Soul Enslaved (Sons of Wrath Book 3) (54 page)

“She has nothing to do with this.”

“I’m afraid
this
is much bigger than you imagined, sweetheart.” The easy way she remained lounged on the bed, like her life wasn’t in danger, rattled Gavin’s bones. “In fact, this is just some crazy little obsession in the thick of world annihilation.”

“What part do I play in all of this?”

She sucked in a breath, eyes rolling back, and bit her bottom lip. “What part do you play?” Her fingers drifted down between her thighs, where she drew circles against the lace. “Well, you’ve been a good source of sexual frustration for me. In fact, if I don’t end up fucking you by the end of this meeting, somebody downstairs is going to die.”

“Hope you have him picked out already.”

“Don’t you know I love a game of hard to get? It makes me hot. So. Fucking. Hot.” Her fingers moved faster, and a moan escaped her mouth.

“So hot you’ve cursed my very soul?”

“D’ya like that one? Wasn’t expecting your little girlfriend with a bestiality fetish, though. Almost thought I’d have to kill her myself. Until I learned she had a sister. Not just any sister. One she happened to love.”

“Break the curse.”

“I can’t. You can’t reverse what’s set into motion. Even if I wanted to. I added some insurance, though. Should the curse break, her sister dies.” Her eyes lit with excitement, as a grin stretched her face. “How’s that for sisterly love?”

Fuck!
If he bonded with Sabelle, Denya would die. If he didn’t, his soul would belong to Jessica. “You’re a conniving bitch.”

“You have one week left of your Savidon. Chances are, your lover girl isn’t going to bond. In fact, I can assure you she isn’t.” The sly smile on her face set off his bullshit sensors. “As I see it, Gavin, all you have to do is give me what I want. I don’t think you realize what danger you’re in. But I can protect you. I can shield you from all of that.”

“What is it that you want?”

“I want you to be
my
slave. For months, I’ve fucked men, women, dildos, and even a goddamn lycan, to feel the way you made me feel that night. I was supposed to kill you. I had the drug primed and ready to go.” Her lip slid between her teeth as she eyed his crotch from across the room. “And then you showed me that glorious cock, and I knew … I knew I couldn’t kill you. I’ve craved you and only you, much to my servosx’s dismay. It’s why I ended up in prison.”

“I’ll confess … I haven’t thought about you inasmuch as I’ve thought about taking a piss.”

Her jaw shifted. “Lies.”

“I’m surprised at the ease of getting to you. And by the way, shitty bodyguards you’ve got on watch.”

“I never instructed them to keep you out. I just never dreamed you’d come strolling through that door, is all.” She took another drag of her cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray beside her.

“Who sent you to kill me?”

“My servosx, of course.”

“Why?”

“I don’t ask questions when I’m given a mark.”

“You’re an assassin?” Gavin kept to an impassive tone of voice.

“More a seductress. I’ve always had an addiction to sex. And killing people. Eventually I found a career that allowed me to combine both my passions. Paid creativity.”

“You tried to kill Griffin. The angel.”

“Had I tried, he’d have been dead. I merely put him out of commission. Can’t have a Guardian nosing in my business.”

“Where’s the chip?”

“Sorry. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do. Cash’s Black Book. You stole it from the lycans.”

“Silly boy, I don’t have to steal anything. I happen to have unmatched powers of negotiation. The succubi aren’t exactly lining up to mate with a lycan. Odd as it sounds, even those bitches have standards.” She tipped her head. “Thought I had your girl with that curse, too. Made her powers useless against Lachlan. What is it about that cunt, evading my schemes to kill her?”

Gavin inwardly cursed Jessica’s name, keeping his game face on. “Sabelle is no longer in the picture. What do you want with the chip?”

Her face lit, as if the news of Sabelle meant something favorable for her. “I consider myself a recruiter. Half those lycan bastards can’t even read, let alone manage a chip. I seek out the succubi, promise whatever will make them fuck the lycans, and the dogs respect me as head bitch.”

“Madame.”

“Or that.” She grinned. “What makes you think I’d hand it over to you, anyway?”

“I didn’t ask you to hand it over. I asked where it was. Mark my words, it’ll be in my possession when I leave.”

“I love your sense of confidence and control. Nothing turns me on more than a man who can command.”

Gavin rubbed his hand across his jaw.

