by Raven Steele
Silas glanced back at the once noble Alpha lying in the dirt. His voice was harsh, his eyes narrow. "Remember that the next time you threaten me.”
My legs weakened, and it was sheer willpower that kept me in place. Ryder, however, had dropped to his knees. I placed my hand on his shoulder, feeling his immense sorrow through our blood connection. It was so powerful and heart-wrenching, I almost burst into tears. Stay strong.
A woman crawled toward the girl, fighting through the pain Lilith had bestowed upon her.
Silas sucked in a breath and straightened. “Does anyone else have anything to say?”
His question was met with deathly silence.
Silas began to walk toward the woman trying to help the girl. His limp was barely noticeable as if the violence had strengthened him.
I narrowed my eyes, watching him closely as his face twisted, and his eyes grew cold. Something in me told me that Silas hated kindness the most. He was going to do something bloody, something I would never forget, something that might break me. My whole body shook, and my wolf emerged, ready to take out the sick motherfucker. I clenched my hands, trying to control my anger, but I was losing the battle.
As if sensing my agitation, Silas looked back at me and, seeing the fury in them, grinned. He lifted his cane, aiming for the woman’s head. He was going to smash her brains out.
I couldn’t let that happen.
If he liked crazy, I would show him insane nuts the size of an elephant. I only hoped my actions would prevent the death of the woman who I was sure was the eyeless girl’s mother.
Yelling out a sudden war cry, I ran directly into the middle of the Greybacks and started swinging. "That will teach you filthy dirty bitches. We should take out all your eyes!"
From the corner of my eye, I saw Silas straighten, a flash of surprise in his eyes. His left eye twitched, but then he was grinning wildly. He lowered his arm holding the cane and watched my show, mumbling, "Finally! Someone who gets it."
I swung my fist at a large man standing near me. He would feel considerable pain, but he would recover more quickly than the others. He dropped to the ground, and I kicked him in the stomach. "Don't screw with the Silver Claws."
Behind me, Silas laughed.
I spun and kicked another man in the face, dropping him too. Three more fell by my hands.
Silas clapped gleefully. "Fabulous!"
Reaching to my hip, I removed my favorite blade from the sheath on my belt. I pointed it at the crowd. “Who’s next?”
I lunged toward a nearby woman and swiped quickly, only scratching her enough to show blood.
Silas’ voice called out to me. “As much as I hate to say it, that's enough blood sport."
I turned around, casting him an angry look. "You're going too easy on them."
He returned to the eyeless girl, who was still breathing, but was otherwise motionless on the ground. He wiped his blade off on her bare stomach, coating it in her own blood. "I think they've learned their lesson.”
He straightened and screwed the blade back into his cane. "Let's go."
Gerald and Lilith turned around and headed back to the car. After giving me a look of appraisal, Silas practically walked perfectly after them. My stomach heaved, and I turned so that no one would see my face, which must surely be paling.
I barely had the strength to go to the car. I stopped to help Ryder to his feet, but when my gaze found his, the look of horror on his face almost had me joining him.
Pleading with my eyes, I nodded once, hoping he would understand why I did what I did. His eyebrows shot up, and his Adam's apple moved up and down. He forced a small smile in understanding.
As I slid behind the steering wheel, I glanced back at the pack. Most were surrounding the injured, especially the eyeless girl. Only one among them stared after us.
Meeting my gaze, Jackson flashed his fangs, a murderous rage in his eyes.
Chapter 22
Because I’d performed so well at the Greybacks, Silas said I’d earned the privilege to drive one of their cars for the rest of the week, a whole three days. Too disgusted and ready to get out of Fire Ridge, I couldn’t turn down the free ride. I immediately grabbed the keys and headed for the front door. As I left, his slimy smile followed me across the room. “Briar?”
I turned around, trying to keep my cool. “Yeah?”
“You did well today. I’d like to give you another assignment.”
