Page 43 of Raze
He’s kidnapping and selling his own Guild members.
“And?”
“And…Oh! A girl that he’s been looking for is causing trouble somewhere. I think it was Ray…Ray something.”
Little one.
“Where?”
His eyes round. “Oh, I don’t—I didn’t hear—”
I pull a knife from my hoodie, flipping it between my fingers, and then slice through the cloth gag. He shrieks when the knife gets close, then drops his head, panting for air when he realizes what I’d done.
Between what the attorney said and what I overheard, I can surmise that she’s in the States somewhere with the freedom to move around. It’s time I stop hanging around this city waiting for leads and go back out on my own. But before that, I need to take care of Thorne. As soon as hefinds out I’m no longer an ally, he’ll come after me as an enemy for knowing too much.
And while I’m stronger than I was before, Thorne knows my moves. I’ll need help to take him down.
I pull out my phone and dial the first contact on the list.
Aiden.
The safe house is destroyed from the roof inward. The exterior walls are made of brick, so most of it survived intact, save for along the top where the fire had been concentrated. The windows are all broken, giving me a glimpse inside at the charred remains.
I know, without evidence, that Thorne is waiting for me here.
I can practically hear his egotistical voice when I think of the words he’d written to draw me out.
Let me help you.
Clearly, he wants to crow over what he’s considering his victory at the safe house and use that to his advantage.
I’ve done nothing but stew over the fight that happened here two nights ago. When I’d almost lost everything. It should have never gotten to that point.
I’m supposed to be the best there is. Even with Thorne back in the world of the living, somehow, I’d beaten him once before without so many injuries. We’d had the element of surprise then, but there’s still something off about him that wasn’t there before. I’m loathe toadmit that I may no longer be the biggest bad in the shadows as it currently stands.
I’ll have to fix that.
There’s no point trying to scope out the building to find him before he sees me. He called the meeting between us with his offer, and he won’t jeopardize whatever scheme he has by inviting stragglers. I’d kill them without hesitation, just like he’d do the same for me, and all talks would be off the table.
I stroll inside through the open doorway, casually stepping around the larger debris until I find a nice open area that gives me some room to move if needed. My eyes scan the building, automatically running through offensive and defensive opportunities, should a fight ensue.
“You sure took your time.” Thorne’s haughty voice carries through the darkness.
I smirk in its direction and watch him slowly walk forward into the moonlight shining brightly above us. “I had better things to do first,” I reply calmly, as if we hadn’t almost killed each other right here two days ago.
His smile is tainted and skewed by the ugly creature he is beneath the skin. I didn’t see it when I first met him, but killing a person apparently does wonders in exposing it. Now, it’s all I see when I look at him.
My monsters may be violent and bloodthirsty, but they at least serve a higher purpose beyond myself. Thorne doesn’t have anyone or anything to help curb his power-hungry nature. No compass to guide him or keep him in check from burning the world downaround himself in his desperate grab for ultimate power.
I’d almost followed in his footsteps. I feel the same desire for strength. The obsessive need to be the best. To be able to take down anyone who stands against me if I so pleased. If not for discovering Thorne’s true intentions and reminding myself of my purpose in this life, I may have done exactly that.
The world should bow at Raegan’s feet for existing in this lifetime with me.
“Ah, your little one, yes?”
“I should cut out your tongue for calling her that, Thorne.” My fingers twitch in my hoodie pocket with the urge to follow through on that threat. Years of practiced patience stays my hand. I need to hear what he’s offering first.
Thorne drops his gaze to seek out my hands, likely checking to make sure I’m not readying myself to do it, before he laughs and looks back at me. “And yet, you aren’t. Which means you’re interested in my offer.”
