Sin & Spirit (Demigod of San Francisco #4)(73)

I treaded water, realizing why no one else from the Six had accompanied us. We were all strong swimmers thanks to Kieran’s blood bond, but this was ridiculous.

The rope tugged at my middle. Kieran stilled, confidence pumping through him.

“We’re going to make it,” he told me, his lips just above the water line. “She’s going to be fine, okay? We’ll get there in time. Just take a deep breath, close your eyes, and hold your breath. Don’t breathe, whatever you do. If something happens, send a shock of terror through the link and I’ll stop. Okay? Don’t die back here without letting me know.”

“That’s not funny,” I said, the situation making me shiver even if the cold did not. My clothes pulled at me, wanting to drag me down.

A small knot formed between his brows. “It wasn’t meant to be. Zorn, stay at her level. Watch her until we’re in the area. Then you can take over leading. We’ll move as fast as we can.”





28





Daisy





Daisy froze as something thumped in the outer room. It had been lovely and quiet for a while, giving her time to work at the coarse rope with her nondominant hand. Fatigue dragged at her and pain dulled her mind, but she’d nearly gotten it. Just a little yanking and she could shrug out of it. But now she could hear movement. Was that…sliding?

She glanced at the high, dingy window to her right. If someone was blocking the door with the intention of setting fire to the place, she had a way out. It would hurt like hell, sure, but pain had been her life for…however long she’d been in this damn chair.

Footsteps made their way toward her, heavier than before the surprising reprieve. It was either someone else, or the woman who’d grabbed her was as exhausted as Daisy was and not handling it any better.

Daisy’s heart sped up, but she controlled her reaction. She breathed deeply, focusing on the rope, on her goal of getting out. Hurrying would reduce her efficiency and end up delaying her. Same with panic. She didn’t work well when overly keyed up. It was one of the first things Zorn had identified. She had to be calm. Had to focus on the problem.

The problem was that the fucking knot would not fucking come loose and made her fucking pick at it like the motherfucking invalid she was.

That was not the way to remain calm.

The door handle jiggled. Breathing through her nose, she pulled her hurt arm up to loosen the binding. Pain blasted through her, making her dizzy. She cried through the pain, no shame, barely able to feel with her good fingers over the pounding in her head.

The door swung open, revealing her kidnapper—a heavy-lidded woman with frizzy hair and sluggish limbs. A knife was in a holster at her belt, and she flexed her hands, her fingers momentarily looking like claws.

Daisy kept her feet utterly still and pushed back against the chair legs as though they were tied. Why they hadn’t been, Daisy didn’t know. Probably an oversight. Whatever the reason, she didn’t plan on pointing it out until the last moment—until she could use them.

“So. What’s on the docket for today?” Daisy asked, not sure which path to choose here. She could look miserable and vulnerable at a drop of a hat, especially with her glassy eyes and tear-stained face. Guys responded best to that, though women with children also reacted to waterworks. At least, that was what Zorn had said. It certainly hadn’t ever helped her in the foster homes when she was getting slapped around.

Or should she sink into a state of calm, something that would invariably help her? Maybe the woman would think Daisy had something up her sleeve, like magic that might actually help.

“You got unlucky, kid,” the woman said, stopping in front of her. “I was supposed to grab the Soul Stealer, not her kid. You were probably part of someone else’s plan that went tits up. Unfortunately, that leaves me to clean up the mess.”

Daisy yanked at the rope, getting the knot a little looser. She whimpered with the pain, letting more tears fall. At this point, it really couldn’t hurt. This woman was about business.

“Yeah. That big guy messed you up, huh?” The woman glanced behind the chair and then grimaced. “That looks like it hurts. This isn’t going to feel too good either, but at least it has an ending, huh?” She curled her blunt fingers around Daisy’s neck. “It won’t hurt forever, though, I promise, okay? Just let yourself experience it, don’t fight, and it’ll be over really quick.”

“What do you want, money?” Daisy asked, stalling for time. She twisted and turned to pretend she was trying to get out of the woman’s grasp while she picked at the knot. Almost there. “I got money. I’m the Demigod’s girlfriend’s ward. I’m worth a lot. They’ll pay you, I’m certain. Demigod Kieran is great at covering trails, too. He fooled Valens, and no one fools Valens. He can set you up somewhere nice. You’ll never have to work again.”

“Why would I want to become a pawn between Demigods when I got plenty of money of my own? Not to mention the status that goes with it. A couple bad jobs doesn’t make a shitty life, know what I mean, kid?”

“I’m fourteen, did they tell you that? I’m not even old enough for a job. I’m not even magical!” The hands tightened on her throat. The stubborn knot held tight. “I don’t know who you are,” she said, wheezing. “I won’t—”