Page 152 of Coerced

That’s God’s truth. He’s about to explode.

“Remember this is an extraction only.” Rome looked at each of us in turn. “You especially, Kerry. This can’t turn into a personal vendetta. We’re not here to clear out a nest of demons. We don’t have the numbers or tools for that. We find our friends and any other victims and we get out.”

“It’s a good thing we rented an SUV.” Travis smiled. “No way we’d all fit in Mira’s car, especially if we find anyone else here.”

“Okay, okay, enough talking!” Kerry growled. “Mira, you ready?”

“Yep.”

“You get my boy out of there, Kerry.” Power darkened Gigi’s eyes and brought out an edge in her voice. “You bring him back to me.”

“I won’t let you down,” he promised her.

“I know you won’t.”

She and Travis said goodbye to the rest of us and climbed into the SUV, where John was already stretched out in the back seat.

“We’ll meet you in the middle.” Rome climbed behind the steering wheel of my car, then rolled down the window and stuck his head out. “Don’t get killed, Mira.”

“You, either, Sir Serious.” A smile blossomed on my lips.

He rolled his eyes and looked over at Kerry.

“Wait for my signal before you go in. And don’t getherkilled.” He jerked his head in my direction.

Kerry waved an impatient hand. Rome started the car and drove off the grassy shoulder and back onto the road, and Gigi followed right behind him.

“Sheesh. I didn’t think those mother hens were ever gonna leave.”

With a wicked grin, Kerry lit up with so much power, the hair on my arms pulled in his direction. When my long braids followed, I took a prudent step back. I didn’t know if Divine power worked like lightning, but I wasn’t fool enough to stand there and find out.

“Relax, Boots. I got it under control. For now, at least. But I need you to do something for me.”

“Okay.”

“Find my angel and get her outta here. Do whatever you have to do. You hear me? You get her out no matter what.”

I met his eyes, and there was nothing of Kerry Harker in those blue depths. The tiger that stared back at me would sacrifice us all to save her. Without question or hesitation or doubt, and certainly without regret.

I turned away and scanned the forest as I spoke.

“Rome doesn’t understand your relationship. I mean, he gets why you like her. She’s everything you need, plus he said she’s adorable. But he’s at a loss as to why she likes you.”

“Pity,” he snorted, and a long blue flame shot past me in the predawn darkness. “That’s all. She feels bad for me.”

“Are youstupid?” I wanted to whack his arm, but knew better. “No one seriously dates someone outta pity. At least not for long.”

“She’s probably afraid to break up with me. Maybe she thinks I’ll get mad and hurt her.”

“Has she seen you mad before?”

“Uh,yeah. Tons of times.”

“Like, really mad?”

“Just before we came on this mission, I almost killed a guy who knocked her down.” The blue storm around him calmed a bit. “If she hadn’t stopped me, I would have.”

“And did she act afraid of you?” I looked at him with narrowed eyes. “When you lost your temper, was she scared?”

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