Wicked Road to Hell Read online

  To find out she’d been alive the entire time and it was Bill, the little fuck, who’d brought her back was like a kick to the gut. Unbelievable. For two years no one had said a word.

  Rage flickered inside once more, like a silent whisper. His heart was pounding and powerful energy slid along his skin. The glass window seemed to bow and liquefy but he forced the darkness away and the panes held firm. He would not lose control in front of her.

  He’d deal with his anger later. Right now he needed to figure out what the hell was going on.

  He turned around and glared at Ana. “You expect me to believe that kid is who the Seraphim are after?”

  “I have no reason to lie,” she retorted, her tone sharp. “And it’s not just the Seraphim, Samael has been dogging me for weeks.”

  Ana walked past him and yanked open the fridge door. She grabbed a clear bag of blood and threw it in a microwave before turning back to him. He watched her closely and saw how her hand trembled as she waited for her blood to warm. She was definitely jonesing for a fix. Her skin was pale, her blue eyes huge in her face. She looked ethereal, though her small, tight form was dressed in kick-ass denim and leather.

  She retrieved a crystal glass and filled it, glancing toward him before she took a sip. “His energy is strong.” She finished the glass quickly. “But he doesn’t know how to control it yet. He’s untrained.”

  Declan frowned. He was hearing her words and yet none of it made any sense. He began to pace.

  “So let me get this straight. That kid—”

  “He has a name, use it,” Ana hissed.

  Declan glared at her. “Kaden is what, sixteen?”

  “He’ll be seventeen in December.”

  “He’s a sixteen-year-old sorcerer with no clue where the hell he came from?”

  Ana nodded but remained silent.

  Declan paused in front of the fridge and yanked the door open. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but it sure as hell wasn’t the bags of blood that lay upon the shelves.

  “Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be visiting. I’d have stocked up on Guinness.”

  Declan ignored her sarcasm and slammed the door shut. “I’m more into wine these days, but thanks.” His eyebrows furled. “There’s something off about him. I can’t put my finger on it, but he’s definitely got otherworld blood in him and it ain’t all magick.” He paused. “You gonna spill what that is exactly?”

  She licked her lips and averted her eyes.

  He took a step forward, not even sure what he was going to do, but the energy in him needed to be released. It burned so bad he felt nauseous.

  “Stay away from her.” It was the boy.

  Declan paused, his gaze not leaving Ana’s. He saw the concern, the need to protect that flickered in her eyes. Interesting. When they’d worked together at PATU, a paranormal antiterrorist unit, she’d been cold and aloof. It had driven him crazy. He used to fantasize about ways to break the glass that covered her skin.

  Who knew a hormonal teenager would do the trick. He turned and faced him.

  Kaden glared at him with the cocky bravado he’d shown earlier. Declan held up his hands. “It’s all right. Ana and I go way back, like before she died for the second time.”

  The teen’s hands were open at his side and Declan could “see” energy drifting over his palms. He tried to hide his amusement.

  The boy thought to challenge him?

  “Who are you? Why are you here?” Kaden’s voice was deep, mature for a boy his age. Declan took a second to study him closely in the light. He was tall with the assured grace of an athlete and looked older than his sixteen years. His dark, wavy hair was worn long, touching the collar of his T-shirt, his features were well-defined, square jaw, high cheekbones. He was a good-looking kid, a natural leader.

  “My name’s Declan.”

  Kaden glowered at him. “We don’t need you.”

  Declan dismissed the boy and his attitude. He nodded to Ana. “I’ll ask once more. Why did you grab him?”

  She filled her goblet again and took a long drink before answering.

  “I was ordered to. Bill wants him protected, and like the obedient little soldier I am, I do what I’m told.” She looked at the teen, and something stirred inside him. There’d been a time when he’d wanted that . . . the need to have her regard him in the same way.

  As if he mattered.

  Feelings . . . emotions . . . were a fucking bitch to navigate.

