CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2) (2 page)

Its black fur bristled against the wind, silver eyes shining against the crescent moon. It stalked across the desert dunes, paws making groves into the sand. The wolf sat back on its hind legs and howled to the sky before it shared its vision:

R
ights are wronged. Screams are held.

E
tched scars kill hearts that dare rebel.

V
ictory eats in the presence of the saved.

O
ppression rests in idle hands of the brave.

L
est fear ignite a silence too loud to ignore,

U
ntie the bonds, reclaim what’s yours.

T
ides rise in the wake of the unchained moon.

I
nnocent howls split open the sleeping tomb.

O
nly one will champion and lead the enraged.

N
o warrior surrenders. No warrior remains caged.

One Year Later

What was Amy doing right now?
Dancing at some party or at home stuffing her face with ice cream. Oh, and watching
House of Cards
! I lamented. I wanted to be back home with her. I wondered where she got a job—most likely Google. That genius kid. She was out there concocting a plan for world domination while I was here, wearing skimpy clothes, in a dirty, STD infected nightclub called “Ground Zero.” Multi-colored strobe lights flashed around, and I thought it was going to give me a damn seizure. Anyone who thought coming here was fun was either on drugs or mentally unstable. Sweaty bodies groped one another on the dance floor as electronic music blasted from the speakers. I had an itch at the corner of my eye that I wanted to rub for the past half hour but had to refrain. The fucking eye liner and mascara that was gunked on my face would get smudged, because Lord knows I wouldn’t be delicate enough to scratch it like a lady. I’d get raccoon eyes and scare off the guy I was supposed to be meeting. Damn demons and their stupid, annoying issues. Why couldn’t they just abstain from kidnapping and killing each other? They needed better hobbies, like knitting or golf.

The static from the cordless device in my ear startled me, almost making me trip in the hooker heels I had on. “For fucks sakes, you guys. You scared me half to death! I almost dropped a brick.”

“TMI, Ace,” the voice in the earbud said. “Are you good?”

“No,” I deadpanned. “But that didn’t stop you assholes from dressing me up like a prostitute though, so why ask.”

Roman chuckled. “If it’s any consolation, you look like an expensive escort. Like the ones politicians get.”

“As if that’s supposed to make me feel better, jerk.”

“Heads up, you got an Ogre coming at your six,” he said.

I straightened my back, pushed my itty-bitty chest forward, and leaned a little to my right to add some swag. I felt like an idiot but this was what I was told would be sexy.

“That’a girl,” Third-Eye Lou said through the earbud. “Pop that hip.”

“If you open your mouth one more time—either of you—when I’m done, they’ll have to fish you out of the Pacific,” I gritted out just as the Ogre I’d been waiting on, slid his hand down my lower back.

“Hello there, Beautiful,” he said into my other ear. “I couldn’t help but watch you from my table.”

I turned around and met the six-foot-plus Ogre who looked like he OD’d on steroids. His ill-proportioned body made me raise both eyebrows.

“Oh, thank you,” I said. I wanted to barf.

“Would you like to join me? I’m over in the VIP,” he said and pointed to where he was sitting.

“Oh, my gosh, yes, sounds like fun,” I giggled—maybe a little too hard.

“Take it back a notch, Ace,” Roman said in my ear. “You sound like a thirteen year old who just met One Direction.”

I cleared my throat in agitation. “Lead the way,” I said as the Ogre directed me to his section. I turned around and looked up to the second floor of the night club. I flipped my middle finger at the one way mirror overlooking the dance floor, where I knew Roman and Third-Eye Lou were watching.

“Maybe later,” Roman said and I imagined him winking at me.

“Asshole,” I muttered.

“Excuse me?” The Ogre asked.

“Oh nothing, sorry,” I smiled. He grinned and unhooked the velvet rope separating the VIP section from everyone else.

“I’ve never seen you around here, is this your first time?” he asked and led me to a couch where we both took a seat.

“Yes, it’s my first time. I found a flyer on one of the bulletin boards on campus and thought I’d give it a try.”

His grin widened. “I see. And you came alone?”

I attempted a blush. Easier said than done. “Well my girlfriend was supposed to meet me but she bailed at the last minute.”

