“Here’s a tip,” Sam said, and as Seline circled around the men, she caught the flash of his grin. “You’re not strong enough to kill me. Your weapons aren’t strong enough. All you manage to do is piss me off.” He lifted his hand. “Guess what happens when I get pissed?”

Alex pressed back even more against the bricks. It looked like the guy was trying to shrivel up.

“I make you hurt.” Sam moved in that too-fast blur he did so well.

Alex screamed and grabbed for his left hand. Uh, his hand was facing the wrong direction. The bones had been broken in a blink of time.

She swallowed. “Sam . . .”

He didn’t look her way. “You should have stayed at the safe house.”

She tensed. Now he was going to talk about that?

“She’s in this!” More spittle flew from Alex’s mouth as he cradled his injured hand. “She’s f**king in this! Do your job, Seline—get this bastard! Drain him like you were supposed to!”

Seline didn’t move, not so much as an inch.

Did Sam’s shoulders stiffen? Hard to say. No change of expression crossed his face.

“Seline!” Alex bellowed.

She glanced back over her shoulder. Good thing those sirens were still wailing. Otherwise, they’d be having company. But the sirens were wailing, and she knew they were covering Alex’s cries. “I’m not working for Rogziel anymore.”

Alex laughed. “Is that the story you’re spinning?” He let his hands fall.

“Yes,” she said quietly, and took a deep breath. “Alex, where’s Az?”

His lips firmed into a thin line.

“Just tell me—”

“How the hell should I know? You’re the one who let him go last night!”

Not quite.

She glanced over her shoulder once more. This whole setup wasn’t good. They shouldn’t be outside like this. “We need to get out of here.” If Sam wanted, he could bring Alex with him, but right then, they needed to split. “We’re gonna have company soon.” Because Rogziel’s teams never worked alone. There was always backup lurking nearby.

And not all the other teams would leave Alex to his fate—the way he left me.

“Let them come.” Sam shrugged.

Right. Well, if she was an all-powerful Fallen who’d walked through fire without a burn, she might be shrugging, too. And to think, she’d actually raced over on the idea that he might need her help.

Delusions. Apparently, she had them.

But a loud pop filled the air, like an exploding firecracker, and Cole cried out in pain. Her gaze flew to him, and Seline saw that he’d grabbed his shoulder. His bleeding shoulder.

Shot. Not firecrackers, nothing nearly so innocent.

More bullets littered the alley. Sam didn’t flinch, but Seline ducked for cover even as one bullet flew right by her.

Too close!

Bullets hailed down around them. Sam grabbed her and twisted, protecting her with his body. She glanced up at him. Oh, wait, there he went, being all nice again. But it was probably a trick; he’d probably just leave her dangling in the air again in a few moments once the gunfire stopped.

A rush of wind filled the alley. Alex’s footsteps thudded as he raced past them. She heard distant yells, quickly choked off, and knew that Sam had used his power to reach the gunmen.

Guess that backup team wouldn’t be coming after all.

“Cole?” Sam snapped out. “You okay?”

The demon was on his knees, bloody, but his head lifted and he gave a wave with his left hand.

Sam stepped back and turned to him.

Alex was getting away. Seline took off after him. Her legs pumped fast and she jumped into the air.

“Seline!” Sam’s snarl.

She tackled Alex. “You’re not getting away that easily.” They crashed onto the pavement.

“Fucking demon bitch. Traitor.” He rolled and came up fast. “You’re not getting away at all.” And the knife he’d gripped in his right hand came at her throat.

Before he could touch her, Sam touched him.

Alex’s whole body jerked as if he’d just been hit with an electrical charge. His eyes rolled back into his head, and a silent scream contorted his face.

He shuddered, then a moment later he fell to the ground, his body frozen. Dead.

Seline’s gaze rose to Sam’s. The pounding of her heart seemed far too loud. He’d told her what he could do, she’d known how powerful he was, but seeing him, well . . .

He’d just killed with a touch.