Terrence, who was standing by him smiled slowly, and I knew I wouldn’t like whatever Silas was about to say. Terrence still hadn’t gotten over the fact that I’d hit him when we first met. He’d also been cozying up to Silas more and more, trying to get on his good side.
I folded my arms across my chest. “What?”
He frowned, but ignored my attitude. “Tonight I’d like for you to be on my detail when we meet with the Sangre Nocturnas.”
The Sangre Nocturnas was the vampire Mexican cartel. One of Dominic’s plans for expansion was to open new areas using some drug the Nocs had created. Supposedly it gave users an epic high like no other. In my opinion, anything made by vampires should be avoided like the plague.
“You’ll be a valuable asset at the meeting.” He couldn’t hide the gleam in his eyes. By valuable, he meant I would kill and torture if necessary.
I could tell he expected me to feel some sort of gratitude for his offer, so I gave a thumb’s up. “Sounds like my kind of party.”
I spun away from him and headed outside. I had officially become the monster living in Silas’ shadow. Silas believed I was like him and would use me more often because of it.
And I would go along with it because I could use my fists to soften his butchery.
By the time I reached home, my insides were shaking. I kept having flashbacks of Silas stabbing that girl’s eyes out, and it left me raw and bleeding inside. All I wanted to do was drink myself to sleep. Alcohol had been my only comfort during times like this.
I parked the car, but as soon as I stepped out of it, I froze. Luke stood on my porch, his hands stuffed in his pockets. The early afternoon sun kissed the golden highlights on his brown hair. For some reason, the sight of him made me shake worse. I wrapped my arms around myself and walked quickly to the front door. I just had to get inside to where alcohol waited for me like a long-lost friend.
I approached the door. “This isn't a good time.”
He blocked my path. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
"Silas can be especially cruel. I've seen his work too many times to know that it doesn't leave anyone ‘fine.’”
"And yet, you seem to be doing okay.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“You lie well, then,” I mused. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Look who’s calling the kettle black.”
I gave him a hardened look. “If you don’t like working for him, why do you?”
He glared back at me, just as hard. “I don’t have a choice."
My mouth dropped open, and I almost asked him about it, but my shaking grew stronger. I stepped up, trying to pass by him. He couldn’t see me like this.
He lifted his hands and gently placed them on my arms as if to hold me steady. "What the hell happened? You can talk to me.”
My gaze slowly lifted to his. “Can I?"
"We may be more similar than you think." Warmth from his hands bled into my skin and tension buzzed between us.
I stepped back away from his touch, and his hands fell to his side. "I don't think that's a good thing. You should go. I need to get some rest before tonight. Silas wants me to go with him, and I need to figure out a way to scrub my mind before I do."
He bristled. "Tonight? Don't tell me he's taking you to meet the Nocs.”
I held my tongue, unwilling to talk about it. If I did, I might slip and tell Luke the truth. That I didn't want to go anywhere with Silas. That the second I got him alone, I was going to kill him. Until then, I just needed to
walk through the darkness a little more to finally free myself and others.
“Why would Silas bring you? He barely knows you.”
““Apparently, I'm his new favorite pet." The words felt like razor blades in my mouth.
He asked his next question slowly. “And how did you earn that title?"
I didn’t like the way he was looking at me, as if I was suddenly holding loaded guns in my hands. I couldn’t handle another person being disappointed in me. It was too much. Besides, why was he so worried about me all the sudden? I huffed and pushed him back. “Why the hell do you care? Just get out of my way.”
He stepped back, putting more distance between us but not completely moving aside. "You're going to get yourself hurt."
I met his eyes, showing him the rage I held inside. “Probably. But at least I’ll hurt others along the way. People who deserve it.”
He shook his head. "I can't help you."
“I didn’t ask you to, you presumptuous prick.” It was clear where his loyalties were, deep up Dominic’s ass. “I gotta go.”