“Well, I’m glad I can keep you company,” he said and leaned closer, wrapping his arm across the back of the sofa. “Would you like a drink?” he offered.

I nodded. “Please.”

“I’ll be back,” he winked and stood to go to the bar.

Once he was out of ear shot, I sagged into the couch. “His breath smells like something died,” I complained.

“Don’t worry, not much longer and you can go,” Third-Eye Lou said.

“I heard Ogres eat the intestines first before anything else. Maybe that’s what you smell?” Roman said and I heard them laughing in the background.

“You’re both having a little too much fun with this. I have to deal with this thing’s odor and play bait while you two get to gallivant all up in his office and do the cool detective stuff.”

“I know, Ace. I promise you ice cream and a Netflix binge after this,” Roman said and I smirked. “Alright he’s on his way back.”

The Ogre was dressed in navy blue slacks with a striped white-and-blue button up. The first few buttons were undone and showed a peppering of chest hair. His small waist looked weird compared to his oversized upper body.

He sat down and handed me a pink cocktail with a pineapple on the rim and an umbrella.

“I didn’t get your name—can I guess? You look like an Arnold to me. Am I right?”

His laugh was strained and I saw a vein in his neck twitch in aggravation. “Uh, no, more like Danny.”

“Oh,” I giggled and turned away, getting a whiff of the drink he handed me. It smelled salty for a beverage that was supposed to be sugary, which meant he added Rohypnol. Damn it. The bastard roofied the girls. I couldn’t wait to dig my claws into this creep.

“Do you like the drink? I wasn’t sure what you liked but you seem like a sweet girl,” he smiled wide. I threw up a little in my mouth.

I wet my lips and pretended to swallow. “Mhm, yes I love it. How’d you know?”

He chuckled. “Call it a gut feeling. Cheers,” he brought his glass between us and I clinked mine against his. When I brought the tumbler up to my lips, I only took a small sip. My wolf would burn the drug off quicker if consumed in small quantities.

My phone buzzed in my clutch handbag and I set the drink down on the table in front of us. “Excuse me, I’m sorry,” I giggled again and pulled out my cell. The name Tiffany was on the screen with the message “Brad broke up with me!” and a crying emoticon. That was my cue from Roman that they had left Danny’s office and were waiting for me in the alleyway.

“Oh no!” I shrieked in mock horror.

“What’s wrong, Darling?”

“Tiffany needs me. Her boyfriend broke up with her,” I frowned.

“Well I’m sure she’ll be okay, why don’t you finish your drink and then you can go,” he said, his expression extra friendly.

I shook my head. “No, I better go now. They’ve been together for years.” I stood and straightened my mini skirt. “Thank you for the drink, Arnold.”

“It’s Danny,” his upper lip twitched, “and yeah, anytime,” he mumbled half-heartedly.

I waved as I stumbled out of the VIP section. My stupid heels were making my ankles wobbly.

“Ace, report?” I heard through my earbud.

Once I was walking across the dance floor to the side door of the club, I said, “On my way, be there in two.”

I pushed through the people in the sticky hallway waiting to use the bathroom and slammed my shoulder into the backdoor with the ‘Exit’ sign glowing above. The Los Angeles night draft would have made me stagger back with its force, but I was different than your average Jane. My wolf wouldn’t fail me. The alley was dark, brick walls on either side with graffiti smeared over them. Trash littered the ground and it smelled like piss, beer, and cigarettes.

As soon as I stepped into the night, my first mistake was not shutting the door behind me, because I was caught off guard when a hand grabbed my arm and jerked me back.

“What the fuck?” I exclaimed as I tripped over myself and fell into a pair of big arms.

“Sweet girls don’t talk like that,” Danny said behind me.

“Shit,” I muttered.

“Ace? What’s going on?” Roman asked but I couldn’t answer him. Danny had already stuck one of his fat fingers into my ear and plucked out my communication.

“Let me guess—SIU?” the Ogre growled. “I should have pegged you from the get go. Want to know what tipped me off?”

“Not really,” I said. He slammed me onto the brick wall of the night club and I grunted. “Ouch!”

“You mess with me and my business and I’ll end you!” he yelled in my face.

I grimaced. “Oh God, please stop talking. Your breath is killing me already!”

