“More than you know,” he replied before he fell back again and accepted Goose’s wrist.
Standing, I turned toward the one person in the room that had to go. He was studying me closely, as if carefully gauging the threat I represented, and during my time with Disco had planted three human familiars in front of him like a barrier.
“Graham Tavish.”
His green eyes narrowed. “Have we met?”
“Not exactly.” I started to approach him, reaching for the gun at my side.
“That’s too bad,” he said and gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
I pulled my Ruger free, took a balanced stance, and took each and every one of his necromancers down with a solid shot between the eyes. They didn’t even make it five feet from their master, dropping like flies.
“Kill her!” he roared at the vampires around him.
“They can’t, Graham. See, right now, I’m holding all the cards. They have to do what I tell them to do. How’s about a demonstration?”
Looking at the vampires clustered around him, I ordered, “Place your master on the floor.”
The shock that registered on Graham’s face was fleeting, since I was only able to see it for a moment. His entire coven moved to do my bidding, wrestling him to the ground as he struggled and fought. It didn’t take long, only a few seconds, before he was trapped with vampires at his arms, legs and throat. He couldn’t move, little more than food for the fishes.
I crossed over to Graham and straddled him. I rested my weight on his stomach as I brought the knife within his view. His fear was apparent, right there for me to witness. I was certain this was the first time he’d been introduced to the emotion. Too bad it would also be his last.
“Graham, you did one of the most stupid things you ever could have by coming here. I know you thought you were smart. You came to Joseph, offered a bargain, and when you learned how weakened Gabriel was, you knew you could force Joseph to go against one of his own. It was clever, considering you’d never want Marius to become involved. After all, half-demons don’t go after their own kind.” Before he could say anything, I leaned forward and continued, “Thing is, I know all about you and Victoria. I’m aware of your plan to establish a demon-like Hell on earth. Too bad it’s never going to happen. I have more of the same waiting for your sister when I find her.”
“Victoria will spit you up and chew you out,” Graham snarled. “When she learns what you’ve done, she’ll come here, and she’ll end you.”
I shrugged, smiling. “That’s the hope. Been there, done that. I want her to come here. It will make my job so much easier. I have other shit to work out, so the sooner she comes to find me, the better.” Looking at the vampires at his neck, I said, “Reveal his throat.”
“Don’t do this,” Graham choked out, struggling. “We can work out a deal. It doesn’t have to be like this.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. This is exactly how it has to be. It’s time to meet your maker.”
When I saw his artery, I took the blade and felt the amulet grow hot. I buried the sharp weapon fully into his throat. This time, I severed the head with one quick punch of the knife. The crack of bone came just before I felt the concrete the blade couldn’t cut through. His struggling ceased almost immediately, but his lips and mouth continued working just fine. I grasped the head by the top of his hair as I stood and walked over to Joseph. He couldn’t move, but thankfully, I could easily perceive the terror in his eyes.
“This could be you. Fuck with my family again, and it will be you. This is Gabriel Trevillian’s city. It belongs to him. You try to do anything to upset that balance again, and I will kill you. Do you understand me? Tell me that you understand, Joseph.”
His lips moved, although his body remained motionless. “I understand.”