“I have nothing against keeping human pets,” she said as she got nose to nose with him. “But you don’t shit where you eat, at least not on my watch. She is not welcome here. So you’re going to let me in there to deal with her, and then you’re going to go the fuck down to Caldwell and finish what you started with Mozart.”
Lucan glanced at Apex and Mayhem, trying to gauge their readiness to fight. Both of the males were rock steady, prepared to use their guns.
“You know,” he said, prepared to work his leverage, “if you want to get the deal done, you need me. I’m the only one who knows who the contacts are down in Caldwell. Sure, you can re-create it all, but it’ll cost you time and money. And as for her? I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but you better do the math on her role, too. She’s Mozart’s right-hand woman. You bury her? We lose the deal, and Mozart is going to come after you with everything he’s got. You’ll end up defending yourself instead of making money.”
“You honestly believe humans can get in here? They’re weak, and disorganized on their best night. Against my males, they don’t stand a chance.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
“I gave you an opportunity to be reasonable.” The head of the guards nodded off to the side. “But it is what it is.”
There was a shuffling. A moan of pain. And a scent of fresh blood—
The flank of guards that had gathered parted, and before Lucan’s eyes could properly focus on what was coming forward, Apex let out a curse and lunged forward.
Toward Kane, who was being dragged forward by two heavily armed males.
Lucan caught the other prisoner’s arm and yanked him back. “Don’t give her more than she already has,” he hissed quietly.
Kane’s head lolled on his shoulder, fresh blood running from his raw wounds, his breathing a rattle in lungs that had been burned on their insides.
“Oh,” the head of the guards murmured, “did you think it was your corpse I was going to step over? You’re right. I need you, but I don’t need him.”
“You bitch,” Apex spat. “Let him go. He’s no threat to you!”
“The Executioner and I had few secrets.” The female talked over the prisoner’s protests as Lucan stepped in front of Apex to hold him back. “And what ones we did have were on my side only. So he told me about your little attachment, your—loyalty, let’s call it—to this aristocrat. I had questioned how deep this abiding regard went, but then I realized, it is in your species’ nature. You are a pack wolf without a clan, and the reflex to create that which is intrinsic to your DNA forges ties wherever they are found. You pick up people like trash at the side of the road, and it fills the wheel wells of your car. But you can’t help it, and I am not going to resist using your defect to my benefit.”
Lucan narrowed his eyes. “Be careful there, female. You know what else they say about wolves?”
“What.”
He looked at her exposed throat. “We bite.”
“Oh, that’s original.” She smiled coldly. “I didn’t see that coming. Now get the fuck out of my way.”
When he didn’t move, she took her gun out.
“Shoot me,” he said. “I don’t give a fuck.”
And he meant it. There was no future for him and the female he’d bonded with. No real future, anyway. So what did he care?
“Will you stop trying to be my target? It makes you look desperate.” She swung the muzzle around and pointed it at Kane’s chest. “He is who I’m going to shoot—”
“Kill him and you have no leverage over me.”
“No, I’ll just find your girlfriend. I followed her weeks before you did. Even if she leaves here, I know where she lives, what car she drives, where she goes at night. I will give her to you in pieces. Now get the fuck out of my way.”
Apex growled and tried to lunge for the female, but Lucan wheeled around and locked the other prisoner in a bar hold. As their eyes met, there was a struggle, but the other male stilled.
Not now, Lucan mouthed.
“Thank you,” the head of the guards patronized. “And yes, I’ll bet she’s left after all these delay tactics of yours. Like I don’t know what you’re doing with this posturing?”
There were a series of beeps and Lucan glanced over his shoulder. The female was entering the code, and as the lock released, she smiled back at him.