Page 81 of Sinner's Secret

“That’s crazy,” Nika said. “People will still panic, and they’ve got a lot better weapons than pitchforks now.”

“She’s right,” Baz said, dropping his cousin again. “We’ll either end up dead or locked in a lab while doctors try to figure out how we came to be what we are.”

“None of that will happen if you step up.”

Baz stared at his cousin, and she watched despair come to the surface of his face, pulling the corners of his lips and eyes down.

He didn’t want to lead another army. He didn’t want to become the monster again.

“Before anyone can contemplate world domination,” Nika said into the awkward silence. “We need to solve our current problems.”

Yvgeny closed his eyes and shook his head. “This is what you get when you date a cop, the cold voice of reason in your ear.”

“You have a phobia about cops, Yvgeny?” she asked.

“Yes, none of you are any fun. It’s always, follow the rules, stay in your lane, and keep your hands off other people’s stuff.”

Nika slanted a glance at Baz. “I’m starting to think I should have let you rip his head off.”

“Next time,” Baz replied.

Nika rolled her eyes. “Shall we get back to our plan to get Thomas alone so we can get some answers?” she suggested.

Yvgeny shrugged. “Fine. You call him from the shelter, he comes to pick you up, we grab him instead.”

“What if he isn’t just watched, what if he doesn’t come alone or is followed by the same people who picked me up the last time?” Nika asked.

“You should be armed,” Baz said.

“I can fix that,” Yvgeny said. “And you’ll have two vampires to remove any irritating interrupters.”

“Why is everything a joke to you today?” Nika asked. “Are you drunk?”

“Baz is the only one with that strange habit,” Yvgeny said with a big grin. “I’m excited! I’m probably going to get to kill people. I don’t get to do that much anymore.”

“What did I say about indiscriminate killing?” Nika asked him.

“But—”

“No,” Baz cut him off. “Killing anyone you don’t have to.”

Yvgeny rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine.”

They left the firehall, checking to be sure they weren’t observed. Yvgeny had a non-descript small car parked on the street, and they all got in. He and Baz dropped her off a block from the shelter, and Nika went in and asked to use the phone.

She called Lieutenant Thomas’s number and waited while the phone rang a couple of times before he picked up.

“Thomas,” he barked.

“Lieutenant?” Nika whispered. “Are you in a secure location?” Before he could answer, she continued. “Don’t tell anyone it’s me calling. I think...no, I know I’ve been set up by someone in the department.”

“Just a moment,” he said. “Let me find a quieter space.”

She could hear lots of background noise, the open bullpen at the precinct probably. She heard a door close. Must be in his office.

“Nika?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned. “Are you okay? Where are you? I can send a squad car and an ambulance to you right now.”

“I’m okay for the moment. I’m in a women’s shelter. I was kidnapped from my house, Tazed a couple of times and hit my head, so I don’t remember much until I woke up. They were going to ship me and a bunch of other women out in a transport truck, when someone attacked the place I was being held at. I was able to get away, but it was awful.”

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