by Raven Steele
It didn’t take me long to reach the warehouse. I crept down the stairs and opened the door at the bottom of the stairs. It announced my presence with a loud squeak. Nothing looked amiss, just like last time. Dominic was there. Standing in the center of all the glass enclosures.
He didn’t seem surprised to see me. This gave me pause.
“Hello, Briar.” He smiled. “It took you long enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just thought you’d try to kill me sooner, especially after seeing all these people hopped up on Scorpion's Breath. Didn’t it bring back painful memories? Or did it make you want some? Because if so, I have plenty. I even have an empty room if you’d like to stay.” He motioned to a cell behind him. I couldn’t remember if someone used to be in there or not. Shit. What was happening? How had he known about my addiction? What else did he know? My legs grew weak.
“For someone who has been dying to kill me, you’re sure taking your sweet time.”
“How?” It was the only word I could squeeze past my lips.
“How did I know you wanted to kill me? How did I know you like drugs? Or maybe, how do I know you’ve been conspiring with Luke and Vincent?”
He hadn’t said “your uncle.” He’d called him Vincent. Even though I was terrified right now, I drew some comfort in knowing he didn’t know my true identity. For some reason, I wanted to be the one to tell him. I needed to see the look in his eyes when I revealed the truth.
“As soon as I’m through with you, those two bastards will be tortured and killed. All because you’re careless and power hungry. You will never become an Alpha.”
“Alpha?” I frowned. “What makes you think I want to become Alpha?”
A look of confusion briefly passed his face, but he shook it off. “Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve known it from the start.”
“If that’s true, then why haven’t you killed me? Why put me on your private security?”
“Because the orders weren’t given.”
“Orders from who?”
He smiled and drew closer to me. I took a step back. “There are great things happening. You could have been a part of them, but you failed the test.”
“What bloody test?” I said, completely frustrated. “I have no idea what you are talking about, but at the moment, I don’t care. You are right about one thing. I did come to kill you, but not for whatever messed up reason you think.”
He kicked at my stomach with an Alpha’s speed and power, catching me completely unaware. Air exploded from my lungs and I dropped to my knees.
“Don’t treat me as if I’m the fool. You played exactly into my hands, just the way it said you would.”
“I don’t understand,” I gasped.
He looked down at me sadly. “Do you really think a few Greybacks could hold me? I’m the greatest Alpha of my day.”
My brows scrunched. “You let them beat you? Did you also let Angel knock you on your unconscious ass?”
For the first time, he looked surprised. So he didn’t know everything.
“That was a minor complication. I was planning on getting captured anyway. Angel just sped up the process. Though I’d like to know how you came to that knowledge.”
“I have more secrets where that came from.” I slowly unfolded myself, rising to my feet. “You will pay for your part in killing Ryder.”
“His death is a hundred percent on you. You should not have killed Silas. That was not part of the plan. Since I couldn’t kill you, I killed the next best thing.”
The glazed, crazy look in his eye was returning, the one that reminded me of the weeks I spent in a cell in his basement. I swung my closed fist, but he ducked.
“You can’t kill me. I’ve been blessed. And your death will bring me more power.”
“I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but only one of us will die tonight. It won’t be me.”
My left hand flew again, but as soon as he ducked, I swung my right. This time I caught his jaw. He barely flinched. Son of a bitch. I really need some of those Komira powers right now, and I’d like to get them without having a near-death experience.
I punched again, but he easily caught it and began to twist, dropping me to the floor. He reached over to the wall and grabbed a long black pole with what looked like devil horns at the end. I took me just a second to realize it was a cattle prod.
I rolled to get out of the way but wasn’t quick enough. A jolt of electricity shook me to the core as he pressed it into my back. My teeth rattled in my mouth, nearly taking off my tongue.
He laughed and released me, leaving me trembling. I fought against the sensation, but my muscles could only heal so quickly.
“You can’t win,” he said. “I wish you would understand that, but since you don’t, I’d like to try an experiment.”
He drove the cattle prod into me again, sending my entire body into an uncontrollable fit. This was a new kind of torture. Being imprisoned by my own body.
