by Tl Reeve
Pain exploded in her head as she saw stars. “I didn’t.”
“Liar!”
Over and over he hit her. Darkness surrounded her and she sought its blissful nothing. She'd feel no pain there. Her freedom from the beating he administered lay within the void. Her eyes fluttered closed as agony tore through her…
Kalkin had the photographs of the house blown up so his men could see what they were going into. Without personal dampeners, they would lose their element of surprise. After this was over, he’d get them.
"This is where Keeley is." He pointed to the small obscured window. "We don't know her status, as of checking on her. We'll enter from the back and the front. Hazel will know we're coming. Everything we do from the moment we arrive at the point of extraction has to be calculated. Remember to keep your minds focused on the task, not on the people there. I will deal with Simon and Hazel. You will secure the house and tend to Keeley.”
The thought had crossed his mind to go in as a wolf, but that would be like bringing a knife to a gun fight. He had to be able to fight. Even though he’d heal from gunshots, he didn’t want to have to deal with it. Keeley required his full attention.
“EMS will be at the mouth of the dirt road. If anything happens, a helicopter will airlift out. Any questions?”
“I’m going.” Caden stepped forward as he shoved his gun in his holster. “I’m not staying behind.”
Kal grunted. “Good.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Danielle running her fingers along the barrel of an AK-42. He didn't want her out there this time, however, he understood she'd want to be there for her sister. Another argument he couldn't have at the moment. The longer they stood there, the longer Keeley was trapped in that house with two pieces of shit.
He gave the final order, “Load up. You have been authorized to use lethal force. Shoot to kill, everyone.”
He strode over to where Danielle stood by his SUV. “I’d tell you to stay behind, but I have a feeling you’d get there somehow.”
She gave him a faint smile. “You know me too well.” She tapped the primer-black barrel of the rifle. “Point and click, right?”
“Point and shoot,” he chuckled, giving the situation a bit of gravity they needed. “Here.” He grabbed the 9mm strapped to the front of his vest. “It’s smaller, lighter. The kick won’t knock you on your ass. You should also be wearing a vest.”
She nodded. “I’ll get one. When we arrive. It’s too hot.”
“Do not go near the house without it, got it?” He grabbed her by the arm. Keeley and Danielle were fearless to a fault.
“I won’t,” she answered, crawling into the backseat of his vehicle.
The plan had been to congregate at the mouth of the dirt road, just before the rutted land he, Blackhorn and Dani had traversed. There weren't many power lines or obstructions, making it easier for helicopters and EMS personnel to get in. From there, they'd jump on a Bearcat and make their way to the house. It would take fifteen minutes from base to target. Fifteen minutes for shit to go sideways.
He got behind the wheel as Caden got in on the passenger side and Jace slid in beside Danielle. He led the procession away from town. On the way out, they passed the hotel. White and gray smoke still rose in wispy tendrils, curling as they went higher. A crew of workers were already there trying to load up the debris to take it back to the makeshift reconstruction site. It would take weeks, maybe longer, to know what Simon used to cause such an explosion.
None of them talked as they drove through the desert. Nothing really needed to be said anymore. They were there to do a job, get his mate back. However, he also wanted to consider Caden being there as the first step of his and Danielle’s reconciliation. When they pulled up to the base, the helicopter sat in the middle of the open field along with the Bearcat. He pulled alongside it, then got out.
He approached the men waiting on them near the helicopter and shook their hands. “Thank you.”
“Our pleasure. You tell us where you want us, and that’s where we’ll go,” one of the pilots stated.
“I’m hoping we won’t need you.” He snatched his pad out of his pocket then proceeded to write down the coordinates for the house. “This is where she is being held. I will call if we need you.”
The man nodded. “We’ll be on standby.”
The situation turned serious. The idle chit-chat evaporated. Kalkin's men grabbed their gear before loading up into the heavily armored vehicle. He didn't see Danielle but knew she'd be with them. He hoped she'd stay with the vehicle. It would be one last person he had to deal with and one less worry.
