Page 60 of Under a Wicked Moon
“Get out or my promises are void.” Slate pointed at the elevator.
With an apologetic glance, Gerard left. That was why he might be an effective desk jockey but never rose beyond his position. He wasn’t willing to risk his job or his life.
As soon as the elevator doors shut behind Gerard, Slate addressed Vivi. “They killed your sister, you know, while under orders.”
How did he know Nova was her sister?
She swallowed. “I heard.”
Slate shot her a cunning look. “You’ve done terrible things.”
He rotated a tablet to show her a video. Although gritty and in black and white, there was no doubt the woman with the long dark braid was Vivi. Ky recognized the curves he’d learned last night. She moved through the security desk of a building, killing all in her path. Amazing skill with a knife. Fast, brutal, and efficient. The next camera shot showed her in an office. She wasted no movement in her assassination of the man. Clean strike to the neck. It was over in seconds.
Vivi watched in horror. “That can’t be me. I don’t… I couldn’t. The video’s been doctored or something.” She sought Ky’s gaze. “Is that me?”
“That’s not you. It’s not the person all of us know. Who I know,” Ky said gently.
Slate’s cell phone buzzed. He answered, then held out thephone and carefully enunciated, “There is a telephone call for Vivienne.”
“Don’t answer,” Ky said. There was something very odd about the calculated look on Slate’s face.
She didn’t even look at Ky as she automatically reached for the phone.
Ky grabbed her hand. “Don’t.”
She threw off his grip. Something about the way her face had gone blank alerted him she wasn’t herself.
He wrapped himself around her to stop her taking the phone. “No. You won’t do it.”
It’ll be okay. You can snap her out of this. You just have to reach her.He kept telling himself over and over it’d be okay. But it wasn’t going to be. The Vivi he knew wasn’t here anymore.
He gasped to try to control his breathing while he shook her to get her attention.
Her head rocked back with a sudden and blunt force that bashed his nose. Shocked, he released her.
“Don’t do this,” he whispered, desperation lacing his voice. “Please. It’s me…us. Stop.”
Slate had put the phone on speaker.
Six German words came through the line.
“What are you going to do?” Slate asked her, far too calm. Far too assured of his safety.
“I’m going to kill the king and anyone who gets in my way,” she said softly.
Shit.
His wrist with the curse band tingled. He met Roman’s gaze, noting he too massaged his wrist.
A paranormal threat to the Crown meant they had to stop her. They didn’t go all automaton like her, though. They simply knew their job, but he also realized if they could un-trigger her or fix her, then they could save her. They hadn’t beenorderedto killher. Right now, she represented no more than a potential threat. Apparently, Slate didn’t know the difference.
“I’ll see you boys later.” He wiggled his fingers as he stalked toward the elevator. “Or maybe not. We’re about to see if you’re better than your replacement.”
“If she or her sister is our replacement, then you’ve got a lot more work to do on your brainwashed soldiers,” Roman called out. “Have fun figuring out how to stop the disc.”
Vivi rounded the desk and removed a serrated knife and a handgun, a Glock, from the top drawer.
“Vivi, I need you to put down the weapon and tell me you’re you,” Ky said.
