Page 92 of Owned

Thatwas the name he was going to give me?

Not who I’d expected.

I flicked my fingers absently to release my magic, and Rye let out a thin cry as he dropped to the floor.

Lenore’s answering shriek was muffled, and I barely glanced at her as I walked to the door.

“You’ve been very helpful, Rye. More than you know—”

“What are you going to do?” he called out in a ragged voice.

“You don’t have to worry your greasy little head about it,” I replied. “I suggest you get whatever pleasure you can out of your sweet Leona… When the effects of what’s left in that pipe you brought her wear off, she won’t be much good for anything but channeling demons. And no one wants that.”

“What—”

I was already halfway down the hall when I heard footsteps running toward me.

My knife was in my hand and I pivoted quickly.

Hot blood gushed over my hand and dripped onto the already ruined carpet.

Leona’s face, pale and haunted, stared back at me.

Her stare was blank, but the sheen of blue on her eyes was unmistakable even in the erratic glow of the broken hallway light. Too far gone. Her hands were skeletal as they clutched at my arms, plucking at the leather.

“I’ve seen you,” she croaked.

“I’m sure you have,” I murmured.

A strangled cry echoed in the hall as Rye’s lanky silhouette appeared in the doorway. “Leona—”

“I’ve done you a favor,” I said.

A smile tugged at Leona’s dry lips even as a trickle of black blood dripped from one nostril.

“I’ve seen you— Don’t let him take her—”

With a grunt, I angled the knife up and thrust it deeper into her ribs.

Goddamn junkie.

Her fingers tightened on my arms, but she didn’t make a sound as I pulled the knife from her body and stepped back to let her tumble to the floor.

Rye stayed frozen in the doorway.

Loyal ‘til the end.

Asshole.

I bent to wipe the blade of my knife on Leona’s stained dress and then gestured at Rye with it. “Get your shit together,” I said. “When you find out where the meeting has been moved to—you send me a message.”

“H— How—”

I straightened and shoved the knife back in the hidden sheath at my back. “You’ll figure it out.”

Without another word, I strode down the hall and down the stairs to the main floor.

A quick flick of my fingers started the fire.

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