by Raven Steele
Angel drank freely, pressing his body against mine for half a minute before he finally let go. He licked at my neck to heal the wound, the motion surprisingly gentle, and I oddly found comfort in it. He leaned away from me. “All done. Thank you.”
He reached into his pocket and handed me some vials. “Use them sparingly, if possible. I don’t want you harming yourself.”
“Uh-huh.” I immediately downed one and stepped back into the elevator, already feeling euphoric.
“Where are you going?” Angel asked.
I smiled. “To kick some monsters’ asses.”
Chapter 23
Bodian Dynamics spread out before me in half-a-dozen square, drab buildings. Definitely looked government. A handful of vehicles sat in the parking lot, their owners stuck working the night shift. From the top of the hill I was perched on, I easily spotted the loading bay. Cliff would be there.
I searched the surrounding fence for the security Dominic spoke about, but didn’t see a single person. Not like it mattered. The Scorpion’s Breath was pumping my blood fast and hard. It made me invincible. I was certain I could face whatever they decided to throw at me.
I leapt from the short cliff to the ground below and took off sprinting around the fence. When I came close to the shipping bay, I crouched low and focused. A moment later, I sprang into the air, up and over the tall, barbed fence. I expected to be surrounded by security the moment I landed, but still no one appeared. This might be easier than Dominic expected.
The loading bay was mostly empty, except for one truck that was backed up into one of the openings. I could hear the low rumble of men’s voices inside, loading something into the back. There were several doors around the building that I could’ve entered, but I figured I’d need some kind of security badge to get through. Not wanting to mess with that, I decided to go through the only direct opening.
I slipped off my leather jacket, keeping the envelope with it. I pushed up my breasts and adjusted my tank top. They couldn’t have looked better.
Squeezing my way between the small space between the truck and the garage opening, I pretended I belonged there even when I got several looks. There were more people in here than I thought. Almost a dozen, mostly men, but there were a few women who looked just as tough. Security or workers? Only a handful of them were actually working.
“Can I help you?” a woman called out over the crowd, starting towards me.
By now, everyone had stopped working and they all stared at me.
“I’m just here for Cliff. He’s expecting me.”
“You’re not his wife.”
I grinned wickedly. “Oops! Don’t tell her that. So, is he here?”
“This is a secure area,” she continued.
I walked past her towards the back, to where I spotted several offices with their lights on. A few of the men followed me. There was something about their mannerisms I found unsettling. Maybe it’s because they hadn’t eyed my boobs like I had expected.
“Cliff!” If he was the manager, then hopefully he was doing his job and would be nearby.
A door opened. A heavy-set man in his mid-forties appeared over a balcony above me. He was missing half the hair on his head. His exposed scalp was wet with grease or sweat. He looked at me from behind thick glasses, then glanced at the others. I took note that he seemed more concerned with the men behind me than me.
He leaned over the railing. “Who are you?”
“I came to talk. Is there somewhere private we can go?”
“You need to leave. Now.”
I changed my positions, shifting my feet so I could see those behind me, too. “Debbie said we should talk”
“How do you know my wife?”
“I don’t yet, but I promise we’re going to get real cozy if you don’t tell your guard dogs to back off.”
He shook his head sadly. “You have no idea what you stepped into.”
I swallowed around the growing thickness in my throat. Something was definitely wrong. I tried a different approach. “Dominic sent me. We just need to talk. I think you’ll like what I have to say.”
His face paled at something behind me. “Leave now!” He ducked back into his office and slammed the door.
I turned around. Three of the men, who looked no older than twenty, began to change. First it was a jerk of the arm, a leg spasm. Their faces twisted into something unrecognizable, and their spines arched.
“What the hell?” I stepped back.
Behind them, the others just stood and stared, expressionless.
Only the woman spoke again. “We do not get involved with pack business. We told Dominic not to come back or there would be consequences.”
“Well, I’m not leaving. I came to have a conversation with Cliff, and I plan on having it.”
By now, the men had shifted into bigger versions of themselves. But there was something grotesque about them, like someone had taken a hard left down the humanity road. Their eyes reflected a dark cruelty I had yet to see in all my travels. These were truly monsters. Not the kind you worried were hiding under your bed, but the kind that had just crawled out of hell. Demons with human masks.
“What are you?” I took another step backwards, and placed my jacket on nearby stairs, bracing myself for a fight.
I learned quickly they were creatures of few words. One of them lunged for me. I swung my fist, expecting to send him flying, but he caught it and twisted my arm hard. I managed to barely rotate out of the way before his other fist came swinging for my head.
He was much faster than I’d expected.
“Guess I can’t hold back with you devil spawns.” I quickly called upon my wolf and her powers surged into me. She had been waiting for a moment like this. The Scorpion’s Breath coursing through me only added to her fury.
When the next creature darted for me, I grabbed his head and twisted. His bones deformed like twisting metal, and I had to work extra hard to turn him like I wanted to. With a popping noise, I finally snapped his neck before the other two had a chance to react.