When they were ready, he climbed onto the runner with his brothers and held on tight. The vehicle lurched to life. They bounced and shook as they made their way down the lane. Once they got through the grove of trees where Blackhorn concealed them, the path would open up and become more of a dirt road than a walking trail.
He glanced at his watch. Twenty minutes. Keeley had to hold on for twenty more minutes. Kalkin went over the plan again in his mind. He’d take a team to the back entry point. They would make contact with Keeley there. Those who were in the way would be eliminated. If anything happened to his mate, he’d kill them all. He didn’t care. They didn’t have to ask questions. The bastard didn’t deserve any courtesies.
They lurched onto the dirt road and their ride smoothed out. Around the bend in the road, the house would come into view. Nervous energy spiked in his body. His wolf brushed against his skin, demanding he be let out. Kalkin pushed him down. He had to concentrate and he couldn’t if he battled his shifter dominance. Later, when Keeley was safe, he’d let the wolf out to see for himself but until then, he ignored the baser instinct.
As they came around the curve, he growled. There. A quarter mile from them. Already the people outside were hurrying. They must have figured it out. Oh well. They might not have the element of surprise any longer, but they could still get the job done. He grabbed the mic strapped to his shoulder and relayed what he saw.
“Look alive, everyone. We’ve been spotted.”
Caden’s gaze snapped to his. “This situation is FUBAR.”
“Stop being so negative. Keep your focus and don’t lose your fucking head.”
His brother grunted.
Whatever the fuck changed his mind, Kal couldn't worry about. The Bearcat slowed to a crawl as they approached, and the first psychic wave hit. Kalkin couldn't move. He glanced at his brother. They were all affected. Hazel.
“Push back against it,” he snarled. “Don’t let it impede you.”
He fell from the truck, going to his knees before he righted himself. The waves of energy made it feel as though they walked through sludge. Then, nothing. He was running. A space had been created for them to maneuver through.
“Thank you, Dani.” He raised his gun and took out two of the men on the porch, while the rest of his team formed up behind him.
They marched together, taking out those they could see. Each team broke off from Kalkin, leaving him, Caden and Jace to enter through the rear. An old wooden door covered the ground entry into the house. A chain with a padlock stood in their way of getting Keeley. He pulled the trigger, shattering the metal.
Caden grabbed the chain and removed it while he and Jace took up position. Caden threw back the door and shots rang out. He growled long and low. He wouldn’t react. He couldn’t shoot, either. Jace motioned for him to go, and he headed down the stairs, gun pointed at whoever waited for them.
“That’s far enough,” Simon yelled.
Keeley stood in front of him. Her face was broken and bleeding, her body limp. Rage burned through his veins. His trigger finger grew itchy. One shot, he only needed one shot to take this motherfucker out. It would be the end of their problems. Then end of Keeley and Danielle’s terror.
“Let her go,” Kalkin snarled. Caden and Jace took their position on either side of him. “There’s no way out.”
Simon laughed. T
he deeply sadistic crazy sound rankled his wolf. He wanted to tear his throat out. "Wrong again."
The door behind Simon opened and Hazel appeared. The energy of the room changed, becoming heavy. It made it hard to breathe, let alone concentrate. “Hello, boys.” She smiled. “Jace.” She licked her lips. “Long time no see.”
“Fuck you,” his brother spat.
She tsked him. "Is that any way to speak to the woman who rocked your world?" She laughed while increasing the pressure in the room.
“What should we do with you?” Simon’s crazed expression darted between Kalkin and his brothers. “I think we should make you suffer.”
Hazel laughed. “Fuck her, baby. In front of her mate. I can hold him in place.”
Simon pushed Keeley’s hair aside, exposing her mark. “I have waited a long time. But we’ll have to get rid of this first.” He dug his finger into her mark. “It offends me.”