That only infuriated him further. “You’re the one they call Ace, the one who doesn’t know when to shut up.”

“I’m glad my reputation precedes me,” I deadpanned.

Danny grinned. “That’s all that’s going to be left when I’m done with you.”

“Sure,” I said. “Starting with the intestines?”

“What?” I caught him off guard, taking my knee straight to the crown jewels.

He squeaked and loosened his grip on me. “I swear that should be my signature move,” I said as I brought my elbow to his face. I escaped from his hold as I swirled behind him, and with a little help from the wolf, I pinned him to the wall. “Hands behind your back, Big Guy.” I interlocked his wrists.

“Are you okay?” Roman called from the sidewalk.

“Yeah, what took you so long?”

“Sorry, was trying to get Third-Eye Lou in the car before he decided to pay for a lap dance, the old geezer.” Roman shook his head and handed me a set of handcuffs. I clipped them onto the Ogres wrist and Roman helped me drag him out to the street.

“If you think you’re getting away with this, he’ll know. He’ll find me and he’ll kill you!” Danny shouted, the vein in his neck working double time.

“Damn, Ace, you weren’t kidding about that breath,” Roman exhaled.

My claws extended and they seized on to the Ogres neck. “Who will find us? What is his name?” I snarled.

For the last four months, Roman and I had been searching for a demon that was kidnapping and exploiting Sucubi in the City of Angels. As partners of a new covert squad of the LAPD, called the Supernatural Investigative Unit—not very creative, I know—it was our job to handle the weird and keep it away from humans. But we were nowhere near close to finding out why or who this damn demon was. We didn’t even have a name.

Danny chuckled. “You think I’m telling you?” he shook his head. “He’ll kill me if I snitch. I rather rot in a jail cell.”

I released him. “Don’t worry, Stank Breath, that can be arranged.”

***

LA traffic was the worst. The slamming brakes at the last minute, grid lock, and people jaywalking made me grind my teeth. It was two in the morning and I was losing patience—although I was glad when Roman tossed me the keys and volunteered to sit in the back seat with the smelly Ogre. If I had to deal with him again tonight, I didn’t think I could refrain from punching him in the throat.

We rode in the police issued, unmarked car—a dark gray, Dodge Challenger. The power of the engine was a welcome change to Roman’s crappy, beat-up Jeep. We could only drive this beauty while on duty, and I took every opportunity to be in the driver seat. Third-Eye Lou sat beside me, his light snores broke the silence as he laid against the head-rest with his mouth slightly open. His tilted fedora covered most of his face—he opened and closed his mouth as if he tasted something.

To avoid any further traffic, I took a detour through some side streets that were mostly empty. When I looked away from Lou, I slammed on my brakes, jerking us to a screeching halt. Lou gurgled his last snore, and Roman reached for my shoulder to keep me from flying through the windshield. Two black SUVs blocked the path before us. If I hadn’t stopped when I did, we would have smashed into them—we were only a few feet away.

“I told you they’d come for me,” Danny gloated in the backseat. Roman did what I had been itching to do: he grabbed the Ogre from the back of his neck and slammed his face into Lou’s seat—waking the old man from his sleep.

“What—what did I miss?” Lou sat up and adjusted his hat. “What’s going on?”

I pointed to the windshield where the doors of the SUVs opened and four Ogres stepped out. “Stay in the car, Lou.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he grumbled and strapped his seat belt tighter.

I rolled my eyes. As if that would make a difference. Before I stepped out of the vehicle, I took a look over my shoulder and caught Roman jamming his elbow into Danny’s face, knocking him unconscious.

“I’m coming with you,” he said as we both got out of the Challenger.

“There’s a gun in the glove compartment,” I whispered to Lou. “Just in case.” He nodded, but I saw his trembling hands as he cupped them together. Third-Eye Lou wasn’t used to being out in the field with Roman and I.

“Looks like we got ourselves a party, Ace,” Roman said as we walked toward the Ogres.

“Aw,” I pouted. “I didn’t bring my dancing shoes.”

One of the Ogres smirked. “A vampire and a wolf, how cute,” he pointed to our car. “Give us Danny and we’ll forget this ever happened.”