Page 66 of The Serpent's Bride
If Luciento had any brains at all, he would have opened fire on Raziel immediately. Hewasn’ta fool, despite what he said. So, why wasn’t he attacking? Greed?
“Fine. You and me, we talk. John, Ezra, take the wife to the storeroom. Hold her there. You hear trouble? You know what to do.” And that was when Luciento looked at her.
With recognition in his iridescent, whitish eyes.
He knows who I am.
Nadi glanced at the two men who walked up to her. One of whom was more familiar than she’d hoped. And he was looking at her with a strange, dire expression in his eyes.
John. She’d let John live. Ofcoursehe’d told his boss what he had witnessed. She’d taken the form of Raziel’s bodyguard Ivan. He’d seen what she could do. And there was onlyoneshapeshifter like her in all the Wild that she knew of.
Fuck.
That was why he hadn’t opened fire. Luciento knew who she was. Everything was about to fall apart at the seams.
This was going to be aterriblenight.
Raziel ignored his little murderer’s protests as two of the Iltani men rather forcefully ushered her into a storeroom. She really did know some interesting and colorful swears.
It was rather unfortunate that she was likely not to survive the night. But, thanks to his mother’s orders, she was living on borrowed time, regardless.
He pushed thoughts of her from his mind for the moment. She would be fine. For now. Until he found her later and they sorted through theirunfinished business,at any rate. Luciento’s men wouldn’t hurt her. They tended to befairlyhonorable toward women when there was a business deal involved. He would give them that much.
Pulling the disgusting cap from his head, he tossed it into a garbage bin nearby. He hated the ruse, namely because the clothing itched, but it was required to get past the door.
Luciento had ten men around him, all with guns trained on him. But he was the only fae present. Raziel wondered if the bastard knew how useless the ten men truly were. In fact—less than worthless. Aliability.
It was fascinating to him that despite all the legends, despite the stories, no one seemed to believe what he was capable of—what “the Serpent” could do—until it was too late. And it seemed Luciento was the same.
And the greedy fae scum would never pass up the chance to make a deal.
“So. Can we discuss business now?” Raziel brushed the dust from his sleeves and followed the fae ringleader into the dingy building he used as a storehouse and took quick stock of his surroundings. No windows. Wooden tables, shelves along the walls—plank floors worn by time and water and salt. But the rafters were high.
Good. This would do well enough.
“I’m surprised.” Luciento kept his distance, standing by an exit door. Just because he was fae didn’t mean he was an idiot. They had wonderful survival instincts. “I figured the cycle of death-for-death would go on a little longer before we had to come to an agreement. That has been the way with our families for so long.”
Raziel shrugged. “The mayor has an election coming up in a few months, and Mael can’t be spending time worrying about what you’re doing down here. He needs you quiet. So I’ve been told to forgive, forget, and find a deal.”
Luciento laughed sadly. “Well. We are here.” He threw up his hands. “And you wished to speak.”
“Yes. The deal.” It was one he knew Luciento would never accept. But he had to make sure that he gave the fae beast a way out. He undid the tie at the back of his neck and combed his fingers through his hair, tidying it. “I kill a few of your men here—two, maybe three—you can choose which. You and the rest escape with the guns and supplies I have brought into the Wild. You leave for an outer city and never set foot in the metropolis again.”
“Hrippaiid, i’ika nish ba—”Luciento laughed. Raziel didn’t speak the guttural, trash language of the fae, but he knew whatever the bastard had said, it had been obscene. “What kind of deal isthat?”
“The other option is that I slaughter you all. And none—not a single Iltani present here tonight—leave this place alive. I will finish what we should have done decades ago—and wipe your clan from the face of Runne.” He smiled cordially, holding his hands out at his sides. “I am being quite generous.”
“Fi’ti,”Luciento snarled. “Kill him!”
Raziel laughed as the gunfire began.
This was going to be awonderfulnight.
NINETEEN
Nadi couldn’t help but swear as she was shoved into a room by two men, the door clicking behind her. The walls were cedar, and the tables that lined the walls were covered in…wow. Luciento had done well for himself while she’d been away.
The room was filled with gold and silver—jewelry and gemstones and all sorts of precious goods mixed in with high-end weaponry and stacks of cash piled on top of boxes that contained who-knew-what. The light overhead glittered off the facets of gems and shining metals.
