Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires 13)

“They’re thinking about the money they’re losing, the loved ones they can’t check in on, the property damage they’re likely suffering.”

“In fairness,” Pierce said, “some of them are probably happy about the snow day.” She looked at me, tried for a smile. I appreciated that she was trying to keep the mood light, but that telltale guilt was in her eyes, too. And I didn’t give guilt a whole lot of credit these days.

Screw this, I thought, and released Mallory’s hand, took a step forward. She did the same thing, moving to stand beside me.

I felt Ethan’s magic prickle with concern, but I ignored it, settled my gaze on the mayor.

“We are all aware of the situation, Madam Mayor, and of the deadline we’re under. And we all know what you’re about to ask. In the interest of time, perhaps we could get to the point?”

I could feel my grandfather’s concern, too, about the fact that I’d just made demands of the mayor. It certainly wasn’t the usual way of things. But there was no point in waiting.

Lane made a huffing sound of disapproval. He finally put down the tablet, looked at me with more irritation. But when I slid my gaze back to the mayor, there was something different there. A kind of respect I hadn’t seen before.

“I appreciate your candor,” she said.

I nodded, accepting the compliment, while Ethan fumed behind me. But there was no help for it.

She looked at Wilcox, nodded. “Lieutenant.”

“Sunrise is at five forty-eight a.m.,” he said. “In order to make the operation seem as realistic as possible, we propose Merit and Mallory present themselves to Sorcha shortly before that time. We move in, take Sorcha down, and end this.”

“No,” Ethan and Catcher simultaneously said.

I reached back, put a hand on Ethan’s arm. “Where?” I asked.

“Northerly Island,” Wilcox said, looking at me. “It was her idea, but it’s a good one. There’s plenty of open space in the park, good visibility, room for a helicopter on standby to land.”

“How will you neutralize her?” Mallory asked.

“We’re working with Baumgartner,” he said.

“You went to Baumgartner instead of us?” Catcher’s voice was barely controlled fury.

“And the tone of your voice proves that decision was correct,” Lane said. “You aren’t neutral.”

“Damn right I’m not neutral. You’re talking about using my wife.”

“Catcher,” Mallory quietly said, but didn’t turn around.

“Baumgartner and several sorcerers of his choosing will take positions on Northerly Island. When Sorcha arrives to meet Merit and Mallory, we’ll move in and take her down, move her to the supernatural holding facility.”

He said it so simply, with such confidence, that it was easy to understand why the mayor had believed him. I wasn’t sure if he believed his own words—his poker face was impressive—but the chance he’d pull off that plan without a hitch was approximately zero.

“By ‘take her down,’ you mean kill,” Ethan said.

The room went silent.

“Because you certainly know she does not intend to discuss the situation with Merit and Mallory. She doesn’t intend to ‘take’ them, or to question them. She intends to kill them.”

“And we intend to prevent that from happening,” Wilcox said.

“With all due respect, your intentions are worth nothing to me. My wife’s life is worth something to me. Mallory is worth something to me. And your plan is literally a bait and switch,” Ethan said. “She will not fall for it.”

“She doesn’t need to fall for it. She only needs to believe it’s possible we would give them up.”

“Which sorcerers?” Mallory asked, interrupting the byplay.

Wilcox closed his eyes, as if to improve his memory. “I believe he said Simpson, Tangetti, Morehouse.”