Page 80 of The Death Dealer

Trevor jumped to his feet and spun to face her. “Four, Dalli?Four?What the actual fuck?”

“Mr. Blane, if you’ll suppress your incredulousness, I’ll explain.” Alastair nodded toward his seat. “Please.”

Sinkingdown, Trev glanced back at her.“Four?”he mouthed.

She grimaced. Yes, there had been a few oddball circumstances, like the pit viper in her greenhouse, but she hadn’t realized they were murder attempts. At the time, she’d assumed it was some idiot’s pet that had escaped. As for the broken water pipes and electrical shorts at her shop, it was an old building.

Black rage clouded Trevor’s face, and he turned his attention on Agnes, shooting her a look of promised retribution.

“And your niece, Mr. Thorne? How many attempts on her life?”

“None before yesterday. Butshe’snot as easily accessible as Ms. Stephens.” His cold stare focused on the true villains in the room.“My head of security hashadAgnes Vector and Melvin Glenunder surveillancesince the explosion at Spring’s greenhouse.Not only did they perpetrate the attack on her person, but they also destroyed years' worth of work meant to repopulate plants that, if restored, could heal the masses without the need for high-priced, ineffectual drugs sold by their partners.”

“You have no proof?—”

“Actually,Ms. Vector, I do,” he saidsuccinctly. “Plenty.” His grin resembled a cat with a canary in its mouth, predatory and self-satisfied. “Two years ago, when my dear cousin Evelyn Thorne and Simon Blanewere attacked, the Aether asked me to look into the disappearance of one Deni Adams from Trevor Blane’s life. Only Deni Adams doesn't exist. She never did.” Alastair shifted his focus to Denillia. “On paper, anyway. Denillia Jones does, however. And surprise of surprises, she works as a spy for the Witches’ Council, recommended by none other than Agnes Vector and Melvin Glen. He happens to be her father, for those of you unaware.”

Trevor’s brows shot to his hairline, and his mouth opened, making it obvious he knew nothing of the connection to Melvin until that moment.

“Until recently, I’d been unable to prove the connection or that Deni and Denillia were the same person. But I kept detailed records on her movements.” He waved a hand, and another sheaf of papers appeared before the Authority panel. “Her most recent activity was today when she assisted you in the abduction of Soleil Stephens and the magical manipulation of a lethal Death Dealer.”

His voice had chilled, losing its conversational tone. “The perfume bottle remains were recovered at the scene and analyzed. Not only did they contain fingerprints for you and your daughter, Agnes, but the spell was reverse-engineered along with the contents.”

“Manipulation of Trevor Blane wassanctioned, Mr. Thorne, or did you miss that part of this hearing?” Agnes retorted with a sneer.

“Manipulation to keep him as your hired assassin, yes. Did that include compelling him to murder a woman he loves? One he’d be heartbroken to lose when the spell wore off?”

“He doesn’t love her!” Deni bound to her feet and fixed Trevor with a look of longing, one that begged forgiveness for her sins. “He loves me. Tell them, darling. Tell them how youintendedto propose. Tell them she meansnothingto you.”

An odd look crossed his face, and he stood. The air was sucked from Soleil’s lungs when his expression altered to one of adoration as he stared at Deni. But as he opened his mouth, prepared to reply in the affirmative, Damian touched his arm, sending Trevor reeling backward and crashing into the rail.

Soleil crawled over those seated to help him, but hatred transformed his countenance the second he spotted her. One thought danced through his mind and into hers.

Obliterate.

Trevor leaped over the railing and headed straight for Soleil, arms outstretched and reaching for her neck.

She stumbled in her shock, unprepared for a second attack. Yes, Damian had removed his powers, but that didn’t mean Trev wasn’t strong enough to hurt her. But the question keeping her glued to the spot washow?

Through their tanzanite ring connection, the Sentinels registered his intent, taking action to stop him. They weren’t as fast as he was, and for the second time that day, Trevor’s hands closed around her throat. She didn’t try to plead with him as she had before. It was no use. The spell was clouding his mind.

Closing her eyes against the blazing hate in his, she pressed her palm over his heart.

“I love you, Trevor,”she whispered in her mind.“I forgive you. Forgive yourself.”

Her world went black on her last thought.

The Death Dealer had completed his mission.

CHAPTER28

The instant the fight left Soleil and her soul abandoned her body, the compulsion to kill left Trevor. As he stared down at her pale, still face, with its single teardrop trailing toward her hairline, horror filled him.

“Soleil?” He touched her bruised throat, feeling for a pulse. Unable to find one, he linked his fingers and began chest compressions. “Don’t give up, Dalli! Don’t give up!”

But she had, and she was gone.

He could feel the absence of their link and her soul.

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