“There’s more.” Nick leaned up to take a shot.
“There’s always more.” Zane fired a series of shots into the forest, listening closely for any impact. His head reeled, and his knees weakened. Teleporting three times in an hour after just getting shot had taken too much of a toll. He needed protein and fast.
Nick paused as another explosion rocked the earth. “After we shot out their helicopters, the vampires immediately struck back, hitting us in Eastern Europe, Africa, Iceland, and Florida.”
“Florida?” Zane wiped grime out of his eyes.
“Yeah. How they discovered our holdings there is beyond me.” Nick drew a smartphone from his pocket. “No updates.”
That wasn’t good. “So Suri’s double-cross put us in the crosshairs of the vampiresandthe Kurjans.” Zane took a deep breath and then coughed out soot and powder. He had to find his mother and youngest brother. “Any chance they’ll gang up on us?”
“Sure. Why the hell not?” Nick lifted the phone to his ear. “Suri? What is going on?”
Zane frowned.
Nick nodded as he listened. “Keep us apprised.” He slid the phone back into a pocket.
“Well?” Zane rubbed his still damaged shoulder and tried again to close the wounds. No luck, but the blood flow trickled.
“Suri and Kalin are communicating now. The vampires are so pissed, they’re attacking worldwide with shifter and witch backup. The Kurjans need us to counter, and it looks like we need them now, too—regardless of our double-cross.” Nick spit out blood.
Dread dropped like a lead weight into Zane’s gut. “Janie will be the bargaining chip. Kalin won’t deal this time unless it’s a guarantee and we hand her over.”
All sounds of a fight stopped outside.
Nick’s eyebrows rose. “Apparently Suri and Kalin are reaching an agreement.” He wiped off his neck. “Were you successful in your mission?”
“Yes. Janie is safe.” Zane studied Nick. Just how much could he trust the older demon? “How about you?”
A bullet popped out of Nick’s jaw to ping across the dirty floor. “Logan is fighting in southern Africa, and I should have a location on him soon. I haven’t found any trace of your mother, but I will. Sam is prepared to move on orders.”
Zane dropped down to lean against the soot-covered wall. “What’s the Intel on Janie and the vampire helicopters?”
Nick slid a fresh clip into his weapon. “Total damage on the helicopters and several yellow parachutes with shooting vampires as they plunged into the ocean. Their backup arrived amazingly fast, so I assume no deaths. Good injuries, though.”
“And Janie?” Zane whispered.
“No news.” Nick grinned. “The Kurjans and your uncle are afraid the vampires got her to safety.”
Zane’s shoulders relaxed. “So we’re the only two who know that I have Janie safe.”
“Well, and the vampires must know you captured her. But they’re not talking.” Nick slid down to sit.
No, the vampires would be waiting for Zane to make demands. While they attacked the hell out of every demon stronghold in the world, that is. “So much for the peace talks.”
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the face. “Sam?”
“What the hell is going on?” Sam sounded beyond pissed. “We were just besieged by both vampires and Kurjans, who then turned on each other. It’s fucking chaos in Iceland.”
“Hang tight and duck low.” Zane stretched to his feet. “You’ll be out of there shortly. As soon as I find Logan, I need you to get him.” Sam could teleport, unlike either their mother or Logan. “Be ready, and if you need to flee, do it.”
“I’m not fleeing.”
Zane nodded. His younger brother was a warrior and a loyal one. He’d fight to the death. Pride and fear filled Zane at the thought of losing Sam. If they all made it out of the current mess, it’d be a miracle. “Stay safe—I need you.” He ended the call, searching for a miracle.
The phone buzzed again, and Zane read the face. “Suri wants us.”
Nick shoved to his feet. “He’s holed up in the center of the building.” No expression crossed Nick’s face, but judgment echoed in his words.