I moved past him, squeezing through the small space he left between the door, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me. "Find a way not to go tonight.”
His nearness made my heart beat faster. It wouldn’t take much for me to bend forward and brush my lips against his.
He leaned in, just a fraction of an inch, and I saw his breath hitch. “I’ve met these vampires. They don't mess around."
"Neither do I."
We stared at each other, frozen in time. He searched my eyes, for what I didn't know. After a long moment, he nodded his head as if he found whatever it was he was looking for. "Okay."
"Okay what?"
"I'll see you later tonight.” He let me go, brushing his fingers across my stomach, deliberately making my core warm. Damn him.
I stared after him as he walked toward his bike, wondering what his deal was. He had been working for Dominic for at least a few years now. If Luke truly did have some sort of an end game with Dominic, it should've ended a long time ago.
This thought gave me pause.
What if I got stuck working for Dominic for years? Could I do that?
I planned on having this finished up within a few weeks’ time, but already that time had passed. Maybe I had grossly underestimated my plan. Would that mean I’d have to betray and hurt more people to finish this? Continue to keep my secrets?
And what secrets was Luke hiding? Not to mention Lynx and Samira. I turned around and walked back into the house. Everyone surrounding me was full of secrets and lies.
Just like me.
Chapter 23
I headed straight for the kitchen, not giving another thought about Luke. I had to rummage around a bit, but I finally found a cupboard with a few bottles of alcohol. I grabbed the first one I touched and ripped off its top. I’d already drunk half of it before I reached Lynx’s room.
I stepped into her open doorway; she was sitting at her desk with a pen in hand.
"How are you feeling?"
She looked up at me, and her eyes widened in surprise. She quickly closed the book she had been writing in, a journal probably. She seemed the type.
“I promise I won’t read your,” I waved my hand at her, “thingee.”
She grinned at my already buzzed state (I probably should’ve eaten something) and pulled her legs beneath her, leaning back to rest her elbows on the armrests. "My shoulder’s still a little sore, but other than that I'm doing really good."
"I'm glad to hear it." I tipped the bottle and guzzled nice and long. I offered it to Lynx. "You want some?"
She eyed it thoughtfully, then shook her head. "Rough day?"
“The worst.” I dropped onto her bed. "Just because I'm their newest member, doesn’t mean I want to be there."
I let the words hang in the air, hoping she could read between the lines.
Her gaze fell to the floral bedspread. "I know you didn't want to hurt me. I could see it in your eyes. What happened that night, I needed it too."
Now her words hovered in the air, right next to mine. I could see through them. We both had secrets, and we both knew it.
I downed another long sip, enjoying the burn of it as it coated my throat.
“Do you work tonight?" she asked.
I shook my head. "But I do have to go with Silas somewhere. Hopefully it won’t take long.”
She visibly shivered. “That guy is straight up creepy.”
I nodded my head in agreement. “Your mother’s shit should be named after him."
She laughed. “Perfect!”
“I’m going to go finish this.” I held up my bottle. “Then get a bunch of sleep before I go. Do you need anything before I crash?"
“I’m good, but thanks."
I rose from the bed, the alcohol making me sway. It never stayed in my system long, so I had to enjoy it while I could. Drinking fast was the best way.
I staggered to my room, drinking as I went. By the time I reached my bedroom, the bottle was empty. I fell face first onto the bed, my body feeling numb. But more importantly, the eyeless girl was gone from my mind. I hoped I’d never see her again.
One thing I’ve learned though, is that we never get everything we want.
I woke several hours later, my body refreshed, but my mind felt fractured, like crushed glass. Remains were scattered everywhere. It took me several minutes to gather them up and try to piece them together again. What formed in my mind was an abstract painting of the world, and how it was changing around me. I didn't like it.
After dressing quickly, I bounded down the stairs into the kitchen for a quick bite to eat. Samira was already there sitting on a chair wiping down a long blade. A second one laid on top of the table.
