by Lisa Kessler
Chapter Twenty-Four
Isabelle
Adrenaline had my heightened senses pinging. Even though Jett was bigger, I led us toward the main building. Being smaller was actually a perk for peering around corners and not being seen. We jogged closer. Although Sebastian thought the jaguar shifters would be in the forested area of the compound by now, I’d feel better when we were out of the wide-open parking lot. When we reached the building, I pressed my back to the cool block wall. The sun had fallen below the horizon, and without a moon shining above, darkness settled in fast.
I glanced up at Jett. “Sebastian mentioned you left Nero with a gift. Can it help us?”
He tightened his grip on the automatic rifle we’d taken from the guard. “Yes, but not if there’s a group of them. I can handle two at a time, and not for very long.”
“Is it super strength or invisibility?”
Jett wasn’t a talker and obviously wasn’t keen to spill information about his experience inside Nero, but we were about to enter a building full of guards, and I needed to know what he was bringing to the table.
He shook his head. “No.”
I groaned. “We don’t have time to pussyfoot around this. I won’t tell anyone, but I need to understand all the weapons we’ve got at our disposal before we bust in like gun-toting party crashers.”
His lips twitched. “I can force my will on someone. It doesn’t last long, and it only works on one person at a time.”
Instantly Obi-Wan popped in my head. “Like a Jedi mind trick?”
“Not really.” He tapped his forehead. “Mine beats the shit out of my head every time I use it.”
“All right. So we save it for the guards at her room?”
“Yeah.” He pointed toward the front doors. “We’ll have to muscle our way through the rest.”
In the distance, we heard the distinct roar of a jaguar, followed by snarling and hissing. I glanced up at Jett. “Safe to say the Nero jaguars won’t be getting in our way right now.”
“Let’s do this.”
I gave the count and entered the building. No guards. I frowned. Their scents still lingered, but the humans were gone. Jett whispered, “They’re probably all on sublevel four guarding the girl.”
I started for the elevator, but Jett caught my elbow, tilting his head to the right. “Let’s take the stairs. They might have guns aimed at the elevator doors.”
“Good plan.” We jogged down the stairs until we got to the door we needed. I pressed my ear to the door. Voices, but I couldn’t make out words even with my heightened hearing. “They’re in there.”
Jett nodded. “I’ll go in first with the rifle. You watch my back.”
I drew my guns, one in each hand, and cocked them. “Ready.”
Jett kicked in the door, and all hell broke loose. He sprayed the hallway with gunfire, cutting down Nero guards like a Weedwacker in an overgrown field. I trailed behind him, watching for any guards who raised their weapons.
Suddenly the door to the stairs burst open behind us. I spun around as a bullet skimmed my shoulder. Four more guards spilled into the hallway, guns blazing. I raised my weapons and fired until my clips were empty.
Jett glanced back over his shoulder. “Nice shooting.”
“Thanks.” I turned around, shaking my head. “Where’s her room?”
He stepped over bodies as he whispered, “She’s at the end of this corridor, but the guards will be ready. There’s no way they missed all the gunfire.”
I nodded. “How’s your ammo?”
He hung the rifle on his shoulder and reached for the second one on his other side. “Should be fine.”
“Let’s do this.”
He stayed in front, and I followed close behind with no idea how it would play out. When we rounded the corner, a man shouted, “Drop your weapons!”
Jett’s deep voice echoed off the walls of the corridor. “Severino asked us to transport the girl.”
I peered around Jett. The first guard frowned. “We didn’t get orders.”
“Yes, you did.” He paused. “Severino gave you the orders when he called you in. His granddaughter needs to come with us. We’ll protect her until the threat passes.”
The second man pulled a key card from his pocket. “Where are we supposed to go?”
Heat was radiating off Jett’s back until sweat soaked through his shirt. “You’ll stay here so no one knows the girl is missing. They won’t look for her.”
“Yes, sir.” The door beeped, and he stepped aside.
