Red Angel (17 page)

‘You’re not ready yet,’ X says. There’s no disappointment in his voice. He says it as if he’s merely stating a fact. ‘You will be.’

I curl my fingers round the stone and meet his steady gaze. ‘Why?’ I ask again. ‘Why have you done this?’

‘I want a superhero. A dark avenging angel to sweep the streets of crime.’ He twinkles with misplaced humour.

‘You can do that all on your own. You don’t need me.’

‘I’m a Kakos daemon.’ For the first time there’s a trace of real emotion in his face. It hints at deep-seated bitterness. ‘No matter how hard I try or what I do, I’ll always be the bogeyman.’

‘That’s what happens when you murder people live on television!’

‘Oh,’ he tuts, ‘poor maligned Marcus Lanscombe. That girl wasn’t the only one, you know.’

I repress a shudder and look away. X laughs softly.

‘I still don’t understand. Are you offering me a job in executions?’

‘No, I’m offering you the opportunity to rid the world of evil. The public are already behind you. You’ll become the power in London, the army, the police, the secret service all combined into one. Except you’ll do more good than all of them put together.’

‘That’s why you did that at the television studio?’

‘You were already a hero. I simply made you a star as well.’

I press my fingers against my temples. My head is pounding. ‘Why do you want the streets cleared of criminals?’

‘The entertainment value alone would be worth it.’

I look at him, narrow-eyed. ‘Bullshit.’

‘We’re not the bad guys you think we are. You know the Families are responsible for pinning a lot of murders on us. You know I’ve been working to help the Agathos Court. I’ve even encouraged Streets of Fire to develop its charity work.’

‘You’re all heart.’

‘They get in my way,’ he says in an undertone. ‘The petty criminals, the self-serving humans and the squabbling tribers. I want to concentrate on my own interests. I could rip the hearts out of every idiot I come across but that will only create an atmosphere of fear. That’s not going to help me. A superhero working for the power of good, however, will unite the country.’

I glance at the trussed-up trio. ‘We’re not in a comic book, X. Vigilantism isn’t heroic, it’s reckless and stupid.’

‘As I said, you’re not ready yet.’

‘I will never be ready. The law is there for a reason.’

He laughs again. ‘And Bo Blackman never breaks the law.’

I ignore his jibe. ‘What are you going to do with them?’

‘If you’re not going to get involved, then it’s nothing to do with you.’

‘X…’

He grins. ‘I’ll do as you ask, of course. I’ll let the police handle them.’ He raises his eyebrows mockingly. ‘Justice will be served.’

I pace around my flat. Kimchi watches me from the sofa, his head on his paws and his eyes large and expressive. I stop occasionally to stroke his ears but even his furry friendliness doesn’t ease my frustration.

Dawn is approaching so there’s nothing I can do. I’m too amped up to sleep. I keep thinking of the cold, hard look in all three of the daemons’ eyes. My heart tells me that I should have killed them and been done with it; my head reminds me that I did the right thing by walking away. X doesn’t need a hero to clean up the streets for him; he needs a sodding conscience.

I force him out of my head and focus on what I know. Four potential victims: the Harrods’ three are responsible for one; Creed and Wyatt, based on their actions and conversation at the Renfrew mansion, for at least two. That means there might be one person left, one person who might end up earless and in a body bag. I need to find out who that is. I have my suspicions but I want to confirm them first – and I can’t do anything until night falls again.

I press my lips together. Actually, that’s not true: there is one thing I can do. I pick up the phone and slowly dial.

It doesn’t take Michael long to arrive. When he knocks on my door, my stomach lurches but I manage to smile when I beckon him in. He steps inside, motioning to Kimchi to stay put, and gives me a long measured look.

‘What’s wrong, Bo?’ he asks finally.

I think of O’Shea. ‘I like it when you say that.’

Michael’s brow furrows. ‘Say what?’

I stare at my feet. ‘My name.’

‘Bo.’ His fingers reach under my chin and tilt it up so I’m forced to meet his eyes. ‘What’s happened?’

I shrug awkwardly. ‘Everything. Nothing.’ I shake my head. ‘I don’t know.’

He watches me for a moment, then draws me into a tight hug. I press my face against his chest and inhale his heavy, masculine scent. Standing here with Michael wrapped around me, I feel safe and secure.

‘All the criminals you take in, the ones you recruit into the Family and rehabilitate,’ I mumble, my voice muffled. ‘Aren’t they bad people who deserve punishment?’

He releases me slowly and gazes down at me. ‘We’ve been through this. They’ve already served their time. They deserve a second chance.’

‘But what about their victims? And their families? Wouldn’t they want revenge?’

‘There’s no such thing,’ he tells me, shaking his head. ‘Revenge implies satisfaction and closure. Getting your own back doesn’t make you feel better, it just makes you feel more empty. Forgiveness is a lot harder to stomach but it will heal your soul.’

