Mafia Beasts: The Complete Series, page 43
“Sneaky.”
She laughed. “You have to be when you live in a house full of shifters. Surprises are hard to pull off.”
“Well, you got me. I nearly died.”
Aya snarked, “Don’t be a baby. You know you loved it.”
I shook my head but did a shit job of hiding my grin.
Zane walked past me, and without stopping, deposited a folded piece of paper in my hand. Then he, Lucas, and Cade exited the room. I unfolded the note, which read…
Join us in the parlor when you’re ready. No rush.
Anticipation and curiosity overtook all other emotions. I sprawled on the couch with Aya and Nalanie and finished enjoying my cake. We chatted about nothing important, which was bliss. From time to time my mind would wander to that note. What were those three up to? What would I find in the parlor?
“Open this one next,” Lucas said with a grin. He was exuberant as a damn puppy while handing me gift-wrapped box after box. Each and every one held a designer’s logo, and I opened them to find jewelry, a handbag, an amazing pair of Italian leather combat boots, French lingerie, and the list went on. Zane intently watched my every reaction from his chair with those deep pools of inky black curtained by his dreadlocks.
It was all too much. It made me feel uncomfortable, and giddy as fuck with excitement, at the same time. On top of that, the feelings of adoration flowing my way from Lucas and Zane told me that these weren’t just birthday gifts, but them showering me with love and affection. A girl could get used to this.
Gift giving was definitely Zane’s love language, along with spending time together. Lucas thrived on physical contact and sex. He also showed his love through thoughtfulness. Taking me to the library when I’d first arrived here—when I’d been a prisoner—had been his first thoughtful action.
“You guys, this is just too much,” I said, glancing from Lucas to Zane to where Cade stood near the door with his back resting on the wall and his arms folded. Judging by his posture, I didn’t think he wanted to be here, yet his gaze bored into the side of my face the entire time.
“It’s your birthday, baby. There’s no such thing as too much.” Lucas crouched in front of me and placed his hands on my thighs. “You deserve everything and more.”
I stared into his rich brown eyes that were rimmed in gold. My inner wolf perked up at the connection. We were in complete agreement on adoring our mate. I whispered, “I love you.”
Lucas rumbled in a low, possessive growl, “I love you, too.” Then he kissed me until my toes curled and I had to pull back to catch my breath.
Zane stood. “We’re going out for dinner in the city. Wear this.” He handed me a large rectangular box. I took it, and Lucas eased back on his heels to give me space to open it. Inside, I found a short crimson satin dress and matching thong. There was also a note…
I like you in red, sweetness.
My cheeks heated and a shot of lust zipped through our blood bond.
“Go get changed.” Zane brushed his thumb across his lower lip as his gaze swept my body. “We’ll meet you in the garage.”
I nodded and stood, then retreated to my room down the hall. After quickly changing into the new dress, I touched up my makeup, and chose a pair of killer heels that made my legs look a million miles long.
A knock sounded on my door. Curiously, I opened it and came face-to-face with Cade. His stormy gaze slid over my face, then latched onto my breasts like he’d never seen tits before. I’d forgone a bra as the fitted dress didn’t need one. The thin fabric clung to my every curve, and I felt my nipples peak under his attention.
Cade shook himself and cleared his throat, his eyes returning to meet mine. He held out a closed palm. “I have something for you. A gift.” Pale pink bloomed up his neck as he opened his hand.
A gift? From Cade? I stared at the smooth, black string coiled in his palm.
“What is it?”
“A solution. Where’s your wand?”
Puzzled, I stepped back and grabbed my purse, then took out my wand. Cade’s free hand curled around mine to hold my wand steady. His warmth seeped through my skin. Every fiber in my body was suddenly aware of how close he stood. I wanted to sink into him, to lose myself in his whiskey-leather scent.
“Watch,” he said, bringing the piece of cord closer to my wand. One end sprang out on its own and fastened itself around the malachite. The other end reached for my wrist. It looped around until it had a secure hold.
