Page 65 of Peacemaker

“I realize you could try.”

I could almost feel Alejandro stiffening behind me, and Crawford’s entire body tensed.

But Delaney only laughed. “You have confidence in yourself. I like that. But make no mistake, Trinity, with the snap of my fingers I could have you thrown into the darkest, nastiest jail for the rest of your life.”

“The supernaturals—”

“The supernaturals,” he interrupted, his voice hard, “will behave themselves before I have every last one of the bastards exterminated.” He held up his hand up in front of my face, his index finger and thumb half an inch apart. “I am this close to ridding my city of all of you.”

I backed down, because it was the smart thing to do. “As I said, Mayor, I believe you can do anything you want to do.”

Crawford visibly relaxed and shot me an approving smile.

I wanted to glare at him, but again, I controlled myself. Maybe I was growing up. Maybe I was learning how to play nicely with others—especially others who could do bad things to me and mine.

“Frank informed me,” the mayor said, satisfied with my passivity, “that you asked for a title and a badge.” He spread his fingers. “You’ll have them both, as well as the training you need. I’ll give you an office and a couple of employees to aid in your monster-hunting quest. And you’ll be well compensated, I assure you.”

I sighed. The mayor wanted to keep an eye on me.

“Think about it, Trinity.” He leaned toward me and softened his voice. “We need you here, in the city. Not in Bay Town. You’re human. Act like it.”

I got to my feet. “I am human. I’m also supernatural. But mostly, I’m just a woman who will fight what’s wrong to get what’s right.” I leaned over, ignoring the warning in the captain’s eyes, and put my face close to Delaney’s. “And what’s wrong, Mayor Delaney, is you.”

I didn’t scare him. He smiled and moved even closer. So close I felt his breath waft across my lips. “When this is over,” he murmured, “you’ll be on your knees before me, just like everyone else in this lovely city. Do you believe me, Trinity?”

I recoiled as something dark and twisty flared to life in his eyes, and for a second, I did believe him.

And it scared the absolute hell out of me.