Vengeance (Out For Blood Book 2)

by CY Jones

  “Fine,” he huffs, giving in. “Follow me.”

  I smile smugly before following the arsehole down the hall, and up the next floor to O’Donnell’s office. Not bothering to knock, I throw open the double doors and enter the devil’s lair. Alice is the first to notice me, and she smiles warmly over at me before dismissing the guard.

  “What do ye want?” O’Donnell snarls at me.

  There's no point in asking him to change my diet because I already know he won’t. Why get him worked up over something, I already know the answer to, so I decide to play him at his own game.

  “You do know that if I sit around all day in my room just lounging about after eating, I’m guaranteed to gain weight,” I tell him.

  I take in his calculated look, as he goes over what I just told him. He knows I’m up to something, but what I just said makes sense. He wants to get rid of me, and he won’t if I get any bigger than I am in his eyes.

  “Go on,” he finally says.

  “I’m sure a posh place like this has a state of the art gym. I want access to it,” I reply.

  “Fine, now, get out,” he practically growls.

  “That’s not all I want,” I say sweetly.

  He raises a red brow at me, and I know I have only a couple seconds left before he finds someone to remove me, or worse, shock me with that damn collar.

  “I don’t want people just wandering about my room. I’m likely to kill the next person who enters without my permission, and aren’t loyal workers are hard to find,” I say blowing on my nails.

  Thinking over my request, he nods his head before standing up and walking in front of me. He’s inches from my face, and his eyes blaze an unearthly green as he growls, “just remember, ye are my property. Try anything, and I’ll kill ye. Natalie will bring you your meals from now on.”

  Swallowing hard, I take a step back. No need to poke the bear any further. I might get my head bit off, literally.

  “Alice,” O’Donnell barks. “Take her to the gym, and then meet me in my playroom.”

  I should have known he has one of those 50 Shades of Grey rooms in this place. Hopefully it’s far as hell away from my room.

  “Come on,” Alice says, leading me away.

  “You know, you really shouldn’t provoke him,” she lectures.

  “No offense, I’m sure you’re a sweet girl and all, but I will never listen to advice from a chick who willing fucks that sick bastard back there,” I reply tartly.

  She doesn’t try to speak to me the rest of the way to the gym. I don’t know where O’Donnell found bimbo barbie, and I don’t care. We are not friends, and we will never be. I don’t know what her deal is, or care to find out. Unlike most of the people who work for O’Donnell, she is here willingly. She enjoys this shite, and for that reason alone, I’ve grouped her in the same category as O’Donnell.

  Alice drops me off in the gym before hurrying away. I was right. The gym is huge with state of the art everything. The area holds every piece of equipment one could imagine to work out with. A boxing ring sits in the corner, and I can smell the faint smell of chlorine, so I know a pool is close by.

  Wrapping my hands, I decide to start with the punching bag. I have a lot of anger to work off, and it suited my needs perfectly, more than any of the fancy equipment in here. I’m beating the shite out the bag for about thirty minutes when I hear someone call my name.

  “Why don’t you take your anger out on a real man instead of that bag?" Hangman’s lazy Texas drawl says, interrupting my workout.

  “Sure, why don’t you show me where I can find a real man?” I reply, wiping the sweat from my brow.

  “Funny, sweetheart.”

  “I’m not your, sweetheart,” I growl.

  “You can be, if you weren’t such a frosted bitch,” he replies back.

  “What do you want?” I question, tired of this back and forth.

  “I told you. I want to fight. Did you lose your hearing along with your powers?” he asks, eyeing me like I’m some village idiot.

  “Are you sure a fight with me is what you want? I hate to kick your arse again,” I taunt.

  “You caught me off guard, trust me that will not happen again.”

  “Powers or no powers, I'll still kick your arse,” I respond.

  “Big talk for a wolf without her claws. You’re nothing but a harmless puppy,” he taunts back.

