Page 4 of Peacemaker

Chapter Two

Kill the Messenger

It was quiet on the way station land—all my men were off taking care of their own business, and honestly, I missed them.

More and more I was feeling as though I needed to be with at least one of them all the time. Or at least most of the time.

And it wasn’t because they were so exciting and interesting and hot.

At least, that wasn’t the only reason.

We belonged together.

The doorbell rang—boomed, rather, like a centuries-old death knell—and I went to answer it as Jin was a bit…occupied.

Alejandro Rodríguez stood on the porch, the end of a leash wrapped around his fist. The leash led to a collar fastened around another man’s neck.

Jamie Stone’s.

Jamie was the Byrdcage warden’s son. Was being the operative word, since Warden Stone was dead, and the man responsible for this death was standing beside Al with a collar around his throat.

“Hey, Trinity,” Al said, smiling.

“Al!” I glanced at Jamie once again, my smile slipping, before I gave Alejandro a quick hug. “It’s about time you came to see us.”

Despite the fact that Jamie Stone had been responsible for killing dozens of humans—and supernaturals—and destroying the Byrdcage, no one was looking for him.

Apparently, no one knew.

For the last two weeks, the news had been full of little else. Grieving families, speculation, and an excuse to be even rougher than usual on the Bay Town supernats.

Because a supernatural had killed the guards, the warden, even the supernatural prisoners. A supernatural had exploded the Byrdcage.

At least that was what the humans thought.

There were no signs of explosives anywhere on the island.

I knew the truth. I knew the warden’s son had been responsible for the Byrd Island tragedy, as the humans called it. I’d been there.

His father had apparently perished in a fire in one of the buildings, and I was pretty sure killing Warden Stone was part of Jamie’s plan. Maybe all of it.

But I wouldn’t be the one to judge Jamie Stone.

Again, I glanced at the silent man. He didn’t look at me—didn’t lift his gaze from the porch floor. “Are you okay, Jamie?”

“He’s doing well,” Al said mildly, answering for him. A stranger peered out of his dark eyes, and for a second I didn’t recognize him.

Then he grinned, and suddenly, he was Al again. “Is Rhys around, by any chance? I can’t raise him on his cell.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know where he is.” I opened the door wider and stepped back. “Come on in and wait for him.”

But he turned to watch as a police car sped down the long driveway toward us, watchful and silent. Jamie’s body stiffened.

Al tugged gently on the lead. “No.”

That was all he said, but Jamie relaxed immediately and a whisper of a sigh floated from between his lips.

“It’s the captain,” I murmured.