Kalkin tried to step forward, but couldn’t move. He watched in horror as Simon let go of his mate and she fell into a heap. The sociopath took his knife out of his pocket and flicked it open. His brown eyes blazed with crazed excitement. “So much fun.” He pulled the lighter out next and proceeded to heat the metal.
“You fucking bastard, I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll make sure no one finds you.” Kalkin continued to struggle against the invisible bonds holding him in place. “Don’t fucking do it. Don’t touch her.”
The blade turned bright orange and red after a few moments of sitting on the flame from the lighter. “I’m going to make this all better. Just you watch.” Simon went to his knee beside Keeley and Kalkin watched in horror as the man pressed the hot metal to her neck.
Keeley’s scream tore through him. Her body arched as the smell of burning flesh filled the space and mingled with his mate’s pain. He howled in outrage, fighting to get close to where Simon was, but Hazel doubled whatever she was doing to them, causing him to freeze where he stood.
Simon reached for her shirt and tore it open, before rolling Keeley to her back. “Finally. I’ll have what’s mine.”
The door above them slammed open. In the next second, Hazel went flying through the air and hit the eastern wall of the house. She fell into a heap. Simon stood, turning to face Kalkin, pointing his gun at him while dragging Keeley away.
“Who did that? Danielle? She doesn’t have the power to do that.” Simon’s wild gaze darted around the space. “Who else do you have with you?”
While Simon was distracted, Kalkin charged him. He had to get Keeley out of there. He couldn’t think about the burn or the way her body lay crumpled in front of Simon. Later, he’d deal with it. He’d mark her again. Several times in fact, as long as they got out of there safe and in one piece.
He closed the distance between them. Kalkin reached for the asshole as the gun in his hand went off.
“No!” Danielle appeared out of nowhere, jumping in front of him. The sickening thud of the bullet hitting her ripped away the last vestiges of Kalkin’s sanity.
He didn’t care anymore. Simon was going to die.
* * *
Keeley came awake to the sound of the gun firing. She closed her eyes and directed the bullet through her sister. It would break a couple of ribs and nick her liver, but it missed her lung and her heart. Dani would be sore as hell for a few weeks, but she’d live and that was all Keeley had been concerned about when her stupid damn sister relayed her plan through the link.
Their silent connection had gone unnoticed by Hazel and together they'd knocked her out, giving the guys the chance to finish this. Kalkin stood over her, Simon's neck in his grasp, as the wolf pushed through. His features changed, his teeth elongating as he snarled in the man's face. She scrambled as best as she could over to her sister, who'd already begun to heal herself.
There was too much blood, though. She feared her path had been wrong and her sister would die out there, instead of living. She grasped Danielle’s hand and began whispering to her to hang on and not to leave her. She couldn’t leave her. Not yet. Not now. Not out there.
Across from them, Hazel began to stir. Without a second thought, Keeley killed her. She used her abilities to break her neck. She didn’t draw it out. Didn’t give any second thoughts to taking another person’s life. Unlike before when she thought she had, and she feared what would happen to her, this time, she didn’t give a fuck.
She pushed Danielle’s hair from her face as she gazed down at her. “You did good, sis. I’m so proud of you.” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as the activity around them escalated. Another gunshot went off, then everything was quiet.
Seconds later, Kalkin gathered her up in his arms. “I thought I lost you,” he whispered, before taking Danielle’s hand. “How is she?”
Keeley gazed up at him, allowing the tears to finally come. “Dying and I can’t stop it.”
Kalkin launched himself at his brother. “You stupid motherfucker, you did this. You caused this. Danielle is dying because of you.” He beat the shit out of his brother as Caden took every blow. He didn’t fight back.
Jace appeared next to her. “Helicopter is on the way.” He checked Danielle’s neck. “She still has a pulse. She can still make it. Don’t give up hope.”
She wouldn't. She'd will her sister to live forever if she could. This couldn't be how their story ended. They had so much to do still. She kept adding energy to her sister. The healing had slowed to a crawl and the blood stymied as well, but that didn't mean anything. "Come on, Dani, stay with me. Get stubborn."