I went in first. There was a small mound under the covers on the corner of the bed. I walked over and crouched beside her. “Madeleine?”
She didn’t move, her voice coming through the blanket. “Go away. You’re not Uncle ‘Bastian.”
The fear in her voice broke my heart.
Jett sat on the stool, head in his hands. Sweat slid down his neck. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it couldn’t be good. I turned to the lump again. “Your uncle sent me to take you to your mom.”
Suddenly she poked her head out. “Who are you?”
“I’m Isabelle, and this is Jett.”
He lifted his head and forced a smile.
“You got a bloody nose,” Madeleine sniffled. “Did the bad men give it to you?”
Jett got up to find a tissue. “I’ll be all right.”
“We’ve got to go now, okay?”
She crossed her arms. “I shouldn’t go with strangers.”
I didn’t know how long Jett’s spell on the guards would last. We needed to get out of here. I stared into Madeleine’s eyes. “I also know your dad, Adam. He wants me to take you to your mom.”
Her gaze went from me to Jett and back to me. “You promise?”
I nodded. “We’ve got to go, sweetie.”
Madeleine crawled out of the bed, and I picked her up. I turned around, studying Jett. “Are you okay to run the gauntlet back out?”
He nodded, but I wasn’t convinced. All the color had drained from his face, and his shirt was soaked with perspiration.
Jett took the lead, and I followed, carrying Madeleine on my hip.
We were halfway there.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sebastian
My bones cracked, tendons tore and knitted back together, fur erupted from my skin, and sharp teeth filled my mouth. The predator clawed his way forward while the man stepped back. Although the jungle cat’s instincts to hunt were in full force, I had years of training. I was an expert at focusing the jaguar’s attention, and I quickly sorted through the familiar scents to locate the wolf.
Adam Sloan.
I loped toward my target, my ears twitching, listening for my backup. Vance trotted through the underbrush to my right. He chuffed his location as we made our way closer to the human werewolf. The others were already on the move. Too many jaguars for the two of us to fight all at once, but I reassured the cat to stay the course and tune out everything else.
The man was our mission.
Inside, I prayed the werewolves were in their places along the watchtowers, ready to back us up with gunfire. I burst through the brush, and crouched in the clearing was the Alpha. The cat slowed to an agitated walk, pacing around him, recognizing his scent as the one we were hunting. The jaguar didn’t understand my reluctance to pounce.
Adam frowned, pulling in a slow breath. “Sebastian?”
We snarled in answer, and behind us another jaguar broke through the forest. Vance. Reaching out with a giant paw, we swiped at him, reminding him this was not his prize. He hissed and kept a perimeter around Adam.
One by one, more cats arrived, flattening their ears, challenging us for dominance. But none of these were my true target.
Where was my father?
While I scanned the shadows, one of the jaguars rushed in. Vance reared up on his hind legs, tackling the other cat to the ground.
Adam growled behind me. “I wish I knew your plan.”
M
y tail jerked as I snarled at the others. To my left another cat bolted toward Adam. I intercepted, ramming his flanks with my head and sending him rolling through the underbrush. Vance wrestled with another big cat, but still no sign of my father. His scent wasn’t even on the wind.
My concentration was broken by a cat pouncing onto my back. His weight pinned me to the ground. Pain lit through the back of my shoulders as his fangs sank into my skin, tearing out a piece of flesh. I regained my footing and spun around to try to shake off the attacker.
Something knocked him free. The scent of blood assaulted me as he lay still. I swung my head up in the direction of the watchtower and roared.
The cavalry was here, and one of them was an exceptional shot. Time to get Adam out. I chuffed at Vance and came up on Adam’s right side. Vance followed suit on the other side. I bumped my head on the back of Adam’s leg, encouraging him forward.
He rested his hand on my back, and I flinched, hissing at the sharp sting.
“Sorry.” He paused. “You’re bleeding pretty badly. Is Jason up there? Maybe he can patch you up.”