  “Let's see if you can back your words up,” I say walking over to the next room filled with mats on the floor. “I’ll even let you use whatever the fuck it is you do, “ I tell him, taking a guess. I haven’t seen him use his power yet, or even know for sure he has any, but I’m quite certain he does, since he’s a member of This Circus.

  “Remember you said that when you’re lying on the floor. Oh and Shadow? When I win, you’re mine tonight to do as I please.”

  “And when you lose, you’re going to the nearest chinese restaurant, and bringing me back some real food,” I tell him, closing the distance, and punching him in his smug face.

  I have to hand it to him, he recovers quickly as he gets to his feet, and blocks my jab to the gut. Pushing me away, he throws a left I’m barely able to block before he kicks me in the stomach and sends me flying with the power behind his kick. Flipping off the wall, I sweep low when I land, taking his legs out from under him, and clamp onto his midsection with my feet. Bending into a handstand, I lift his body in the air using just my feet and leg muscles, and send him flying Sonya Blade style across the room.

  This time I don’t give him the chance to recover, I run after him and kick out using the heel of my foot, connecting with his stomach. His groans of pain fill the room and ignite my bloodlust at the same time, so much so I forget the most important lesson in fighting. Never celebrate too early. A rope I know Hangman didn’t have on him appears out of thin air, and wraps itself around my arm, throwing me face first into the wall.

  Pulling back, a gush of blood runs from my nose, and I already know without looking that it’s broken. Hangman grins at me wickedly, and I grin back just as feral, licking the blood from my lips.

  “You are a crazy bitch, I can’t wait to have you withering up under me tonight. You might even like it,” Hangman taunts, twirling that stupid rope.

  Setting the bone in my nose, I pay him no mind when I advance on him, making sure to keep clear of that rope. In close combat, he won’t be able to use it as accurately as he would from a distance.

  We’re both a flurry of kicks and punches, and even in my human form, I’m not to be fucked with. There’s a reason I’m feared. No matter what O’Donnell does to try to ruin my reputation, I will gladly prove to the doubters just how fucking dangerous I am. Dodging a jab to my right side, I grab the wanker by the throat and sweep his legs from under him at the same time, slamming the fucker to the ground.

  I hear the whoosh of pain as the air leaves his lungs, and it’s music to my ears, along with the loud banging sound from his head cracking against the mat, an encore to my symphony of pain. This time I keep my head, and don’t give him time to regroup. Pulling my leg back I deliver a kick to his side, which he dodges by rolling to his side, before catching my foot, and bringing me down with him. Bracing myself for the fall, I roll to the side as soon as I hit the mat, and slam my elbow into his groin. He lets out a hiss of pain, and I wrap my legs around his neck, slamming him back to the mat. My victory is short lived when that damn rope of his wraps around my neck like a coiling snake, choking me. Frantically, I try pulling and clawing at the rope with no avail. Coughing the arsehole rises to his feet, and gives me a feral grin, rejoicing in my predicament as he pulls on the rope causing it to tighten even more around my throat. In the corner of my eye a flash of black catches my attention, and I hold my hand up halting Maddie from helping me. Lightheaded from the lack of oxygen, I try pulling at the rope. This was just like in O'Donnell's office, when Silas pulled the air from my lungs. I can’t breathe, and soon I know I will pass out.

  �
��Give up, Shadow,” Hangman orders.

  Ignoring him, I think back to how it feels to release my air power. The light feeling it give me before exiting my body. Concentrating hard, I hold on to that feeling inside me, and instead of releasing the air, I imagined it filling me instead. Soon the light headedness eases, and I’m able to breathe again. To Hangman’s absolute shock, I rise to my feet, and yank hard on the rope connecting us, pulling it out his clutches, and unravel it from my neck.

  “I don’t know how you’re standing, but you won’t be for long,” Hangman taunts.

  With that, he rushes me, and we both fall down to the mat, but this time, I hook my legs around his midsection, and end up on top of him. Straddling him I rain heavy punches down on him, beating him to a bloody pulp until I land a right to his temple, knocking him out.

