The Undoing

  But Bystrom took in a sharp breath and she could feel the eyes of every Crow locking on where Jennings’s hand touched her elbow.

  “Please, Jace, you have nothing to be afraid of. We’ll get you protection. We’ll take you someplace where you’ll be safe. And when the trial is over, we’ll put you in witness protection. He’ll never find you.”

  Jace patted his hand, forced a smile like she used to when she stood beside her husband and greeted newcomers too foolish to realize what they’d just given away. Their freedom.

  Jennings was such a sweet man, and he believed every word he was telling her. That he would manage to protect her. Protect her from a past she understood all too well.

  “Let me think on it,” she insisted before pulling away.

  One of her sister-Crows opened the door from the outside and she walked through and away.

  Norris watched the Crows closely. This was why he’d wanted to take Jacinda out of here to have this discussion. But no. Jennings didn’t want to “take her out of where she’s comfortable. She’s already been through so much.”

  Which was very true. The woman had been through hell. But if she were like most people, she’d still be dead. The reason she wasn’t dead was because of who she was deep down inside. Because of her power. True power. Not that typical human shit, but the kind of power that frightened the hardest of true men. Of Vikings.

  And with reason.

  She hadn’t even said a word and the Crows had sensed her need. Her growing rage.

  Gods, how could Jennings not see it? The man always wore a small gold cross around his neck. Did his Christian belief system really make him that blind?

  The Crows continued to watch them as Jennings hemmed and hawed about whether they should keep trying to talk to Jace now or wait. But it wasn’t long before Chloe Wong walked into the room.

  She smiled sweetly at both men, but Norris wasn’t fooled. Not by her.

  “Gentlemen. It’s good to see you again,” she greeted. “What brings you here to Giant Steps?” She dipped her head a bit, dark brown eyes locking on Norris. “Little drinking problem?” she asked.

  Norris started to reply to that bitchy remark—everyone knew he didn’t have a drinking problem because he could out-drink everyone at the yearly Tournaments—but Jennings placed his hand on Norris’s shoulder.

  “We came here to talk to Miss Berisha.”

  “About that horrible ex-husband of hers?”

  Jennings glanced down before admitting, “He’s getting out. The charges have been dismissed.”

  Chloe looked at Norris. “I thought you and several other ATF agents caught the man in the act of burying her.”

  “We did but—”

  “Those charges,” Jennings interrupted, “were dismissed due to problems in my office. I take full responsibility.”

  “Problems?”

  “Information that was not properly passed along to the defense.”

  “So her ex has contacts in your office who are helping him.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “I don’t.” She put her hands together. “So what’s the next move?”

  “We move ahead on the weapons charges.”

  “But he’s already out.”

  “We’ll get him back in.”

  “Uh-huh. And other than to inform Jace about this, why else are you here?”

  “Well, that’s between me and Miss Berisha.”

  Chloe turned her gaze to Norris, and he knew he couldn’t ignore her question the way Jennings could.

  “They want her to testify in court against him,” Norris explained. “About what she saw. About the organization.”

  “I see. Skylar?” Chloe called out.

  Norris knew Skylar. Still had scars from that time she’d slammed her talons into his back during an ugly Clan fight, nearly destroying his kidney in the process.

  Jennings knew her, too. Had his ass handed to him in court on more than one occasion by that woman.

  “Gentlemen,” Chloe said, placing her hand on Skylar’s shoulder. “From now on you’ll be dealing with Skylar Nosek on any issues regarding Jacinda.”

  “That is unnecessary—”

  “Is it?” Chloe asked, held tilting to the side, her face mockingly scrunched up with bullshit concern. “You let this motherfucker loose and then you come here and have the nerve to ask that poor girl to face him in court. You must be kidding.”

  “We’ll put her in protective custody right now.”

  “You will leave this house. Right now. And if you want to discuss anything with Jace, you can talk to Skylar first. Right, Skylar?”