“Ugh. Do you have to do that in here?"
"It's the only place in the house with four lights."
"Aha." I opened the refrigerator. "Where's Lynx?”
"She said she had some family business to attend to. Where are you going?"
“Headed to Fire Ridge soon. What about you, Sammie?” She grunted at her nickname. I sat down, digging into leftover meatloaf from three days ago. It tasted alright. “So?”
"I have a meeting."
"Does it involve those swords?" I nodded toward her blades.
"It could."
"I have a meeting too. I bet one of those sure would come in handy."
Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you meeting with?"
I pushed the meatloaf around with my fork and shrugged. "No one important.” I wasn't sure if the meeting was supposed to be kept secret. Probably.
"I am traveling with Silas to meet the Sangre Nocturnas.” She said their name the way it was probably meant to be said.
I dropped my fork. "That's where I’m going. Why are you going?”
"It's a business deal. Dominic always sends me on those. I need to make sure the Silver Claws get their fair share." She set the blade next to the other one, gently as if it might break. "How is it that you are going? You’re a brand-new member."
"It's a long story, and not one I want to rehash." I watched the meatloaf mash through the little spaces in between the fork.
She picked up her other blade. “That explains the alcohol on your breath. I hope it gets out of your system soon. You're going to need all of your wits about you when you face the Sangre Nocturnas.”
I breathed into my hand, smelling my breath, and wrinkled my nose. “Hundred percent sober. I know what's at stake tonight. The Silver Claws are looking at expanding their reach into other states. That’ll make it difficult to destroy the beast.”
"But even more important, the drug the vampires want to bring into the country is of the likes no one has seen before. It will destroy many human lives, supernaturals too.”
I leaned back in my seat, my shoulders dropping. “What do you know about it?”
“The chemicals are similar to heroin, but it’s also been mixed with traces of vampire venom. Some
claim magic was also used. We’re still trying to determine its contents, but it’s been difficult to get our hands on a sample.”
“We?”
She ignored me and continued to tenderly wipe at the long blade.
Whatever this drug was, Samira was right. We couldn’t introduce something like this into the States. I didn’t want to bring harm to any human.
But I couldn’t outright stop the deal either. If I did anything to mess this meeting up, Silas would kick me off his team, setting me back weeks, possibly months.
First things first. This deal had to go through. I'd find a way to get rid of the drugs later. "We can't stop this transaction.”
Her hand stilled, and she leaned forward. "Did you hear what I said?"
I pushed away from the table. "You don't like it, stay away."
"I will do no such thing." She rose to meet me and crushed the space between us. We stood inches apart, each of our powers surging.
Her eyes were furious and ferocious. “Whatever game you're playing, you're going to get someone killed."
I met her fury. “And if you don't start playing the game, you’ll be the one who ends up dead."
"It's been a long time since anyone threatened me and lived."
"I don't give threats."
Before I could react, Samira took hold of my shirt and yanked me over the table. She wasn’t gentle as she dragged me out the back door. I stumbled down the steps and hit the ground hard. I bellowed out a warning, my fangs growing long in my mouth. This fight was a long time coming.
Her own fangs grew to sharp points and glimmered in the rising moon’s light. "You need to be taught a lesson on respect."
I tossed a rock at her, a lame distraction, but one nevertheless. I whirled around and sprinted toward the forest. We needed to take this fight away from the house. The last thing I wanted to do is hurt anything that belonged to Lynx.
As soon as I hit the edge of the forest, Samira tackled me. We tumbled to the ground, all fists and fury. She clocked me in the jaw three times before I bucked her off and flipped up to my feet. She attacked me again, but I kicked her. She flew backwards and crashed onto the ground, skidding until she hit a tree. She grunted, but the pained expression quickly changed to snarling and showing her teeth. When she went after me again, I landed a punch to her face and as she stumbled backwards, I reverse kicked, catching her chin with my boot. Her body spun through the air and slammed into another tree.
