As Danger pulled in and parked beside the Aston Martin, a tall, handsome black-haired man got out of the car. Even though they were banned from sunlight, Viper still had an olive complexion that looked nicely bronzed—something he'd inherited from his mother's Moorish background.
One of the original Thirteen of Glory who had gone with Pizarro to the Inca city of Tumbez, he'd come to America almost five hundred years ago in search of gold and fame. The Incas had written of Viper and his party, "These men were so bold that they did not fear dangerous things… the strangers traveled across the sea in large wooden houses."
To this day, Viper feared nothing.
Danger couldn't imagine what had brought him so far from home. She'd only met him once in person, but had spoken with him online and over the phone a few times.
Like most DarkHunters, the Spaniard was dressed all in black. He had on a pair of pleated black slacks and a skin-tight T-shirt. His hair was short and stylishly trimmed. As he waited for them to leave the car, he pulled his sunglasses off and tossed them into his seat.
"Hola, Viper," she said in greeting as they left the car. "Cómo está?"
He didn't answer her. Instead, he headed straight for Alexion. Without a word, he buried his fist into Alexion's stomach, then backhanded him.
"Stop!" Danger snapped as she ran to them.
Alexion straightened with a look on his face that threatened Viper's life. For an instant, she half expected him to kill the Spaniard.
Luckily, his restraint held.
But when Viper moved to hit Alexion again, he was thrown back by nothing at all. Xirena came out from under Alexion's sleeve in her shadow form as if ready to kill.
"No, Xirena," Alexion said forcefully. "It's all right."
The demon glared at Viper, who crossed himself. "What are you?" he asked, his tone threatening.
"She's a demon," Danger explained. "And what the hell are you doing? Why did you attack him?"
Viper turned on her with a glare. "He killed Euphemia tonight."
Danger covered her mouth at the mention of the Greek slave woman who was stationed in Memphis with Viper. Euphemia was a beautiful blond woman who'd been viciously funny and smart.
"Efie's dead?" Alexion asked. "When?"
Viper's hate-filled gaze narrowed on him. "Don't play stupid with me. Stryker has told me all about you." He turned on her with a curled lip. "And you're helping him."
"Yes, I'm helping him because he's not killing anyone. Stryker is."
But Viper wasn't listening. He tried again to reach Alexion, but Xirena went after him with a hiss.
"Xirena, return to me."
The demon now hissed at Alexion. She looked less than pleased before she returned to shadow form and drifted back beneath his clothes.
Danger cocked her brow. That was an interesting talent.
"You know I didn't kill her," Alexion said in a calm voice to Viper. "You're upset and you want to blame someone, I respect that. But you know Danger would never be a part of hurting another DarkHunter."
She saw the anguish in Viper's eyes. The grief. He'd known Euphemia a long time and this was obviously killing him emotionally. "They cut her head off."
Danger pulled him into her arms to offer him comfort. "I'm so sorry, Viper. I am."
His arms were tense around her as his grief reached out to her and brought tears to her eyes. "How could they do that to her?"
Danger didn't understand it. She never had. "I don't know."
Alexion moved to stand within striking distance. "Do you really believe we're responsible, Viper? Honestly?"
She could see the indecision on his face as he pulled away. He cut a venomous look at her. "Danger, tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do with this?"
She knew he knew the answer to that. But she could understand and respect his need for confirmation. No doubt he felt betrayed enough. "When did Efie die?"
"Three hours ago."
Danger reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her receipt for the restaurant and the movie stubs. "As you can see, we were here in town the whole time. There's no way we could have been in Memphis."
He looked at the tickets and nodded. "Then Stryker is lying to us. Why?"
"He's a Daimon," she said simply. "He wants us all dead."
Viper shook his head. "I've known Kyros for centuries. I trusted him."
"Kyros isn't thinking straight right now," Danger said. "But we have all got to get our heads on straight or we'll lose them."
He nodded. "I didn't believe them when they started their crap. Ash has been too helpful to me over the years. I don't often misjudge someone."
"And you didn't," Alexion said.
Tears brightened Viper's eyes as a muscle worked in his lean jaw. "Efie didn't deserve what she got. Man, it's a waste of a good woman." His agonized gaze came back to hers. "I want the ones who are responsible. I want to feel their blood on my hands."
"We'll get them," Danger assured him.
Viper looked at Alexion. "I'm sorry I attacked you."
Alexion shrugged it off. "It's understandable, given the circumstances, and forgiven."
Danger offered him a smile. That was part of why she loved him so. He understood people in a way few did.