Shadowdance(31)

“Revenge against Ian, was it?” Jack sneered. “Or was it that I tried to stop Isley from taking over?”

“Take your pick. You made enemies when you chose to side with the SOS. It was bloody stupid not to properly protect yourself against retaliation.”

Yet another regret that filled Jack’s mouth with a foul taste.

Will’s shoulders wilted. “Look, I don’t know who is killing the shifters but he’s bad for business.”

The impostor Bishop had destroyed the Nex’s best shifter blood source.

“Given that he’s mimicking your crimes,” Will added, “I think it safe to assume he’s taken umbrage with you, not the Nex.”

Jack watched Will carefully. “Last night, after we left you, Chase and I were attacked by beings that were half man, half machine. She called them shadow crawlers.”

The interest in Will’s eyes was evident, but they held no hint of guilt. “What happened?”

Jack told him, and Will whistled long and low. “Hell of a thing. Would have liked to see that, actually.”

“I bet you would.” Jack snorted. “You’ve never heard of them?”

“No.” A wry smile pulled at Will’s mouth. “Though my specialty is extermination, not research.”

“I’m done playing,” Jack said in a low voice. “You don’t want to give me the names. Fine. I understand that. I’ll find another way.”

Will glanced at him. “The other way is staring you right in the face. Join us. Your blood is incredibly valuable now. Bargain with them.”

“No.” Jack slashed the air with his hand. “I will not sink that low.” He’d fallen enough because Will was Nex, and that made Jack guilty by association.

“Ah, now, Jack, do not waste an opportunity over righteous indignation. You’re already as good as one of us, at any rate. Once in, it is for life. You’ve always known that.” Will’s hand lashed out and grabbed Jack’s arm, shoving up his sleeve to expose his wrist. “Look at that. Smooth, clear skin.” Eyes flashed with dark humor and too much pity. “Why am I not surprised that you hide it?”

Because it was a shame that he could not bear to look upon. And Will knew it. When Jack tore free, Will lifted his own arm, revealing the mark of the Nex tattooed upon his skin, holding it out like a taunt. “They saved us. Me, you, and Nicky.”

Jack didn’t need reminding. As if he’d forget the ragtag group of orphans collected and trained by the Nex to haunt the streets for funds and information. The sanguis, the shifter, and the half-breed. They’d formed their own little gang of terror, stealing from weaker human gangs before the fools even knew what had hit them. Nicky had been their leader. Following him had been the greatest mistake of Jack’s life.

Leave her. She’s dead anyway, and the bobbies are coming.

Jack pulled himself out of his crippling thoughts. Not that Will had noticed, for he was still sermonizing. “When you couldn’t breathe through the fucking hole shot in your chest, they brought you in.”

Jack shook him off. “And when I wanted out, they beat me until I could not walk, see, or think. Just me and the pain. Who took me in then, Will?”

Will’s upper lip curled. “And what will your new little family do when they find out? When Ian Ranulf realizes his precious adoptive son is no better than the brother he’d been forced to overthrow?” Because Ian’s late brother had sympathized with the Nex’s cause, and Ian most certainly did not.

Deep inside himself, where it did not show, Jack trembled. The air grew thin. There was not enough of it to draw into his compressed lungs. His world was crumbling, and it was of his own making.

Will laughed, short and ugly. “And what of your sweet Mary?”

She is not mine. Never will be. Shit. The shaking within spread outward. Through clenched teeth, Jack got the words out. “Leave her out of this.”

God, but the urge to run and seek her out, protect her from all of this, had his bones aching. But who would protect her from him? The constant knot in his stomach grew larger, harder.

“Or you’ll kill me?” Will offered.

Jack searched his smirking face, the smothering, airless feeling pressing down on his chest. They both knew Jack could not do it. They were bonded by blood and circumstance. Neither of them could betray the other, because they both had too much to lose. Even so, Jack slowly shook his heavy head. “I’ll simply make you wish you were dead.”

Will’s eyes grew cold. “I already do, mate. And the pisser is you know that if Mary should find out what you’ve done, she’ll wish you were dead too.”