Page 81 of Shadows of Obsession

Highgate Forest is exactly within the radius Lev mentioned and is crossed by a main interstate, which allows easy access but still provides the isolation they’d need. Thornton is one of the towns near the forest, so this only verifies the lead we have.

"I need coordinates, Lev," I burst at him.

It's been two hours since Luna was taken, and with each minute, a piece of the walls holding my demon in check starts to crack. Nobody wants to see what happens when the walls crumble. The red vision returns, and for a second I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to make the bloodlust disappear.

I need control. I need calm.

"I sent them to your phone," he tells me and, for the first time in the last 120 minutes, I breathe deeply and feel oxygen reaching my lungs.

"Thank you, Lev."

The silence on the other end of the phone is heavy. I've never thanked him for any service rendered. In the end he's paid for them, but none of his jobs have been as important as this one.

"Sure."

I appreciate that he doesn’t make a big deal out of my vulnerability.

I step on the pedal without caring about the fact that I'm probably breaking enough traffic laws to make Police Commissioner Gant choke on the whiskey he's drinking now, paid for by the money Niko gave him.

In the rearview mirror, I can see Anton at the wheel of the car behind me. More soldiers have already received the coordinates and will meet us there. Even though it would be good to have a plan, I only have the drive time to figure out how to proceed.

I don't know who took her. I don't know if she's hurt.

Whoever took her clearly isn't on Devin's side. They wouldn't have literally blown up his men if they were. And that's even worse. Because I know Devin. But whoever took her...I don't.

"How many men do we have heading to the forest?" I ask Niko while trying to avoid traffic to save a few minutes.

"We have fifteen soldiers en route to the location. Another ten are on standby until we assess the situation. Ro, we have no idea what we're getting into," he says, and his final sigh is the reason why I can't release the demon.

Victoria and Niko need someone to be in control, someone to protect them, and although my brother isn't a child anymore, I know he worries every day about me, but also about himself. This life isn't one you leave when you want; you leave when someone pushes you from behind or when the devil has decided he'd like to have a chat.

"I think it's Smert," I tell him, and the words taste bitter once I've verbalized them.

It's the only explanation. He’s the only variable connected to Luna with the necessary resources to do what he did.

"Why this interest in Luna?" Niko asks me, but just like him, I have no idea.

Smert—Death—his name lends a sense of poetic justice, because if he's touched a single hair on her head, he'll see how many synonyms there can be for death.

My phone starts ringing, and seeing Damien's name on the screen, I answer.

"Not now, Damien," I throw at him.

"I heard what happened. Can I come with my knife set?" he asks me, and I can hear the enthusiasm in his voice.

Damien is the only one I know who, out of boredom, would want to skin someone alive with his knives. I'm tempted to tell him to come just because I know what I'd like to do to the people who took Luna. But rationally speaking, it's a bad idea, so I breathe deeply and hold myself back.

"No. If I need you, I'll call."

"Aww. Fine. Kiss tygrysek when you get to her," he replies and hangs up.

I can't focus on the fact that I want to rip Damien's head off for still using that endearment for Luna. I just want to make sure she's okay. She won't leave the house again without an army around her.

Rumors have started circulating about how important she is to me, and if I hadn't been so confident about the power of our name in the city, I would have ensured better protection for her.

Damn it.

I’d promised I'd protect her and what did I do? Let some idiots take her. My fist hits the steering wheel and breathing becomes increasingly difficult again.

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