“Finding Az was almost an accident.”

Sam cocked his head. “Some say there are no accidents. No coincidences. Everything happens the way it was meant to be.” If you subscribed to that philosophy, he’d been born to Fall, and to kill.

Seline shrugged, but the move didn’t look careless. “Rogziel had another Fallen in his sights, a guy named Omayo.”

Sam didn’t let his expression alter. “What happened to him?”

“Before we could move to capture Omayo, Az literally fell into our laps. You could say our focus of attack shifted then.”

Az’s Fall had been recent. He would have still been weak when Rogziel caught him. What a stroke of luck for the punisher. “You want me to help you, then you stay by my side and you give me every bit of information that I want on Rogziel and that group he’s got helping him.”

Now she slipped back. Fear didn’t flicker across her face, but hesitation sure did. “What will you do to them?”

Because she cared about some of the humans there?

“Alex was a jerk, don’t get me wrong.”

A jerk who’d tried to kill her.

“But the others . . . they’re just trying to do what’s right. They’ve lost people they love. They know that evil has to be punished and—”

And he was bored. She sounded like some pupil reciting a lesson she’d learned at school—a mantra that Rogziel had no doubt taught her. A nice way to brainwash his recruits into being good little killers.

“Don’t worry,” he said, lifting his hands and holding them, palm out, to her. “I won’t touch them.” Yet. “Just give me the information you know, help me to find Az, and I’ll make sure you get what you want most in this world.”

Her stare judged him. One moment. Two. Then she gave a small, grudging nod.

Good.

He didn’t let the satisfaction show on his face. Even if she hadn’t agreed, he hadn’t planned to let her go. The deal wasn’t truly about Az or Rogziel.

I just want her.

He turned away, knowing she would follow. He climbed onto the motorcycle and revved the engine. “We need to see Omayo.” He’d give the messenger angel a heads-up. After all, Omayo had never done anything to anger him.

Omayo had just lusted too much for humans. Not for their bodies, but for their emotions.

Then he’d fallen and gotten slapped with every feeling he could possibly want.

Giving Omayo a warning that he’d made Rogziel’s list only seemed fair. Besides, Sam also knew that Omayo still had an in with a few angels. Messages always had to be exchanged, and even the Fallen could still manage some jobs.

He’d warn Omayo, and in payment, Sam would see if he couldn’t get a message sent to someone who would lead him to Az.

Run, brother, run fast—because I’m coming for you.

Seline slid on the motorcycle behind him. Her hesitation was brief, barely a second, but he still felt it, and then her soft hands slowly slid around his waist.

He spun the motorcycle around, kicking up a cloud of dirt, and headed back for the city. As they drove, her hands tightened more around him and her body pressed closer.

He smiled.

The succubus wouldn’t realize how she truly fit into his plans, not until it was too late. By then, there’d be no hope of freedom for her.

You can’t make a deal with Death.

Seline eased off the bike. She could still feel the vibration in her thighs. Her steps were a bit unsteady as she hurried down the sidewalk.

Omayo’s apartment waited less than a block away. “How did you know he was here?” she asked Sam.

He glanced at her, raising a brow. “Omayo found me after he fell.” One shoulder rolled in a light shrug. “Let’s just say he came to my club looking for Temptation.”

Oh, right. She’d been on stakeout duty a few times at Omayo’s place. From what she’d seen of him and the ladies, he’d liked his Temptation a lot.

They walked in silence for a while, then they eased up on Omayo’s place.

With a wave of his hand, Sam sent the front door of Omayo’s building flying open. They stepped inside, and Seline’s gaze went to the staircase on the right. The bottom level was just an old garage, but she knew they’d find Omayo upstairs. Seline hurried forward.

Sam grabbed her hand. “No.”

She froze. The place was as quiet as a tomb, and it kinda smelled like one, too. Her nose wrinkled.

His nostrils flared at the same time, and his gaze darkened to midnight black. “Omayo. ”