Page 87 of Peacemaker

“What happened?” I asked.

He hesitated. “The mayor is dead,” he said quietly. “He and his guards were just found. I have to get up there.”

“Oh my God.” I put a hand to my chest, not really sure how I felt. “What about his guns and unbreakable doors?”

“I guess they weren’t enough to stop whoever went after him.” Crawford glanced away, but just for a second. It was enough.

The captain was not surprised by the mayor’s death.

Three police cars sped by us, sirens wailing, lights flashing. On their way to the mayor. The dead mayor.

“Shit,” Shane muttered. “There’s a group of assholes heading this way, Captain.”

I turned to look and sure enough, a crowd of men with shotguns and silver blades were stomping toward us. Fear—masked as rage—lit their eyes.

“Son of a bitch,” Crawford said, and turned to the cop beside him. “Grab some backup.” Then he walked toward the group, his hand up. Al went with him, but Shane, Clayton, and I stayed put.

“You all know there’s a curfew,” Crawford said. “Go home. Protect your families.”

“You heard what the mayor said.” The men looked at me and my hunters. “It’s the nonhumans that are bringing those bastards here. It’s the nonhumans’ fault my fucking brother was turned and killed.” He pointed a blade at me. “Mayor says it’s her fault.”

“My wife was raped by a demon,” another man said.

“How is that her fucking fault?” Shane asked. He pulled his shotgun strap off his shoulder and began to walk toward them. “Your mayor is a little bitch.”

“Oh hell,” I murmured. But I was thankful Shane hadn’t let it slip that Delaney was dead.

Clayton stepped a little in front of me, his fingers resting near his holstered gun.

“Bad shit is coming,” Shane continued, joining Crawford and Alejandro. “You don’t want to get fucked up and miss it, do you?”

“Who’s going to fuck me up, pretty boy? You?” The big man laughed and spat in Shane’s general direction. “All you fuckers need to get out of our city. We’re here to see that you do.”

Half a dozen cops hurried out of the building and stood behind the captain.

“Okay,” Crawford said. “Let’s calm down. You need to get back home before I throw you all in jail.”

“We’re taking back the city,” the chatty leader said. “We’re done taking orders. Red Valley is now off limits to the supernaturals.” He cocked his gun.

Shane laughed. “You be sure to tell the rifters that when they get here. Might hurt their feelings a tad, but it’ll be worth it to get them to leave us alone.” He pointed his shotgun at the man’s face. “My fucking hero.”

“Put the shotguns down,” Crawford said. He looked at the ringleader, and slid his gun from its holster. “You have ten seconds to turn around and get your ass back down the street.”

“Why are you siding with them?” the man asked. “You should be thanking us. I know you don’t have the manpower to deal with the vampires. We’re here to help, Captain. All you have to do is let us.”

His friends murmured in agreement.

“You can’t do anything,” Crawford said, his voice tight. “You saw what happened last night. Go home, all of you. We’ll do everything we can to protect you, but we can’t do it if you’re out here offering yourselves up to the monsters.”

I stepped around Clayton and went to stand between Shane and the captain. “Your guns won’t stop them,” I said. Reporters had left the building and stood quietly filming the encounter. It was as good a time as any to let everyone know what was coming.

“Sinclair,” Crawford snapped. “Not right now.”

“They need to know what’s coming.” I hesitated. “You all do.”

“Let her speak, Captain,” one of the reporters called. “What’s coming, Trinity?”

A sudden movement behind the group of humans caught my attention, and I stiffened as I saw Angus and Leo edging toward us. The group was primed and ready to explode, and catching sight of two supernats sneaking up on them wasn’t going to help.