Page 44 of Fallen

I glanced at my fingers on his throat, cursed, and released him.

“Shit, Bri,” he said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

I jerked my chin in acknowledgment. Hating that I’d lost control and grabbed him like Jules had grabbed me. It was like my SOB of a father had taken over my brain for a few seconds.

Still, I wouldnotdrag Twilight into this, even if she was the perfect fall guy. Jules was too dangerous. Not to mention Prosper.

“The woman’s out of the slayer game,” I said. “Permanently. Even if I have to chain her to my bed to keep her safe.”

“Understood,” said Cain.

Talon spoke, his deep voice calm. “So what’s our alternative? Another nameless assassin?”

“Like the slayer who took out my mother?” I frowned. “I don’t think so. The syndicate already looks weak. If it happens a second time, we’ll look like fools, vulnerable to attack. No one will want to deal with us.”

And my long-range plans included expanding the syndicate’s influence, which meant brokering more deals like the one I’d made with Régis and the QCS.

“Then we need a fall guy,” said Talon. “Cain’s suggestion has merit.” At my growl, he raised a staying hand. “Not your woman. Someone else, someone to take the blame.”

“Or,” said Cain, “we say to Hades with the subterfuge and let it get out that Jules is blood mad.”

“And then,” Talon added softly, “we slay the SOB ourselves. We just engineer things so it looks like he went to his final grave without any help.”

I looked from him to Cain. Rubbed a hand over my face. “I don’t know.”

This was the jagged rock that our last few discussions had run aground on. The man might be a monster, but he was my father. It wasn’t only that he was my sire. It was that taking him out in this underhand way didn’t sit right, even though I knew he’d never accept a direct challenge from me. He’d have me staked out in the sun rather than chance me besting him.

Talon pursed his lips. “It’s time, Brien. If he attacks another thrall…”

“Or worse,” muttered Cain. At my questioning look, he added, “Fuck, Brien. You have to realize he could go for you next.”

“He won’t.”

“Are you sure?” Talon gave my neck a pointed look, reminding me of the marks Jules had left on it.

I set my hands on my hips and dropped my head. “No,” I admitted. “Not after last night.”

“We know you’re waiting for the right time,” Talon said. “But the syndicate enforcers have started whispering among themselves. That you’re not ready. That you’re vulnerable.”

That brought my head back up. “Prosper?”

“No. At least, not that I’ve heard. Still, if you wait much longer, we could lose control of the situation.”

“It’s okay,” said Cain. “You don’t have to do it. We will.”

I growled. “The hell you will. My decision, my responsibility.”

Talon heaved a breath, but we’d had this discussion before. They both knew my mind was made up.

“Then do it already,” Cain gritted. “The man’s a goddamn time bomb. He could blow any night now and become a danger to everyone on the island.”

My jaw hardened. “You think I don’t know that?”

A vampire in the final stages of blood madness was basically a rabid animal, constantly craving blood and not caring how they got it.

Frustration twisted Cain’s good-looking face. “So why are we here? I thought you’d made up your mind. The locals have been uneasy ever since Gwen died. They know something’s fishy about her death. My dad took me aside to ask if my sisters were safe. He’s talking about sending them off-island until Jules is dealt with.”

“Fuck.” I sank into a chair. “It’s gone that far?”

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