Cast Into Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

family involved a quick kinetic blast to the back of the head, then dumping the body somewhere remote. Killing her would eliminate a potential liability.
    After what Brooke tried to do to Kate, he felt tempted.
    Watching through the monitor spell, he’d seen Brooke send a blast of fire against Kate, huddled under her car, nothing between her and the scorching heat. He’d jerked to his feet and traced out a teleport spell, the blood in his veins turning ice cold, knowing he was too late. He would never arrive in time to save her.
    The relief that surged over him when Victor appeared, sending his shield around Kate, blocking the fire rushing at her, had left him shaking with its intensity.
    He couldn’t believe this mission had become important to him. He wanted the stone, yes, but… Kate was just another assignment.
    Shoving the thought aside, he focused on the objective. Get the stone. But with it protected by Hamilton security, success would not be easy. A hundred possibilities flashed through his mind until he settled on one—the only plan with a chance of working.
    The girl on the deck stirred, her bangles jingling as she moved. “Wha…what?”
    “Wake up,” he said. “We have to talk.”
    Her eyes opened, then widened. “Oh shit. I—”
    “Yes, you blew it. You didn’t get the stone from Kate. Know what else?”
    “Um…what? I don’t get paid?” She sat up, her head in her hands.
    “Least of your problems. You disobeyed orders. What part of ‘don’t hurt her’ didn’t you understand?”
    She rubbed her arm and glared. “Um, the part where she threw a goddamn tire iron at me? Like, I didn’t sign up for the rough stuff. Just the magic part. Bitch got what she deserved.”
    Kristof’s jaw tightened. “I told you where to find the stone.” The spell he’d planted on it last night showed him its location—any time he risked checking. “You were supposed to get it and get out, fast. Without hurting Kate. You failed. I told you to cloak your spells. All of them. You didn’t, and our enemies found you and took you out. So what should I do with you?”
    Her lips trembled. “C’mon. Give me another chance. I’ve done a good job watching her for you, haven’t I? You said if I did okay I’d have a chance to join the family. Stop being a rogue. Have some security.” She got to her feet and sidled up to him, perching on the arm of the lounger and leaning over until the deep vee of her shirt exposed her decidedly non-magical charms. When she was close enough to whisper in his ear, she said, “I can make it worth your while.”
    That was a complication he didn’t need. As he tried to put his body’s treacherous reaction to her nearness out of his mind, he ran through his options one last time. There was only one choice he could make.
    He rose to his feet and picked up the messenger bag, handing it to Brooke.
    “What’s this?” she asked.
    “A new identity. Passport. ID. A clean cell phone. Expense money. Everything you’ll need for where you’re going.”
    A sly smile lit her face. “Paris? London?”
    “No. Boca del Infierno, a small village in Argentina. I put photo references inside for your teleport. Study them, then go. Now. From here. No going back home to pack.” Argentina was de la Vega territory, but they stayed in the cities. No chance of her running into them in the ass crack of beyond.
    Her face scrunched up, as if she were trying not to cry. “But that’s in the middle of nowhere. They probably don’t even have a Bloomingdale’s. And I don’t speak Argentese.”
    “You’ll live.” If I wasn’t certain I’ll need you again, you’d already be dead. “Follow my orders if you want to work for me again. Stay there until I contact you. I don’t want to hear from you, see you, or run into you anywhere. Understand?”
    “Yeah, I get it.” She paused. “You know what I don’t get?”
    “What?”
    “If you want this stone so bad, why didn’t you ask her for it