Page 4 of Claimed
“I was being a lecherous prick with a rather buxom brunette when I was interrupted. I have to have my fun with someone,” I toss over my shoulder, just to nettle and remind all of themwhatI am.
A scalding hand grasps my shoulder. Any touch from one of them is so rare that no smart ass retort immediately comes to mind. “Caine, please. We got a lead and we need you on this.” Gage Whitehorn’s voice is a deep baritone. Softer. Less robust. But Gage has always been a rather stoic individual. Almost … statuesque.
I peer at him, taking in his long white braid and his emerald eyes. “I’m listening, Gage.”
With a slight squeeze, he steps back, but doesn’t go far.
His warmth could rival the heat of my home. But the man is a walking fire, so there’s that.
I turn back to Ruin. He and Markus are nearest the long desk. Markus looks like a feral lion behind his blotter, topaz eyes luminous in the low lights.
“We have received a tip that a new shipment of Brightex is making its way to the coast,” he says, his voice lightly accented. “It will be there in two days.”
That gets my attention.
“How much are we talking?” I ask and my careful facade slips.
The last batch wiped out twenty percent of the supernatural population in Lock Lake. And the dealer killed Lilah.
Markus leans back. “Fifty kilos of pre-loaded ampules.”
All the hellfire in my veins snuffs out. “That’s enough to dose every fucking supe from here to California.”
Ruin nods. “It’s being delivered by an anonymous source to a dark market warehouse in Miami. Word is already circulating that the Brightex and several other items are going up to the highest bidder.”
“Can we raid the warehouse?” I ask. “Or take the shipment at the dock?”
There is a foul snort from the shadows beside the door. “For once you’re thinking with something besides what is between your legs.”
My eyes cut to the dim space, finding glowing amber irises and the telltale glint of a familiar sword. “Oh, Horan, you came to see me too?” I force every ounce of sarcasm I can muster into the words. “You do care.”
His expression darkens, contorting powerful masculine features as he pushes from the wall. He looks at Ruin. “Why did we even call him in? He can’t be serious long enough to do this.”
The words spark my curiosity whether I want them to or not. I glance between them. “To do what?”
Ruin runs a hand through his spikey black hair. “We will not take the shipment at the dock.”
“Okay …” I hedge, waiting on the inevitablebutthat I know is coming.
“We want to take it at the warehouse. This is an ample opportunity to not only take the dealer but the buyers. Anyone that would be interested in distribution will be there. With so many, we can pinpoint the source of where it’s coming from.”
I hold up a hand. “Getting all of them would require taking the shipment during the auction.” I peer around. “How the fuck are you planning on getting an in?”
They all fall silent and look at me.
Slow realization dawns.
I step back, heart speeding. “Me?”
Ruin presses forward, his body rippling under his jeans and tee. “You’re a demon, Caine. You’re well known in this city for your …appetite.” Ash coats my tongue. “If they vet you, all your properties are registered in town. You have zero ties to the colony. You don’t even fucking sleep here.”
I stare at him. “So you want me to get into this auction and do what? Get the team in?” I ask, incredulous. “The sick bastards that run the dark market are not going to just let you waltz inside.”
“Which is why we will stage far enough away that it doesn’t draw suspicion. You’ll be wired, of course. As soon as you give the signal, we raid the place.” My heart gives a heavy thump. “But, you can take an additional guard with you if it helps. Perhaps someone that hasn’t been at Lock Lake long enough to be recognized. You can pose them as your security detail or something.”
A guard?
A single fucking guard in the most twisted auction ever? The one that makes the human black market look like a Ma and Pa garage sale?
