CHAPTER ONE
ASHER
The taxi smelled faintly of cigarette smoke and leather, its worn upholstery creaking beneath me as I shifted in my seat.
The driver didn’t ask questions. Good.
I wasn’t in the mood to explain why I was heading to a dingy apartment on the outskirts of Ravenshade, a sleepy European town in the middle of the night.
The cab bumped along uneven cobblestones, making me grit my teeth.
I tapped my fingers against my knee, my mind locked on one thing: Gabriel. And Finn.
My brother and the vampire who had stolen him away.
I paid the driver in cash, stepping out into the chilly air, my coat flaring briefly behind me.
The apartment building loomed ahead, its paint peeling and its windows darkened except for a few faint glimmers of light.
A perfect hiding place.
The back stairs were narrow and reeked of mildew, my boots echoing faintly as I ascended. Fourth floor.
The plan repeated itself in my mind like a mantra. Subdue the vampire. Get Finn.
Knock him out if I had to, because reasoning with him had already failed.
The image of his face the last time I’d seen him, so resolute and stubborn, flashed through my mind.
He wouldn’t listen to me. Not when it came to Gabriel.
I tightened my grip on the gun in my hand, its silver bullets loaded and ready.
The corridors were silent, the kind of stillness that felt unnatural, oppressive. My pulse quickened as I neared the apartment door.
When I reached it, I didn’t hesitate. My hand closed over the doorknob, ready to burst in if it was locked. But it wasn’t.
The knob turned easily, the door swinging open with a faint creak.
That unease hit me instantly, like the snap of a rubber band. I stepped inside, my senses on high alert.
The lights were on, casting a faint yellow glow over the small living space.
It was tidy but not pristine. A coffee cup and plate sat on the table near the window, a blanket draped over the back of the couch.
Signs of recent habitation. But no one was here.
The apartment was too quiet, too still. My jaw clenched as I moved further inside, scanning every corner.
The air was faintly tinged with the scent of coffee and something sweet. Finn must have been here recently.
I approached the table, eyes narrowing at the half-empty cup. They’d left in a hurry. My mind raced.
Did Gabriel sense I was closing in? Did he grab Finn and vanish like the slippery predator he was?
My frustration boiled over, my chest tightening with the weight of failure. Again.
With a growl, I swept the coffee cup off the table. It shattered against the floor, fragments scattering.