‘Arzo has forgiven Dahlia. She ruined his life.’

The corner of his mouth crooks up. ‘He’s still in love with her,’ he says simply. ‘And love will beat hate any day of the week.’

I’m not convinced. ‘Even when that hate is deserved?’

Michael pulls out his phone. ‘Look. There were seven murders across the city yesterday. And you know what news is trending?’

‘What?’ I ask, scanning the screen.

‘Us,’ he tells me. ‘Our kiss. The world wants love and happiness and peace, not hatred and murder.’

I stare at the photo of myself, my lips firmly planted on his. ‘That’s not even real. We were faking it for the cameras.’

‘Were we?’ His voice is quiet. He’s holding himself back but there’s a silent plea in his eyes.

I bite my lip. ‘That was all arranged by my grandfather.’ I half snort. ‘He’s not much of a pimp.’

‘It was my idea.’

My mouth goes dry. ‘Was it? Because you’re so worried about your image?’

He laughs. ‘Do you really think that’s the reason? The Families have been in a bad place, sure, but it’s happened before. People come round. They always do.’

‘So why did you want us to play pretend?’

He takes my hands and squeezes them. ‘You know why.’

I don’t answer immediately. When I do, there’s a hard lump in my throat. ‘What if we feel like we do because you turned me? You said there would be an attraction between us because of that. You said…’

He places his index finger across my lips. ‘I wanted you before that.’ He grins at me. ‘Who wouldn’t want a bolshie little dwarf who thinks she has the power to take on a vampire Lord in an enclosed space?’

He’s referring to the first time we met, in Arzo’s hospital room. ‘I wasn’t trying to take you on,’ I tell him. ‘I was bloody well trying to escape.’ I frown. ‘And I’m not a dwarf.’

Michael takes a tendril of my hair and runs it through his fingers. ‘You’re an Amazon.’

I draw back, folding my arms. There’s a flash of hurt in his expression. I’m not sure what I’m protecting myself from but I feel afraid. ‘If you knew that there was a human, a rich human, who was doing something illegal, then would you do something to stop him?’

‘It depend on the reason. If we’re talking not paying his TV licence…’

I interrupt. ‘Marcus Lanscome.’

Michael stills. ‘The girl in his dressing room.’

‘There was more than one.’

‘So I’ve heard.’

‘If you knew,’ I repeat, ‘would you have done something? Or would you have invited him into the Family fold so he could seek redemption?’

‘You know recruitment doesn’t work like that.’

‘Please, Michael.’ My voice is strained. ‘What would you have done?’

‘I like it when you say my name too.’ He sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. ‘If I’d known, I’d have wanted to rip out his throat. But that’s not what I’d have done. He’s a human so I’d have called the human police.’

‘Honestly?’

He nods. ‘Bo, I don’t know what’s going with you. If you don’t want to tell me, that’s alright. Things have been hard for you. You didn’t want to be a vampire. The PTSD, the blood aversion…’

‘I’m past all that,’ I interrupt.

‘I’m glad. But know that I will wait. I will wait until you’re ready for me.’ He gestures. ‘Ready for this. You keep searching for reasons to stay away from me, whether it’s because of your recruitment and how I turned you, or because you saw some old photo of me and jumped to the wrong conclusions, or because of a conflict with New Order. They’re just excuses and that’s OK because I will wait until you change your mind. I know it will be worth it. If you want to stop the public dates, that’s fine. But, Bo,’ he says, placing a faint emphasis on my name, ‘I’m not going anywhere. No matter what you do or what you say.’

I know in that instant what I need to do. It’s been there all along and I’ve shied away from it. I take a breath and shake my head. ‘No. Don’t wait.’

‘Bo…’

‘Shh. I don’t want you to wait.
I
don’t want to wait. I’m afraid, Michael. But I don’t have any more excuses and I don’t want to waste any more time.’

He doesn’t move a muscle. His body is frozen like a statue and eyes are fixed on mine. ‘Are you sure about this?’

I don’t answer him. Instead I step forward, stand on my tiptoes and press my lips against his. For a moment he doesn’t react, then he groans and grabs my waist. He deepens the kiss. I coil my arms round his neck and sink against him. His fingers dance up my body, his movements light and wary, as if he’s afraid I’ll suddenly change my mind.

I pull back, breathing hard. Michael stares at me. I smile and reach out to his pristine white shirt, undoing first one button then another. I run my fingers across his bare chest and he sucks in his breath. He shrugs out of his jacket while I unbuckle his belt.

‘I want you to be mine,’ I whisper.

His eyes glitter. ‘Always.’

*

We lie together entwined in damp sheets. His leg is hooked over mine and he’s playing with my hair. I gaze up at the ceiling and, for the first time in a long time, feel genuinely at peace. Kimchi whines faintly from the other room.

