Dead end supernatural se.., p.1
Dead End (Supernatural Security Force Book 5), page 1
Table of Contents
Title Page
Free Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
About the Author
Dead End
Supernatural Security Force Series, book 5
By Heather Hildenbrand
© 2021
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the authors’ imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, either living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the authors.
www.heatherhildenbramd.com
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Chapter One
This was just perfect. I finally knew the name of the leader of the rebellion. The very thing Starla required in exchange for healing Adrik. But how could I turn Luca in? And what was I supposed to say in response to his offer to turn it all over to me? I was a cop, not a civil activist.
Every time I thought my life couldn’t get any more complicated, fate showed up to prove my ass wrong.
“You want to talk about it?”
The sound of Juice’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. I glanced over at him as he drove then shook my head.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” I said honestly.
“It’s a big decision,” he said.
Up ahead, the light turned green, and Juice hit the gas. The car sped forward, this one much more peppy than the van we’d taken earlier. Juice had upgraded since I’d last seen him. Business must be good.
“How did you get involved with this?” I asked. “And why? You’ve always steered clear of the supernatural world.”
“Truth?” he said. “I fell in love.”
“No way.” My jaw dropped.
“Her name’s Sonia. She’s a vampire.”
Juice glanced at my expression and laughed. “I know what you’re thinking. It doesn’t get more complicated than a she-vampire.”
Or more moody. But I wasn’t going to say that.
“Vamps are controversial,” I said finally, still studying him. “You must really care about her.”
His earnest expression said it all. “I do.”
I sighed and leaned back against the seat as Juice navigated us through the busy streets. “I’m happy for you, Juice.”
“Thanks. Means a lot.” He shot me a small smile that disappeared when he saw my expression. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Z tells me you’ve got a three-way going.”
“Don’t tell me you believe a word that asshat says.”
“Absolutely not.” He laughed. “I just wanted to see the look on your face.”
I scowled.
“Z’s still on your shit list, huh?”
“He’s…” I wasn’t even sure how to answer that. Z had been a royal douche bag when we’d dated, but that felt like a lifetime ago. And his help with Selaphiel had been a lifesaver. Literally.
“He’s working for the SSF now, I hear,” Juice added, and for some reason, my senses prickled with warning. Was Juice trying to get information out of me for Luca? Would he do that?
“I don’t know. Haven’t spoken to him,” I said.
“Don’t blame you.” We pulled to a stop in front of Juice’s garage.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
Juice handed me a set of keys.
“What’s this?”
“Your car was parked in the garage outside the Delta building, right?”
“Yeah.” I groaned, remembering the destruction from earlier. My car was toast.
“Figured you could use a new set of wheels.”
He dropped the keys into my hand and nodded at a car parked in front of us.
“Juice, that’s your 240SX. Are you shitting me? You don’t let anyone drive that car.”
He shrugged. “You’re not just anyone, kid. But listen, if you scratch the paint, I’m going to have to hurt you.”
I grinned. “Noted.”
I went for the door handle, giddy and impatient to see what his baby could do. I’d drooled after that car for years, but Juice never let anyone else drive it.
“Hang on.” Juice turned to me before I could get out. “Listen, I know Luca’s a bit of a hothead, but this thing he’s doing at the Underground . . . it’s important. I can’t speak for your kind as a whole, but Sonia’s told me how it’s been for her. With the other supes. And the council. At least, think about his offer.”
“What Luca’s asking . . . I have other things to consider.”
Juice studied me, and I knew his sharp eyes weren’t missing a thing. “Z wasn’t wrong then. About the two men in your life.”
“There’s really just one.” The words came out in a strangled whisper. Tears burned my eyes, and I blinked them furiously away. Juice was the only other person in the world besides my father I’d let my guard down this far with. And even so, it wasn’t something I did often. “His name is Adrik.”
“The Nephilim.”
Juice didn’t seem overly surprised. Which meant Z had told him more than he’d let on. At least, he didn’t seem upset, knowing what he did of the Nephilim council.
“He was wounded saving me and . . . he’s not well.”
Even with someone as loyal as Juice, I wasn’t going to divulge the extent of Adrik’s current injuries.
“What does Luca say about it?” Juice asked.
“I didn’t mention it yet.”
Juice nodded like he expected as much. “Luca Diablo is a lot of things, Gem, but at the end of the day, he’s always been loyal and devoted to you. If you don’t trust his methods, trust his intentions. We’re here for you when you’re ready.”
