Page 89 of An Unending Claim

“I don’t know!” Xavier cried. “Bane took her and I killed him when he came back.”

“Bullshit,” Léo snarled as he drew the knife across his throat, leaving a shallow cut. “If you lie again, I might stab you with my very special, silver-tipped stake. Nathan’s bargain be damned.”

“Bargain?” Xavier rasped.

“It’s a little early, but since Léo already mentioned it… I have a call to make.” I dialed a number that I wished I didn’t know.

“King,” he answered in lieu of a greeting.

“Our deal still holds, Azreal?” I asked, even though I knew it would irk his temper.

“The last person who baited me is in the seventh level of Hell,” he drawled. “I’m going to give you a pass today considering what you’re dealing with, but try not to insult my honor again. Even the King of Sin has lines he won’t cross.”

“He’s all yours until I give you the place and time to meet Lisa. Then you are free to do whatever the fuck you want with him.”

“And forget all about your mate’s friend, yes, we’ve been over this. I’ll be there in ten minutes to collect him. I have someone to attend to first.” I heard a low, female moan so I hung up. I wasn’t shy about sex, and I had a darker side, but I didn’t want to know what kind of shit went on in Azreal’s bed.

“Azreal?”

I leveled Xavier with a malignant stare. “Care to tell me where I can find my mate now?”

He was practically shaking with fear and I could almost see the wheels spinning in his head. I had no doubt he was going to try to make a deal.

I’d already made a deal with the devil, but Xavier didn’t need to know that until he’d given up Peyton’s location.

“If I tell you, you won’t hand me over to Azreal?”

“I can’t promise you anything.”

“Then what is my incentive to give you what you want?”

I met Léo’s angry glare with one of my own and he shook his head. Neither of us were happy with the deal Peyton had made. It had been the right move to save Sam and get our hands on Lisa’s evidence, but Peyton clearly hadn’t expected us to need leverage over Xavier to save her.

When I moved my stare back to Xavier, he squirmed uncomfortably and his eyes darted to the left for just a moment. I followed his line of sight and walked over to a table with a large potted plant.

I told myself he couldn’t be that stupid, but I’d overestimated his intelligence once before, so I parted the leaves. “How you’ve stayed in power this long truly eludes me,” I muttered. I reached into the pot and withdrew the small revolver. “The gun is cocked.”

“Saves time,” he grunted.

“I think you’d find yourself grateful for that time if someone bumped this plant and the gun went off.” I uncocked the hammer and pressed the cylinder release so it swung open. After I dropped the cartridges into my hand, I counted them, then raised an eyebrow at the metal jacket and casing. “Especially when that gun is loaded with silver bullets.”

“One light?” Léo asked.

I nodded. “Lucky for you, Xavier, because if it had been even one more, I’m not sure I’d have been able to keep my end of the bargain and let you live.” I hadn’t promised he would be whole, though.

I closed the chamber and cocked the gun. “This is like a fucking toy,” I mumbled as I tested the weight and grip. “Well, as long as I don’t crush it, it will do for my purposes.”

After moving back to stand in front of Xavier, I lifted my chin at Léo and he dragged the other man to his feet.

“I’ll ask again.” I pointed the pistol at Xavier’s midsection. “Where is Peyton?”

Xavier looked at the weapon dubiously, as if trying to decide if I really posed a threat.

“You have five seconds… five… four… three… two… one.” I dropped my aim and shot Xavier in the kneecap.

My wolf practically laughed in amusement when Xavier screamed and Léo retracted his claws in order to hold Xavier up without putting a hole through his throat. The wound poured blood that had tiny streaks of silver in it.

Interesting.

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