Page 85 of Twilight Destiny

Saintcrow lifted his head, nostrils flaring. “Do you smell that?”

Kincaid frowned. “Chloroform?” That explained the wheelchair, he thought. And why he was having troubling sensing her whereabouts.

Saintcrow nodded. “Maybe she didn’t go willingly.”

“Shit!” Kincaid knew a moment of hope when his phone buzzed. Felt that same hope vanish when the number was unfamiliar. Something told him to answer it anyway. “What?”

“It’s Rhinehart. Rosa’s with me.”

“Is she all right? Dammit, if you’ve hurt her … ”

“She’s fine, I swear it.”

“She’d damn well better be.”

“I haven’t touched her. I give you my word.”

“The word of a hunter.” Kincaid snorted his disdain. “Where the hell are you?”

“You know I can’t tell you that. Don’t try to track my phone. I’m using a burner.”

“You’re a dead man when I get my hands on you.”

“I didn’t want to do it,” Rhinehart said quietly. “But Luca knows where my family is, and he’s out of patience. My back’s against the wall.”

“What do you want?”

“I want you to surrender to Luca. He has a spell that will render you powerless when you enter his house. Rosa will be there with me. Tell Saintcrow to call me when Luca has you.” He rattled off the number of his phone and Luca’s address. “I’ll take Rosa home with me after you surrender. Saintcrow can pick her up there.”

“Why the hell would I trust you?”

“Luca doesn’t want her. Just you.”

Kincaid glanced at Saintcrow, who shrugged.

“Let me talk to her.”

“She’s unconscious right now.”

“He’s telling the truth,” Saintcrow said.

Fighting down an impotent sense of rage and frustration, Kincaid growled, “Where should I meet you?”

“Luca’s place, in an hour,” the hunter said. “Come alone. Luca will know if Saintcrow or anyone else is with you. Oh, and leave that gold band behind. One hour. Don’t be late.”

Rhinehart disconnected the call.

“An hour doesn’t give us much time,” Saintcrow remarked.

“Go to New Orleans. Find Izabela. Tell her you need an edge of some kind in fighting Luca. Promise her my blood or your blood or both,” Kincaid said curtly. “Whatever the hell she wants.”

Saintcrow snorted. “What makes you think I’ll have time to do that? Luca’s likely to take your head as soon as you walk in the door.”

“I don’t think so. He’s waited for this for over a century. He’ll want to drag it out. Make me suffer. I don’t think he’ll execute me right away,” Kincaid muttered. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“You’re putting a lot of faith in Rhinehart.”

“What other choice do I have?” Slipping the talisman off his wrist, Jake handed it to Saintcrow. “If he doesn’t keep his word, kill him.”

---