  Declan’s cell went off at that moment and he automatically pulled it from his pocket. It was Nico, the other sorry-ass son of a bitch who’d ended up signing his balls over to the Seraphim. They were both part of a supernatural A-team run by Bill.

  “Don’t answer it,” Ana said quickly.

  Declan ignored her, watching the two of them carefully as he put the device on speaker mode and set it on the table.

  “You there?” Nico’s rasp sliced through loudly. Declan heard wailing guitars and heavy bass in the background. He shook his head. The jaguar had developed a fondness for the heavier side of rock.

  “Yeah, what’d you find out?”

  “I managed to snag myself a demon, one with a huge chip on his shoulder. It didn’t take much to get him to talk.”

  Ana and Kaden moved closer.

  “He give up the goods?”

  “Not the end game if that’s what you mean but he did have some interesting information.” The loud music in the background suddenly disappeared as if Nico had enclosed himself in a small room.

  “And that would be?” he prompted.

  “He said everyone was after a scrawny kid and that he was one of a list of seven.”

  Declan glanced at Kaden as Nico’s words sank in. He didn’t like the look Ana and the boy exchanged.

  “I didn’t get any names, though I was able to confirm that the vampire has taken him to New Orleans.” There was a slight pause and some noise. He thought he heard Nico curse. “He wouldn’t tell me why they wanted him.”

  “I know why,” Kaden said.

  “Not now!” Ana hissed.

  “Who the hell was that?” Nico asked.

  Declan glanced at Kaden for several long moments before he answered. “How fast can you get to New Orleans?”

  “I can be there tomorrow. What the hell have you done now?” Nico sounded exasperated.

  “I’ll explain when you get here.”

  “For Christ sakes, Declan, the last time you said that, Bill had our asses guarding purgatory for months. What part of going fucking insane do you not remember?”

  Declan snorted. “And here I thought we bonded in purgatory. I’ll see you tomorrow. Meet me at the Voodoo Lounge on Decatur.” Declan snapped his device closed and grinned as Nico’s foul rant was cut short. The jaguar was pissed but he’d get over it. Eventually.

  “Care to explain?” His manner changed abruptly as he raised an eyebrow. Kaden stared back at him, his face set, and remained silent. Declan turned to Ana. “I thought you said you had no idea why they wanted him.”

  Ana hesitated, and the burn beneath his skin flashed hot. The air around him vibrated and the energy wasn’t all sunshine and roses. He was done playing games.

  “If you expect me to lay my ass on the line for you, you’d better tell me everything.” He tossed a dark look Kaden’s way. “Or I’m outta here and I’m taking magick boy with me.”

  She hissed at him, her fangs fully extended once more as she moved in front of the now-protesting teenager.

  The sight of her at the ready, willing to fight for a child, did all sorts of screwed-up things to him. She’d never looked more fiercely passionate—more alive.

  His insides lurched and his fingers itched as a bolt of power slid through him unexpectedly. He shook his head and knew he was fast losing control.

  “Don’t threaten me, Declan,” she hissed, “because I sure as hell won’t play nice.”

  He arched an eyebrow and moved closer. “Is that a promise?”
r />   Her eyes were now fully black—the woman was about to lose it, big-time.

  “I have the mark,” Kaden blurted.

  Silence followed his words. “The mark?” Kaden had Declan’s full attention.

  “Bill said it was the mark of seven and I’m the fifth.”

  Declan stared at the teen in surprise. Ana’s mouth was pursed tightly, her pale face nearly ashen.

  “Kaden, what the hell? We agreed to keep that information private.” Ana began to pace. “Unbelievable,” she muttered.

  Declan had heard stories about the mark of seven. Most he’d assumed were whispers of fantasy. Ana’s pissed-off face told another story.

  The mark of seven was real.

  This changed everything.

  He took the final few steps toward Ana, who’d stopped in front of Kaden. “Move.”

  Ana opened her mouth to protest and he shut her down quick. “You can’t begin to comprehend what this means.” He glared at her. “I won’t hurt him.” He meant it.