  Skylar’s response was to smile. Her bright white teeth flashed.

  “Okay,” Norris said, grabbing Jennings’s arm, “time to go.”

  “We’re not done here.”

  “We are so done here.”

  He pulled the protesting man toward the hallway, the Crows silently parting. As the last of them split into two groups to allow them to pass, Norris was brought up short by Danski Eriksen, second in command of the Southern California Protectors and his Clan leader, Ormi Bentsen.

  But it was Eriksen who was staring Norris down, and Norris was wondering why the uptight Protectors, with their books and glasses and ideals about justice, were in the Bird House. He knew when he got out of here he would need to give his own Clan leader a heads-up. Rada wouldn’t be happy. She never liked when the other Clans got along.

  Finally, Eriksen growled at Norris, “You failed her.”

  Not willing to listen to shit from an uptight Tyr lover, he shot back, “Fuck you.”

  Eriksen had Norris by the neck, powerful fingers digging into thick flesh. Norris knew what the Protector could do with that move. He’d seen the man tear heads off of beings with far thicker necks than his.

  Norris released Jennings and grabbed Eriksen around the waist, ready to break the man in half.

  “Gentlemen!” Chloe barked.

  Without looking away from each other, they knew they were surrounded by Crows.

  If they had this fight here, they’d have to kill Jennings and get rid of his body. Something the Crows would not like happening on their territory.

  But it was Ormi Bentsen who pulled them apart.

  “Not the way to handle this,” the older man chastised his second in command.

  Still unable to let it go, though, Eriksen said in Norwegian, “Nice fuckup, asshole.”

  “Suck my big Claw cock, book reader,” Norris shot back in Swedish.

  “Isn’t that the same insult your mother uses?”

  Norris almost had his hands on Eriksen again when Bentsen grabbed him by the throat. The strength of his tensed fingers told Norris it would take nothing for this man to crack his neck like so much kindling.

  Bentsen nodded toward the completely confused Jennings. “Just go.”

  Letting out a breath, trying to get his anger under control, Norris yanked away from Bentsen and grabbed Jennings by the arm. He pulled him out of the house and to their government-provided car.

  “What the fuck was that about?” the prosecutor demanded.

  Norris looked at him, shrugged, and replied, “Nothing . . . why?”

  Jace made it as far as the garages where they kept the Bird House cars. From high-end to used-simply-to-abuse, they had every kind of auto and motorcycle currently available. Vehicles that could be driven at any time by any Crow. It was one of Jace’s favorite places. She liked to find a quiet spot to settle down and read. But she hadn’t been out here since she’d started to work for the Protectors.

  She stood beside a bright blue Bentley. A special order that Chloe must have gotten. She had a thing for Bentleys.

  “You have to come with me.”

  Jace faced Eriksen, her mouth open, aghast.

  “Come on,” he pushed.

  “Seriously?” she asked. “You really think I need your protection?”

  He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
/>
  “You, big, strong Viking, are here to protect me from my ex-husband, right? Because I can’t do it on my own, right? I can’t protect myself. That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?”

  “No, actually. I was sent to get you out of here before—”

  “Jacinda, we need to—”

  Without thinking, Jace spun toward the familiar voice entering the conversation and punched with her left fist. Hitting Rachel right in the throat . . . and possibly breaking something important.

  The bigger woman stumbled back, swayed, then fell over, landing hard on her side. Jace covered her mouth in horror.

  “Oh shit!” She looked at Eriksen. “I panicked,” she admitted. “I heard her voice and I panicked!”

  He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the front of the house.

  “We have to help her!”

  “No. Tessa and the others have to help her. What I have to do is get you as far away from that very angry female as quickly as humanly possible because she looks like she’s about to kick your ass.”

  Running behind Eriksen, Jace looked over her shoulder and saw that Rachel was trying to get to her feet, teeth gritted together, eyes raging . . . even though Jace was pretty sure the woman couldn’t swallow.

