Broken (Otherworld 6)

"Mmm, still tired, baby," he mumbled. "Gimme a couple minutes. I'll make it worth your wait."

"He's fine." I laughed.

" 'e might be," Rose said. "But I'm not. Now get yourself over 'ere and give me what you promised. I can't do it myself."

"Right."

I turned to Rose, but hesitated. As hideous as she looked, I couldn't forget that there was a person in there. Someone who had--until made a better offer--been ready to kill me and yet...

" 'op to it, girl," she said. "I 'aven't got all day. While you're standing there gawkin', I'm turnin' to mush."

I bit back a laugh. "Okay. Um, how do you want to do this? Snapping your neck is fastest--"

"Fast? Gawd's sakes, girl, you could 'ave 'ad it done by now. You did it fast enough the last time. Now 'op to it or--"

I grabbed her neck and snapped it before she finished the sentence, and hopefully before she saw it coming. As she crumbled, I took a deep breath, my heart tripping.

"She's better off now," Jaime said softly. "No matter where she went, it's better than where she was."

Price

I GOT NICK AS FAR AS THE SEMICONSCIOUS "WHERE AM I? What am I doing here?" stage, then left him to Jaime while I took the next step--one at least as terrifying as any that had come before it.

"A--Antonio," I said into the phone. "It's me."

"Elena?" His voice boomed loud enough to make my head rock. "Where the hell--?"

"We're okay. Nick's fine. I'm fine. Jaime's fine. Hull's dead. The zombies are dead. The portal should be closed. Is--" I swallowed, knowing if I could feel red-hot fury from Antonio, it was nothing compared to the icy blast that was coming. "Is Jeremy there?"

"He's with Clay. I'm outside, searching for you two. Or three, I suppose, if Jaime went with you. I thought she was in her room." A growl of a sigh. "Whatever you did, Elena, whether it killed Hull or not, it was stupid--"

"I know."

"And risky as hell--"

"I know."

Another sigh, softer. "And probably the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean I'm ever going to admit that to Jeremy. Understood?"

I gave a small smile. "Understood."

"Now get your asses back here pronto."

"We still have one more thing to do," I said. "Hull didn't disintegrate like the zombies. Zoe said she'd clean up but--"

"I'll be right there. But you're coming back. Get yourself and Jaime into a cab."

Somewhere on my headlong run up the hotel stairs, Jaime disappeared. She must have decided this was one family scene she didn't care to join.

I took a deep breath and knocked. Seconds ticked past. Then Jeremy opened the door. For a long moment, he just stood there and looked at me, face impassive.

A few years ago, getting a "welcome" like this would have crushed me. But now even if he stood there as calmly as if I'd returned from a coffee run, I could see the warring emotions in his eyes--as if he wasn't sure whether to hug me, congratulate me or scream at me. In the end, he just nodded and waved me in as he held the door. When I passed, his free hand went around my shoulder, an awkward half-embrace that slid into a gentle prod as he directed me where he knew I really wanted to go, to Clay.

I saw Clay and faltered. The room was dark, quiet and empty. Tolliver was nowhere to be seen, but the room was still littered with medical supplies, as if he'd just left. Clay lay on the bed, asleep.

I don't know what I expected. Not for him to be at the door, back to normal, furious and ready to wring my neck for taking such a risk. Nothing would have pleased me more, but that

wish had been only a fleeting fancy. Still, I had hoped to find him...awake.