I thanked him and got out, trying to keep the pep out of my step to hide just how damn excited I was to borrow this car. While the engine warmed to a healthy purr, I waved as Juice drove off and then took a few deep breaths.
Today had not gone anywhere close to how I’d expected. And now, I had a hell of a lot to think about.
A shadow appeared at my window, and I jumped as I spotted a hooded figure. A second later, the hood was drawn back, and I recognized Starla.
Working the manual window control—yes, this baby was that old—I stared up at her.
“How in the hell did you know where to find me?”
“Your phone.”
My eyes went wide as I realized she meant the burner phone she’d given me.
“Motherf—”
“There’s a tracker with a GPS beacon in the phone, and it’s been offline for the last couple of hours. Care to tell me where you’ve been?”
“You mean after some of Raguel’s homemade demon buddies tried kidnapping me and the parking garage exploded?”
Starla’s impatient expression didn’t budge. The bitch had known, and instead of asking if I was all right or sending a rescue party, she’d just sat back and watched the GPS to see where I’d been taken.
“I needed some ‘me’ time,” I said.
“Gem, this is not the time for playing games. If you’ve been in contact with the rebellion group in any way, providing their names—”
“Raguel,” I snapped.
“Excuse me?”
“You want a name, that’s the one I’m giving you. That’s who tried to kill me today. And nearly succeeded. He’s the enemy here. Not some hypothetical group of citizens you seem hell-bent on destroying.”
“We both want the same thing,” she said, her eyes narrowing to slits. For the first time ever, Starla was showing some feeling, and it didn’t look warm and fuzzy. She must really want to know about Luca. But why? “Or did you change your mind about wanting to heal your Nephilim lover?”
I glared at her.
“Our deal’s only good if you cooperate,” she added.
I hesitated, a ball of indecision in my gut. Starla was right. If I wanted her help healing Adrik, I had to give up Luca. But he’d saved me tonight. He knew enough secrets to screw up my life and, instead, protected me.
I couldn’t just give him up. And I wasn’t about to endange
“I’m aware of our deal,” I said. “I just don’t have anything for you yet.”
She stared down at me, and the look on her face made it clear she didn’t believe me. But there also wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it right now.
“Time’s running out, Gem. I suggest you work faster.”
She swept her hood back over her face and sank back into the shadows.
I chirped tires getting out of there and took my anger out on the roads.
When I finally pulled up at Jax’s, the security guard at the gate looked two counts relieved and one count shocked to see me. “Miss Hawkins,” he said, wide-eyed as he took me in.
“The gate,” I prompted.
“Right.” He hurried to push the button and let me in.
I drove through and, in my rearview, watched the guy stare after me until finally, he lifted the radio to his lips and spoke quickly into the receiver.
By the time I pulled up to the house—okay, hotel. Whatever—the front door was open, and people were spilling out. Jax was first, wearing the same wide-eyed look of shock as the guard. Then, my mother who, even in the darkness, looked like a hot mess. Red, splotchy face. Trembling bottom lip.
Shit.
Fear lodged in my throat, and I jumped out, running up to them.
“What happened?” I asked.
Jax caught me in a hug that I didn’t ask for and didn’t exactly return. He didn’t even seem to notice, just squeezed me until I couldn’t breathe and then set me on my feet so my mother could do the same.
“What happened?” I asked again as my mother held me.
Behind her, Fergie, Apple, and Taboo came waddling out, and I exhaled in silent relief. They looked taller for sure, I realized.
Then I saw Lester coming out behind them. Faith strode out on his heels, her arms crossed as she regarded me with a resting bitch face that could have earned her an Academy Award.
“She’s alive after all,” Faith deadpanned.
“What’s she doing out of the basement?” I demanded.
“She’s been herself all day,” Jax said.
“You’re the one who panicked everyone,” Faith shot back. “I really thought you were lying tits up somewhere.”
“Me?” I pulled back from my mother as three demon toddlers wrapped their arms around my legs.
“We saw the parking garage on the news,” my mother said. “The destruction when it collapsed… We thought you were—”
“Gemmy, you’re okay.” Lester’s voice was shrill and loud enough to drown out my mother. He ran up and hugged me then quickly pulled away, squeeing in toddler-like excitement. “I’m so happy I could pee.” His face transformed to surprise. “Oh, I think I just did. I’ll be right back.”
I shook my head and looked at my mother as Lester took off for the house.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “I should have called, but—”
“What happened?” Jax demanded. “Where have you been?”
I slid a look from him to my mother and then down at the Fergies currently acting like vises against my shins.
