Chapter Nine

Jo bounced on the sofa, snatched her sword from the table, and rolled to her feet in one smooth motion. Whatever was going on couldn’t be good.

Lethal power bled from Asher as he faced the elevator doors, the ones he said no one could get past without clearance, the ones that were wide open.

She tightened her fingers on the hilt, and her stomach took a dive.

Holy shit! Who or what is this?

Clad in leather pants, boots, and a T-shirt that looked almost painted on it was struggling so hard to contain so much muscle, almost seven feet of dangerous male stood before her. The cloud of menace that preceded him was one hell of a calling card. Tattoos covered his exposed arms. His hair was jet black and buzzed short on the sides and left longer on the top. But it was his eyes that froze her in place. They were as dark as midnight but rimmed with a golden light.

“You wanted me. I’m here.” His deep voice made the room tremble. Maybe even the entire building. Or maybe it was just her legs that were shaking.

She wasn’t Catholic but was overcome with the sudden need to cross herself. All the tiny hairs on her body stood on end, and the primal part of her brain was screaming at her to run.

He looked at her and smirked, as if able to read her thoughts. Or maybe he was simply reading her expression. Either way, it put her on edge.

“Maccus, thanks for coming.” Asher’s tone was pleasant enough, but she heard the tension running through it.

This was Maccus. She was beginning to wish they’d never contacted him.

His lips tightened, and a muscle worked in his jaw. To say he looked unhappy was like saying Niagara Falls was only a tiny trickle of water.

“You planning on using that?” He pointed to the sword she held in her hand.

No way would she get the drop on him. Probably smarter not to antagonize him. She set the blade down on a nearby console table and raised her hands to show no ill intent. If she really needed it, she could grab it. Of course, if it came to that, the chance of her surviving was probably nil.

What a fun thought.

“Hey, Asher.” A stunning woman with short auburn hair and vivid green eyes peeked out from behind Maccus. She was also insane. Had to be to wrap her arm around Maccus’s waist and give him a squeeze.

Jo didn’t know whether to be in awe of the woman or to just assume she was beyond help.

“Hey, Morrigan,” Asher greeted. “Let me guess. This wasn’t his idea.”

“I warned him I was going to start checking his emails and messages if he didn’t. After I did, I decided to take a stroll through the city. Somehow I managed to end up right here.” Her cheerful tone impressed the hell out of Jo.

“I’m grateful no matter what it took for you to come. I need help. We need help.” Asher motioned toward her. “This is Jo Radcliffe, vampire hunter.”

“It’s so cool to meet another female hunter.” Morrigan came forward with her hand extended. “Morrigan Quill, former bounty hunter for Hell.”

She was in the process of shaking the woman’s hand when what she’d said sunk in. Former bounty hunter for Hell? Who knew that was a thing? And how the hell—pun intended—did one get the job? Even more puzzling was how did one become a former one? Didn’t seem like the kind of job one would be allowed to simply walk away from.

Then there was still the question of what exactly Maccus was. That would keep her up for many nights to come.

“Nice to meet you.” Because really, what else could she say? Best not to piss off the big guy.

“I love that your eyes are different colors.”

She subconsciously ducked her head. It had been a source of ridicule and teasing when she’d been growing up. “Thanks. It’s a genetic condition.”

“That’s really cool,” Morrigan added before glancing at Maccus and frowning.

“I’m here,” he responded.

“And I appreciate it.” Asher motioned them forward. “Why don’t we sit and talk?”

“What do you want?” the big guy demanded without moving an inch from his spot by the elevator.

His abruptness was disconcerting, but Asher didn’t seem fazed at all. “We both got anonymous emails that I can’t trace. They drew us to the same place in Kentucky.”

“What happened?” Morrigan asked when it became obvious that Maccus wasn’t going to.

“We put down a guy calling himself Vlad the Impaler,” Jo told her, needing to be a part of the discussion.

That drew a derisive snort from Maccus.

Asher gave a laugh. “Right? I totally took him out a long time ago.”

“You really knew Vlad the Impaler?” Morrigan sounded impressed.

“I knew him, too.” Maccus’s deep voice reverberated with anger. Jo sidled toward her sword, but Morrigan simply smiled and patted him on the arm.

“You know everyone.” He seemed to relax after she said that, for which Jo was thankful. She didn’t want to be anywhere in the vicinity if he ever got really upset. She might be a skilled hunter, but she was way out of her league with this group.

“Anyway,” Asher continued. “Once his not-so-loyal flock had fled, we came back to the city.”

“Together?” He frowned at her in an accusing manner. Her knees grew unsteady, but she locked her legs and straightened her shoulders, determined not to show any weakness.

“I thought he was a fellow hunter,” she confessed.

“Keeping secrets?” Morrigan tsked at him. “I take it you know better now?”

“I do,” Jo assured her.

“She tried to kill me.” There was a thread of pride in Asher’s voice that had her shaking her head—yet standing a little taller.

