Soul Enslaved (Sons of Wrath Book 3) (61 page)

“Tell me again,
darling
. How did you manage to evade your prison sentence?”

“You’d have me confess? Again?”

Vissaul cocked his head to the side. “Try the truth this time.”

“I told you the truth. I fucked the warden.”

“You fucked more than the warden. From what I understand … before I made him eat his own cock, you made him a deal. Fifty percent of the earnings you made off Cash’s little Black Book of whores. How very entrepreneurial of you. I’d have respected it much more, if your plan all along hadn’t been to get this one back in the sack.” Vissaul lifted his chin. “Where is the chip?”

“In the hands of someone who would sooner hand over his nuts than give it to you,” Gavin answered.

“Ah, Jessica.” Vissaul shook his head. “Such a disappointment.”

“We … we planned this. You told me to … everything happened just as you … asked of me.”

“Except for the part where you tried to have me assassinated.” Vissaul smiled. “You’re forgetting, love. I know you better than you know yourself. Obsessions are hard forgotten with you.” He rubbed his jaw. “Fucking my right hand man probably wasn’t the wisest idea. To think I went through the trouble of trying to make your time in Obsidius less traumatic.”

Her jaw tightened. “You sent me there without hesitation.”

“Politics, my dear. I couldn’t rightly blow off the fact that you fucked another man in an effort to usurp my power. That would look bad on my part.”

“The … violations.” She spoke past gritted teeth. “The guards and their sick fantasies. Every night I swore vengeance on you. You didn’t make anything less traumatic.”

“I’m afraid this is where we part ways, my dear. You’re not longer under my protection. Those you’ve promised in on cuts will just have to deal with the fact that you’ve fucked them over. Or kill you, as the case may be. I’d do the honors myself, but why put myself through unbearable physical pain over you? The downside of bonding with a psychotic bitch. Besides that, I’m far more merciful than your debtors and I’m certain they’ll pay you the kind of retribution you deserve.” He swiped at his nose. “I understand you and some of your boy toys fucked with an Avenging Angel? No doubt, his brothers will be after your ass. They don’t take kindly to the harming of one of their own. However …” He pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it at her. “If your lying, cheating ass isn’t out of my view in about ten seconds, I’ll have no problem busting a cap in it myself. It’ll be worth the pain.”

She tugged herself free from Gavin and gave a moment’s pause. A sorry expression plastered her face, before she backed away and ran off in the opposite direction.

“Now … where were we?” Vissaul pretended to contemplate. “Ah, yes. Denya. My, she is a stunning creature. As it turns out, I’ve no idea where Denya is, at this point. She’s so far lost into the world of slave trading, she might be chained inside a cage, somewhere in this very city, or spread out on a sheik’s bed, worlds away from here. Either way, you’ll never find her.”

“I will surrender myself to have Denya returned to her sister. Let me know to whom she was sold, and my brothers will retrieve her. I’ll remain here at your disposal.”

“A very slick businessman.” Vissaul’s pointed finger beat against the air. “That, my boy, is like trying to sell me my own horse. I already own you.”

“By Orcosian law, I am untouchable until released of the succubus’s enslavement. If you imprison, or attempt harm, you will be put to death.”

“I am well versed in Orcosian law. The one I’m most fond of, though, is the forced release of enslavement. Should you commit a crime, worse than your original offense, you will be forced to return to Obsidius.”

“I’ve committed no crime.”

“Yet. But perhaps you’ve had a vision of
murdering
a high ranking, and very respected, official of the Orcosian court?”

Gavin’s eyes narrowed.

“Allow me to enlighten you.”

A floodlight flipped on behind Vissaul. Sitting naked in a chair, with his arms and legs tied, Aeguza slouched, his face mangled, splotches of blood scattered all over his skin and a noose around his throat.

Gavin’s muscles tightened, his fingers fisting beside him. His jaw ticced.

“This, my friend, is where things really start to get interesting …” Vissaul waved a hand, and, from the shadows beside him, a familiar face emerged. “I’d like you to meet my most trusted assassin. Therriun. Your brother.”

***

Xander pushed through the doors of the Wreck room and found Logan pummeling a punching bag.

The Brother stopped at Xander’s approach. “Someone breach security?”

“You could say that.”

“What’s going on?”

“What if I told you that a certain brother of yours went and did something utterly fucking stupid and made the mistake of trusting me not to say a word?”

