Smashed (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8.5)

“I don’t think so,” I said, studying him closely. “Perhaps we should perform some experiments on you. I can’t help but wonder what the FPA would think of one of their star agents becoming a vampire. I’m sure they would love to pick you apart if that were to happen. What do you think?”


Sweat broke out on Briggs’s brow. His energy stank of fright. My words had touched the place where his fears lived.

“What the hell do you want from me?” he demanded. “I won’t negotiate with a supernatural terrorist.”

Jenner laughed long and hard at that. “Terrorists,” he gasped between chuckles. “Oh man, that’s rich.”

“I want you to stay away from Alexa. She is off limits to you and your people.”

Briggs was stubborn and headstrong despite his predicament. “She’s a menace. She’s been killing. If I turn a blind eye to that then I wouldn’t be doing my job.”

“So you would rather become your job?” Jenner taunted, baring bloodstained fangs.

Turning Briggs had never crossed my mind until now. A man like him would make a formidable vampire. Though having Alexa enthrall him would make him controllable to an extent. It would serve him right to be enslaved to her.

“Is there any right way to answer that?” Briggs glared, knowing I had him trapped.

“Probably not,” I admitted with a grin. I was close enough to smell his aftershave. It wouldn’t take much to bridge that gap. “You’re not making the best decisions these days. That’s how many FPA agents dead now because they followed your command?”

“It’s just part of the job.” He refused to be budged. Holding his ground was all he had left.

“I can respect that. Or at least, I would if you had a legitimate job. So I’m sure you understand that there are things I must do as well.”

Without giving him a chance to reply, I grabbed him by the shoulders and bit into his jugular. It was a small nip, nothing he couldn’t walk off. His blood was warm and rich. It hit my tongue, and I had to remind myself that killing him hadn’t been the plan. At this point, I wasn’t sure what my plan was. Running on instinct was more my style.

Once I’d taken enough to instill a sense of terror in him, I reluctantly released him. It hadn’t been enough to turn him, but I bit my wrist and thrust it at him anyway.

“Last chance to make me happy, Briggs. Tell me what I want to hear.” I grabbed the back of his head and shoved his face toward my bleeding arm. “I know you’re used to dealing with Alexa, but I’m running the show right now, and I’m just not as personable as she is.”

“You’re a goddamn maniac,” he grunted, fighting me off as I pressed my bloody wrist against his face. My blood smeared across his lips, and he bellowed, “You win. I’ll call off the hunt for Alexa. Just get the fuck off me.”

I patted his head like a dog who’d just performed a new trick, then gave him a shove. “Well done. I knew you had it in you.”

“Obviously I’ve been hunting the wrong vampire.” Briggs used his sleeve to wipe the blood from his face. His glare held the promise of revenge.

Crooking my fingers in invitation, I encouraged his anger. Retaliation would come. I would be expecting it.

“I’m flattered. Do remember that I’ve survived three centuries of human bullshit. You’re just one of many, and there will always be more where you came from. Think carefully on that.” It was good advice, though I doubted he would take it.

Briggs stooped to retrieve his phone, which I allowed. He was smart enough to avoid making a play for his weapon. “I thought the two of you were supposed to be some kind of good guys, according to Alexa. Twin flames. I read up on it. From what I can see, they got that all wrong. You’re nothing but a cold-blooded killer.”

I held a hand to my heart in mock anguish. “Well, you can thank this cold-blooded killer for stopping Shya. In case you weren’t aware, I had to kill Alexa to do that. Because of us, you’re not groveling at that demon’s feet right now as a slave in his hell-born empire. You’re welcome.”

I had nothing more to say to Agent Briggs. It was good of him to try to understand what Alexa and I were. Of course, I doubted there was a soul alive that really understood it.

With Jenner at my side, I walked away, leaving Briggs standing there surrounded by the bodies of his fallen comrades. In just over a week, he had successfully destroyed three teams of his own people. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to him that he wasn’t already doing to himself.

I paused to add one last parting remark. “Alexa is the good one here. It may not look that way right now, but it’s true. She’s the hero. I’m the villain. Don’t forget that.”

The FPA was not about to disappear any time soon. Hopefully I’d shaken him up enough to question his tactics from here on out.

Cold-blooded killer. His words echoed in my thoughts. It wasn’t the first time such an accusation had been flung at me. It was unlikely to be the last. There was a fine line between who I am and what I am. Cold-blooded killer? Perhaps. Monster? Sure, why not? Sorry? Not a chance in hell.