Page 98 of The Eleventh Hour
“You were the only one he cared for. The only one he showed mercy to when he would have drawn blood. Why? What’s so special aboutcha? I saw the moment he paused, knife raised, and chose a different path. Why? What is special about Jax Blackwell?”
I shrug, my shoulders tight. This is the second time in hours that’s been asked. I’m wondering the same thing. I keep my eyes on Joe, not daring to glance at Dane. Louis was going to kill me and chose not to? That’s news to me. “Nothing is special about me, Joe.”
“No, no, that’s not true. Shadows are dripping from your skins, ghostly hands all over you. Who are you?”
The hairs on my neck lift.
“Joe, please, we need your help-”
“NO! I can’t. I won’t.”
“But-”
“We have money,” Rafe pulls out his wallet but stops when Joe sneers.
“Money ain’t going to keep me blood in me skin bag, is it? Stupid boy. You don’t know what you’re messing with. Louis is harder, faster. He’s got all the upper hands, and there are only two things he wants for now. His queen and his kingdom. And he’ll have them both before the end, mark my words.”
Joe twitches and turns to the empty spot beside him. “I know. I know I said too much, but she’s got to know. What’s coming is going to be bloody and screaming, so much screaming. Does she listen to us, though? I don’t know. Well, it’s my call. I decided.”
Dane slides his hand down my back, and it brings me back from the growing horror that has been slowly rising in me. Poor Joe. He’s insane.
Joe looks up, and the light reflects into his eyes, turning them a ghostly white. He draws himself up, taller than he should be, straighter, wider.
“The balance must be righted.” His voice echoes around the building, hitting off walls and coming back.
He looks over my shoulder, straight at something I can’t see.
“The balance must be righted,” he says again, but this time, I’m positive it’s not to me. “A life for a life. A trade for a trade.”
Joe starts to shake, violent, trembling shakes that cause his teeth to slap together with a sickening crack. He doubles over like a marionette that’s had its strings cut and inhales so deep and loud that he sounds mortally wounded.
“Stupid prick, coulda warned a body,” Joe wheezes, dropping to his knees. “That hurts!”
That breaks the spell that is holding me frozen, and I rush over to him. He scrambles back on his hands, scuttling like a crab to avoid my touch.
“Keep your death hands away from me!”
I jerk back and stand up slowly. He cautiously rises to his feet and looks over my shoulder. He lets out a peep, a small, high noise of fear that goes straight through me, and before I can speak, he launches himself through the nearest window and vanishes from sight.
“Well, that was exquisite.”
“Shut up, Dane,” Rafe snaps. “You okay?”
I shake my head. “That was weird.”
“I’m so fucking glad you think so!”
“Dane, for fuck’s sake, shut up.”
I turn in a slow circle and try to see things from Joe’s perspective. It’s hopeless. All I see is an abandoned building full of dust and dirt.
Rafael scowls. “I’m going to sit in the car. I’ll wait for you both there.”
I watch Rafael storm away and turn back to Dane with an eyebrow raised.
“Rafael doesn’t like to lose his temper. I believe it was frowned upon in his family.”
“How the hell does he keep it living with you?”