Smashed (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8.5)

She swayed slightly on her feet, likely lightheaded from the rush. “He’s given strict orders that she’s to be caught and kept alive. That’s all I know.”


Imagining Alexa as a government lab rat was enough to make my blood boil, but it was important to remain calm so as not to upset the connection between Juliet and me. I stared into Juliet, drawing her in deeper. She fell hard. It was likely that she’d never been enthralled by a vampire like me before, making this slightly enjoyable. Her pupils dilated in excitement, and the telltale scent of desire arose from her. I stopped her when she reached for me.

“Tell me something about Briggs that I don’t already know,” I commanded. “Tell me his secrets. A man like that has to have many.”

“Secrets,” she repeated. “My relationship with him is a secret. It’s frowned upon to fraternize in the workplace. He doesn’t want anyone to know.” She grimaced then, a scowl twisted her expression into something ugly. “He killed an agent right in front of me once. He claimed the man was a traitor, but that was a lie. Briggs was the traitor. He wanted to silence Jeff, because he knew something.”

She gazed beyond me, seeing something or someone that wasn’t really there. I shook her lightly, bringing her gaze back to mine.

“What did Jeff know about Briggs?” I asked, encouraging her to keep talking.

“He knew about the experiments Briggs ordered. The private ones the higher ups know nothing about.” Juliet appeared worried, like she knew she shouldn’t be sharing this but couldn’t stop it from coming out.

This was getting interesting. Finally, something I could work with. “What kind of experiments?”

She clamped her mouth shut. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she shook her head. “I can’t.”

I needed to turn things up a notch, not something I could do in a public place with witnesses. Gently, I guided Juliet toward the exit. She clutched her coffee and allowed me to lead her.

After escaping the harsh fluorescent lighting, we stopped in the parking lot where nobody was around to save the little wolf from the big, bad vampire. Turning her to face me, I touched her cheek with a caress meant to stir the part of her only touched by human men. Her inexperience with vampires made it far more exciting than it should have been.

Seducing the sister of the woman I loved was bad news. I knew this. Still, I didn’t have a lot of options, especially if I wanted to get some dirt on Briggs.

I leaned in close, as if I might kiss her, knowing I wouldn’t. Wrapping her in my power, I whispered against her lips, “Tell me about Briggs’s experiments. What is he up to?”

Juliet shuddered and tried to bridge the tiny gap left between us. I pulled back, just enough to make her want it more. I traced a finger over her jawbone and down the side of her neck, eliciting a soft sigh from her.

“The FPA has been testing supernatural DNA, hoping to one day genetically enhance human soldiers. Briggs is doing his own testing, trying to find a way to control supernatural creatures and humans with supernatural abilities.” She spoke in a low, even tone.

“The lock up in the basement at FPA headquarters…that’s all his, isn’t it?” I asked, expecting the nod I received. “And you? Has he done anything to you?”

“No. I don’t think so. I trust him.”

It was not news that the FPA were involved with experiments of the supernatural kind. Currently they employed a handful of supernaturals, Juliet being just one of them. Controlling a vast number on a large scale though, it was unlikely. Yet, it was also something to be taken seriously.

“You can’t trust him, Juliet,” I said against her lips before plunging a hand into her thick tresses. “He has to be stopped.”

With a soft murmur that sounded like, “But I love him,” she grabbed hungrily for me. She dropped her coffee cup in the process, and it hit the ground between our feet, splashing us both. That’s all it took to break her out of my thrall.

She shoved away from me so hard she almost fell on her ass in the parking lot. She stared at me with horror-filled wolf eyes. “What kind of sick shit is that? Is that what you did to my sister?”

“Oh yeah.” I grinned. “But to be fair, it goes both ways. That woman can seduce me with a glance.”

“Fuck you, Arys,” she snarled. “You are a sick, twisted person. I can’t believe you would do that to me. I’m Alexa’s sister, dammit.”

“Which is exactly why I did it to you,” I said with a flippant shrug. “You had answers that I needed. Hopefully it was enough.”

“Enough for what?”

“Enough for me to put the squeeze on your man.”

She reached for her weapon, and I shook my head. “You don’t want to do this with me, one on one. Trust me. It’s better if you just walk away. I’d hate to have to kill you. Alexa is already pissed with me.”