She popped the magazine out of her Glock, checked the ammunition, and slammed it back inside the gun. “I’ll just have to persuade him.”
I got dressed, watching her put on her shoulder holster. She yanked up her pant leg and quickly fastened her smaller holster to her calf. We moved past each other in silence, until we were both ready to go.
“It makes me crazy to think he hurt you before. He’s wasted skin as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’m not really happy about seeing him either.” She sighed. “I checked some dates last night and Fonthill started at the department the same month my parents were killed. I think it’s connected. Nero was watching my sister at her school, too, and they wanted her so it all makes sense. I don’t think they knew I existed until after.”
“Shouldn’t we concentrate on Fonthill for now? We can worry about Nero later.” I held the door open for her, but she stopped.
“Short answer, I think Nero made Fonthill a deal. Someone got him into the force regardless of his other-than-honorable discharge. He’s obviously good with a sniper rifle. He killed my parents for Nero, and in trade, Nero got him a job. Nero wanted Nadya. They didn’t know she had an older sister.” I followed Sasha to the elevator. Once she punched the button she added, “I changed my last name when I entered the police academy. I wanted it to be different than the rest of my family in case I ever crossed the wrong perp in my job. I also didn’t live at home. Nero wouldn’t have connected me to my sister.”
She shook her head as the elevator descended. “It all adds up. Fonthill was in the department when they were shot, and when he got in trouble for beating up Nancy, no one from Nero backed him up. They didn’t need him in place anymore.”
I thought about it as we walked out of the hotel into the afternoon sun. If she was right, Sebastian didn’t come into her life to kill her witness. He came looking for her sister.
…
After we parked at St. Mary’s Hospital, Sasha pulled out her leather wallet and whipped out her fake ID and badge. “Ready?”
I nodded, and we made our way through the parking lot toward the main entrance of the hospital when a window above us shattered. I yanked Sasha in close to me as a man plummeted three stories and landed in a lifeless heap on the pavement at our feet.
Sasha shaded her eyes, staring up at the window, while I started to reach for the victim. I didn’t bother checking for a pulse. Blood already pooled around his head like a dark halo, and medical personnel rushed toward us.
“Watch the front doors. I’ll check around the back,” she said.
“Fonthill?”
“Probably.” Her eyes met mine. “That man didn’t just fall out the window.”
Without another word, she vanished into the mayhem. I moved out of the way of the medical team and the curious people trying to sneak a peek at the accident. In the distance, I could already hear the police sirens. News vans wouldn’t be far behind.
I kept my eyes on the front entrance, wishing I had some way of knowing how Sasha was doing on the other side of the building. While I stood watch, I concentrated on the scents around me. At first I didn’t recognize anything—lots of cologne, perfume, body fluids, but nothing that would be out of the ordinary for a hospital. Making my way closer to the automatic doors, I froze. I took in a slow, deep breath, my wolf senses analyzing the scent.
Sebastian.
I tracked the scent through the doors until it ended at an elevator. He must’ve entered from the front of the building but he hadn’t left that way. I searched the ground floor, struggling to find the path he took out. He couldn’t have left from the third floor. He was a professional killer, but he couldn’t fucking fly.
My phone buzzed, and I yanked it out. “Yeah?”
“I’m around back by the fire-escape stairs.” It was good to hear her voice.
“It’s Sebastian.” I was already making my way toward the rear exit doors. “I caught his scent going in the front doors.”
“I know. I’m with him now.”
I ground my teeth as I pushed open the exit door. “Be right there.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Sasha
I kept my Glock aimed at Sebastian’s forehead. “I should turn you over to the police right now.”
His intense gaze never left my face, the single visible sign that he was even mildly concerned at having a gun pointed at his head. He was the same height as Aren, but Sebastian was built slim and lean. Aren had broader shoulders, muscled and strong, while Sebastian’s torso was sleek like a jungle cat. I wished I wasn’t comparing them in my head, but it was tough not to, even at a time like this. They were the only men I ever thought I loved.
Sebastian opened his hands to show me he was unarmed. “Handing me over to human authorities will not correct this situation.”
“And tossing an innocent man out of a building does?” I tightened my grip on the gun. “Who sent you here?”
“Fonthill is unstable. Nero has determined he must be silenced.”
“Again, how does killing an innocent man stop Fonthill?”
“Collateral damage, I’m afraid.” He shrugged matter-of-fact without a trace of remorse. “He might have witnessed Fonthill shifting into a wolf. We couldn’t risk that he had.”
I fought the urge to pull the trigger. “So you killed him just in case?”
His eyes narrowed. “I did what had to be done, what I am trained to do. You have no room to judge me, Carina.”
I cringed, hearing him refer to me by the pet name he used when we had been together.
“Don’t call me that.” I lowered my gun but didn’t put it back in the holster. “So Severino put a price on my head with this guy, and now he’s sent you to take his bounty hunter out. Am I next on your hit list?”
Sebastian raised a brow. “No matter my answer, would you believe me?”
“I wouldn’t.” We both turned to see Aren rounding the corner. Even in our current situation my pulse raced when he came to stand beside me.
“What you choose to believe is of no importance to me, wolf.” A muscle jumped in Sebastian’s cheek as he turned toward me again. “I would think you might be anxious for my assistance in this matter, since your wolf has apparently not been much help in stopping Fonthill.”
Aren slammed Sebastian back against the building, pressing his forearm into Sebastian’s windpipe. Equally as quickly, Sebastian retrieved a switchblade from his pocket. The blade sprung out, and he pressed it to the base of Aren’s neck.
“Call off your dog,” Sebastian wheezed.
I stepped between them. “Enough.” I shot each of them a glare. “Both of you back off.”
Aren jerked away from Sebastian, leaving him to cough and gasp for air. With a sigh, I holstered my weapon.
“We can’t stay here.” I glanced over at Sebastian. “But we do need to talk.”
He cleared his throat, but his voice still sounded raspy. “Meet me at Lulou’s restaurant at seven p.m.” He rubbed his neck and added, “Alone.”
Before Aren could protest, Sebastian walked around the corner of the building. He started to follow, but I caught his elbow. “Let him go.”
“You’re not thinking about going tonight…” He searched my eyes, then shook his head. “Fuck. You’re kidding. Sash, you could be his next target!”
He cursed under his breath, walking away from me. He pivoted back, looking a little more controlled. “He’ll take Fonthill out of the picture and then finish what Nero’s bounty hunter started.”
“I need intel from Sebastian, and I’m going to get it. This is about my life, my sister, and my parents. It’s my risk to take.” We remained in a silent standoff until I couldn’t take it any longer. “This is something I have to do.”