Cade released me. “It’s Fae enchanted. It will stay attached to your wand and seek you out when you need it. This way you won’t lose your wand again.”
Fascinating. “Thank you. This is very thoughtful of you.” I wanted to throw my arms around him or kiss him until he understood how grateful I was, but I didn’t think Cade would like that very much, so I restrained myself.
He grunted and backed away. “See you downstairs.”
“I’m ready. Would you walk with me?” I held my breath, waiting for his reply, half expecting a refusal.
He grunted again, this time with a nod. I dropped my wand into my purse, fascinated at how the Fae string released my wrist and coiled itself around the malachite like a tiny snake. I grabbed a black wool coat from the wardrobe. Ready—for real this time—I approached Cade where he stood waiting in the hallway.
“Can I touch you?” I asked, another daring question. I wasn’t sure what had come over me this evening. Maybe I felt like pushing my luck on my birthday. Hell, I was thirty now. A full-grown woman. I should be able to ask for what I wanted.
Cade’s eyes widened in surprise and I caught a flicker of panic, so I clarified, “Your arm. May I touch your arm?”
His features crumbled into a scowl, but he thrust his elbow toward me, and I took it. We walked close along the hall, the side of my breast occasionally brushing his arm. Neither one of us said a word as we made our way down to the garage, yet the silence wasn’t unpleasant.
When Lucas and Zane saw us, they acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Lucas called backseat, to sit beside me, and Zane sighed in defeat.
Cade caught my eye. “Shotgun?” he asked with a nod toward the front passenger door. I bobbed my head, freaking giddy that the big, grumpy Fae wanted to sit next to me. He called over his shoulder, “You two can sit in the back.”
Instead of the protestations I was expecting from them, Zane and Lucas shot each other a conspiratorial glance. Then, we all piled into the SUV and headed out. A second vehicle followed us with our security detail.
Cade turned up the stereo’s volume, blaring the dramatic opera music, and making conversation impossible, which was fine. I settled into the warm leather seat and emptied the worries from my mind. I felt each and every brief glance from Cade as he drove. They weren’t pressing, just curious looks like he was trying to figure me out.
We pulled up in front of Club Essence. This was one of Penumbra’s nightclubs that catered to humans. I guess we were pretending to be human tonight. Either that, or the bosses figured 5th Circle was less likely to try something in a building full of non-supernatural folk. Calling attention to ourselves by the human media would catch the attention of the Supernatural Council and no one wanted that.
Zane opened my door. I took his offered arm, and we headed toward the club with Lucas and Cade right behind us. Penumbra security surrounded us, and I noted that both Aya and Kevin were among the six. I gave the she-wolf a smile, but she was all business tonight and responded with a jerk of her head.
Inside, the club was glittering lights and shadowed corners. A dance floor occupied most of the main level. Tables and a second bar were located on the upper level. Kevin led us through a side corridor and up a flight of stairs that were roped off to the general public. The sign indicated the space was for VIPs Only. With a word from the bear shifter, the gatekeeper waved us through, and we climbed the staircase.
The host at the top showed us to a private room that overlooked the dance floor. The space held a round table with booth seating, an L-shaped couch, and a decadent buffet. While the noise from outside was muted by the walls, hidden speakers played the club music at a much lower volume.
Lucas took my coat. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving.” As always. Ever since fully becoming a wolf shifter, my appetite had doubled. It was insane. I had no idea where all those calories went.
A server brought in our drinks. I eyed the bottle of champagne as Zane poured four glasses, handing one to each of us. I plopped down next to Zane on the couch with a smile. Lucas cuddled in close at my other side, and Cade took the small section of the L.
Zane lifted his glass in the air. “Tonight, we are first and foremost celebrating our cherished girl’s birthday. Happy birthday, sweetness.”
“Happy birthday, baby,” Lucas whispered in my ear.
Cade gave me a nod, and we all clanged our glasses together before taking a sip.