“I’d say you better start talking.”

Xander huffed. “He thinks I’m convinced that he met with that Jessica’s mate, to trade her for his woman’s sister.”

Logan frowned. “How the fuck did you even say that without stuttering?”

“Got a feeling big brother is turning himself over for Sabelle’s sister.”

“Son of a bitch!” Logan punched the bag, nearly knocking it to the floor.

“Shouldn’t you be wearing gloves?”

“I left them with my purse.” The demon set his hands on his hips. “Where the hell is he?”

“He’s supposed to be at
Dirty D’s
club downtown. But he’d be a fool to think any boss is going to meet on neutral ground. That’s not how they work.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “In other words, you don’t know.”

“I didn’t say that. See, I swiped the bitch’s phone number.” Xander grinned. “Gavin turned her tracking off. I turned it back on last night.”

“Let’s go. I’ll need to get Ferno’s moping ass out of bed. And where the hell is Zayne?”

“Heard Gavin say he took off.”

“Emo bullshit.” Logan smashed through the Wreck Room doors. “Why the fuck can’t he just sit in his room and listen to The Cure all day, like the rest of them?”

On their way into the foyer, Sabelle stumbled down the stairs. “Hey. Have you two seen Gavin? He’s nowhere.”

“Oh, he’s somewhere, all right,” Logan muttered without breaking stride.

“The casino?” Sabelle’s voice trailed behind.

“Nope.”

“Logan.” She grabbed his arm, as he passed, and demon’s eyes glowed, muscles stiffening. Thankfully, she released him. Xander didn’t want to have to step in—never a good idea when Logan was involved, though the male wasn’t known for attacking females. “Surely, Calla would relate, if it were you. Tell me where he is.”

He seemed to snap out of it, and his eyes softened to sadness like the thought of that was too much. “We’re going after him. He turned himself over for Denya.”

Xander blew out a disapproving breath. “Because that’ll make her lose interest.”

Her hand slipped from the banister, her face ghosting like she’d pass out. Nostrils flared and chest heaving, she rubbed her temples. “No, no, no. This is my fault. This is all my fault.”

“I don’t have time to play therapist,” Logan said. “I have to get Ferno.”

The fucking king of compassion, as always.

She straightened, chin lifted. “Well, I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Logan, I’m going to give this to you straight, so prepare to put on your big boy pants.” She kept an earnest stare. “My man is out there. If he’s in trouble, my ass is coming with you, and there’s not a goddamn thing you can do to stop me.”

“Hot damn!” Xander chuckled, despite Logan’s glare.

“There’s plenty I can do to stop you,” the demon said.

“She’s coming.” Ferno tromped down the staircase.

Logan stretched his fingers, as if working out the need to punch his colossal brother in the face. “What’s your sudden compassion all about?”

“She comes. End of story.”

“Fine. But your ass can babysit her.” He pointed toward Ferno. “And you can explain this shit to Gavin, if something happens to her.”

***

Gavin’s eyes narrowed on the tall male standing across the wreckage littering the first floor of the Globe building, while the male stared back with his scarred face and gnarled lip. “You. In Obsidius. That was you. You fought the Lubrixhia that tried to attack me.”

Vissaul’s stare shot to Therriun, but the male didn’t bother to look back. “It was him.” Vissaul circled the much bigger male, who stood with the same tight-muscled posture as an obedient soldier. “Had you not been yanked out by the succubus, his face would’ve been the last you’d seen before death’s strike.”

“Son of Wrath?” Gavin’s voice carried an incredulous tone.

“He is. Your brother carries the darkest soul of all. And while you’ve indulged in luxury, he’s survived the most gruesome pain. You can imagine the chip on his shoulder.”

“Had I known, I’d have made every effort to spare him such suffering.” Gavin kept his gaze locked on Therriun. “Invited him to be with his other brothers.”

“And he would’ve considered that a perfect opportunity to carry out the mission he was given long ago. To kill you.”

“Why?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have time to bring you up to speed. Neither does he. After finishing Aeguza, he’s been tasked with interrogating you, by any means necessary.”

“Interrogating me for what?”

“You were present the night Wade Jackson’s compound went up in flames. I want the journal. You’re going to tell me where to find it.”

