Circle of Death (Damask Circle 2)
Trina, who had trusted her only at Helen’s urging, was about to be torn apart by a creature sent from hell.
Unless they got there first.
DOYLE HAD BARELY CLIMBED INTO THE CAR WHEN Kirby sped off. He cursed, thrusting a hand against the dashboard to stop from being smashed against it, then grabbed his seat belt.
Her hands were clenched around the steering wheel, knuckles white. She drove too fast around a corner, and the car slewed on the gravel road, forcing him to grab the dash again to keep from being flung against her. There was fear in her thoughts, in her expression. What the hell had happened in the few minutes they’d been apart?
“Kirby, ease up a little and tell me what’s wrong.” He touched her knee. Her gaze jumped to his, eyes wide and filled with horror.
“I can’t ease up. We don’t have much time.” She hesitated, barely even braking as she swung onto the main road. “I had a vision. Trina Jones, who lives in Port Melbourne, will be attacked by a manarei at precisely ten o’clock this morning unless we get to her first.”
He didn’t doubt her, just grabbed his cell phone and dialed Camille.
“Two phone calls in a matter of hours. This is something of a record, shapeshifter.”
“We’ve got a problem, Camille. In just over an hour, Trina Jones of Port Melbourne will meet death at the hands of a manarei.”
“Goddamn it—how do you know this?”
“Kirby saw it.”
“You believe her?”
How could he not believe her? “Yes. I left my gun in my car, too, so bring some weapons with you.”
“I will, though I think we have only a couple of silvers left.”
“Then we’ll have to make every shot count, won’t we?” He glanced at Kirby. “How long will it take us to get there?”
She chewed her lip briefly. “Maybe an hour, depending on the traffic.”
“It’ll probably take me about the same, given I have to find the damn place,” Camille said. “I’ll meet you out front.”
They made the trip in silence. Once they neared Port Melbourne, he grabbed his phone, brought up Google Maps, and guided Kirby through the maze of side streets until they reached Trina’s. She stopped the car several houses up and looked at the clock in the dash.
“We’ve got five minutes. Camille doesn’t appear to be here yet.”
“No.” He studied the small, red-brick house. Several large trees dominated the front yard, surrounding the house with shadows and providing perfect cover for the manarei. He glanced at her. “You stay here. I’ll go scout.”
“You can’t confront a manarei without any weapons. Wait for your boss.”
“We haven’t got the time, and I’m not going to confront anything. I’m not that stupid.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
She reached to undo her seat belt, but he placed a hand on hers, preventing her. He was so close to her that her breath washed warmth across his mouth. All he had to do was lean forward a little, and her lips would be his to claim.
“No.” He watched the sexual awareness grow in her amazing eyes. Could feel it in the link between them, but it was a heat muted by caution. She wasn’t ready yet to fully trust him, and it was more than a little worrying. Just because his father and grandfather had happy endings didn’t mean he would. “You’re on their hit list as well, remember, so you will stay right here. If I smell a manarei, I’ll retreat.”
She stared at him for several seconds, her expression troubled. “Be careful.” She hesitated, then touched his face, briefly caressing his cheek. “Please.”
Heat shivered through him. He forced a grin. “Being careful is the motto us thieves live by. I won’t be long.” Lord, it would be so easy to pull her close, to taste her lips once again. Easy, but the wrong thing to do right at this moment. He pulled away. “Please stay here.”
She didn’t reply, and her thoughts told him she wasn’t happy. He didn’t care about that. Her staying safe and alive was far more important.
He climbed out of the car and motioned her to lock the door. At the first sign of trouble, you get out of here, okay?
At the first sign of trouble, I’ll come running. I’m not leaving you to face one of those things alone, so just forget it.