Page 42 of Because the Night

“Here’s what’s going to happen. Our family assassin, Nicholas, is going to start cutting pieces off you. Fingers and toes and then limbs and so on. He’ll just sort of work his way inward.It’s his specialty. You’d be amazed how long he can keep you alive while dismembering you. And you will talk. Through it all. They all do eventually.”

Josh sneers. “I’m not even the real fucking threat to you people.”

“Is that so?” asks Henry. “Do tell.”

“If you don’t kill me, he will. He gave me the money to hire the shooter. I’m fucked either way without Archie to protect me.”

“Archie gave you the money?”

The man shakes his head and grimaces. “No.”

“Who gave you the money and will kill you, Josh?” asks Lucas.

“He’s been with the Russians for centuries. Who do you think whispered in Lev’s ear about how L.A. would be the perfect choice for a new hunting ground?” asks Josh. “None of the families here knew how to work together before Lev tried to take over. The city was chaos. Just ready and waiting for them to seize control. But it was all really a cover for him to fuck with you and yours.”

“We need a name, Josh,” says Henry.

Josh spits a gob of blood at my feet. The way the asshole then grins at me is gross…remnants of crimson covering his lips and teeth. “And he wantsherbad. You should hear him. He saw the security footage from the other night when you killed Archie. I don’t know what it is about her, but the sight of that one at your side sent him into a frenzy.”

My whole body goes rigid.

“Who?” asks Lucas in a deadly tone.

“Your brother.” Josh laughs maniacally. “You fucked up, Woodsman. He’s still alive.”

There’s a car on fire parked on the street outside the house when we return. Tonight could not get any stranger if it tried. Flames reach high into the sky as the red lights of a fire engine go round and round. But the firefighters have it under control quickly. So many nosy neighbors huddled nearby. Seems like the whole street is out there. Coming home to a fire is not so welcoming. And since when did I start thinking of this place as home?

“What now?” asks Henry with a groan.

“See what you can find out,” says Lucas.

Henry is out of the vehicle and striding toward the authorities with a confident smile in place before we’ve come to a complete stop. Benedict then drives on into the garage with a pistol sitting in his lap. Everyone is on edge.

“They could have attempted to blow up the upper levels of the house if they really tried,” says Lucas. “I don’t know for sure if the runes would stop a fire up there. But whoever it is, they’re just messing with us.”

“I assume this is more bullshit from your brother to keep us busy,” says Benedict.

“Seems likely.”

“Are we relocating?”

Lucas shakes his head. “No. The other properties don’t have the same protections as this one, and it probably wouldn’t take long to track us. Let’s stay put for now.”

Benedict just nods.

I, on the other hand, have some questions. “What if someone does blow up the upper levels? Do we just die horribly underneath the rubble or what?”

“The runes will protect us down there,” says Lucas. “And rest assured, there’s more than one way out of there in case of an emergency.”

“Any particular reason why your brother would want to kill you,” I ask, climbing out of the car and following him through the house and down to the basement level.

“It’s complicated.” Lucas scowls. “But the last time I saw Marc, he was bleeding out on the floor with a selection of my favorite daggers in his back. I also poured gasoline over him and set the building on fire that he was in. If he did survive, I would like to know how.”

“We need to talk,” I say.

“I’m aware,” answers Lucas. “Benedict, get me an update on what’s happening in the city. If there’s been any sightings of Lev or his people. Henry will also have connections.”

Benedict nods. “When do you want to deal with—”

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