Smashed (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8.5)

She paused with her hand on the door handle, her lips pursed in thought. “What happens if the FPA just happens to grab us? Just saying, hypothetically.”


“Then we come for you.” There was no room for compromise. The FPA would not get any damn one of us into their lockup if I had anything to say about it. “They’ve been doing some weapon upgrades. Be careful.”

Swiping the keys from Jenner’s hand, I slid into the driver’s side of the Jag. It was a nice car for the most part. Typical of what a guy like Raoul would drive, it was pricey, fast, and sleek.

Jenner got in on the other side and turned to me, excitement causing his pale blue eyes to glow. “And here I thought you’d never leave the house. It’s about time you did something. So, did you see Alexa?”

“I did.” After adjusting the mirrors, I put the car into gear and settled back against the seat. “She’s afraid of me and afraid of herself. But otherwise, she’s ok. Or she will be anyway.”

“And Kale?”

“I had a chance to suggest that leaving town might be best for him and for her. It’s not like I’m wrong about that. I guess we’ll see what he decides.”

It would have been easy enough to grab a random person off the street in order to send Briggs to a real murder scene. However, seeing Alexa had awakened the spark of light within me that was all her. Knowing she wouldn’t want me to kill a so-called innocent, I chose instead to fake it.

Seeking a relatively private place to lure Briggs and his team to, I headed for the river valley. The walking trails there would be perfect. Foot traffic should be minimal at this hour, and the surrounding trees and brush would prevent witnesses.

We parked the car and walked the trails until we came to a spot where we could easily ambush approaching agents from the trees. I called Jez who informed me that the FPA building was surrounded by armed guards. They couldn’t get very close. From what she could tell Briggs was already gone. He’d gotten an early start. I asked her to call in the false attack report, and then we waited.

“I can see why you like it here,” Jenner mused as we listened to the sound of the nearby river. “Definitely a lot greener than Sin City. Not quite as fun though.”

“Are you kidding me?” I laughed. “You were almost roasted by a dragon and now you’re hunting Feds. How much more fun do you need?”

Jenner leaned back against a tree, gazing up at the sky. “I’m starting to miss my nightclub. The orgies in the den, the swooning women on stage. Hell, I actually miss the sound of all those damn slot machines. I didn’t realize how loud they were until they were gone.”

“And you say that I need to get out more,” I scoffed. “Shit, Jenner. When was the last time you left Vegas?”

“I’m not sure. Back in the 80s I think. Who needs to leave though when you have an all you can eat buffet in a city that never sleeps?” There was a glimmer of nostalgia in him when he looked at me. “Don’t tell me you don’t miss it. We made a hell of a lot of memories there.”

“Of course I miss it. There are nights when I crave that desert air and the non-stop flow of human traffic down The Strip. But I was just biding my time there. Waiting. I belong here now.”

Jenner’s laugh came out sounding more like a hiss. “I never thought I’d see the day when you were more in love with a person than with that city. It’s unnatural.”

Las Vegas meant a great deal to me. It was where I’d really come into my own, taking a stand against the one who sired me. It was where I was when I knew with absolute certainty that Alexa lived. It would always be home, in its own bizarre way.

We sat there shooting the shit and reminiscing about the good old days and some of the not so good old days. It wasn’t long before I sensed the approaching human task force. They were loud. Even as they tried to be stealthy I could hear their breathing, the beat of their hearts, and the occasional scuff of shoes.

Briggs was smart enough to have his team approach from both sides. He’d sent nearly a dozen agents in total, all of them with weapons drawn. I waited until I saw Briggs himself. He brought up the rear of one group, hissing orders at his team. I didn’t see Juliet.

I laughed silently to myself. Briggs thought a dozen humans were enough to take Alexa down?

Meeting Jenner’s gaze, we shared a look and a nod. One benefit to knowing someone for several decades is the ability to read so much in a look. Words weren’t necessary.