Free Angel's Pain by MAGGIE SHAYNE Page A

own in return, then turned and paced away. “I don’t have time to fuck with you and your secrets while Crisa’s out there in danger.” She turned again, facing them. “She had a kid with him. With Gregor.”
    Reaper hadn’t thought much could surprise him, but this certainly did. He looked from Briar to Ilyana in disbelief.
    â€œShe and Gregor were together and had a son, then Gregor took the kid. He still has him, as far as she knows,” Briar explained. “That’s why she wants to find him so bad. To get her kid back.”
    â€œHow do you—” Reaper began.
    â€œI overheard her telling Roxy. And for what it’s worth, Ilyana, I totally get it. And I’ve got no problem with you going after him, and I’ll probably even help you by fulfilling my own need to slit the bastard’s throat and watch him bleed out. Slowly, I hope. But nobody is going anywhere until we find Crisa.”
    â€œYou have a child?” Topaz whispered, staring at Ilyana and ignoring Briar now. “Gregor has your son?”
    â€œOh, my God,” Vixen whispered. “Oh, my God, you poor thing. That poor child.”
    â€œLook, Ilyana,” Seth told her, moving to stand beside her. “I know you don’t like vamps, and we all get that. But you’re with us now. And you’d better believe we’ll help you get your kid back safe and sound.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” Topaz agreed.
    Jack was frowning, his gaze jumping from the white-hats to Briar, and finally he shook his head in frustration. “The kid is fine. Crisa isn’t. I think it’s pretty easy to figure out where our first priority has to be.”
    â€œBut we just got our first real clue as to where Gregor is—” Ilyana stopped herself, blinked, and started over. “How do you know he’s fine?”
    Jack held her eyes. “I saw him from time to time when I was with Gregor. You must have, too, Briar,” he added with a look her way.
    â€œI didn’t know who the hell he was. Gregor kept him pretty much away from the rest of us.”
    â€œHe’s treated well, Ilyana. He’s cared for, fed, kept healthy, never physically abused.” Jack nodded. “He’ll be fine. Crisa might not be, if we don’t find her soon.”
    â€œWe have a lead on Gregor’s whereabouts,” Ilyana argued. “If we wait, he’ll move on. We may lose our only chance.” She shook her head firmly. “No, you all go after Crisa if you want. I’m going to find my son.”
    â€œWhat she said,” Briar snapped. “You can go after her kid if you want, but I’m going after Crisa. And unlike the mortal here, I don’t fucking need anybody’s help.”
    â€œWait, wait, just calm down for a minute, both of you.” Reaper looked from one to the other, shaking his head. “Roxy, tell us what you found on the Internet. The short version.”
    â€œA houseful of bodies, drained of blood, every item of value taken, no effort made to conceal the crime.”
    In spite of herself, Briar asked, “Where?”
    â€œFresno, Salt Lake City, Dallas and Oklahoma City.”
    Briar frowned. “I don’t—”
    â€œThe same crime, committed in all four places, overnight. Bodies found this morning. The ones in Dallas were found before sunrise, and the initial reports include puncture wounds in the throats of the corpses, though later medical exams say there were no such wounds.”
    â€œThey would vanish with the first touch of sunlight,” Seth muttered.
    â€œAll right. All right.” Reaper paced away, then back again. “We can’t let Gregor slip away with an innocent child. Nor can we ignore the fact that Crisa, who’s our charge, for all intents and purposes, and every bit as much an innocent child as…as…” He sent Ilyana a questioning look.
    â€œMatthias. I call him Matt,”