“What else are we celebrating?” I asked.
“Victory.” Zane’s grin showed his fangs. “With 5th Circle gone to ground, and Eclipse defeated, we have reclaimed Seattle—and our empire.”
“I will gladly drink to that.” We toasted again. On an empty stomach, the bubbly goodness went straight to my head. “I need to eat something before I get tipsy.”
Standing, I made my way to the buffet and picked through it, filling my plate with everything from seasoned, baked chicken, to breaded oysters that had been cooked in their half shell and drizzled with butter. Yum.
I turned, full plate in hand, and strode toward the booth in the far corner. A jarring spike of tension raced from Lucas to me one second before the big wolf tackled me to the floor. I shrieked. The ceramic dish broke, and food scattered across the hardwood floor.
I opened my mouth only to snap it shut at the sound of rapid gunfire. Lucas shielded my body with his as the window overlooking the lower level cracked and shattered. Screams and shouts mingled with the semi-automatic gunshots. The drywall was riddled with bullet holes.
Then, it stopped. My brain caught up with the situation a moment later. The shooter was reloading.
“Come on. Stay low.” Lucas crawled forward on his stomach and dragged me along. Cade and Zane were doing the same. Relief rippled through me, knowing that they were both all right.
The door burst open. Kevin was crouched in the corridor. He waved us to him.
I snatched my purse from the chair by the door on our way out. We made it over the threshold just as the gunfire returned. Everyone hit the ground.
We needed to get out of here and away from this psycho shooting up the club. If this was 5th Circle, which I assumed it was, then they were smarter than I thought. This wouldn’t look like a supernatural incident. It was just the story of another civilian shooter taking out their anger on a nightclub. Those killed would be anyone who happened to get in the way. A random act of violence.
Fuck that.
5
EMMA
As soon as I reached inside my purse, the magical Fae string attached to my wand wrapped itself securely around my wrist. I pulled out the smooth piece of malachite and constructed a shield that encased us and our security. Immediately, the sound dampened, and I could hear myself think.
Kevin and Aya were the first to stand. “Back exit’s this way,” the bear shifter rumbled. Aya took the lead with one other guard, guns in hand, and we followed.
I focused on keeping the shield solid as we made our way down a flight of stairs with a glowing red exit sign over the door at the bottom. Those in front pushed through. My shield was hit with two bullets almost simultaneously. I felt the impact like a blow to my stomach.
“Shooter,” I said on an exhale. Gasping, I followed the others outside where we found ourselves in a wide alley.
“No shit.” Aya had her gun raised and pointed at the lone figure blocking the mouth of the alley—our only way out. My magic pulsed around us, thick, blocking the assassin from us and us from them. We faced off. One against ten was pretty good odds of us making it out of here alive. All I had to do was lower my shield and get a shot in before the assassin did.
My pulse hitched when two new figures appeared, each holding wands, and I redoubled my defenses. Our odds were not looking so great anymore. We had two witches on our side—me and one of our guards. Huxley? I thought that was his name. His magic, feeling like a gentle spring breeze, joined mine as soon as the newcomers had arrived. A frown pulled at my lips, realizing that Huxley’s magic was not nearly as strong as mine. We’d make the best of it.
Without Ash around, that left Cade as our only Fae. Everyone else were shifters except for the two vampires, my mate included.
We had guns too, but the assassins had magic. I did not want to try to defeat three highly skilled assassin witches with only Huxley’s and Cade’s help. I was plenty humble about my new magical abilities—not going to happen—which kind of left us totally screwed.
Bluish-white magic spread from Cade’s hands and an icy wall, radiating with energy, grew in front of us. He glanced down at me. “Teleport yourself out of here.”
I scoffed. “I’m not going anywhere without all of you.”
A bullet struck our combined witch-Fae shield and implanted in the middle of the ice. What were the other two witches waiting for? For us to run? Surrender? They stood, staring, wands at the ready.
From around the corner strode a fourth person, with an AR15 slung over their shoulder, and I groaned.