The fight quickly turned into one of survival. I removed the daggers from my boots and began swinging. Every swish of my blade was meant to kill. For a moment, I thought I was winning, until I noticed the rest of the group had only been waiting to see how I fared. When I sliced through the neck of the last creature, everyone else begin to change. Arms snapped awkwardly, spines twisted, faces shifted. Soon I was surrounded by God knows what. Shit.
“Why wasn’t I invited to this party?” a familiar voice said near the garage opening. Everyone turned around at the newcomer.
“Because you’re boring,” I told Samira. She had two scimitar blades strapped to her back. “But now that you’re here, why don’t you make yourself useful and help me dispatch these things. There’s a guy holed up I need to talk to.”
She opened her mouth to probably insult me but was interrupted by two people attacking her at once. She tossed her glasses to the side and slid out her swords, slicing through the men to defend herself. I battled the others, managing to take out two more before I was overrun by three of them at once. One of them tackled my midsection while another hit me from behind. The force dropped me to the ground, and the last one grabbed my head. He tried twisting it, like I’d done with the first one. I rammed my fist into his chest, sending him flying backwards, shocking the other two.
I used the distraction to call upon my ancient powers. The drug in my system wasn’t helping anymore. It muted the power that lay deep inside me. I ground my teeth together and pulled harder. By sheer will alone, I managed to latch onto a small tendril of that ancient strength. Raw power surged through my veins, hardened my muscles, sharpened my senses. A transformation that reminded me of a butterfly shedding its cocoon, but butterfly wasn’t the right word. The power was so much stronger. More like a dragon exploding from its leash.
Bursting with newfound power, I twisted out of their grips and swiped my blade faster than I’ve ever move
d before. My knife sliced through thick muscle and bones of steel. They dropped to the ground, their heads landing with a splat beside them. The third charged me again, but I was too fast. I swiveled my feet, turning to grab his shirt as he passed me, then I drove the blade into his heart.
His blood spurted out, coating my hand. I shoved him away. He stumbled, then fell to his knees, clutching his chest. I kicked the blade in deeper and he flew to the ground, dead.
I stood over their torn bodies, heaving. Slowly the power faded from me as I realized the threat was gone. Samira had just killed the last one.
She looked up at me with a look of wonder on her face. “Your eyes … “
“What about them?” I grabbed the envelope from my jacket, then looked at her, waiting.
She shut her mouth. “Never mind.”
I nodded, then climbed the stairs with Samira at my back. Did I look like a crazy person? Did she think I was crazy?
I walked over to the door Cliff was hiding behind and pounded on it. “Let me in, Cliffie!”
He slowly opened the door. When he saw the carnage below, his face paled. “You did this?”
Samira stepped out from behind me. “We did this.”
He opened the door wider. “What do you want?”
“Like I already said.” I resisted the urge to grind my teeth. “Dominic wants to work with you.”
He waved us inside his small office and closed the door behind us. “Bodian will never agree.”
“I didn’t say he wanted to work with Bodian. He wants to work with you.”
“Doing what?”
“I wasn’t told, but I suspect it has something to do with your trucks.”
“If I get caught, Bodian will kill me.”
I chuckled. “I’m pretty sure we just killed all their security, so I think you’re safe.”
It was his turn to laugh. “You think this is all of them?”
“He’s right.” Samira placed her hand firmly on the door knob. “We should get out of here.”
“Not until he agrees.” I looked him in the eyes with the most intense glare I could muster. “Whatever we have you do will be easy. Probably a package here or there. We won’t put you at risk. Besides.” My voice lowered. “If you don’t do this, we’ll hurt your family.”
Samira’s head snapped in my direction, but I ignored her. I had a job to do.
Cliff touched his hand to his head. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Doesn’t look that way.”
“Fine. Just go. I have a big mess to clean up.”
I threw the envelope on his desk. “Good boy, Cliffie. Dominic rewards those who help him.”
We left him alone as we snuck back outside. Samira followed me over the fence and back to my bike. When I was sure I was alone, I turned to her. “How did you find me?”
“Luke sent me.”
“How did he know where I was, and why would he do that?”
“Dominic must have told him, and because he cares. He thinks you’re out of control. From what I saw in there, he’s right. You could have died if I hadn’t showed up.”
“You don’t know that. Did you see me kick those guys’ asses?”
She narrowed her eyes. “What was that, anyway?”
I shrugged. “Just something I can do sometimes.”
She didn’t say anything, but stared at me in her strange way, allowing an awkwardness to grow between us.
“What were those things?” I asked to break the tension. I swung my foot over the bike.
“A science experiment. It’s dangerous getting involved with Bodian Dynamics.”
“How do you know about them?”
“There’s very little I don’t know.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, whose side are they on?”
“For now, their own. It’s best we keep it that way.” She glanced up at the dark sky. The faint moonlight made her skin almost translucent. “Are you heading home?”
“Nah. Too much energy. Might go riding.” I cleared my throat. “Hey, um, thanks for showing up. But it wasn’t necessary. I got this.”
“You’re not alone. Stop acting like you are.”
“Maybe, but it’s better if I am.” I fired up the bike. “I assume you have a ride back?”