  She might have crushed Rachel’s windpipe. An action that would kill a typical human in several short minutes. But a Crow? She could last awhile like that. And keep fighting to boot.

  By the time they reached the car, Ormi already had the motor running and Eriksen shoved her into the backseat and closed the door. A few seconds later, he opened the door again and Lev tried to jump in, but he didn’t quite make it. He dangled there a moment, front paws tearing across the nice leather interior, little legs trying to push himself the rest of the way.

  Hand under his ass, Eriksen shoved him in and jumped into the front seat. He slammed his door closed and barked, “Drive.”

  Jace held Lev in her lap and turned so she could look out the back window. Rachel was trying to run after the car, but now Erin, Kera, and Alessandra were holding her back as the rest of the Crows streamed out of the house and joined in.

  “It was an accident!” Jace argued with absolutely no one.

  “Was it?” Eriksen asked, sounding less than convinced.

  “Of course it was!”

  “Did you think it was your ex-husband?” he asked.

  Jace flinched. “No.”

  “Did you think it was one of the cult members?”

  Now she let out a sigh. “No.”

  “Then it really wasn’t an accident, was it? You knew it was her!”

  “You don’t understand. She’s very irritating!”

  He looked at her. “Why? Because she won’t stop talking to you?”

  Jace scrunched up her nose before admitting, “Maybe.”

  Rolling his eyes, Eriksen turned back around and kept shaking his head.

  Ormi looked at her in the rearview. “I have to say, Jacinda, I really enjoy having you around. It’s all so exciting when the Crows have come to town, as my grandfather used to say.”

  Slowly, Eriksen turned his head to look at his leader and snapped, “Shut up.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Jace wasn’t thinking when she placed Lev on the ground as soon as she entered the Protectors’ house. She just put him down and immediately headed to the library.

  “Why is this puppy roaming the halls?” she heard Bear growl just a few seconds later.

  She hadn’t even sat down at the table yet.

  Bear walked into the room, the puppy tucked under his arm. “I thought we discussed the rules regarding this . . .” He stopped and stared down at her.

  “What’s wrong?” he suddenly asked her.

  “Nothing.”

  “You’re a bad liar.”

  “Actually I’m not. I’m a very good liar. I just don’t use the skill often.”

  “You’re unhappy. Why are you unhappy?”

  Finally dropping into the chair, Jace sighed and said, “It’s a long story—”

  “Her ex-husband is out of prison,” Gundo explained as he walked in. “He was just released.”

  “Or it’s a short story,” she amended. “Depending on your perspective.”

  “Why is he out?” Bear demanded.

  “The federal prosecutor screwed up,” Gundo explained. “At least his office did.”

  Actually, the only thing Jennings had done wrong was not take Jace’s warnings seriously. But no one understood her ex-husband as well as she did.

  Eriksen suddenly reappeared with a mug of tea. “Here,” he ordered, pushing the tea toward her. “Drink this.”

  “I don’t want tea.”

  “Drink it anyway.”

  “Give me that,” Bear snarled, covering the steaming top of the mug with his hand and pulling it away from Eriksen while at the same time dropping poor Lev. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  She caught Lev before he could hit the ground and pulled him into her lap.

  “I’m giving her tea.”

  “Here? What if she gets that female thing where her hands shake from fear or whatever, and she gets the tea all over the goddamn books?”

  “She just caught that dog in midair,” Gundo helpfully pointed out.

  “She could snap at any time,” Bear insisted before leaning down and informing her, “But you’re safe here. You don’t have anything to be afraid of.”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  “Really?” he asked, big head tilted to the side.

  “He’s already killed me once, Bear. And, unlike most people, when I die again, I know where I’m going.” She glanced at Eriksen. “Kera’s already been there and she said she had a blast.”

  “Kera Watson’s been to Valhalla?”