“Gods, is there any gesture that doesn’t make you look sexy?”

“Yeah. The one where I squeeze your guts up through your nose like a tube of toothpaste. Enough fucking around. I want Denya. And the chip. And if I have to kill every one of the fucks downstairs, I will. Don’t think you’re safe because I’m keeping my distance.”

“I told you. I don’t know where she is.”

“But someone does. Who is that someone?”

A sly grin spread across her face. “Would you like to meet him?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That’s a very exclusive request. Very pricey.”

“I’m yours at the end of it. You own my soul with the curse, anyway, yes?”

Her grin widened. “Yes, I do.” She tipped her head. “You’re assuming he’d let you live.”

“I’m assuming, if he’d wanted me dead, I’d be dead.”

“True. Then again …” She rolled forward and crawled on all fours toward the edge of the bed, sitting with her feet spread wide on the floor and leaving herself spread eagle before him. “You are a very powerful Wrath demon. Son of a prince. He might just find you intimidating enough to be scared shitless.”

“Then, what makes you think he’ll let me walk out with you after meeting him?”

“Because … I’ll promise to kill you myself.” She rose up from the bed, tugging a dagger from beneath the mattress. “As for the chip, if you want it, you’ll have to come get it. Only one place safe enough for something that valuable.”

CHAPTER 26

Sabelle shot upright from the hotel bed and quickly checked beside her, sighing at, Thomas and Janie still sleeping peacefully.

After drifting to sleep herself, she could’ve sworn a knock woke her. Ensuring she didn’t disturb the kids, she slipped from the bed, tiptoed to the door, and peered through the peephole.

Her shoulders sagged at the sight of the hotel bellhop. Why the hell had he come knocking so late?

Swinging the door open revealed a male decked out in what looked like an Orcosian robe, she gasped as her adrenaline spiked through her veins. “Who the fuck are you?” Sabelle blocked the doorway with her body, but the room blurred, and a gust of wind kicked from her lungs, as the wall slammed into her back.

She coughed, doubled over, trying to suck in breath. They’d come. “Get out!”

She ducked past the male and raced into the adjacent room. “Thomas! Janie!”

The two flipped awake at her calls, but a crash through their door startled them further.

“Momma?”

She swiped them up into her arms and, backing them behind her against the bedroom wall, turned to find three men in the doorway. Her body trembled against their small, shivering frames.

The largest brute advanced. “For the crime of conception with your pimp, you are under detainment.”

“Wait. Please, just wait.” She held up her palms. “Please, just one minute.”

The other two stepped inside the room, no ounce of empathy in their harsh features.

Jeven slipped in front of them, his wounds from Gavin still evident. “Hello, darling. How many times have I told you? You can’t run from me.” He tipped his head forward, staring at her from beneath his brows. “Ever.”

“You!” She pointed at the snidey pimp. “How are you considered innocent, if I’m guilty?”

“Helps to make the right connections, babe. I was granted immunity for turning you in.”

A tear slid down Sabelle’s cheek. “Bastard. I hope you rot in hell!” Clutching tight to the twins’ wrists, she stiffened her back and braced herself for a fight. “No. No, no, no, no, no. Wait! Wait!”

The first male shoved at her shoulders, but failed to move her.

“Listen to me. Please. I love my children. I’m taking care of them. Please, don’t do this!”

One small hand dislodged from hers. “Momma!” The panic in Thomas’s voice reached the pit of her stomach, sending rage rising up from the depths of her soul.

“No! Fucking let him go!” She scrambled to snatch a screaming Thomas, as his body was dragged from behind her. “Thomas! No!” Her grip lost hold with one forceful tug.

Janie’s hand slipped from behind her. “Momma! Momma!”

Sabelle swung around, left arm still outstretched in futility toward her son. “Janie! Don’t do this! Don’t fucking do this! You rotten bastards!” As she lurched for her daughter, a cold grasp cinched her throat and the wall beat into her spine.

Black, lifeless eyes peered into hers. “You’ve committed a crime. You will be judged.”

Hot tears spilled down her cheeks, and her chest thumped with a sob. “They’re my children! I love them! Please, don’t do this! I’ll do anything. Anything!”

“How dare you attempt to bribe a lord with your trickery!” The cold smack stung her cheek and knocked her face to the side.