Gavin shook his head. Just as Marrick’d warned, the race for the journal had commenced. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Lucky for me, Therriun is very skilled, particularly in the torture of Wrath demons.” He patted the male on the back. “For most of his life, he was held as a prisoner of the Umbraki, before they made him one of their own. Fiercest mercenary in the underworld.”

Jesus. For centuries, demons feared the Umbraki mercenaries. Known as ghost warriors, they were believed to have been skilled in overpowering some of the most vicious armies in singular, brilliantly-executed attacks. Over time, they came to be known as myths, frightening stories to tell around campfires. Never seen or heard, their existence had always been questionable. Either, they never suffered casualties, or they took their dead from battlefields, because not a single trace of them was left behind, aside from the blood and gore and the one survivor they always chose to keep alive. Often tortured up to the brink of delirium and death, the spared spoke of dark and merciless warriors, and thus, their legacy was born out of fear.

“And you know what they say about Umbraki rebels,” Vissaul continued. “If a demon claims to be unafraid of meeting absolute death in Stygius, he is either lying through his teeth, or Umbrakas.”

Therriun stepped forward, and Gavin straightened his stance, fists locked, preparing to fight. With a purse then outward puff of his lips, Therriun sent a silver flash cutting through the space between them.

A cold sting hit Gavin’s throat, and he cupped it, removing a sliver of metal that’d lodged in his flesh.
The hell?
The tip blazed with a tiny bit of Demortis. Not enough to kill him, but it sure as hell hurt like death. The demon’d spat that from his mouth. How?

“The Umbraki subject themselves to Demortis,” Vassaul said, as if he’d heard Gavin’s thoughts. “Painful tortures that allow them to be immune to its effects. Which means your brother is essentially indestructible.”

The room swirled in front of Gavin. His neck seemed to thicken, air intake reducing to what little he could suck into his body. “Therriun … I don’t know what hell you’ve endured. But war is coming. You need to stick with your own kind.”

“Save your breath.” Therriun stalked toward him. “You’re going to need it.”

CHAPTER 34

With Logan driving, and Xander navigating, Sabelle sat in the backseat of the SUV beside Ferno. Gods, the male made her nervous. He hadn’t said a word since leaving the demon manor.

Detroit passed beyond the window, while Sabelle’s mind raced with the last conversations she’d had with Gavin. What a fool. How selfish she’d been. He’d lost a son, too, and there she’d lay, drowning in her own pity. Worse, he couldn’t even deal with his own pain. She’d dumped Denya on him, too. So much so, he’d felt the need to go after her.

The conversation at Jeven’s played on her mind, too. When she’d blamed him. Made him feel so horrible for something out of his control. Leave it to Gavin to take control of the situation the only way he knew how—all or nothing.

“I got a signal,” Xander said from the passenger seat. “They’re at Gypsy’s.”

“The bar?” Judging by the tone of Logan’s voice, the place repulsed him.

“’Swhat it says.”

“I dunno about that.” Logan glanced over. “Who the fuck meets up at a bar to exchange females?”

“Happens every time I go out,” Xander said and smiled. “Drop one off, pick up another.”

Logan dragged a hand down his face. “Why’d I bring you along?”

“Somebody’s gotta be the brains of this outfit, or we’d be fucked.”

“Shithole,” Logan grumbled as he turned into Gypsy’s parking lot.

Motorcycles lined the front entrance, and a variety of trucks and crappy sedans filled the lot.

He flipped the engine off, and all demons piled out. Sabelle followed, straightening her jeans when she hit the pavement.

Something about standing among the two most dangerous Wraths and a Fallen kind of had Sabelle feeling a bit invincible. Though, no saying any of them would back her up, if she started talking shit to anyone.

Logan led the way, his strides long and determined, fists balled at his sides—like a locomotive barreling down the tracks. He pushed through the door, and all three males entered the bar with Sabelle in tow. After a quick scan, Logan headed for the rear staircase.

The bouncer threw out a hand to stop him—a regrettable move.

Logan grabbed hold of the male’s wrist, twisting until the bouncer’s bones popped. Falling to his knees, the bouncer cried out, and Logan silenced him with a clock to the jaw.

On the bouncer’s heels, two males who looked like they’d already gotten their asses beaten once, eyes all black and blue gashes to their faces, seemed almost reluctant to approach. Logan drew first, popping the tall one in the gut. The second went for Xander, but the angel knocked the already battered male backward into the bar.