Page 26 of Jinn

The first time he’d felt the change coming over him, he’d been utterly terrified. It had hurt, burning, and his blood rushing fast through his veins. And he’d had no control over it, parts of his body fading in and out. Unfortunately, in front of people.

He’d later had plenty of time to master it once they’d started locking him into rooms.

He rode the air outside, expecting more fans. Some were still gathered outside the gate, their voices carrying on the breeze. Did these people ever sleep? He moved along the fence line slowly, not seeing anyone but his senses on high alert, so he knew someone was there. A dry leaf crunched, and he flowed that direction, spotting a large man crouched behind a tree and peeking around it at the house.

Moonlight shimmered off the surface of metal, and Finn realized he carried a gun.

What the fuck?

Instant fury almost sent him barreling toward the guy to slam through him, but he needed to know what this was about. So he slowed right behind the crouching man, knocked the gun out of his hand, then solidified with his arm wrapping the guy’s throat. He stiffened immediately on a loud gasp.

“What do you plan to do with that gun?” Finn asked, keeping his chokehold on the guy but giving him enough air to speak.

Only he said nothing.

Finn quickly removed his arm, grabbed the man’s biceps and lifted him, slamming him face first into the tree. “I asked what you planned to do with that gun?”

“What do you think, fucker?”

Finn bent his arm up high, making the guy whimper as he pressed him harder against the rough bark. “You planning to hurt whoever is living here?”

“Somebody wants him hurt.” The words were muffled so Finn easily flipped him around, holding him off the ground. He tried to get a punch in, but Finn grabbed his hand and broke two of his fingers.

The man’s yell was so loud, the crowd outside the gate grew quieter.

“Are you saying you were hired to come here?”

“Yes,fuck.My fucking hand!”

“Who?” He tightened his hand on the perp’s throat.

“I don’t know, I swear. It was all done online. Was offered three hundred thousand to kill Ajax Craig, and they gave me this address. I wasn’t told he had protection. What the fuck are you? How are you holding me up like this?”

Someone had paid to have Ajax killed.

This job had just turned more serious. He needed to inform Xavier, but he had to figure out what to do with this guy first. He was human, so he’d best call the cops. He hauled his fist back and let it fly into the man’s face hard enough to knock him out. The body slumped, and Finn let it fall to the ground. He picked up the gun, then slung the guy over his shoulder to carry him to the house.

Ajax was awake and standing in the front room when he walked inside the house. He’d thrown on a pair of sweatpants and a white T-shirt, his hair still mussed from sleeping.

“What happened?”

“You got any enemies?” Finn asked him as he dropped the hired gun onto the floor.

“No.” Ajax’s face paled. “Did he have that gun?”

“Yeah, said he was paid to take you out, so you need to think hard about this. Do you think it could be your ex? He have three hundred thousand lying around?”

“Hell no. He doesn’t have that kind of money, and even as upset as he is, I don’t think he’d do something like this.”

Finn eyed the guy on the floor. “I’ve got zip ties in my bag. I don’t want to let this one out of my sight, so will you go grab them?”

Ajax hurried out of the room and came back with the ties.

Finn trussed the hitman up, leaving him on the floor. “We need to call the cops.”

“Of course.” Ajax was still pale as he fumbled for his phone. “I can’t believe this. And I can’t think of who would hire him, who has that kind of cash.”

“Well, someone does. Call the police and tell them your bodyguard caught an armed intruder. I’m going to call my boss and fill him in. Get another guard out here. With that kind of money, whoever this is will try again.”

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