Instinctively, Sabelle threw a punch, driving back into the wall to level a kick in his gut. As the male doubled forward, another punch knocked him just enough for her to slip past.

She raced for the door, through which Thomas and Janie’s cries echoed down the hallway.

Hard wood smashed against her nose, and her feet flew out from beneath her. Ice cold hands gripped her calves, yanking her back, and she dug her nails into the wood. “No!” The prick of slivers numbed her fingertips, as Sabelle scrambled for purchase.

Her body flipped, and the male straddled her, trapping her arms at her side. Sharp pain radiated across her cheek and threw her head to the side with a snap. She opened her mouth to flex her jaw, but another wall of pain shattered across her cheek.

“Maybe I will take that bribe, bitch. Only, you aren’t getting those kids back.” His breath reeked of death, as he whispered in her ear. A black snake with blood red eyes stared back at her in the tattoo across his neck.

When fingers probed the juncture between her thighs, Sabelle writhed beneath him. “No!” Squirming did nothing to move him.

Teeth lodged into her jaw, and hands fumbled below, as though he hurried to lift his robe.

“Get off of her! Get your rapin’ ass off her, motherfucker!”

Nola!
Relief washed through her hardened muscles.

The male pushed up to a stand, straightening his robe and composing himself. “This prisoner attempted to get away.”

“And you attempted to get off!” Nola floated across the room until standing before the male. “I will have your nutsack pinned to the wall for this, boy!”

His jaw shifted, but the male said nothing.

The warmth of Nola’s palms drifted down Sabelle’s cheek, and she broke into a torrent of sobs.

“Help me, Nola. Thomas. Janie.” She could barely speak; her mouth that felt like it’d been stuffed with cotton. Numb. Swollen.

“It’s all right, baby.” She stroked Sabelle’s hair. “I’m going to see what I can do. In the meantime, don’t fight them. It’ll only make it worse.”

Don’t fight? Was she insane?

“What’s that shit?” Nola’s head round, and as she looked back to Sabelle, her lip quivered, sorrow flickering in her eyes.

Less than a second later, a sting pierced Sabelle’s thigh, heat radiating beneath her skin.

Muscles cramped as though her entire body was slowly crystallizing, and Sabelle cried out.

“In case she tries to run again,” her attacker said from behind Nola.

As her circle of vision narrowed, panted breaths couldn’t abate the fear gripping her lungs. A tremble wracked her body, as she lay seizing on the floor. Eyes wide. Paralyzed.

In a desperate bid to fight off the drug spreading through her body, she flexed her fingers, but the air grew thin. Waning.

Blackness filtered in. “Thomas! Jane!” Her voice carried the same pathetic force as a kitten crying for its mother.

Light caught the tear spilling down Nola’s cheek. “I’m so sorry, child.”

***

Gavin lifted Jessica’s limp body up off the floor. He’d hated the idea of hitting a woman, but getting knocked out meant meeting a better fate than what most of his opponents suffered.

Besides he didn’t have much time—proven when an explosion blasted the door off its hinges, just as he hoisted Jessica over his shoulder.

The two dipshits he’d seen earlier barreled through the splintered wood, one following the other. Any bodyguard worth his salt would’ve never let Gavin up to her room to begin with, so his level of respect for the two had plummeted way before then.

Muscles tight, Gavin braced himself for the demon coming headfirst like a lineman. Gavin caught him beneath his chin, the bone of his knuckles kissing the male’s jaw like a symphony of kickass. A small part of Gavin celebrated with a silent
hell, yeah
when the bastard fell backward onto his ass.

The second attacker came faster than the first, and Gavin nearly lost his grip on Jessica when he threw out his boot and hit the demon’s stomach in a crippling blow. Ribs cracked beneath the dead on hit, and Gavin followed with a left hook that threw the male’s head to the side. Another punch dropped him to the floor, and a third knocked him the fuck out.

A cold sting struck Gavin’s side, and he twisted to find a short bastard wielding a dagger like he wanted to dance. Gavin followed through with a lightning arc straight to his temple, and the male flew across the room, dust flying as he hit the drywall.

Two more males approached with daggers, and another bunch waited at the door of Jessica’s room. Gavin’s eyes scanned the bevy of drunken brawlers, all of whom carried a weapon of some sort.

Christ. Always a delay
.

He blew out a breath and flopped Jessica down onto the bed—turning back in time to catch a thrown punch.