Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(72)

The mention of Arys was more for Briggs’s benefit than mine. I didn’t want Arys to come riding to my so-called rescue, but if Briggs thought he might, this conversation would go a lot smoother.

Willow made a show of checking the time on his phone. “Ok, one hour. Talk to you soon.”

He stood there with arms crossed, giving Briggs a guarded but invasive stare. He watched as I got into a vehicle with agents on every side of me. I managed to flash him a wave and an eye-roll before the doors closed and we pulled into traffic.

Right away, I had four guns in my face. Squeezed onto the seat between a male and female agent, I glowered at Briggs who turned in the front passenger seat to look at me.

“Alright, Briggs. You got your way,” I said, holding the wolf back. “Now, get those things out of my face and treat me with some respect. I’m not asking.”

“Is that a threat?” He asked, wary and stern.

“Does it have to be? If I wanted to taste that rich, arrogant blood, I would have done it last time we spoke.” I raised a brow and smirked. We all knew I was the monster here; if they forced me to act like it, I would.

Briggs regarded me with thinly veiled distaste. The feeling was mutual. After a minute, he waved a hand, and the agents withdrew their guns. I didn’t move a muscle, just beamed a sickly sweet smile at him.

“So, where’s Juliet?” I inquired expectantly. “Let me guess. She doesn’t know about this little meeting. Just like she didn’t know about the people you’re holding hostage in the basement of that scary ass hospital.”

“She took the night off. And, you don’t know jack shit about those people.”

“I know what I saw. Is that where you’d like to see me, Briggs? Locked in a cold little stone room, never again to see the light of day?”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “It does have its appeal. However, I think you underestimate the respect I have for you, O’Brien. I knew your parents; I worked with them. I assure you, I have no ill intentions toward you.”

The driver guided the vehicle through the busy downtown core. The second Escalade followed, shadowing every turn and lane change. I wasn’t sure how to take advantage of the opportunity I faced.

“I’m aware of my parents’ involvement with you. I know you expected me to grow up to be a good little agent like my sister. Sorry about that.” I settled in against the seat. There was no telling how long this would take, so I might as well get comfortable.

“I’ll be honest,” Briggs nodded, tugging at his seat belt so he could turn more in his seat. “We’d hoped you would join the FPA, but we can’t force you. Although, we would certainly still be interested in working with you.”

He let that hang between us. I considered the many ways I could respond. My instant reaction was to tell him to shove it up his ass. Anger didn’t make wise choices though.

“If this is about Shya, you can save your breath. I told you already, I don’t know shit about his plans. I kill for him to keep a secret. That’s all.”

“A secret? Meaning the supernatural activity in this city?” Briggs’s dark eyes searched me. He was keenly observant, taking note of my every blink and breath.

“That’s right. I kill other supernaturals, the idiots that don’t know how to keep a low profile. There’s no more or less to it.”

“To avoid public exposure.”

“Obviously.” I knew he was trying to figure out how that could benefit Shya. I would certainly never tell Briggs about Shya’s belief that keeping the public in the dark about us gave us more power over them and kept us safe. It was a belief I shared.

“Sure, that’s your story,” he replied with skepticism. “We both know there’s more to it. You’re one of several unique, powerful types in Shya’s arsenal. I’m sure he doesn’t need that kind of power to police the idiots. But, who am I to say?”

I was growing increasingly uncomfortable. Somehow, I managed to sit still, giving Briggs a disaffected stare.

“Come on, Briggs. This can’t be why you tracked my phone and hauled my ass in here,” I said, trying to steer the conversation in a new direction. “What do you want?”

He appeared pensive, choosing his words. “I want you to replace Veryl Armstrong as our informant.”

I wasn’t sure what to think of that. Laughter was my initial reaction. Briggs glowered at me, waiting for me to get it out of my system.

“Now, why the hell would I want to do that?” I asked, sobering quickly.

“Well for one, it would make me a whole lot more likely to turn a blind eye toward your dirty little whorehouse and what goes on inside.” Raising a dark brow, Briggs pinned me with an arrogant sneer. “Besides, it seems only fitting, seeing as you’re the one who killed him.”

My lips twitched into a hint of a smirk. Briggs really thought he knew it all. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about killing Veryl. He had hidden so much from me. I still felt the bitter sting of betrayal. Yet, as I continued to uncover pieces of the puzzle, it became clear that there was more to Veryl’s actions than I’d first thought. I was starting to think he might have been trying to protect me all along.

“I sure did. I had my reasons. When it becomes illegal to kill a vampire, maybe I’ll share them with you. You might want to try something else. That tactic isn’t going to work.”