Broken: Hidden Book Two by Colleen Vanderlinden Read Free Book Online Page B

remember when you were a teenager. Probably the last time Nain and I faced off. You remember me?”
    Brennan shrugged. “Not really. Nain didn’t let me do much fighting back then.”
    Branford shrugged, turned back to me. I glanced up at Brennan, who was staring daggers at the demon. Whether Brennan remembered him or not, he clearly did not like him. I’d keep that in mind. Brennan’s instincts about this stuff were usually dead on. And, my first impression of the demon didn’t exactly endear him to me, either.
    “So. What can I do for you, Branford?”
    The demon looked at me. “Well. There are a few things I can think of off the top of my head.” I felt it already of course. Lust. Ew.
    Brennan was ready to rip the demon’s throat out already, and he’d barely been in the room for two minutes. I caught Bren’s eye, hoped he understood to calm the hell down. He seemed to, took a deep breath and shook his head.
    “Well. Flattering as that is, Branford, that’s not really what we’re here for,” I said, looking directly at him. Meeting his gaze. He met mine as well, and it was an unspoken challenge. Who would look away first? Stupid battles of wills, looking for signs of weakness.
    “I have heard something I think you’d want to know,” he said, still staring back at me. “There are people in danger, and that’s the kind of bullshit you seem to care about.”
    “And why bring it to me? It’s not like you care about Normals,” I said, knowing it was true before the words even left my lips.
    “No, I don’t. But we’ve all seen the news. The P.D. is onto us. Supernaturals. We have them poking around, they’re eventually going to figure it out. And while I really have no problems steamrolling any nosy cops, having to watch out for them puts a dent in my lifestyle. I figure, come to you with this, save us all some trouble.”
    I leaned back in my chair, still holding his gaze. We sat in silence for a few minutes. I let my power roar over him, felt the house tremble around us. He looked away. Victory.
    “So, who’s in danger?” I finally asked.
    “There’s this group. Coupla witches, warlocks. Couple shifters. They’ve been working the six and Gratiot area for a while now. They started taking women off the streets a week or so ago, keeping them locked in one of those big old houses over there. I don’t know what they’re doing with them, but I can guess, and I bet you can too.”
    “How many?”
    “As far as I know? Fourteen women.”
    I could feel how anxious Brennan was. I caught his eye again, gave a small shake of my head. He nodded. The tension in him did not subside. His jaw was clenched, hands fisted as he crossed his arms over his chest. If looks could have killed, the demon sitting in front of me would have been dead about fifty times over.
    “So. You’re saying fourteen women. Held by a few witches and warlocks, shifters. Anything else I should know?”
    Branford smiled like a cat who’d just cornered a mouse. Asshole. “I have the address if you want it.”
    “That would be great,” I said. He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, set it on the desk in front of me.
    “They’re there. It looks deserted, but it has electricity and everything. Real overgrown in front.”
    “All right. I’ll take care of it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention,” I said.
    “Well, I figured you’d want to know, considering the way you are about finding lost girls,” he said. He was doing a good job of looking sincere.
    “Absolutely. Thanks for coming,” I said, dismissing him. Brennan walked him out, Ada reset the wards, and within seconds Brennan was back in my office.
    “That bastard was setting you up. You know this,” Brennan said, crossing his arms over his chest. Anger still radiated from him. Along with a strong desire to protect me.
    “Of course I know it,” I said. “He looked like he hit the jackpot or something when I said I’d go. I could feel it from