The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(76)

Handing them over, he whispered, “Everything you need is inside.”

“Tell him he has to keep this to himself. It’s too dangerous to share what he knows.”

“You won’t breathe a word of this to anyone. If you do, I won’t knock you across the room. I’ll cut your throat.”

“I want to speak to Rhiannon.” I couldn’t believe it. Goose was so scared he looked like he might piss himself, but he was making demands. “I know she’s there. I need to know she’s all right.”

“She’s fine,” Marigold said before I could form a coherent thought. “She asked for my assistance, and I’ve given it to her. When she wants to speak with you, she’ll be in touch.”

Marigold turned on her heel without another word, waltzing from the office like she hadn’t just beaten the shit out of a vampire and ravaged the joint. The vampires in the way gave a wide berth. In a way, I was glad she left such an enormous mess behind. Hopefully it would serve as a warning, a reminder that the most dangerous things in the world were the ones people underestimated.

Marigold left the house, guided by my thoughts as she walked toward the garage. Disco’s personal driver—Jerry—was inside, waxing the hood of the limousine. He stopped his wax on, wax off motion when he saw me, going still. I wasn’t sure if he knew about the orders Revenald had given Marius, or if he was taken off guard by seeing me alone.

“Where is Marius?”

“Don’t worry about him. He’s busy working out personal drama.” Marigold strode forward, one foot at a time, heading for the back door of the limo. “I have somewhere I need to be. I suggest you get me there.”

He hesitated. “But, I thought...”

“We don’t pay you to think. We pay you to drive. Is that a problem?”

“No, ma’am.”

Jerry tossed the towel onto a rack and fled to retrieve the keys kept on a board at the back of the garage. I watched him go, trying to remain calm, aware that the final hand had been dealt and I had to make the best of what I’d been given.


Then I heard Marigold whisper in my mind, “My absence was detected long ago. I must away. From here on out, you are on your own. Fight well. Do what you have to. I expect you to survive and sever our debt. The sooner you do so, the sooner you’ll be safe. I can’t protect you while I’m trapped in purgatory. Set me free and no one will ever touch you again.”


Before she left my body, she forced the necklace around my neck, putting it back in its proper place. The powerful hum was intoxicating, something I’d missed more than I should have. Once the stone was flush against my skin, I felt a rending in my soul, as though it was tearing in two. In a flash, the sensation was gone, leaving me alone, standing in the garage armed to the gills and ready to face the firing squad.

Jerry opened the door for me and I climbed inside. Once he sealed me off and slid into the front seat, turning over the engine, I sat back and steeled myself for what was about to happen. I placed my hand over Sucker as the amulet throbbed against my skin. I had everything I needed.

It was time to show Revenald Bhevencourt and Anton Kostya I wasn’t someone to f*ck with.





Chapter Seventeen


We pulled in front of the Bhevencourt Estate about an hour before dawn. This time I didn’t exit on my own, waiting for Jerry to do the honors. After he opened the door and I stepped out, I looked at him. The driver and I had always been on friendly terms, but like many things, those circumstances had changed.

“Pull the car to the end of the drive and wait for me. No matter how long it takes, I expect your ass to be here when I come out.” He looked like he wanted to balk, so I intentionally placed my hand on my hip, allowing him to see the weapons at my side. “I don’t want to hurt you, Jerry, but I will if you make me.”

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I’ll be waiting for you, Ms. Murphy.”

“Good man,” I said and patted him on the shoulder. “It could be awhile. You might want to settle in.”

He grunted in acknowledgement, closed my door and walked to the driver’s side. I watched as he pulled the car around, stopped and killed the engine.

Excellent.

I couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t leave the minute I stepped inside Revenald’s home, but I was betting he would be there when I returned. Disco had made it clear that Jerry was always to follow my orders. I could only hope his fear of my lover overrode his fear of the half-demons who had invaded our city.

As I climbed up the stairs, I placed my hand over my breast, seeking out the amber amulet. “Vim corporem, potestatem praesentiamque tuam da mihi! Libere tibi me do!” Present me your force, physical strength, and presence. I freely give myself to you.

My, how I’d missed the power that crashed into me, so strong it was hard to breathe. The hum of the stone expanded, spreading through my limbs, making my skin tingle. Any fear I’d held onto melted away, gone as though it had never been. There was only anger now, a fury that ran so deep my blood boiled with it.

I wasn’t surprised when a nude slave opened the door. In fact, I’d expected it. The sun hadn’t risen, but the vampires and half-demons would already feel it coming. No sense in taking unnecessary risks. As he moved aside to allow me in, I stepped past the threshold, waited for him to close the door, then I punched him in the jaw. He went down like a vulture eager for fresh road kill.