Page 70 of Hextreme Measures

“That’s understandable.” Sully’s smile looked more like a grimace. “I wasn’t just talking about the shifters, though. This whole town is full of paranormals, and they all love Ofelia. Who do you think they’re going to side with when she goes to war in a few hours?”

For the first time since she’d taken him, Shirley looked genuinely afraid. “If she gets in my way, I’ll kill her,” she warned finally. “I won’t stand for anybody ruining my plan.”

“And Ofelia won’t stand for anybody threatening her family,” Sully said. “You’ve messed with the wrong witch.” He looked smug now. “She’s not going to show you any mercy.”

“Well, I guess we’ll just see, won’t we?” Shirley shot back.

“I guess we will.”

17

SEVENTEEN

Darkness fell like a curtain on the French Quarter. When Ofelia walked out of Pascal’s store, she was stunned at what she found.

There had to be at least 20 vampires. She didn’t recognize most of them. Heck, she didn’t even know that New Orleans had that many vampires. It was dumbfounding to her.

It wasn’t just vampires either. There were sirens grouped to the left, another 20 bodies. There were shifters to the right. There had to be at least 15 of them, maybe more. Madeline and Zeke stood in the middle of the shifters telling them there was an alley for them to shift in behind the store.

Ofelia’s soul warmed at how many people had come out. Then her heart skipped a beat when she saw Jack approaching. The crowd parted, as if they recognized him as an outsider, and Ofelia gave him a serious look.

“Jack.” That was all she said. His name.

“Ofelia.” Jack looked around, taking in the team that she’d put together. Or, rather, Pascal had put together. “What’s the plan here?”

She shrugged, noncommittal. “We’re just hanging out.”

He made an exasperated sound deep in his throat. “I know that you’re not just ‘hanging out’.” He used air quotes. “You should know that Biff acted as if nothing was going on after you left. He kept calling you crazy. Then, when nobody was looking, he took all of his personal items from his desk. He’s not planning on coming back.”

“Which makes you realize that I was telling the truth,” she assumed.

“I never doubted you. It’s just …” He broke off, clearly feeling helpless.

Ofelia took pity on him. “It’s not your fault, Jack. I also don’t have time to soothe your nerves. We’re going to get Zach back, and you can’t be my priority.”

“I want to help. Tell me what I can do to help.”

“Stay out of the way,” Pascal replied before Ofelia could. He glided in smoothly next to her. “You can’t help us.”

It was a cold response, Ofelia mused. It was the right one, however. “You can’t do anything for us,” she agreed. “You should go back to the office and wait it out.”

“Or you may wait inside the store.” Pascal gestured to the building behind them. “You’ll get in the way of what we must do.”

“Which is what?” Jack asked.

Ofelia had to give him credit. He was woefully outnumbered, but he refused to let the fear show. Because of that, she maintained a shred of patience. It wasn’t much, though. “We’re going to get Zach.”

“And kill all the banshees?”

Ofelia nodded. “If it comes to that. At the very least, Shirley Castle will not be seeing another sunrise.”

“Definitely not,” Pascal agreed.

“If Biff gets in our way — which I assume will happen — he won’t be getting out alive either,” Ofelia added. She knew that was what Jack was hemming and hawing about.

“We could lock him away,” Jack said. “You don’t have to kill him.”

Ofelia thought about the future Biff had likely planned for Angelique, a forced mating beyond her control. “He’s a blight on this world, Jack.” She was matter-of-fact. “He has to go. I mean, if we can take him into custody, I guess we’ll try. That’s the best I can promise you, however.”