The giant gave another one of those snorts, which could mean just about anything.

“It was a natural reaction.” It wasn’t something she should feel guilty about, even though she did.

“What did you use?” the other woman asked, seemingly fascinated by the idea.

“Crossbow. When that didn’t work, I tried to decapitate him with my sword.”

That drew a short laugh from Maccus while Morrigan held her hand up for a high five and a totally unexpected “You go, girl.” Not the reaction she’d expected from people she thought were his friends. A part of her was outraged on his behalf. Another piece of her was secretly pleased by their reaction. It gave her a sense of acceptance and belonging she hadn’t experience in a very long time.

Warming to her story, she continued, “I tried to ditch him, but he was determined we stay together. He followed me when I tried to throw him off my trail.”

“You stalked the woman. Really, Asher. I thought better of you.” Her words were harsh, but her green eyes were filled with teasing laughter, a sharp reminder to Jo that these people had a history with him. One she didn’t share.

“We both received another anonymous email that I can’t trace,” Asher continued. “And if I can’t trace it, then whoever is behind it is incredibly smart.”

She half expected Maccus to make some comment about him not being as smart as he thought. Instead, his frowned deepened. Yup, time to really get worried.

“What was in the email?” Morrigan asked.

Jo shifted her weight from one leg to the other. They were all still milling around the entryway. Not exactly conducive for a relaxed conversation. “An address in the warehouse district of Brooklyn. We got there early, but four vampires showed up just after we did.”

“There’s a bounty on Jo’s life.” Having Asher lay it out there like that made her stomach clench and her palms damp. The stark reality of her situation settled over her.

Maccus studied her and nodded. “Bait. Why?”

“Unknown. They may be trying to push me to the dark side so you’ll have to put me down.”

He hadn’t mentioned that last part to her. Maccus’s presence took on a whole new level of terrifying. “Would that actually happen? Would he do that?” she asked Asher, because there was no way she was asking the big scary dude.

“It’s something we have to face. We’re the monsters that hunt the other monsters. If we go off the rails, it takes one of us to put a stop to it. And he’s probably the only one in the Brotherhood who could destroy me.”

“Brotherhood?” She was totally lost. “I don’t understand. The monsters that hunt other monsters? Who exactly are you people?”

…

Not the way he’d imagined telling her, but there was nothing normal about the situation or any of them. She already knew he was different from a normal vampire. Now he had to take it up a notch.

“We are the Forgotten,” Maccus intoned in his deep voice that tended to terrify everyone around him. He and Morrigan were immune, which meant the only one likely scared to death was Jo. The worst part? He wasn’t trying to scare anyone. It was simply Maccus being Maccus.

“We are the creatures the rest of the world, including our own kind, wants to forget. We are the boogeyman for all paranormals.”

“Ease up on the doom and gloom.” Morrigan patted his arm. “They’re different from all those of their species. More dangerous. They’re assassins that handle the rough cases that other packs or covens or whatever can’t handle on their own. They’re the good guys.”

Jo was pale. “I know it’s a lot to take in on top of everything else.” And something he’d hoped to avoid for a while longer, maybe even forever. “We’re loners. Not welcome in our own communities because we’re not like the rest.”

“Right, you’re special. You keep telling me that. I’m beginning to think you were underselling it.” She shook her head. “I need to sit.” Leaving the rest of them standing there, she headed not to the living room but the kitchen with Morrigan hot on her heels.

He shrugged and followed. Maccus would be right behind him, not wanting his woman out of his sight.

Jo already had a beer open and tipped up, taking a mouthful and then swallowing. “Do you know how crazy this all is? And that’s saying something considering I hunt vampires for a living. If I said that outside this room, I’d be locked up for my own safety and the protection of the general public.” She huffed out a breath. “So, you’re assassins? This group of what? Forgotten?”

“Yes. We also police one another. It keeps everyone safe.” It was an unfortunate truth that they’d both had to take down members of the Brotherhood at different points in their lives. It was never easy and was the main reason they didn’t socialize. It was a hell of a lot harder to take the life of a friend than an acquaintance.

It had left a stain on his soul. He had no idea how Maccus dealt with it. Wasn’t something they’d ever discussed.

She tilted her beer bottle in his direction. “That means you have enemies.” His hunter was once again showing her intelligence.

“We do. Although to be fully honest, it can’t be any of our targets. None of them survive.”

The bottle paused halfway to her lips. Then she tipped it back and took another long swig.

“Those people have families,” Morrigan pointed out. “Whoever is sending the emails may be someone trying to get revenge from a previous contract.”

That was something he hadn’t considered. “There was something earlier.” Something he’d shrugged off.

“What?” Maccus demanded.

“Probably nothing, but I caught a blast of anger directed at me earlier tonight. That’s not quite right. It was evil and hateful. It was gone almost as quickly as I sensed it. It’s probably nothing.”

“It’s never nothing.” He was too right about that. They’d all learned to trust their instincts.

