“He wants me dead?” Jade asked, but she wasn’t really surprised. It had only been a matter of time before Brandt grew tired of the game and decided killing her was the best option.
“No, he wants you very much alive.” William’s gaze darted to Azrael. “But he didn’t say a f**king thing about me not getting to kill any ass**les who were with you.”
Az straightened his shoulders and he just—smiled. The smile made him look all the more gorgeous, but, um, did the guy get that he was surrounded by some cutthroat supernatural killers?
Az’s gaze raked over the demon. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
“A dick who’s about to die?”
The other demons snickered.
Jade saw the glint of the knife. It had fallen under the table. Not too far away. If she moved fast enough, she might be able to grab it.
“I guess I don’t come in here often enough for folks to know me,” Az said slowly, speaking in a thoughtful tone. He paused, “But I bet you know my brother.”
William lifted his hands, and a ball of fire appeared between his palms. Demons and fire. Such a deadly mix. “Do I look like I give a shit whose brother you are?”
Az didn’t look particularly scared of those flames. “Since you’re in his bar, you should.”
For some reason, that statement made some of the demons blanch. And she caught the whisper of. . . “Fuck, Sammael!”
Then Az just walked toward that demon and his ball of fire. “Tell you what,” Az said, “to be fair, I’ll even let you take the first shot.”
What? “No!” Jade screamed, but it was too late. William had already thrown his ball of fire right at Az.
She dove for the knife. Her fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt. Jade leapt up. Don’t burn, don’t! She spun as fast as she could—and buried the knife into William’s side. “Get away from him!”
The demon shuddered and stumbled back.
“Az?” She barely breathed his name. Her gaze swept over his chest, but—but there was no sign of any burns. Not even a wisp of smoke.
His eyes were on the demon. “My turn.”
Then he reached out and pressed his hand against William’s chest.
The demon’s eyes widened. His lips opened as if he were trying to speak, but then his body tumbled back, and he hit the floor with a hard thud.
Dead.
Jade glanced down at him. Then she looked back up at Az. “What did you do?” Her voice was hushed. But . . . this was just like in the alley. He’d touched, and he’d killed.
His gaze met hers. Az didn’t speak.
“What are you?” Her stark whisper. She had to know.
Now his lips turned up in a smile that chilled her. “I’m Death.”
Like he was the first man to tell her that line.
“I’m death.” Brandt’s yell echoed in her ears. “Wherever you go, whoever you turn to—I’ll know. And I’ll f**king kill them all.”
She bent down and yanked the knife from William’s body. Then she held up the knife because it was the only weapon she had. “Stay away from me.”
A line edged between Az’s blond brows. “I helped you.”
Where was the demon who’d taken her cash? She’d be needing that back. But it looked like those guys had scrambled. They probably had been racing out of that place even as William’s body hit the floor. “Did you follow me here?” Her heart pounded so fast that Jade was worried it might break right out of her chest.
Az shook his head. “I was already at Sunrise when you came in.”
Lie or truth? But, wait, he’d said his brother owned the place. Maybe his words were true.
Maybe not.
She began to back away from him. Jade kept the bloody knife up. She wasn’t dumb enough to drop her guard with him, not when she knew how easily he could kill. “Just stay there, okay?” Stay where she could see him as she fled.
“You’re afraid of me.”
Yeah, because she wasn’t an idiot. Men who could kill with a touch—any sane person would fear those guys. “Keep your hands to yourself, big guy, and we won’t be having a problem.”
“I thought you liked it when I touched you.”
Five feet separated them. Not nearly enough space. And now he was getting all personal and sexual on her? Now?
She cleared her throat. “That was—”
“Your ni**les were hard against me. Your hips pressed up against my c**k like you were hungry for me.” Why did his words sound almost clinical? Cold words, but his gaze looked hot enough to burn.