Michael grins. It’s a fully satisfied expression. ‘We should let him in.’

‘He’ll only attack you,’ I murmur.

‘Why would he do that?’

‘Because you look like the cat that got the cream.’

His thumb traces a lazy circle round my nipple. ‘You were the one who was purring.’

I reach down, my fingers trailing from his flat stomach to his groin. A deep grumble sounds from his chest and I laugh. ‘Who’s purring now then?’

‘Minx.’ He leans over and kisses me, snatching away my breath yet again. ‘Tell me,’ he murmurs. ‘What changed your mind? You were so desperate to stay away from me before.’

I consider. ‘O’Shea and Connor, I suppose.’

His face takes on an incredulous expression. ‘Devlin O’Shea?’

I giggle. ‘More Connor, really. He made me see the light.’

‘Well,’ Michael growls, ‘from now on, I only want you to see me.’

‘I already know you’re the jealous type,’ I tease.

‘
Moi?
I should think that you’re the jealous one around here, Bo Blackman.’

I splutter. ‘I am not!’

He smiles wickedly. ‘Why were you so annoyed that I took you to La Maison then?’

The phone rings. I stick my tongue out at him. ‘Saved by the bell.’

He punches me lightly on the arm. ‘I’ll get it.’ He reaches across me and picks it up. ‘Hello,’ he drawls, his eyes on me. ‘You’ve reached Bo Blackman.’

He’s staking his claim and, oddly, I don’t mind. When his face shutters, however, I realise with a sinking sensation who is on the line.

‘D’Argneau.’ Michael’s jaw tenses. ‘Do you want to talk to him?’

I know what the lawyer is going to tell me but I want to hear it from his own lips. I nod and take the phone, trying to avoid the furious expression in Michael’s eyes.

‘This is Bo.’

‘Well, well, well! This is a turn up for the books,’ D’Argneau says, enjoying himself. ‘No wonder you didn’t want to take up with me where we left off.’

‘Get to the point, Harry.’

‘There’s no need to be snippy. I’m doing you a favour. I didn’t have to call you.’

‘Tell me.’

‘I’m only doing this because you were so annoyed last time…’

Michael stands up, extricating himself from the bedsheet and pulling on his boxers.

I hiss in annoyance. ‘D’Argneau, spit it out.’

‘I have three new clients.’

I close my eyes. I was right. ‘Let me guess. They’ve got Venezuelan stamps in their passports.’

I watch as Michael walks out of the bedroom to a delighted Kimchi. Harry D’Argneau sounds pretty delighted too. ‘You already know! Yes, I now represent all three of them. Between the two of us, I think I can get them off by pleading self-defence,’ he says in a conspiratorial tone.

‘Really.’ My voice is flat.

‘Really! A mysterious puppet master pulling their strings and forcing them to do his bidding … it’s perfect.’

‘You’ve got no evidence of this person, even if he exists.’

‘Yes I do, Bo. I’ve got three gold bars and a handwritten note.’

I pinch the bridge of my nose. Goddamnit.

I pull on some clothes. Michael, having retrieved his discarded – and now rather rumpled – suit from the floor, has also dressed. Unfortunately for him the suit jacket has been the object of Kimchi’s attentions and half of it appears to be in shreds. Despite my anger at D’Argneau, I find it hard not to smirk.

‘Laugh it up,’ he grimaces, adjusting the ragged cuffs. ‘What did he want?’ His tone is casual but there’s no denying the importance he’s placing on the question.

‘He was calling to tell me that he has three new clients.’ I take a deep breath. ‘Recently returned from Venezuela.’

Michael’s eyes fly to mine. ‘You mean…’

‘Yes. The same ones who tried to kill Rogu3 and who attacked the Agathos Court.’

‘Why on earth did they come back? They were safe in Venezuela. It doesn’t make any sense.’

Unable to tell him about X and his intervention for fear of reprisal, I hedge. ‘It does seem like a silly thing to do.’

Michael isn’t easily fooled. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’

‘Nothing. There’s nothing else.’

A muscle twitches in his cheek. ‘You forget that I know you.’ He smiles slightly. ‘Inside and out.’

I swallow. ‘D’Argneau thinks he can get them off by pleading self-defence.’

He shakes his head. ‘That’s not it, although that’s bad enough on its own. There’s something else, Bo.’

‘No,’ I lie, ‘there’s not.’

A snarl crosses his features. ‘After all this. After everything that’s happened, you still don’t trust me.’

My eyes widen in alarm. ‘I do!’

‘Then what else is going on here?’ he enquires.

‘I…’ Damn it. X will kill Michael if I reveal the Kakos daemon’s existence, let alone his interference. I falter.

Michael scowls. ‘I have to go,’ he says shortly. ‘I’ve got work to do.’

I ball up my fists. Bloody hell, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go. ‘Can I call you later?’