“We should go inside,” I said, aware of how exposed we were out here. Even with the gates and the wards Jax’s pack had put up to shield us, I didn’t want to risk it. Not with Starla sniffing around. “I’ll explain everything inside.”
We ended up in Jax’s room again, and after a hug from Wolfrick that left a few scratch marks on my arms, the Fergies settled in with him so we could talk.
Quickly, I recapped the afternoon, starting with being almost kidnapped by a couple of blue henchmen and then ending up with Luca and his band of merry men at the Underground.
“Of course, your grandmother is knee-deep in it already,” my mother muttered when I’d finished. “How did she even find out about Luca?”
“I think it happened at the protest,” I said. “Milo and I had to leave quickly, and Gran couldn’t keep up. My guess is she spotted Luca or Carlos in the crowd and followed them back to the Underground.”
My mother didn’t reply, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d just made things even with Gran for her telling my mother I’d shapeshifted in public.
“This is a bad idea,” Jax said. “Too risky for you.”
“He knows what I am, and he wants me to use it to get more supes on our side.”
“He’ll probably backstab us first chance he gets,” Jax growled.
“I’ve known him my whole life,” I said, my expression hardening. “He’s known my secret since we were kids, and he’s never once used it against me. I trust him. Besides, he saved my life today in that garage.”
“He’s a criminal.”
“He’s never betrayed me,” I snapped, and Jax fell silent.
“What about Adrik?” Faith’s voice was contemplative.
“What about him?” I asked.
“You made a deal. Turn Luca over to Starla?”
I tensed. Faith was loyal to Starla, which meant she’d probably run back and feed her this info as soon as this meeting ended.
“Luca’s my oldest friend,” I said. “And Starla’s hiding something. Until I know what it is, I’m not giving her shit.” I stepped up to Faith until we were eye to eye. “And if anyone else tells her, I’ll feed them to my children.”
Faith rolled her eyes, but she didn’t press it. “Relax. I’m on Team Me and right now, it doesn’t help me at all to stop the one army possibly capable of taking down the demon maker himself.”
I only hoped she was telling the truth.
Turning to Jax, I studied his expression. “What do you think?” I asked.
“About which part?”
“The resistance. Me getting involved with them. Any of it.”
“Why?” he asked, brows lifting. “You don’t follow my advice.”
“That’s only true when your opinion includes attacking one of our own to win.”
He frowned but refrained from the outburst of temper I’d expected. “I would tear Luca Diablo to pieces if it meant keeping you safe. And I’m sure you can guess I’d rather that than team up with him. But . . . our family’s safety is my priority. Whatever it takes.”
I looked at my mother. “You should know Gran has joined them,” I told her. “She’s all the way into whatever they’re planning. I don’t think I can stop her.”
My mother muttered a string of curses that sounded like something Gran would make up.
“Luca will make sure nothing happens to her,” I said.
My mother blew out a breath. “That woman is going to be the death of me.”
“I need a shower,” I said, “And food.” I started for the door. “Has anyone seen Milo?”
“No.” My mother looked stricken all over again. “We thought he was with you.”
Shit.
Not good.
I dialed him, using my mother’s phone. No way was I going to do anything personal on my own phones anymore. Not with Starla spying on me.
“Yellow,” Milo answered lazily.
“Hey, it’s Gem.” I frowned at the loud country music in the background. “Where are you?”
Instead of answering, Milo broke out into song, “All my exes live in Texas,” he slurred.
“Are you drunk?” I asked.
“It was da only opshun,” he said.
Jax’s brow lifted, and I knew every one of them could hear him too.
“Milo, where are you? I’m sending a car.”
“I’m a cowboy now, Gem. Don’t look for me,” Milo said and then let out a loud, “yahoo.”
This was so fucking weird.
Whatever had happened to make him run off and end up at a country bar was beyond me.
“Milo, the address,” I repeated.
“Ummm. Hold on.” I listened as he asked someone nearby for the address. A moment later, he came back and rattled it off. It took three tries to understand what he’d said.
Finally, Jax said, “Got it,” and opened the door. I listened as he gave instructions to the guard outside to retrieve Milo.
“Milo, Jax’s guy is on his way. Stay there, okay?” I said.
“You got it, boss. You know, you really are a boss bitch, G. And if I was into your lady parts, I’d be all over that. We’d make a serious power couple, don’t you think?”
“I think you’ve had way too much tequila.”
“You’re right as usual. And you don’t judge. I like that about you. You know who else doesn’t judge? Jesus.”
