“Not the time, Shadow. They know who we are, who our friends are, and we need to kill them now while we have the chance. They have even set a trap for Ash, but I daren’t warn him. Have you found anything?”

“Nothing of use. The jewels are either very well hidden, or elsewhere. But I agree with you. Let’s tell Niel the new plan.” Shadow looked overhead, hoping he was still up there. Her phone buzzed silently in her pocket, and she grinned when she saw his name. “Maybe he heard me.”

“Spotted us, more likely.”

He wanted an update, and she texted him Gabe’s news succinctly, ending with, We need to kill them.

How many in the house? he asked.

Half a dozen. Maybe ten.

So, about thirty, maybe thirty-five in total. Nothing to worry about, then.

She rolled her eyes at Gabe. “He’s cockier than I am.”

“You’re both too bloody cocky for your own good.”

She texted Niel again. Especially with JD’s bombs.

You’ve brought them?

Shadow sniggered, as Gabe looked over her shoulder at her message. Of course! I’m not an idiot.

I wish you’d have bloody given me some!

She turned to Gabe. “But that would deprive me of all the fun!”

“Tell him to wait until he sees us act, then he can, too. Where will he start?”

Niel’s response to her typed question was swift. At the dock, and then the gate. But there are many men on the perimeter, too.

Gabe nodded. “We need to find where Jiri is first. Tell him I’ll grab Armand out of the cloisters, and we can question him up there.” He pointed upwards. “I reckon that will make him talk.”

“Let’s kill a few first, Gabe. He can see we mean business. Then you take him, and I’ll clean up. Sound good?”

“Are you sure there’s nothing in the house?”

“As much as I can be.”

Gabe waited while she finished messaging Niel, eyes on the cloister again. Their angry voices carried to them.

Shadow pocketed her phone and checked her backpack. “I have ten bombs. Should be enough.”

Gabe rolled his eyes. “You could take out half of Murano with that many. Let’s not go mad, Shadow. A couple on the house, and maybe one in the grounds should do it.”

“Fine. Spoilsport.”

“All the more for later.” He cracked his neck. “A few minutes just to listen to their discussion, and then we act. Ready?”

“Ready.”

Niel watched Gabe and Shadow listen to the conversation in the cloisters for at least another ten minutes, and he hoped they had heard useful information. Then Shadow dropped to the ground with her usual grace, and Gabe leapt down with outstretched wings.

Niel flew down over the dock, coming in low and fast, and struck quickly. The two men guarding the dock were dead within seconds, neither of them even able to fire their guns.

He then flew again, but not for long. A couple of men patrolled inside the grounds, just beyond the gated entrance. He killed one, but the second spotted him, and a spatter of bullets broke the night’s silence, one catching his wing and splintering the tips of his primary feathers, but Niel covered the distance between them, killing him as swiftly as he’d killed the others.

He had hoped the sight of his wings would intimidate the men, but it didn’t seem to. Perhaps they were used to seeing Jiri, and maybe other Nephilim. The gunfire set off a series of shouts across the grounds, and more men came running.

Damn it. Sheathing his sword, he pulled out his alchemical weapon. As he started firing, screams reached him from across the garden, and he hoped that Shadow and Gabe were okay. The distraction cost him. A bullet grazed his arm, searing his skin, and he dived out of the way, rolling behind some bushes before taking aim. The noise would carry across the island. If they didn’t get this finished quickly, the police could turn up, or curious neighbours.

He focussed his mind. Kill, survive, and get out of there.

Gabe killed three men before they even realised that they were in danger. Shadow struck quickly, killing another three. Both used their swords, despite the risk of gunfire. Swords were quieter.

The screams were not.

Gabe grabbed Beneventi, arms wrapped around him, and holding him close to his chest, he soared upwards, leaving Shadow to kill the others. There was little resistance—at least from the group in the cloisters. Despite the fact that six men had already died that day, they clearly were arrogant enough to believe themselves safe. Gunfire, however, was ringing out across the grounds, and there was only a matter of time before they reached the cloisters.

Gabe kept well out of range and hovered above the lagoon.

Beneventi hadn’t said a word after the initial yell of shock. Now he was as stiff as a board, and mute with terror. Gabe gripped him under the armpits like a toddler, and held him at arm’s length. He looked into his eyes, seeing a spark of cunning in them as his terror subsided.

“So,” Gabe said, “you are a descendant of the man who found Belial’s jewels.” He was older than Gabe had first thought. Late sixties, perhaps. Maybe older. But he was tanned and slim, with an air only the very wealthy could cultivate. Arrogant prick. He decided to goad him. “You look smaller than I expected. Insignificant. I can only presume your ancestor was more worthy.”

“You know nothing about me or the power I wield.”

“Not your power. Belial’s. Without him, you would just be a mean little man who likes money. I knew Belial. I imagine he must despair of you. No wonder he brought Jiri in to manage you all.”

“How dare you! We serve him and he pays us well! We do not need Jiri! Besides, Jiri arrived before my time.”

“Yes, so I gather. Your other ancestors must have been weak and pathetic, too.” Beneventi tried to kick Gabe, and swung his arms wildly, but his kicks were weak, and Gabe crushed his ribs even tighter. “Like I said. Weak.”

“Even now my men are searching for your friends. You need to leave us alone, or they will die.”

Gabe smiled. “I don’t think you’ve done your homework, little man. My friends are Nephilim and witches. Powerful witches. Oh, and maybe an alchemist too, for good measure. You have no sway with me.”

“Even if he sends Jiri after you?” Beneventi’s eyes narrowed with cunning. “With Belial’s jewels, he is unstoppable.”

“You forget that I have his jewels, too. That’s how Belial knows of us. It didn’t save Amato, did it?”

“Amato was one of the most faithful. Belial is displeased.”

“I couldn’t give a shit. I hope he’s fucking furious.” Gabe adjusted his grip as if he might loosen Beneventi, and he gasped, clutching Gabe’s arms.

“We can come to an agreement. We have money—a lot of money!”

“So do I. I don’t need his money or influence. You see, many Nephilim, me and my brothers included, cast off the influence of our angel fathers millennia ago. I will not be yoked again. Now, where is Jiri?”