Not to mention, Mrs. Beckett’s life and everyone else he’d slaughtered since then. He was a madman if he thought he was protecting people.

“I’m sorry. I know the HQ came to you and asked you to hunt me down. And I know you refused.” Nicky’s eyes zeroed in on mine. He rubbed a hand across the scruff of his beard. “Thank you for that.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” I snapped.

The door to the roof access flung open with a metallic bang. Gideon came sailing through the open door, gun in hand. Following close behind him was his partner, Agent Silva, and a man dressed like a building guard. They spotted Nicky almost immediately. He was halfway between Gideon and me, hunching down low to the roof. They aimed their guns at him and shouted for his surrender. Nicky grimaced, but remained still.

“Aya, get behind me,” Gideon shouted.

His eyes flickered to mine, multiple emotions washing over his face at once. Concern, relief, and anger all made an appearance. It was hard to tell who the anger was directed at. I hoped that he could forgive me for running off without telling him.

“No, Aya, stay there.” Nicky raised his hand at me. He stood slowly, the knife barely visible in his hand.

I remained frozen in place, unsure what to do. Johnny was edging toward me, the ropes hanging off his wrists like bracelets. He’d managed to untie the gag around his mouth and mouthed the words come to me.

I took an involuntary step forward. Nicky watched me out of the corner of his eye. Every muscle in his body was tensed, like a cat waiting to pounce. I was the little starling caught in his sight, ready to be devoured.

Maybe I could stretch out my wings and make a flying jump for it. Harpies couldn’t actually fly, but they had the ability to make giant leaps. I could probably even jump to the next building if I got a good running start. But my wings were rusty, and that didn’t solve the problem of leaving behind one of my best friends and Gideon with my insane brother, so I nixed the idea.

“Put down the weapon, Nicolo Harris. You’re under arrest.” Gideon slid forward, his finger on the trigger. He took a pair of handcuffs off his belt and threw them at Nicky’s feet. “Put those on your wrists and we can all walk out of here.”

Nicky laughed and kicked the cuffs. They landed next to Agent Silva.

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Do you think I’m stupid?”

Dark clouds rolled over the city, the smell of rain heavy on the air. The moon’s thin sliver of light was snuffed out by the angry clouds. A storm was coming. It could burst at any moment.

“Do yourself a favor, Nicolo. Don’t make us kill you.”

Agent Silva’s harsh voice drew Nicky’s haughty glare. He licked his bottom lip and smiled at her, the glee clear in his eyes.

“No, I’ll do you a favor, Agent. I’m going to extinguish the monster that took those people. I’m going to do your job. And later, you can take all the praise if you want. But, let me do my job.”

A flicker of confusion went through Gideon and Agent Silva’s eyes. They still believed Nicky was the one who’d taken the Yonas family. If they killed him, we’d never find Theo or his two remaining victims. I had to stop them.

“Don’t shoot him.” I held my hands up and walked toward Nicky.

Gideon threw me a warning glare.

Stepping in front of my brother, I shielded him from their line of fire. “A Gorgon took that family and Nicky’s the only one who knows how to find them. We need him alive.”

Agent Silva’s gun remained pointed at me, while Gideon lowered his a few inches.

“He didn’t take them?”

Gideon’s momentarily puzzled expression was replaced by a blank poker face. I couldn’t tell if he was buying it. The guy was good.

“He’s saying someone else took them?”

“Don’t believe this bull.” Agent Silva stepped closer, her gun pointed at Nicky’s face. “He’s just lying to get us thrown off his trail. He took them and he’s got them hidden somewhere. Give me five minutes with him. I’ll make him talk.”

I felt the cold metal of the knife slide around my throat. Nicky’s arm encircled my ribs, pulling me close to him. He pressed the blade of the knife to my skin just deep enough to sting a little. I blinked in surprise, grabbing his arm and digging my talons into his flesh. He held on, breathing in my ear without a hint of pain.

“Put the guns down or I’ll cut her throat,” he growled.

Without hesitation, Gideon set the gun at his feet and put his hands in the air. His eyes flicked back and forth across the rooftop as if analyzing the scene. Even I could tell he was going to do something stupid. Something that would get us both killed. I shook my head at him, but he didn’t make eye contact with me.

“Nicolo, let her go. She’s not a part of this.” As he spoke, Gideon stepped forward, his hands still in the air. “Take me, instead.”

Tags: Lacy Andersen Aya Harris Collection Paranormal
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