  She eyed him warily and then reluctantly moved aside. He found himself inches from a teenager who stared at him with eyes that flashed anger, confusion, and pain.

  “Let me see it,” he said firmly. “I need to make sure.” His words were pointed and it was obvious he wouldn’t take any shit from the boy. The teenager slowly lifted his T-shirt over his head and turned around.

  Declan’s eyes were riveted to the intricate mark on Kaden’s left shoulder. It was strangely luminescent, with red and black dominating—a symbolic etching with an eye in the middle, surrounded by vines in the shape of wings and horns.

  “That’s fine, you can put your shirt back on.” He waited in silence as Kaden did so. Questions were firing off in his brain at a rapid pace.

  Declan eyed the teenager closely. “Who else knows about the mark?”

  Kaden shrugged his shoulders and averted his eyes. “No one.”

  Liar.

  Declan was fast losing patience. “Don’t screw with me, understand? I find it hard to believe that you’ve reached the age of sixteen without anyone seeing it.”

  “It didn’t . . . the mark didn’t show up until about six months ago.”

  This surprised Declan.

  “Kaden, has anyone else seen the mark?” Declan asked once more.

  Kaden’s face darkened and his lips thinned. “Why does that matter?”

  “It matters because you’ve got a pack of demons after you who answer to Samael and he’s someone you don’t want to mess with. Not to mention the Seraphim are interested as well. Someone tipped off those bastards.”

  “I just want it gone.” Kaden’s chest was heaving as he fought for control.

  Declan shook his head. “Sorry, kid, I don’t think this is the kind of tattoo you can have removed. You’re stuck with it.” The boy’s face whitened at his words but Declan pressed forward. “I need to know who else has seen this mark.”

  The teenager rolled his shoulders and Declan noticed a telltale blush creeping up his neck.

  “Was it a girl?”

  Kaden’s eyes stared down at his shoes and he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah,” he muttered quietly.

  “And her name would be?” Declan continued.

  Ana was once more by Kaden’s side and she gave him a quick reassuring squeeze. “This is important, Kaden. Who saw the mark on your shoulder?”

  “Claire.” He looked up at Declan, his eyes dark with pain, rage. “She wasn’t just my girlfriend, you know? She was my best friend.” Kaden scuffed the floor with his sneakers. “She was the one they . . .”

  “That they what?” Declan glanced at Ana. The pain in her eyes made his gut clench.

  “They killed her. In my room.”

  Silence followed his words. Declan was stunned and didn’t know what to say.

  “Who killed her?” he prompted, his voice much more subdued.

  Kaden stared back at him, his face filled with anger, the quiet, dangerous kind. “Demons,” he spat. “She was waiting for me in my room.” Kaden’s eyes dropped to the floor. “I found her, after they’d . . .” His voice drifted into nothing and silence filled the room.

  “Shit,” Declan whispered

  “What does all of this mean?” Ana was exasperated and began to pace the length of the room. “So he has a mark? So what?” Her arms were moving all over the place; animated didn’t come close to describing her. “I have fangs, you have—” She stopped as their eyes met.

  “Abs to die for?”

  Ana growled, “You always were so . . . so . . .”

  “Charming?”

  “I was going to say flippant. This isn’t a joke, Declan. Kaden’s life is on the line, as are the lives of six other people.”

  “I’m well aware of that.” His tone was biting. His cut-and-dried mission had just fragmented into one hell of a problem and he had no fucking clue what he was going to do.

  “I need to know that you’re on our side.” Ana stood beside Kaden and glared at him. “I won’t let you turn him over to the Seraphim. I don’t believe they have his best interests in mind, and obviously neither does Bill.” She cocked her head to the side. “You have two choices, so what’s it going to be?”

  The world narrowed then, like all the air had been sucked from the room, leaving only him and the vampire. “Okay,” he whispered, “I’ll play . . . what are my choices?”

  “You help us find the others on the list and breathe not a word to anybody.”

