Page 65 of Cherished By the Sinners

Magnus backed up a few steps, took a running start, and leaped up to grab Mason’s hand.

Mason hauled him up until he could grab the window sill.Mason went in first, dropping down into a mostly dark building.The window had been painted black, but without the glass, it now provided a meagre amount of light.

The warehouse appeared empty under the window, only bare concrete and shadows.

Magnus joined his brother, crouched on the floor, but aside from the fire alarm, there was no evidence that anyone or anything was inside.

They moved away from the small shaft of light the window made on the floor and discovered room dividing walls made of fabric separating the space.

They stopped next to one of the dividers, pausing to ascertain where the occupants of the warehouse might be.With all the noise from the alarm, they couldn’t make out any other sounds, but the smell of fresh blood and the beginning of decomposition told Magnus that someone had died.

The fire alarm stopped blaring, thrusting the space into a traumatized silence.

It only lasted for a moment.

“Eli, who was that?What happened?”a masculine voice asked in a British accent.

“Bazyli Breznik,” another man answered.“He broke the lock on the front door, pulled the fire alarm, then waited.As soon as he saw me, he gave me the finger and ran out the door.”

“And?”the second man asked in a hostile, impatient tone.

“And he was laughing.Outside, there was a police car, and Homeland Security is across the street.I had to cut the connection to the fire alarm, or we would have had firemen and more police arrive.”The speaker sighed.“And this is obviously a murder scene.”

They’d already killed someone?Magnus forced himself to remain still and quiet.He could not allow his rage to overtake him until he knew if Darlene was safe or not.

Next to him, Mason shifted, preparing to move, and Magnus grabbed his arm.

Someone snarled.“He’s playing games with us, or he thinks he is.That pickled moron.”

Loud banging echoed through the building.

“Go tell him I’ll kill the woman if he doesn’t stop his stupidity.I will not negotiate until our public meeting.”

“What if he wants proof of life?”

“Tell him whatever he needs to hear to make him go away.”

Footsteps echoed, growing softer and softer.

“I do not understand why the Brezniks care about you.”

“Neither do I,” a calm female voice said.Darlene.

She was alive and well enough to talk without stress in her voice.

“You’re just a dirty prostitute.”

“I’m a housekeeper now.”No, not calm.Dull.Lifeless.What the fuck had he done to her?

“A servant,” he sneered.“A nobody.”

How were they going to get Darlene out of there before the British bastard could harm her any more than he already had?Baz’s commotion at the front of the building only succeeded in getting one of the vampires away from her.

“I should drink you dry.”He said it with an eerie giggle.

Darlene didn’t respond.

“Or maybe I’ll just slit your throat and let them find your body.”Again with the giggling.