She didn’t know how long she sat there before a crew entered the basement and she got out of the way. They began working on her sister. When the heart monitor started with a slow, steady beat, she breathed a little easier. “Where are you taking her?”
“Tsehootsooi first. If we have to after she is stabilized, we'll take her to Phoenix,” the paramedic beside her said as he nodded to the rest of his crew. “It’s thirty minutes from here.”
“We’ll be right behind you,” she said, rushing to Kalkin’s side.
His brother lay on his side coughing while Kalkin huffed and puffed over him. She didn’t say anything. Right now, she needed to be the strong one. She guided him away from Caden and out of the basement. Jace stuck with the stretcher as they loaded Danielle up.
“We have to go,” she whispered, drawing Kalkin’s attention.
“You need to be checked out, too,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she answered, brushing off the concern. Her brain felt a bit fuzzy and her neck hurt, but she was just glad to be in her mate’s arms.
He tipped her chin up, then turned it slightly and growled. “You need to be seen.”
“Fine, I’ll go.” She removed his hand from her chin, then pulled him down for a kiss. “You found me.”
He snorted. “Of course I did. I told you I would always find you. No matter the distance. No matter where you are, I will always find you. You’re mine, Keeley Blueriver.”
She smiled, even though it pulled at the cut on her lip. “And you’re mine, Kalkin Raferty.”
“Don’t you fucking forget it.” He wrapped an arm around her, directing her toward a waiting car. “Come on, we need to get to the hospital so we can meet your sister there.”
“I don’t want her waking up without us,” she agreed.
“She’s a damn idiot is what she is,” he snapped. “Why the fuck did she do it? Why did she jump in front of me? I told her to get a damn vest, too.”
She heard the concern in his voice as he helped her into the car. “What can I say, she’s stubborn and she did it to save your life.”
“I could kill my brother,” he stated as he got in behind the wheel.
“At some point, both of you are going to have to deal with this,” she replied. “Until then, can we go?”
Kalkin glanced over at the house as Caden appeared from the basement. “Yeah, let’s go before I do something fucking stupid again.”
K
eeley stared at the side mirror as they pulled away. Caden stood in the same spot as first responders and other personnel surrounded him. He would have to learn the hard way this time. When they became specks on the horizon, she stared straight ahead. Already the sun touched the horizon; the night was coming.
It seemed so strange she’d woken that morning, not sure how anything would be resolved, and now here she sat. It felt like days had passed in such a short amount of time. She grimaced as she tried to get comfortable. She ached from head to toe and the burn at her neck still felt as though a hot poker lingered there. She supposed in some ways it did.
They pulled up to the hospital as the helicopter took off. She grabbed the handle on the door as Kalkin came to a stop at the emergency entrance. She had to get in there. She had to see her sister. Had to make sure she was still alive.
“Hold on.” Kalkin placed his hand over hers. “Let me.” He came around the front of the vehicle and opened her door. Before she could step out, he gathered her in his arms. The hospital door slid open and he called out, “I need a little help out here.”
Two nurses hurried to his side. One had a chair with her and he placed her in their care. “Sorry, sweet cheeks, you have to be checked out first before I let you see Danielle. I can’t have you disregarding your own care.”
She didn’t get a chance to say anything back to him. The nurses were hurrying her to the emergency department. The smug asshole. She’d get him back for this. She’d make his life a living hell. Just watch.
“I need to see my sister,” she said to the nurse.
“Honey, you heard the man who brought you in here. Help us get you checked over and I promise I will keep you updated, okay?” The kind woman gave her a hopeful smile as she touched her shoulder.
“But she doesn’t like to be alone and…and…” Keeley began to shake uncontrollably.
“She’s going into shock,” the kind nurse said. “Let’s get her to a bed. Grab me some warm blankets. I’ll get the I.V. started.” She turned to Keeley. “We’ve got both of you now, let us do our job.”