Zane and Lucas stood close but didn’t crowd me as I sustained my magic. My vampire said, “I agree with Cade, you should get yourself away from here.”
“And leave you all with only two magic workers against four? I don’t think so.” I snarled. Now they were just pissing me off. Zane knew it too. His jaw muscles worked, but he didn’t push. Lucas’s mouth remained shut, his free hand balled into a fist, and a mix of horror and rage thrummed in our bond.
“Fuck. Any ideas?” Kevin asked, his gaze shifting from Zane to me and back again. “We can shoot our way out if you can distract them.”
I studied the structure of Cade’s ice shield. “How about we blast them? That will get them off balance.”
“Unless they construct their own shields,” Cade said.
Damn. He was right. Trying to take them by surprise was not feasible—it held too many risks. But we had to do something soon because I could only hold up a barrier of this magnitude for so long before I tired. Same for Cade and Huxley.
I really, really wished Samuel was still alive and with us. He’d know what to do. We could have worked together.
The assassins put away their guns in favor of their wands. All four stood before us and let loose with a bombardment of spells. I gritted my teeth and braced against them as best as I could. The option for holding up this shield and retaliating with my own spells was out. I just didn’t have the energy for both. I side-eyed Huxley, doubting he even knew how.
Cade’s magic and mine morphed and entangled, strengthening one another’s, and taking Huxley’s along for the ride. We moved steadily forward, pushing back our adversaries. A cold sweat broke out on my neck. Everyone else in our party gripped their guns. At some point, if we were lucky, we could lower our shield and make a run for it.
That hope was wiped away when the four 5th Circle witches coordinated and blasted us simultaneously. I watched in horror as our barrier wobbled and splintered. It shivered, then exploded with a force so strong we were all lifted off our feet and thrown backward several feet.
Shards of ice shimmered in the faint lamplight. Debris and dust from the alley’s walls gradually settled as groans sounded around me. I coughed and sat up, finding my wand still attached to my wrist by the cord. My back ached, but the damage was already healing, thanks to my wolf shifter abilities. I glanced up to find the four 5th Circle witches advancing on us, their protective shields forming a bubble that moved with them.
Flicking my wrist, I resurrected a dense, shimmering barrier. All four witches attacked it and my shield vanished.
I scrambled to my feet, stumbling in the heels, and held my wand out, prepared for a fight. The growls to either side of me said everyone else was ready too. Our enemies raised their wands and took aim. This was going to get bloody.
An engine roared and tires screeched around the corner of the alley as a motorcycle came into view. I immediately recognized Claire’s leather outfit, even though her features were obscured by a helmet. My adrenaline spiked and my breath caught in my throat. Was she here to help us or to join the assassins?
My question was answered when she drove into one of the witches and bombarded another’s shield with inky magic. The other two had their attention torn between us and Claire. One chose to focus on us, and we traded nasty spells. Huxley was vicious—at least that was something. The bosses and our security team opened fire.
A second later, another roar sounded and a very pissed-off looking Ash skidded to a halt to take in the battle. He clapped his hands and deadly vines sprung from his palms. They wrapped around the nearest assassin and devoured the witch’s body. Cade was engaged with one of the other 5th Circle fuckers.
The odds tipped in our favor. As soon as the witches dropped their magical shields, one by one, they were riddled with bullets. Zane sped around to snap their necks once the fight was over—making sure they were good and dead. No one wanted these assassins coming back to life.
Ash strode up to Claire and roared, “What the fuck were you thinking?”
She eased off her helmet and tucked it under her arm. Her head was tipped almost all the way back to look up at the angry Fae. “I was thinking that I needed to make sure that Emma was okay. It’s my job—always has been and always will be. Now back the fuck off.”
“No.” Ash bent down so that his nose was a mere inch from hers. “You’re coming back to the mansion with me and I’m locking you up in chains this time.”
I approached them. “How did you know we were in trouble?” I asked, glancing around for any further signs of a threat.
