll want to ask your vampire friend some questions.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Easy ones. About my cousin. You’re not the only one who needs a few clues to find what you’re looking for. I haven’t had much luck finding a vampire willing to talk. I need this.”

So that’s why he reached out to me. Bane was on a mission. “Fair enough. What’s the address?”

“Don’t know yet, but it’ll be in Jersey City. When you’re ready to move, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was better than nothing. I had no other place to go, even if I got Disco and Jennifer out. I had to try and get organized.

“Thank you.” Saying it felt awkward. I didn’t even know Bane. The irony was it didn’t matter. At this point, I had no choice but to rely on a stranger.

“Finally,” he chuckled. “A thank you. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Don’t get used to it,” I muttered. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“I certainly hope so,” he said and the line clicked off.

Taking a deep breath, I put the phone in my back pocket and went for my weapons. The Brownings and Desert Eagle were ready for action. I checked each one, making sure the clips were full, and cocked each to put a bullet in the chambers. Afterward I engaged the safeties. The last thing I needed to do was blow off a foot. Each gun went in its proper place—the Brownings under each arm and the Eagle at my side. Then it was time for the most important weapon—the only one in my arsenal that could slay a half-demon.