  Clapping from the doorway and a loud, “well done,” cause me to look up to a happy Natalie, a not so happy Maddie, and a scowling Silas.

  “What?” I say, shrugging at the two Alpha arseholes. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself,” I lecture them both, before wiping Hangman’s blood onto my leggings.

  “Oh and Maddie, try to interfere in one of my fights again, and I’ll kill you,” I scoff, before turning to Natalie.“Do you know where I can find a pen and paper?” I ask.

  “I always keep Post-its and a pen on me. Will that work?”

  “Yes,” I answer and she hands me a bright pink Post-it pad with a matching pen. Scribbling a note down, I stick the post it to Hangman’s forehead before turning to leave. I faintly hear Natalie’s giggles as I exit the door.

  Ten

  Spoils of War

  Atlas

  I can’t get her out of my head. I have tried and failed to go on with my business. She’s more than just beautiful. She’s a sweet elixir, a poison running its way through my veins, taking over my system, and leading me to a happy death. And her voice. It would lure the angels from the heavens above, just to bask in her glory, and hear her sing. She’s my holy grail, my soul, my everything.

  I failed at finding any worthwhile information on her. Even the brightest and most talented hackers couldn’t find anything, except for the BOLO O’Donnell himself sent out on her and her brother with a fifty grand dead or alive reward. Of course, I heard the rumors. Tales whispered in the dark about an assassin so feared, that even the devil himself would quiver upon meeting her. My soulmate has quite the reputation. One I can fully get behind just as long as she knows who’s boss.

  O’Donnell’s proposal has me in quite a predicament. I would gladly give him what he wants for the girl, but I cannot allow him any control over my businesses. I may not get in the middle of human and supernatural affairs, but even I know that if he had any control over anything dealing with me, that it will be a disaster. I control a large portion of the Worlds trade. With my influence, O’Donnell can ship just about anything in and out the country, and I know the horrid things he deals in. Flesh trade being number one. What will be the purpose of having my soul bound mate if I sold my soul in the process? I need advice, and already I hate the person I need to go see, but if I want help with my little problem, I need to set aside my pride.

  “Marella, call the pilot and tell him to have my jet fueled and ready to go to LA in the next hour,” I order, pressing the line to my secretary.

  “Right away, Mr. Kosta,” she immediately replies back.

  I leave my office without a second to waste. I want to be packed and ready to go as soon as possible. The quicker I figure this shit out, the sooner I can get her away from O’Donnell.

  An hour later I’m seated in the luxurious leather seat of my private jet. Pulling out my cell, I make the call I've been dreading since I decided I needed my cousin’s help.

  “What?” he demands as soon as he answers the phone.

  “I’m on my way to LA. I need you to clear your schedule for the rest of the day.”

  “That’s an unusual request, especially coming from you. I’m very intrigued as to why?”

  “I need your help. I will tell you what for once I get there,” I say swallowing past the lump in my throat as I plead for his assistance. I’m a very proud man, and just the thought of asking for help has me balking. I’m tempted to take a peek at my balls just to make sure their still there, but there isn’t much of anything that I wouldn’t do for my Remy.

  “I will see you when you get here,” he replies back curtly, before ending the call.

  The rest of the four hour flight, I close my eyes, and dream about the girl who has turned my life upside down.

  Remy

  I’m happily lounging in my sitting area with a good book when the door to my room is slammed open and an angry looking Hangman storms inside.

  “Are you trying to break my door?” I question, never taking my eyes off the page.

  “Here’s your lunch,” he growls, throwing a brown paper bag onto the table in front of me. “Did you have to write you owe me lunch on a bright pink Post-it and stick it to my fucking forehead while I was passed out?”

  “I was just making sure you didn’t forget. A girl doesn’t play with her food,” I answer putting the book down, and checking out the greasy food in front of me. I’ll hand it to Hangman, he didn’t disappoint. The bag is filled with a bunch of greasy goodness; chinese ribs, sweet and sour chicken, dumplings, pork fried rice, fried chicken, egg rolls, and much more. It’s almost like he wanted to please me, and couldn’t decide what to buy.