While I shook, he removed his phone and pressed some buttons. Two of the glass doors opened. Dominic withdrew the prod and took several steps back.
“Kill her.”
I looked up, my head twitching. Two shifter men with faded eyes stalked toward me. One of them was at least a head taller than me, but the shorter one was wide and built like a tree trunk.
I held out a trembling hand to them and attempted to speak. “D--don’t do this! You can fight it!”
I didn’t think it would stop them, but I had to try. I needed at least a few more seconds to gather my strength. At least I was out of reach of that damn shocker.
My words didn’t seem to faze them. The tall one reached me first and picked me up by the back of my shirt. He tossed me into the wall. I groaned at the pain shooting through my body. The shock of it was enough to bring my mind and body back into focus.
Dominic must’ve noticed the change because he lunged forward to electrocute me again, but I darted out of the way, despite the pain in my back where I’d struck the wall.
Inhaling deeply, I forced my mind to concentrate. The power was in me. I just needed to find it.
A fist crashed into my face, and my head snapped back. Concentrate later. Fight now.
I tackled the nearest Hyde into his midsection. We fell to the floor. I was about to elbow him in the face, but the other one hooked his arm around my throat and pulled me up, choking me. My legs dangled in the air. Before the grip could become too tight, I kicked him in the nards, and he dropped me.
Guess suped up supernaturals still had feelings there.
He groaned, holding himself, giving me a second to retrieve the daggers from my boots. I felt much better now they were in my hands.
The smaller one lunged for me, and I dove out of the way. I came up fast and hard, the silver dagger sliding into his chest. I left it in him as he fell backwards, his mouth forming an ‘O’. The poison would finish him off.
“Kill her!” Dominic screamed again. His perfectly styled hair flopped in front of his eyes.
The tall one came at me, all fists. I blocked each one, spun and kicked low, swiping his legs out from under him. “This isn’t going to work, Dominic. I am stronger than them. Would you like to know my secret?”
Mr. Tall had returned to his feet, but when he tried to hit me, I dodged the blow and slit his throat so far back, I severed his spinal cord. He toppled over dead.
Dominic jerked the cattle prod toward me one last time, but I caught it and snapped it in two. It didn’t seem to bother him.
“You’re wasting your time, Dominic.”
He chuckled. “I’m just getting started.”
He pressed something else on his phone. Three more drugged supernaturals were released. One of them was a female vampire. I could really use my special speed about now.
I puffed air in and out through puckered lips, concentrating hard. I needed strength. I needed speed. I called upon Kushin just like I had when I was a child. Noth
ing happened.
I jumped out of the way just before the vampire’s claws slashed my throat. I ducked a shifter’s blow and backed up, holding the blade in my hand. My gaze dropped to the body on the floor. My knife was still sticking out of his chest. I could use that.
“When they are finished with you,” Dominic began while I fought, “I’m going to take your eyes. They will be on display in the front where I can look into them every night.”
Another one rushed me. I jumped to the floor and completed a somersault, grabbing the blade as I went. I was about to smile at my triumph when I felt the vampire’s claws shove deep into my side. She’d moved too fast for me to track. I shoved her away with enough strength she tumbled to the floor.
Dominic giggled. “Uh-oh! Someone’s bleeding!”
I pulled my hand away from the wound. Blood covered my palm.
Dominic slapped his hands together and rubbed them furiously. “I told you, you would die. And after you’ve taken your last breath, I’m going to hang you from the same tree Ryder hung from. Did you know I supplied the rope? It was cheap. I got it at Walmart.”
My vision shifted, and for a moment, the world turned a crimson red. I recognized it for what it was. Raw power. Ancient. Deadly.
It raced through my blood, strengthening by muscles and bones, bringing a fire to my soul that wouldn’t be quenched until I had turned Dominic inside out.
I slowly looked up and smiled.
There must’ve been something about the way I looked that Dominic didn’t like because his expression fell. For the first time, real fear tinged his eyes.
“Kill her already!” Dominic cried, his voice reaching a high pitch.
