Martine’s heart thumped in her ears. She was afraid to ask, but she was going to anyway. “No idea about what?” What? What? What?
“It’s not just any old witch magic you collect, Martine. Your familiar abilities allowed you to steal from some of the most powerful witches in the realm just by virtue of your lineage. You’re one of the strongest conduits alive today. That made you very valuable to a warlock like me, who’s unsavory and greedy and willing to do whatever it takes to claw his way to the top.”
This was crazy. Why didn’t she know this about herself? Why hadn’t someone filled her in on her omnipotence?
She was struggling with an overload of information that just wasn’t clicking. She knew there was a common thread, one that would likely have her slapping her hand to her forehead once she heard it, but in her panic, it just wasn’t jiving.
Martine’s chest ached with the throb of her heart, her throat stung when she gulped out her next words. “That still doesn’t explain my mother and why you want her.”
Escobar chuckled, soft and low. “First of all, she offered herself to me in sacrifice if I promised not to kill you. Noble, don’t you think? There really isn’t anything like a mother’s love. But that’s not all. There’s more to this.” He shook his head as though he’d veered off course. And then he smiled. “Forget all of that. Why don’t I just introduce you properly? Martine, meet the most powerful familiar in all the land. Your mother.”
* * *
From just outside Escobar’s apartment door, Max and Derrick’s eyes met when he revealed Dianna’s importance in the overall familiar scheme of things.
“What the hell?” Derrick mouthed, his fists clenched.
Max’s eyes flashed and he mouthed back, “On three?”
The plan was to bum rush Escobar with their combined strength, catch him off guard, take him out then get the hell away before he could whip up any more chaos. But the knife—that damn shiny, gleaming-sharp knife at Martine’s throat—had Derrick worried.
Really worried.
Beyond the knife, he was worried about Martine’s mental state. Would finding out her father had sold her to the highest bidder simply enforce her hatred of Gavin, or push her further toward the belief that there really wasn’t anyone in her world she could trust?
Damn Gavin Brooks. Damn him to hell.
Derrick shook his head at his brother. No way would he risk Dianna’s life.
Max moved in closer to Derrick, pushing him down the hall with a hard shoulder. “Listen to me,” he whispered, his tone urgent and harsh. “We have to act fast, buddy. This asshole won’t play show and tell for much longer.”
“But he’ll damn well kill Martine, Max. I won’t risk that.”
Max’s next words were calm and rational, just like Max himself. “Did you hear what that fuck said? Dianna’s a valuable, powerful familiar. You don’t really think a power junkie like him is going to kill Martine and risk losing Dianna, do you? Dianna offered herself in place of Martine. All he’s doing right now is showing his ass, taking advantage of the fact that Martine had no idea about any of this. He’s enjoying terrorizing her, and he’s got your mate right where he wants her. Freaked out. Martine’s not in danger, Dianna is, because if Escobar gets her out of here, I imagine whatever he’s planning for her isn’t pretty.”
Jesus, he couldn’t think straight where Martine was concerned. He could only react to her pain, a pain he felt so deeply it ached, and it didn’t make for clear thinking. The sight of her with a knife to her throat made him want to rip the very limbs from Escobar’s body, chew his way through his intestines while the man screamed for mercy.
But resolve washed over him like the tide rushing in. There was no choice but to take a chance. “Then on three,” he said from tight lips.
Max nodded as they slipped back along the wall and Derrick waited for his signal.
When Max flashed up his third finger, Derrick charged in behind him, headed straight for Escobar’s head as Max dove for his round torso, knocking him to the ground, the knife clattering to the floor.
Escobar flung Martine away from him on Max’s impact, her body smashing into Dianna’s before they collectively crumpled to the floor. Dianna pushed herself up and dragged her daughter’s body toward her with a cry. “Martine!”
But Escobar wasn’t nearly as easy to take out as they’d thought. The moment he hit the ground, he spread his fingers wide and bellowed, “Life to spare, take the youthful one with long dark hair!” before crashing to the floor.