Release (The Protector Book 3) Read Free Page B

means he can’t come back. We’ll have stopped Riley’s plan for good.”
    “So you want us to just hop into another dimension and start searching?” Cory asked. “That don’t exactly sound like a winning plan.”
    “Not exactly.” Marcus stepped forward. “As Tiki stated, there should be a piece in each of his two original worlds. Our best bet is to research legends, myths, and anything we can get our hands on about these dimensions. We’ve all managed to gain small collections of our own over the years. If we combine all our texts, our odds of finding answers are greatly increased.”
    “Legends, myths, stories…do you hear yourself?” Eric asked.
    “I’m not in disagreement with Eric.” Jax stood up. “Stories passed down from generation to generation are hardly reliable.”
    “Everything that’s happened so far is from those stories,” I said. “We need to consider the fact that we’ve been locked away from these dimensions for thousands of years, so although we’re not familiar with them, it’s apparent these legends hold some kind of merit.”
    Chief stood up. “I think we need to take what we can get. If this is what we have to work with, it will have to do until something more concrete comes along.”
    “Radek was not much for ancient texts,” Jax said. “But if you think it will help, the Shadowpack will contribute.”
    “Your cooperation, as always, is appreciated,” Marcus said. “You’re all right to be wary, so let’s see what we can gather from the books and we’ll re-evaluate everything then. Does everyone agree?”
    Everyone nodded and turned to Eric. Sitting with his arms crossed, he stared back at the group with an angry glare. “Whatever you say, boss man.”
    The door to the room opened and slammed against the concrete wall behind it. Grams stood in a cloud of cigarette smoke with an orange filter hanging from brightly painted red lips. Her white hair was in rollers.
    “Sorry I’m late,” she grunted. Smoke spilled from her lips and she coughed. She hammered her fist into her chest repeatedly until something thick splatted onto the floor. “I was getting my hair done. What’d I miss?”

 
    Chapter 3
     
    By the time we filled Grams in, she’d smoked four cigarettes. Rather than use an ashtray, she squished the last butt on the table with the rest.
    Grams leaned back and blew a final puff of smoke from her lips. “So you want to hop from dimension to dimension in hopes of finding not one, but two soul pieces?” Grams snorted. “That sounds like a grand idea.”
    “Exactly what I said,” Eric replied. “We should be going after the source. Kill the Dark Brothers, and Riley loses his right and left hands. He’s useless without them.”
    Grams cackled and turned her pale eyes to Eric. “That’s even dumber than their plan.”
    “They’re demons, and that means we can kill them. That’s a hell of a lot easier than what they’re suggesting.”
    “No, they’re not,” I said. “They’re direct descendants of Ithreal. They’re demigods.”
    “And that’s my point. We’re going off the word of other demons—the very creatures we were born to kill. Now before you all get your panties in a bunch, hear me out. I know they’re not all evil, but that doesn’t mean they’re to be trusted. Hell, I don’t trust a hunter just because he’s one of us. Trust is earned, and we can’t be taking leaps of faith based on the words of the very people we’re trying to kill.”
    “I hate to admit this, but I do see his point,” Kate said.
    “It doesn’t matter what they are,” Grams said. Her voice cracked and faded and she slapped her hand against her chest, clearing her airway. “The Triquertas are already nervous enough about joining with you hunters, and they aren’t alone in their fear. Most of the Underworld is up in arms over what Riley is planning. Nobody wants to bow down and lose their freedom, especially to a hunter playing god. But more than