  “Yeah. She went with Vig and his sister.” She briefly studied the three Protectors. “Not sure you three will have as good a time, though. Didn’t hear anything about libraries in Valhalla.”

  Bear appeared crestfallen. “That’s depressing.”

  “Can we worry about our deaths later?” Eriksen snapped.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Gundo cut in. “Have the Ravens kill your ex-husband.”

  “Pardon?”

  “It makes complete sense. That way you and society won’t have to worry about him at all.”

  “Well, if you’re so worried, why don’t you kill him?”

  “Because I’m a Protector,” Gundo patiently explained. “I’ll protect you because that’s what we do. But outright murder? That’s a mindless enterprise that seems much more . . . Raven-esque.”

  “You just think the Ravens are stupid.”

  “They are stupid,” Eriksen muttered.

  “My hand’s burning,” Bear suddenly announced.

  Eriksen gritted his teeth. “Because it’s over the hot tea.”

  “A sacrifice I’m willing to make to protect our sacred books.”

  “Then don’t complain!”

  Jace kissed Lev’s now-sleeping head. “Why are you yelling?”

  “Because I’m upset! Why aren’t you upset?”

  “I am upset. But you are looking for hysterical. I don’t do hysterical.”

  “Unless it’s Rachel?”

  “That was an accident.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Bear took an abrupt step backward. “Come on,” he ordered.

  “Where?” Gundo asked.

  “Just come on.” He walked out, probably to put the tea Jace had never wanted into the sink and put some ointment on what she would bet was now a bad burn on the palm of his hand.

  With a shrug, they all followed Bear into the hallway. He pointed toward the front door while he went to the kitchen.

  When he met them outside a few minutes later, he had his poor hand bandaged. Eriksen snorted and she slapped his arm. “Be nice.”

  “But—”

  “Nice.”

  “Come on,” Bear said again, motioning to a large red SUV parked down the
curved driveway a bit. Probably the only thing the big Viking could fit in.

  As they walked toward it, a motorcycle raced into the driveway. It was one of those speed bikes rather than a Harley, Jace’s preferred mode of motorcycle transportation. Not that she’d ever been on either, but she just thought Harleys looked so cool.

  The bike pulled up to the corner and stopped; there were two people on it. The motor shut off, the one in the front pulled off her helmet, short red hair dropping in front of big green eyes. And Kera was riding behind Erin. She jumped off the bike as soon as it was still, stumbling backward while pulling off her helmet at the same time. Gundo moved forward, barely catching her before she hit the ground. But she didn’t seem to notice since she was too busy chucking her helmet at Erin’s head.

  Thankfully, the laughing redhead ducked in time.

  “What?” Erin asked.

  “Crazy bitch! You could have gotten both of us killed!”

  “You wanted to get here quickly.”

  “Fuck you!” Kera pushed away from Gundo. She was so angry. It was all over her face. But anyone with sense knew not to go riding on a motorcycle with Erin Amsel. She took crazy chances and, more importantly, she was self-taught and didn’t actually have a motorcycle license.

  Not that Jace was going to say so at this moment. That would be a very poor decision on her part.

  Bear pointed at the two women. “Do you like them?” he asked.

  Not sure why he was asking, Jace replied, “Yes.”

  “Okay.” Then he picked Kera up with one arm and Erin with the other. Holding them the same way he’d held Lev.

  “Hey!” both sister-Crows barked, pounding on Bear’s arms and shoulders, trying to get him to let them go, but he ignored them. Reaching the SUV, he patiently waited until Gundo opened the back door for him. Bear then pushed the two women inside before gesturing to Jace. “Come on.”

  She glanced at Eriksen, but all he could do was shrug. “Might as well,” he added when Jace hesitated.

  Snuggling Lev closer, she got into the back of the SUV, where Kera and Erin were now arguing with each other.

  Eriksen sat in the front passenger seat and Gundo got into the second row. Once the doors were closed and Bear was behind the wheel, they set off.