The werewolves hit two more jaguars stalking us. Almost there. The parking lot was in view. I panted through the pain.
And then I froze. Tipping my head up, I checked again. My ears flattened. It was my father’s scent. I couldn’t see him yet, but he was here. Somewhere.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Isabelle
Madeleine clung to me. I stayed close to Jett as we made our way back up the stairs. Before we opened the door to the ground floor, he whispered over his shoulder, “Let me go first. I’ll come back for you once I’m sure we’re clear.”
“Okay.”
He burst through the door. It slammed behind him, making Madeleine flinch. I rubbed her back, keeping my voice low. “We’re almost out. Your dad should be waiting at the car.”
She sniffled. “Is it far?”
I shook my head. “Not too far.”
Jett poked his head in. “All clear.”
His eyes were bloodshot, and there was a tremor in his hands. I frowned. “Does this happen every time?”
He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I’m trying to keep control of both of the guards by her door. I can’t hold them much longer.”
“Let’s jam the elevator. If they have to take the stairs, we’ll be long gone by the time they get up here.”
“Good idea.” He turned in that direction while I carried Madeleine out.
With no sign of any guards, I lowered her to the ground and took her hand. “Ready to find your dad?”
She nodded, and Jett led the way toward the door. As we stepped outside, the scent of blood had me on red alert. I recognized it. Sebastian.
Adam came toward us with a black jaguar at his side. The other had turned back, snarling. The Alpha ran to us and caught his little girl in his arms as she buried her face in his neck.
He looked over at me and Jett. “Thank you.”
Jett glanced at the jaguar and back to Adam. “We better get out of here.”
All my attention was on Sebastian. He left a trail of crimson paw prints behind him as he headed for the compound again. I frowned. “What’s he doing?”
Jett caught my arm. “He’s keeping his father busy so we can get away.”
“He’s injured.” I jerked free of his grasp. “They’ll kill him if he makes a move on his father.”
Fresh blood trickled from Jett’s nose as he pushed his power again.
I stumbled backward. “No! If you get anywhere near my fucking mind, I’ll kick your ass. I’m not leaving Sebastian behind.”
Jett frowned. “You can’t help him. You’re outnumbered. You’ll distract him.”
I narrowed my eyes at Adam. “Was that talk about being part of your Pack all bullshit?”
“No.” His tone stayed even and controlled. “This was the plan, remember? Sebastian can handle himself. He wants us to take you to Reno. He’ll meet us there.”
There was a pull in his voice, and my wolf ached to comply. Every step in the other direction physically hurt. I pulled another loaded clip from my pocket, sweat breaking out on my brow.
“This blood on the ground wasn’t part of the plan.” I winced. “He’ll die in there.”
The big jaguar left Adam’s side, coming toward me. I pointed at him. “Vance knows.” My voice broke. “Please.”
The vise on my head vanished. Adam shifted his daughter to his other arm. “I need a phone.”
Jett handed him his cell, and Adam punched in a number. “Luke? It’s me. I’m out front with Madeleine. Stay at the watchtower. Sebastian went back in, and Isabelle is on her way. Cover them.”
He paused. I was too far away to be able to hear the other side of the conversation even with my werewolf hearing.
Adam’s gaze shifted up toward Nero’s tall block walls. “Once it’s safe, I want everyone on the ground. Get Sebastian and Isabelle out alive. I’ll explain later.”
He handed the phone back to Jett and met my eyes. “It wasn’t bullshit.”
“Thank you.” I slammed the clips into my guns and ran, following the bloody tracks with Vance trotting at my side.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sebastian
Two jaguars lay motionless near the back of the building, but it didn’t slow the hunt for my father. Why couldn’t I find him?
The wound on my back pulsed, blood dripped down my legs, and fatigue dug its claws into me, but I kept moving. This was going to end tonight, one way or another. A jaguar growled from the tree line but didn’t venture out. I sniffed the air.
He was close.