  “How did you do it?” He questions, moving towards me, like a predator stalking its prey.

  “Do what?” I ask. My eyes are on the food, but I’m still taking in his movements. Calculating the distance between him and me, and what I will do if he decides to strike.

  “Don’t play dumb, sweetheart, you know what I mean. How did you break my hold? You should have passed out on the gym from lack of air, not rise above it and kick my ass.” Bending in front of me, he braces his arms on the chair caging me in. He’s mere inches from my lips, so close I can clearly see the flecks of blue in his very hazel eyes. Hangman is a good looking man, downright gorgeous. Too bad he just doesn’t do it for me. Plus my plate is already full.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tell him, shrugging my shoulders. “Now if that’s all, I’m hungry, and you’re blocking my food.”

  Moving out of the way, he gives me one last parting glance before leaving out of the room.

  I don’t want to think about him anymore. He can’t prove that I used my power, so I put the whole thing off as something to worry about at a later time. Digging into my pork fried rice, I moan in pure ecstasy. This is prime stuff. If he wasn’t such an arse, I would actually thank Hangman.

  “I had to find out what’s making you make such dick hardening noises,” I hear Silas say, as he walks inside my room and takes a seat across from me.

  “Spoils of war,” I garble between bites of food.

  “I just passed Hangman in the hall. Was he the one to bring you all this?”

  “Yep,” I answer.

  “And what else did he want?” he prods.

  Sighing loudly, I glance up at my gorgeous mage.

  “Must we talk about this now?” I whine. "All I want to do is enjoy this spread before O’Donnell finds out, and pretend my life isn’t this huge black hole of suck.”

  “That’s the thing, love. We can’t just get complacent. I guarantee while you’re sitting here, O’Donnell is off somewhere planning to make shite worse. You’re not the only person I have to worry about in all this.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say as I think about how selfish I’m being. Yeah my life sucks, and I’m sure Silas’s family isn’t great either. I haven't met his mom yet, but I can only imagine it’s hard on her to watch as her only children work for that sick fuck O’Donnell in order to keep her safe, and here I am putting them all in danger.

  “You’re right. Since waking, I’ve only been thinking about myself, but you must unders
tand having someone, people, anyone other than my brother to look out for is new to me. It’s another way of thinking, and I’m not grasping onto it as quickly as you may want me to.”

  “I know, love, and I’m not holding that against you. I just want you to see the bigger picture. Not just my family, but the whole world is counting on us. On you,” he explains, and I think about the gravity of his words.

  “Hangman wanted to know how I did it. How I was able to escape his hold, when he was choking me with that rope of his,” I tell him.

  “How did you break his hold?” He questions.

  “I don’t know. I think this band is losing its power somehow. I mean, I don’t know the logistics behind it, but Gabriel said something about it not working, and not to let O’Donnell find out at the club, and there has been a couple occurrences since then when I have been able to feel my power, and my wolf breaking through. When I fought Hangman, I thought about how it feels when I use my air power, so I reversed it. Instead of releasing the air, I had it fill me instead, directing it to my lungs.”

  “Do you think we can trust, Gabriel?” Silas asks lost in thought. I can practically see that brain of his turning.

  “I don’t think we have any other choice. He knows about the band, and he knows about you and Maddie,” I admit.

  “How?” He questions, eyes wide in shock.

  “The fuck if I know. It must be his intrusive ass power. The ability to see the truth. Apparently this Jon Snow doppelgänger knows his shite," I grumble.

  “We're going to have to take this one step at a time. We need to find out exactly how much Gabriel knows, and a way to get that electric choker off your neck. It's a good thing the nullify band is losing power over you, but it still won’t help if you’re still tethered to O’Donnell with the collar.

  “Can’t we just cut it off?” I ask confused. Why is he acting like this simple collar is the end of the world?

  “It’s not a simple collar. It wasn’t human made, it’s magical,” he explains reading my thoughts.