September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(65)

The vans had emptied. Briggs was surrounded by agents, both men and women, but none of them were Juliet. I did recognize one of them however. Agent Hunter, the biggest * on their team, stood smirking at me as if I hadn’t seen him almost cry the last time we’d met. He was a livewire, one to be watched, unpredictable and quick to break the rules.

“We’re not here to discuss my personal life, O’Brien. Trust me, this is not something I’m going to enjoy.” Briggs took in my companions with careful consideration. Willow was the biggest threat of us all, but I was willing to bet he didn’t know that.

I held up a hand that crackled with power unseen by most human eyes but readily felt. “Oh, I am definitely going to enjoy this.”

“There doesn’t have to be any innocent bloodshed here,” he spoke calmly, trying to appeal to my sensible side. Too bad for him. I didn’t have one. “We are on the same side. Let’s be rational about this.”

I laughed, a devious sound that was more Arys than it was me. “Rational, huh? You clearly don’t know the meaning of the word. I’m not going to lie down and die for you, Briggs. That’s just not my style.”

Briggs was quiet, regarding me with the silent contemplation of an intelligent man who thought he knew what he was doing. He probably did most of the time. But not this time.

“I thought you cared about this city. Over a million people call this area home. Would you really risk them just to prolong the inevitable?” He spread his hands in question before crossing his arms in an attempt to appear casual.

Briggs’s gaze traveled over Arys, and he frowned ever so slightly. I was willing to bet that he’d thought Arys was still out of town. His plan had been to take me out while we were apart. Sneaky bastard.

“Well now, Agent Briggs, you appear a little surprised to see me,” Arys said, picking up on what I’d just realized. “You weren’t by chance thinking about killing my wolf while I was away, were you? That kind of behavior seems beneath you. Doesn’t it?”

Briggs and Arys shared a moment. Whatever passed between them, it wasn’t good.

“What are we waiting for?” Agent Hunter interjected with a rude sneer in my direction. “Let’s take this bitch out.”

“You never learn, do you, Hunter?” I tsked and shook my head at his pathetic attempt to be a tough guy. “I guess I’ll have to break your other arm. But I doubt I’ll stop there. I made you a promise, remember?”

During a scuffle with the FPA, Kale had broken the man’s arm. It clearly hadn’t taught him a damn thing about keeping his mouth shut or knowing when to back down. The last time I saw Hunter I had promised him that he would die at my hand, and he would love it.

“Is there something I should know about you two?” Briggs shot a dark glare at Hunter who pressed his lips together in a refusal to speak.

“What’s to know?” I dared to saunter closer, stopping only when every agent had leveled their gun at me. “Hunter here threw me in with Kale after you guys drove him crazy. He almost got me killed. Oh, and he wants your job. But I’m guessing you already knew that. Better watch your back, Briggs. Your guys don’t know how to be a team.”

Briggs’s gaze narrowed. He chose to ignore my remark, but I was sure he’d have a word with Hunter later, if they left here alive.

“Come with us, O’Brien. You leave peacefully, and we can avoid a showdown in the parking lot. I’ll make sure you’re treated in a humane, fair way.”

I gaped at him as if he’d just spoken in tongues. “Are you f*cking kidding me? A humane way? I’m not a dog going off to the pound, you self-righteous piece of shit. If you want me, you’ll have to take me the hard way.”

Hunter cocked his weapon. Several others followed suit. Briggs held up a hand, and they waited for his order.

“Stopping Shya has been our mission for a very long time. I can’t let a chance like this pass me by. Stopping him should be your top priority too.” His tone was smooth and steady, but there was a pleading glint in his eyes.

That should have been reassuring I suppose. Ultimately, I knew that Briggs didn’t really want to kill me. In a city where many people did, it was refreshing, and even somewhat flattering.

“It is. You just refuse to see that. Things have to happen, Briggs. Someone will kill me, but it won’t be you.” I couldn’t help the glance I shot Arys. I saw Briggs notice. Could his clever mind put it together?

For just a moment it appeared as if Briggs might give me the benefit of the doubt. His studious stare moved between Arys and me. Hunter shuffled his feet impatiently and received an unspoken rebuke from his superior. I smiled.

“I want to trust you on this. I do,” Briggs said. “Unfortunately, I don’t. You make your decisions based on what’s best for your people, and I do the same. I ask you one last time, please come with us. I’d prefer to keep this from being a public event.”

Damn. So he wanted to really do this. “You know I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Briggs gave a slight nod. A shot went off. It didn’t come from the agents before us though. It came from above. A sniper on the roof of the grocery store across the street took his shot. It never hit. Willow held the bullet in his hand before anyone realized he’d intercepted it. His great silver wings were flared wide behind him, and he hummed with power.