Angel in Chains (The Fallen 3)

Sam’s brows shot up. “If you don’t want anyone else, then why’d you let her rush out of here?” His gaze swept to the dead demon in the corner. “They’re hitters, you know. Pay ’em enough money, they kill whoever you want.”

“He’s put a price on your pretty head . . .” The demon’s words drifted through Az’s mind and his hands fisted. “You know that they do—yet you still allowed them in your bar?”

“Well, I was planning to kill them all tonight.” Sam seemed completely unconcerned. “But then you just had to jump in and play hero before I could take out the trash.”

Az’s eyes narrowed to a slit at that.

“Now the other ass**les are out running loose.” Sam tapped his chin. “And the little human you were so intent on guarding is out there all alone.”

Snarling, Az shoved past his brother.

“Careful,” Sam’s voice hardened, and Az glanced back at him. “They really aren’t as weak as you might think,” Sam warned.

But Sam was wrong.

Nothing was weaker than a human.

Az headed after Jade.

“You’ll learn.” Sam’s taunt followed him. “Soon enough.”

The demons had run, fast. They’d hauled ass and gotten out of the bar at near light speed.

Jade stood outside of Sunrise, ignoring the crowd. Her gaze searched the street. If she had a shifter’s nose, she’d just be able to smell the demons and follow their scent.

She didn’t have that talent.

She didn’t have claws. No magic. No super strength.

But she was smart, dammit. She could figure this out without any paranormal mumbo jumbo.

Her gaze followed the dips and turns of the street. If she were running, she would have kept to the shadows. She would have gone away from the crowd. Tried to disappear into the darkness.

Jade marched for that darkness. Her fingers still curled around the knife, but she had the weapon lowered and hidden near the side of her hip. Its weight reassured her as she walked through the night.

One step. Another.

The bar faded away behind her. Her steps came faster. Faster. More running than walking.

She heard the whisper of laughter on the wind. The growl of an engine.

Jade rounded the corner. Oh, hell, no. She recognized the demon currently shoving her cash into the saddlebag on a black motorcycle.

Pushing herself as hard as she could, Jade lunged forward. She whipped up the knife and wrapped her arm around the demon. Her stomach pressed into his back and the tip of the blade slipped over his throat. “You’ve got something of mine.”

He stilled.

Then he laughed. “Figured you’d be coming after me.”

“You figured right.” Did he want some kind of bonus points? “Now give me back my money!” A girl had to live. and she had to possess enough money to keep the devil off her back.

He yanked up the saddlebag and tossed it to her. She let the blade of the knife slide deeper into his skin.

“You’re gonna die,” he told her, his voice a snarl.

Now it was her turn to laugh. Like a little death threat would bother her. It wasn’t the first time she’d gotten one—or even the fifth time. “You’ll be the one to see hell first. How do you think Brandt’s going to react when he finds out that you had me, but you just let me walk away?”

Brandt didn’t exactly take well to failure.

She felt the sudden tension in the demon’s body. She brought her mouth close to his ear. “Get ready to have some of that skin clawed right off your body. Brandt enjoys taking his pound of flesh.” Very true.

But she didn’t. Jade jumped back, taking the knife and saddlebag. The demon could use that bike and get the hell out of town. If he was smart, that was exactly what he’d do.

The motorcycle growled behind her.

“Fucking bitch . . .”

And she knew the demon wasn’t going to be playing it smart. Pity. That would have made things easier. She’d tried to give him an out. No dice.

Jade started to run.

The motorcycle’s engine stopped growling and started to roar. Sparing a fast look over her shoulder, she saw that the demon had spun his bike around. He was coming right at her.

Some guys just had a death wish.

She zagged to the left. Felt the breath of the bike behind her.

So close now. So close.

She dove over a pile of garbage. Slammed into the cement. The motorcycle missed her right foot by about two inches.

Then the demon circled back around.

The beam from the headlight cut through the darkness. “No human bitch is getting away from me!” the demon yelled.

Jade rose to her feet. The motorcycle had braked about ten feet away. She walked forward, dodged the garbage, and stood in the middle of the street.

She’d left the saddlebag full of money behind the garbage. Her hands were down, half hidden behind her jeans. She lowered her head, offering a pose of submission.

Weakness.

All Other knew just how weak humans were.

Wait for him. Wait . . .

The motorcycle roared once more. He came racing toward her.

Jade tilted back her head and met his stare. She smiled. In that instant before impact, she leapt to the side, then struck out with her knife. His scream filled her ears even as metal screeched and the motorcycle slammed into the road.

Her shoulders hunched as she stared down at the body. The knife was in his chest. The back of his head had smacked right into the pavement, and his leg was twisted beneath him.

The motorcycle had rolled twice. Now it lay in a wreck just a few feet away.

“Bitch . . .” Not a snarl this time. Only a whisper.

Jade licked her lips. “You should have just walked away.” Didn’t he understand? Brandt wanted her back for a reason.

Because I’m as screwed up as he is.

Killing had come too easily for her. All she’d needed was a little guidance. Brandt had been so willing to guide her.

As she turned away from the demon, Jade could have almost sworn that the light scent of flowers teased her nose. She paused and glanced back. The demon’s eyes were still open. Still on her.

“I didn’t want to kill you,” she said and sadness made her words heavy, “but I’m not ready to die.”

The flowery scent seemed to deepen. She grabbed the money. Left the knife in his chest.

And walked away.

Brandt found the demon’s body. Tossed like garbage in the street. He bent and studied the knife that was still buried hilt-deep in the demon’s chest.

Jade had been shopping. The woman always liked her silver. He touched the handle, being careful to keep his hands away from that burning silver blade.