  He was at her side in an instant, smiling wickedly as she jumped. Good. He wanted her off-kilter. “What’s the second?” His voice was rough and he watched her mouth closely as she spoke.

  “If you don’t . . .” Her hand was around his neck before he could react.

  “If I don’t . . .” he whispered, his eyes still glued to her lips.

  Her nails dug into his flesh but he felt no pain. Slowly his eyes rose until they locked onto hers. Something flickered within their depths, a raw need and hunger that she quickly cloaked.

  “If you don’t I will suck every single drop of blood from your body and leave you to rot at the bottom of the Mississippi.”

  Declan burned inside and leaned down until his lips were beneath the soft lobes of her ears. He felt her shiver as his breath swept across her flesh. That they had an audience was forgotten. At that moment there was only Ana. He grinned wickedly. Oh, the things he could do to her.

  “Promise? ’Cause, babe, you lost me after the word suck and I don’t give a shit where you leave me.”

  She pushed him away. “I’m being serious.” She was pissed, her color high, and Declan wanted to run his fingers through the thick auburn waves that fell down to her ass.

  His gaze moved to Kaden and then back to her. He was done playing games.

  “I am, too.” He moved toward her, taking the last few steps until he’d crowded her against the rickety table. His eyes were flat and for the first time in what seemed like forever, he was relaxed. He had a plan. Declan O’Hara was going to take what he wanted and damn the consequence.

  “I’ll help Kaden because it feels right. He’s just a kid. As for the others on the list, I’m game for that, too, but . . .”

  The energy in the room shifted as Ana arched an eyebrow. She kept her eyes trained on him and she nodded toward the door. “Kaden, give us a few minutes.” Her tone brooked no argument, though the underlying compulsion helped and the teenager left.

  “What exactly do you want, O’Hara?” Ana asked when they were alone. Her eyes were huge, hung like jewels in her pale face, and her hair caressed her body like a silken blanket.

  She looked like an angel but he knew the truth. She was a heartless witch who’d been yanking his chain for years. He smiled wickedly. He would never have an opportunity like this again. Declan O’Hara was gonna have his cake and enjoy eating every last fucking crumb.

  His hand slipped along her jaw as he bent toward her.

  “What I’ve always wanted,” he
said simply. “You.”

  Chapter 5

  Ana should have pushed him away. Hell, she could have crushed his larynx in less than a few seconds if she wanted to.

  She should have done a lot of things other than what she did do, which was to stare into his dark eyes and do . . . nothing.

  His hand along her jaw sent electrical pulses rippling across her flesh and she shivered as they spread along her body. Declan’s lips were inches from hers with only her rapid breaths between them.

  His scent was heady, intoxicating, like a blast of rock and roll entwined with a shot of tequila. He was hard-edged and boldly passionate, an apt description for the man who on a good day irritated the crap out of her and on a bad day left her weak with want.

  “I won’t . . . we can’t,” she sputtered, hating the way her tongue was all tangled up.

  “Just one taste,” he whispered as his eyes bored into hers, a ghost of a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “If you can handle it.” He was daring her to refuse.

  She felt his other hand slide along the back of her waist until it rested upon the curve of her butt, his long fingers splayed across her flesh possessively. Declan was tall, over six feet by several inches, and her small frame fit perfectly against his. He pulled her in close and she felt the hardness of his body as if it had been imprinted upon her own flesh.

  Her muscles tensed, but then she relaxed.

  Two could play his game. She moved against him, her hip rubbing suggestively along his thigh, and returned his smile as his body stilled.

  She should have pushed him away, but she didn’t. In her mind’s eye she watched the two of them from across the room. She saw his darkness against the pale of her skin, saw his hands upon her body, and felt his urgent need. It was matched equally by the hunger he’d awakened inside her.

  It was incredibly erotic and she began to pulse fiercely, the small bud of desire between the folds of her sex engorged and painfully aroused. Things were moving way too fast. She needed a full stop.

  And yet she did nothing.

  Ana hissed softly and felt the edges of her control slipping as his large hand at her ass dug in and crushed her against him.