Wicked Edge (Realm Enforcers, #2)(41)

Now he followed the Coven Nine orders? Felicity smiled as sweetly as she could. Panic bubbled through her veins. He had to see her. The real her. “I appreciate the concern, but if you want to participate in my plan, you’ll knock it off.”

Adam coughed. “You want to rob a bank.”

She nodded. Frankly, it sounded like fun.

Daire sighed. “Fine, but I’m in charge, and if I tell you to get free and safe, you do it.”

Adam shook his head. “You’re a freakin’ perfect match, you two.”

Heat climbed into her face. There was a danger, not quite reckless but close enough, in Daire Dunne that called to her. Were they a good match? He was so complex, sweet and deadly, she wasn’t sure. It would take years, probably centuries, to even come close to understanding him.

God, she loved a challenge.

But no more hiding and planning. Now was the time for action. Finally.

A car sputtered outside.

Daire jumped up, already at the door before Felicity could move. He threw it open.

A petite woman with long blond hair half carried a redheaded human. Blood poured out of the man’s nose, and flames danced across his neck.

“He’s on fire.” Daire took the guy and deposited him on the sofa. “How much did he take, Tori?”

Tori? Felicity scrambled for a kitchen towel to wet in the sink and hurried to press it against the guy’s neck. He moaned and blood slid from his ears to run in rivulets down his neck. Steam rose with a hiss from the liquid mixing with fire.

The woman stood back, tears in her eyes, shock whitening her pretty face. “I don’t know. Bob was outside after our last set, so I brought him here.”

“Why here?” Felicity asked, her stomach roiling. Poor guy.

Tori shrugged, panic fluttering her hands. “The hospital doesn’t have a cure, and I know you guys are studying the drug. Please tell me there’s something you can do.”

Adam growled and all but pushed her into a chair. “I put a man on you. Where is he?”

Her blue eyes widened. “I didn’t have time to talk to a bodyguard, Adam. Back off.”

Irritation, true and sharp, sizzled through his eyes. “Oh, I don’t think so.”

So, Adam could get emotional. Interesting. Felicity eyed the woman with speculation. Human, definitely enhanced, emitting soft waves. An empath?

Daire lifted the guy’s eyelids. Striations of red, yellow, and blue marred the whites of his eyes. Fire shot from his fingertips right at the chair.

Tori yelped, and Adam shoved her entire chair backward, covering her with his body.

Was he keeping her from seeing anything?

Daire pivoted and put Felicity behind him. He held out his hands, and fire crackled across his palms as he crouched. “This might work.” Setting his hands on the now convulsing man, Daire allowed fire to spread out over his chest. “Shit. He’s on fire inside.”

The guy screamed, the sound full of agony.

Felicity took a step back and chills rippled down her spine. She shivered, her eyes wide. The guy convulsed, and blood arced across the room.

“This is Apollo?” she coughed out.

“Aye.” Daire sat back, his shoulders slumping as he dropped to his knees. “This is Apollo.”

The guy rattled something from his lungs and then went silent. Death hung in the air.

Felicity took another step back. Oh, she’d seen the drug on video and understood and what the concoction did to humans, but she’d had no clue as to the agony. Or the smell. The stench of burned flesh and organs made her cough up bile.

“Who was he?” Daire asked, half turning on his knees.

Adam lifted Tori from the floor, and the woman trembled as she neared the couch. “Bob Bailestorm. He is, I mean was, our bass guitarist.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “He was twenty-two years old.”

“I’m sorry.” Daire stood and wiped a hand across the back of his neck. “Any idea where he got the drug?”

“No.” Tori shook her head. “There were a couple of Titans of Fire members in the bar earlier, but I didn’t see them do anything.”

Daire glanced at Adam. “Since Kellach has been gone, we haven’t been involved enough in the club. If this is a new batch of Apollo, then the distribution wasn’t shut down like we originally thought.”

Adam grimaced. “I’ll go to the club meeting tomorrow and check in. It’s possible Fire isn’t involved, though. There have been different distribution avenues and an odd mix of dealers from the beginning.”

Daire shook his head. “I don’t understand why, though. The drug has evolved and now can be put into darts to shoot at, ah, our people at home. Why keep feeding the poison to Seattle citizens?”

Felicity lifted her head. So Tori must not know anything about witches, humans, or the true purpose for Apollo.

Adam glanced at Tori and then at the dead guy. “Seattle citizens connected to us in one way or another.”

Tori swallowed, her gaze hollow. “Or to the Grizzlies. I mean, that motorcycle club has been involved since the beginning, and I’ve been dating one. Well, I’ve gone on a few dates with one.”

Adam stiffened. “Excuse me?”

Felicity hid a grin. The oh so cool enforcer was quickly losing his cool. “Did Bob have family?”