“I felt it, too.” Jo stiffened beside him, tension permeating her entire body. “Not evil, but a sense of being stalked. I figured the vamps we took out might have had a buddy who kept to the shadows.”

“I would have sensed him.” Or he should have. Asher was no longer positive about that.

“Why her?” Maccus pointed a finger at Jo. “Why bring her into your life?”

“Don’t ask me. I was quietly going about the business of killing vamps and minding my own business.” She finished the last of the beer and set the bottle on the counter.

“That’s something I need to find out.” The sooner, the better. “I’m going to dig into the cell phones and IDs I took from the guys I put down in Brooklyn. See what I can come up with. I haven’t had time yet.” With everything happening between him and Jo, there hadn’t been a chance to get to it.

“Do you think this is the same as what happened between us?” Morrigan asked Maccus.

When Jo looked at him, Asher shrugged. Whatever she was talking about, it wasn’t something he was privy to. It was as much a mystery to him.

“It better not be.”

Okay, Maccus’s reaction was making him too curious not to ask. “What happened between you?”

“None of your fucking business,” he snapped.

“Lucifer put us together,” Morrigan said at the same time.

“Lucifer? As in the devil?” Jo buried her face in her hands. “I really need something stronger than beer.”

He put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Everything will be okay.”

“How can it be? I have a bounty on my life that may or may not have come from Lucifer himself. And I gotta tell you, that’s freaking me out. What’s next? Angels from Heaven?” When the room went silent, she lowered her hands and raised her head. “Oh, come on. You can’t be serious.”

Asher kept his mouth shut, as much as it pained him. This was not his secret to tell. Jo’s gaze tracked from him to Morrigan and finally landed on Maccus.

“Are you an angel?” she blurted.

Asher thrust her behind him, unsure how he would react. Not many knew Maccus was a fallen angel. Jo’s hands rested on Asher’s back, and then he felt the coolness of a blade being tucked into the waistband of his pants. His chest expanded on a deep breath. She’d been armed and was giving him her weapon.

Maccus’s eyes turned completely black before almost blazing with golden light. That couldn’t be good. He angled Jo into a corner. Not that it would be much protection if the fallen angel decided to take exception to her pronouncement.

“Someone is meddling with the Forgotten Brotherhood.”

Asher breathed a sigh of relief when he realized Maccus had simply ignored the question. “I’m not the only one, am I?” Asher asked. That was a surprise to him.

“I don’t think so. There was a questionable contract a couple months back.”

“Who took it?”

“Alexei Medvedev.”

“The Russian bear? What happened?”

Maccus shook his head. “It’s complicated.”

This made no sense. “Someone is fucking with us. Why? Who would want the Brotherhood coming after them?” Because to fuck with one was to take on all of them. Just because they weren’t overly friendly didn’t mean they didn’t have loyalty.

“That’s what I plan to find out.” Maccus jerked his head toward the elevator.

“I’ll call if we uncover anything,” Morrigan assured him. “It was nice meeting you, Jo.”

“You, too.” Her voice was flat and totally unlike the woman he’d come to know and admire. The elevator door shut, leaving them alone. “That’s it, then. I’m little more than collateral damage in some big vendetta against this Brotherhood you’re a part of.”

“We could be wrong.”

“But you don’t think so?”

He was done withholding anything from her. “No, I don’t. Someone orchestrated our meeting.” But even that didn’t feel right. “I may not be the final target.”

“Who? No, wait. Maccus? He’d be the one to have to put you down if you went rogue, right?”

“No one else could do it. Not unless the others teamed up, but he and I are usually the ones who handle any problems.”

“Then who wants to hurt him?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? He blew out a breath. “Big players. We’re talking Hell and Heaven.”

“No one confirmed it, but he’s really is an angel, isn’t he?”

Never in the all the years he’d known Maccus had he betrayed him in any way, given out any information. Loyalty to the Brotherhood was at the core of everything he held sacred. For the first time, he was of two minds.

“I guess that tells me all I need to know.” She strode out of the kitchen, stopping in the living room to strap on her gear and swing on her coat.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Home.”

“Are you out of your mind? Didn’t you hear anything that was said here today?” He followed as she marched to the elevator door, using his mind to control the machine when she stabbed at the button.

“Yes, I heard everything that was said. I also heard what wasn’t. I’m not a part of your little group of special people. I’m a human hunter, nothing more than bait. When they off me, I’m sure they’ll come up with someone else to fill the vacancy. In the meantime, I’ll take care of myself.”

The worst part? She was right. They were keeping her outside the loop. “You already know more than any other person outside the Brotherhood.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

God, she was something else. “No, it’s the truth. That makes you special. And trusted.”

“But you still won’t tell me everything.”

The dejection on her face, the sheer misery reflected in her eyes, cut him off at the knees. Outwardly, he was unchanged. Inwardly, he was bleeding to death, one slow drip at a time. He was going to lose her and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

“I would if I could, but it’s not my secret to share.”