She didn’t answer me but turned and, in the blink of an eye, was gone. I turned back towards the warehouse, realizing that Dominic probably hadn’t expected me to be able to get past Bodian’s security.
I sighed, and the loneliness and weight on my chest returned. I turned the bike around and drove off, alone.
I drove straight to Dominic to give my dutiful report. When I walked in to his office, he seemed surprised to see me. His surprise turned to evil glee when I told him everything that had happened, minus the Samira part. I admit to taking all the credit.
“Well done, Briar,” he said. “You continue to exceed my expectations. Let’s go announce the good news.”
He let me out the door first, lightly touching his palm to the small of my back. A cold and bitter chill crept up my spine, and I resisted the urge to shiver.
Most of the pack cheered and shouted at the news, but several others cast me disgruntled looks. However, when Jerry pulled out the good beer and someone started a fire out back, everyone celebrated.
I joined them, and soon I was slinging back Coronas with the rest of them. After a while, I had to pee. I got up and opened the back door, slipping inside, just as Luke staggered in the front door. The front of his shirt was covered in blood, and I couldn’t tell if it was his own or someone else’s. His eyes met mine, and I stared at him in shock when a girl named Loxley rushed to him. She was a new member of the pack and had large boobs and a small waist, with hips that jutted out, making her body the perfect hourglass figure.
“What happened?” she cried, looking him up and down.
She was a young thing, looking like she just turned eighteen. Oh, and her initiation into the pack had also been much tamer than mine, which was totally unfair.
Luke’s eyes snapped away from mine to hers. “I’m okay. Bryan was ready for me, though.”
“That bastard. You sure you’re okay?” She pulled his shirt up, revealing chiseled abs drenched in blood. I growled. She shouldn’t be touching him. But they didn’t notice me.
“Thank heavens it doesn’t look that serious. Did you get it?” Her innocent eyes stared up at him, eyelashes batting. If I pulled out those eyelashes, she’d have a hard time batting them at anyone anymore.
He nodded and handed her a small silver thing.
“You’re the best. I’m so glad you’re okay.” She reached up and kissed his cheek and my growl grew deeper. She hooked his arm and led him down the hall towards the bathroom. “Let’s get that fixed up.”
He glanced my way, staring at me until he disappeared into the bathroom, and she shut the door behind them.
Bryan? Who was that? And why did Loxley, the newest minx in the pack, know who Bryan was and I didn’t? I marched forward and kicked the door open, slamming it against the back wall.
He was smiling at her. She was laughing, then she turned to look at me. “Oh, hi, Briar.”
The light in the bathroom brought out the red in her dark wavy hair. She had a finger wrapped around a curl, twisting it playfully. His shirt was off and she was brushing a wash rag over his bloody chest.
Jealousy burned through me. I wanted to accidentally smash my elbow into her face.
I folded my arms across my chest. “What happened?”
Loxley ran water over the rag and squeezed it out. His blood turned the sink pink. She reached up again and swiped the rag at his shoulder, revealing a gaping chunk of skin missing at the top of his shoulder. “Bryan shot him.” She eyed Luke, giving him an admiring look. “Fortunately, Bryan is the worst shot ever, and Luke here is a badass.”
I glared at her. She looked too happy to be so close to Luke. “I was asking Luke.”
Her smile didn’t falter, but her
hand on Luke’s chest stopped. Luke’s eyes grew cold, and he stared me down, refusing to answer me.
Loxley tried again. “Bryan just—”
“Don’t you have a curfew?” I sneered.
Loxley set the washrag on the counter, her checks reddening. “I’ll let you two talk.”
As soon as she left, shutting the door quietly behind her, I picked up the rag. “Are you okay?”
“You didn’t have to be rude to her.”
I shrugged. “She smelled like lollipops and glitter. It’s annoying.” I tried to wash his shoulder.
His hand snapped to my wrist, holding it tight. “You need to get over yourself. Other people are going through things, too.”
I drew my brows together tightly. “Like the deaths of everyone they ever loved?”
He stood, brushing my arm away. “Nice to know how you feel about me.” He grabbed his shirt and pulled it back on. “You aren’t the only one who cared about Ryder, you know.”
He left me alone in the silence, with nothing to look at but my sad, pathetic reflection. Dark circles hung low beneath my eyes, and my eyes … pain had anchored so deep within them that it was no wonder I couldn’t see beyond it to notice Luke’s suffering. I closed my eyes, unable to look at myself any longer.
Loxley could be the perfect woman for Luke. Once Dominic was dead, Luke could start his life over with someone untainted by the darkness that clung to people like me.
I threw the rag into the sink and stalked off, slamming the door behind me. The cool air outside did nothing to temper the rage burning inside me. I straddled my bike, all the happiness of being back on Dominic’s good side gone, and drove away. Darkness sucked me into the night and to Angel’s door.
Chapter 24
The world around me became a dark place I barely recognized anymore, but it was a safe space, one free from torturous nightmares and violent day dreams. A gift only the Scorpion’s Breath could give. I was at the top of the chain now, and Dominic started assigning me more meaningful tasks. The only constants I allowed in my life were bartending and working under Dominic.