I stopped, gazing into the darkness as I scanned the area. Suddenly the rear door of the main building opened behind me. I spun around to find my father in human form. He’d shifted back.
Dressed in black from head to toe, he shouted, “You betrayed me.”
I stalked toward him, exposing my sharp teeth. He pulled a gun from his shoulder holster, aiming the barrel at me. I urged the jaguar to take cover, but the blood loss had drained any speed we might have had.
He cocked the handgun, and gunfire erupted from the watchtowers. The shots deafened my ears as my father ran serpentine toward the edge of the building, shouting to the other jaguars. “We’re under attack. Shift back. Now!”
I turned to pursue him when I caught another scent. Isabelle.
She rounded the corner, guns drawn. I wanted to shout and warn her to run, but I had no voice inside the massive cat. My father fired, and Isabelle went down. From this distance I couldn’t be sure where she was hit.
All my rage and anguish combined into one tormented roar.
Vance came around the corner and launched his body into the air, knocking my father to the ground. His gun skidded in my direction.
It was going to hurt like hell, but I needed my hands. I snagged the pistol in my teeth and pushed my battered body to run to Isabelle’s side. I nudged her face, but she didn’t move.
Unconscious, but her heartbeat was strong to my sensitive ears.
I dropped the gun, collapsed onto my side, panting through the pain as I strained to push the jaguar back. We trained for forced shifts, but no amount of training could lessen the agony of our bodies mutating and our spirits struggling with the primal animal for control.
By the time I was myself again, my father’s fight with Vance was over. He shoved the jaguar off him. Vance lay in a heap with a knife handle protruding from his chest. Shit. Rage smoldered in my gut, giving me one last dose of adrenaline.
I snatched the gun off the ground, fury combating the bone weariness from blood loss. I cocked the gun, and my father spun around.
“Betrayer,” he hissed. “Just like your whore of a mother.”
No shots rang out from the watchtower. I shook my head, lining up my shot. “She protected so many from you. She was a patriot.”
His mouth twisted into a sneer. “She was a coward.” He drew a gun from his belt. “In
the end, she begged for her life. I stood on the other side of the door while she gasped for air. She broke the glass but couldn’t squeeze through.”
My aim was steady, my index finger caressing the trigger. “For years I bloodied my hands for you, but no more.”
“You can’t kill me, Sebastian.” He laughed. “You know better than anyone that if I die, you will, too. All my jaguars will feed on your bones.”
“They fear you. That’s not loyalty.” Why weren’t the wolves firing? “I was loyal, but it was never enough for you.”
Behind me, Isabelle stirred. I wished I could send her a telepathic message to stay down.
My father lurched forward, raising his gun. “You were weak!” He gestured to the trees. “They’ll defend me.”
I glanced at the shadows and back to his face. “I don’t think so.” I tipped my head toward the watchtower. “In case you’re wondering, there are two Packs with rifles aimed at your chest.”
I hoped he’d buy my bluff. I wasn’t sure where the werewolves were at the moment, but if I could, I needed to take my father alive. Without his political contacts, we’d all be in danger.
His twisted smile broadened. “I watched your mother clawing at that locked door. She promised me loyalty, money, whatever I wanted.”
“Are you tempting me to pull this trigger?” I’d never wanted to kill. It was always a job, a necessary evil, but right now…I ached to silence him forever.
He spat blood on the ground. “You’re pathetic. Just like her.” He narrowed his eyes. “You have no idea of the danger you, and every shifter on the planet, will be in if I die.”
“That’s why I’m giving you a chance to live. Drop your gun and we can talk.” I yearned to pull the trigger, but I fought the urge. My father—not me—had the connections inside the government that kept our existence secret.
He laughed. “I would rather die than be controlled by my son and his flea-bitten wolf friends.”
I angled my sights and pulled the trigger. He fell to the ground, gripping his right shoulder. My gamble paid off. He’d rushed to get dressed and hadn’t put on his body armor. I dropped my gun and collapsed to my knees beside Isabelle.