Page 121 of The Rogue's Curse

Across the room, Erik lay groaning, a broken chair leg jutting from his belly. One leg was twisted the wrong way, and he was awkwardly trying to drag himself across the room.

Nikko had Lilah down, a stake in the back of her neck. She swore furiously, her limbs twitching in jerky puppet-like motions.Kieran climbed to his feet in a drunken lurch and headed for Nikko. Dani swept up the gun and ran for him, firing three shots at him before he got there. The force of the bullets spun him around, and blood and bone sprayed from his wounds as he crumpled to the ground.

Lilah screamed.“Kieran!”

Kieran was still groaning, one leg trying to move. Dani stood over him, pointing the gun down at his mangled face. Fury swept through her. “You promised me a new life,” she said. “You told me I was special, and then you tried to kill me and my sister.”

He mumbled something that might have been Danielle.

“Fuck you,” she shouted. “And fuck your king. When we kill him, we’re going to make sure he knows what a useless piece of shit you are.”

Her hands shook violently as she tried to pull the trigger. How many times had she dreamed of this? She was strong, goddammit.

Nikko’s hand grasped her wrist lightly. “It’s all right,” he said gently. “We’ll keep them long enough to see if Volkov has anything of use. Then we’ll deal with it.”

“I can—” She burst into tears, then swiped at her face. “Fuck!”

“Come on in,” Nikko said into his watch.

Moments later, Sasha and Kristina burst through the back door, weapons drawn. Kristina surveyed the wreckage and sighed. “You had all the fun already. Why do we always get called for party cleanup?” she said, nudging Sasha with a smile.

“It’s good to have a purpose,” he teased.

“Usual delivery?” Kristina asked.

“For now. We’ll be in touch,” Nikko said.

Kristina eyed Kieran, then looked up at Danielle. “Did you do this?” When Danielle nodded, Kristina gave her an appreciative smile. “No notes. Well done.”

After the hunting pair had carried Lilah and Kieran out, Danielle slumped onto a stool. Nikko grabbed Erik by the collar and dragged him back to the bar as he whimpered. “Anything you want to tell us?” he asked.

“Dani? You got turned. You look amazing,” he said, sounding awed.

She ignored the compliment. “What the hell were you thinking, coming back to them?”

Erik shook his head and said, “I didn’t have anyone else after you left me.”

“After I—” She spluttered. “You convinced me to go along with you and they almost killed us! I left you because you were bad for me. Don’t act like I wronged you.”

“I’m sorry, Dani,” he said, shaking his head. “Please tell them to let me go.”

She shook her head. “You should have never gotten involved with them.”

Nikko looked at her, then down at Erik. “Tell me the truth. Would Shea do anything to get you back?”

Erik let out a laugh, then shook his head. “I’ve never even met him. Lilah and Kieran called me up when they got back to town, but they still haven’t let me join the court.”

Nikko grabbed his hair roughly and examined the back of his neck. He scowled and said, “I’m going to let you live. And when Shea is dead, I’m going to let you leave town.”

Erik nodded. “Okay. I can do that. Thank you so much. I promise I’ll do better,” he said.

It was pathetic to see the way he groveled to Nikko, just as he had done with Lilah and Kieran. She had been no better back then, but at least she’d grown a spine.

Soon, Safira walked in, surveyed the wreckage, and wrinkled her nose. “I was hoping to shoot someone,” she complained. Her eyes fell on Erik. “You’ll do.”

He shrieked, and she gave him a wolfish grin as she hauled him up by the collar. “Disposal?”

“Jonas,” Nikko said.

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