His choice. Dee shoved up to her knees. Simon?
Damn brick wall. She couldn’t see it, but she knew it was there and she wanted to smash her fist right through it.
Simon’s eyes jerked toward her. A flash of smoky gray. He lifted his leg, as if he were going to take a step.
“A puppet on a string.”
He froze.
Grim laughed again. “Too damn easy.” He turned his head toward her. “I can make him do anything, you know. Anything.”
Dee’s fingers brushed against her ankle holster. Not packing a gun. Old faithful.
“I wonder…” His gaze rose to the broken window. “Do you think she’s still alive? The flames should have taken the stable by now.”
But the flames had flickered. She’d seen them waver right before she’d heard the scream. The scream had brought her here, instead of to the fire.
“You’re a fucking liar.” Dee rose to her feet, keeping her hands close to her sides. “Catalina is nowhere near here.”
“My men caught her right after she left the motel.” He shrugged. “I knew where you were, every minute. I knew.”
And he’d gotten his vamps to follow and attack her and Simon. Then to attack Zane. Yeah, he’d told her all about his run-in with the vamp crew.
Had Grim gotten to Catalina, too? Her heart kicked up in her chest. If I go with you, I’ll burn.
Maybe Cat had been seeing her future after all.
Dee’s gaze jerked to the flames she could see in the distance. Was Cat still alive?
The flames danced.
Sweat began to slick her palms. Couldn’t afford that, not now. “Simon.” She said his name deliberately, injecting fury into the word.
His head jerked.
Grim’s brows pulled together. “You know, I was going to kill you…but it’ll be more fun if he does the deed for me.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m all about fun.” Time’s running out. The fire.
Grim’s attention shifted totally to Simon. “Kill the bitch.”
Simon’s lips peeled back, revealing his fangs. “Fuck…off.” He shuddered, shaking so hard it looked like he was convulsing.
Or fighting one very strong compulsion.
Fighting for me.
Just like she’d fight for him.
When Grim’s jaw dropped, Dee attacked. She jumped at him, ready for his attack this time, and when he went to grab her, she drove her right hand into his side. Her claws dug deep, and the broken bones throbbed in a sickening wave. She rammed her head into him and her left hand came up, the stake ready.
She drove it right at his heart. It plunged into his flesh, but he twisted and she knew she’d missed her mark. Dee wrenched the stake, jerking it to the left, and Grim snarled.
Then she took him down. Her right leg hooked under his and she tripped him, knocking him flat like Pak had taught her so long ago.
She kept that stake in him, because she would finish him, one way or another.
Hold on, Catalina.
“No!”
Dee’s gaze jerked up just as Nina came barreling through the door. Blood covered her shirt, reddened her hands and face.
“No! You can’t! He’s mine!” Nina yelled.
It was a fury Dee understood, but, really, dead was dead. It didn’t matter to her who made the kill. They’d all have their vengeance.
Fire raced across the carpet, coming straight at Dee. “Mine!” Nina screamed again.
Dee sprang back, slipped, and fell to the floor. If the Ignitor wanted her justice, fine, then she could have it.
Nina’s hands dug into the door frame and her breath shuddered out. “Had to…leave…witch alive…couldn’t let…”
What?
The fire drifted into smoke.
Grim sat up. His fingers curled around the stake, and he yanked it out. Blood spattered onto the floor, the wall. “Nice try.” His teeth snapped together. “Last try.”
Nina sobbed behind him.
And color her fucking stupid. Dee’s jaw dropped. What had he told her just moments before? “I knew where you were, every minute. I knew.” Not because he’d linked with Simon. No, that link hadn’t kicked in until—until he’d broken Catalina.
That meant—hell. Her eyes lifted to meet Nina’s glittering and teary stare.
So blind.
“It’s past time for you to die,” the Ignitor said, not to Grim, but to Dee. Nina’s skin was so pale. The blood looked like bright red clown makeup on her flesh.
“He killed your family!” Dee snarled.
The Ignitor smiled. “That was the price.”
Dee didn’t dare look Simon’s way. If she could keep their focus, he might be able to break free of Grim. Maybe. “The price of what?”
“My services.” She waved her hand and fire snaked out to circle Dee.