The vampire rushed me again, but this time it was as if in slow motion. As she drew near me, I stepped to the side and slid both my blades across her neck. Her head fell to the side. By the time it hit the concrete floor, it had already begun to decompose along with her body. I shoved it aside to rot.
The other two shifters froze as if they weren’t sure what happened. Even being completely high, their survival mechanisms kicked in. They stepped back, more in a daze than ever.
“I see you don’t like to do your own killing. Is that why you’re sad Silas is gone? He couldn’t supply you with body parts anymore?”
“What is wrong with you?” Dominic cried at the two shifters. “Why are you standing there? Murder the bitch!”
Speaking calmly, yet in a voice filled with power, I addressed them. “Get back in your cages and go to sleep. The parents need to talk.”
They blinked, almost in unison, and did as I ordered.
Dominic was beside himself, shouting and spitting, but they no longer followed his orders. When he realized he’d lost control, he fixed his gaze on me.
“I’ve been wanting to kill you since I was ten years old.”
His head jerked back, his face full of confusion. “Who the hell are you?”
“Remember how I had a secret? It’s a doozie. I’ll give you a hint. My real name isn’t Briar.”
Chapter 43
Dominic stepped backwards, but I moved closer, feeling power surge within my muscles and bones.
“I love my real name,” I said, “but I don’t use it anymore. Not since my family was murdered.”
“You’re insane.” His eyes darted around frantically.
“Look at me.”
His gaze steadied and met mine.
“My name,” I said, my words slow and deliberate, “is Isabella Moretti, daughter to Apollo, Alpha of the Silver Moon pack.”
It took a second to register, but when it did, his eyes widened, and he stumbled. “Liar!”
“Do you remember me?” I inched closer. “After you slaughtered my pack and my family, you threw me in a well and left me to die!”
“Impossible!”
“I don’t want to be Alpha,” I said casually. “I have traveled the country over in search of the men who took everything away from me. One by one, I hunted and killed them. You and Silas were all that was left.” I raised my finger, pointing it sharply in his direction. “Now there’s only you.”
He was shaking his head, his mouth open. “This can’t be. It said you were a conspirator. That you wanted to take my place.”
“Whatever weird thing you’ve been listening to, they’re full of shit.”
“Briar!”
I turned around. It was my uncle. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, drenched in sweat and breathing hard.
“Luke. The pack. They’re coming!” He frantically looked around the basement. His eyes landed on a long, metal pipe. He grabbed it and raced back up the stairs, calling over his shoulder. “I’m going to try to wedge the door shut!”
Dominic chuckled. “Looks like you’re out of time. There’s no way you can take on the full pack, even with your strength.”
When I sensed movement, my head snapped back to Dominic. “Don’t you dare move a muscle. We’re not finished. I have another surprise for you. I’m more than just a Moretti.”
“You’re a colossal bitch is what you are.” Clearly, knowing his pack was seconds away gave him courage.
He reached for a long, thin stick leaning against the wall. It looked vaguely familiar, but before he could reach it, I crashed into him, slamming his body into the wall behind him. I pinned him by the throat and hissed in his face. “I am a Komira! And apparently, that means I can kick your ass.”
He searched my eyes, his eyes bulging as he realized the truth. “You can’t be,” he stuttered. “Not you. It said it wasn’t you!”
I increased the pressure on his throat, making him wince in pain. “Looks like your Master has been lying to you. How does that feel? To know you’ve been manipulated?”
He ground his teeth together and tried to yank on my hand. When that didn’t work, he punched at my ribs several times, but I didn’t flinch. I laughed. He was so weak compared to me. To think I once feared him.
“How does it feel to be trapped? Helpless? A victim?”
“Please.” His shoulders trembled, raw fear tainting his eyes. “Don’t kill me.”
I jerked him forward and slammed him against the wall again. His head snapped back, striking it with a sickening thud. His eyes rolled, and his head lobbed forward. Blood ran freely down his neck.
I inhaled deeply, enjoying the coppery smell. “You destroyed everything I loved. My father. My mother. Brothers. Sarah.”
He lifted his head, eyes still faded, but he laughed, a deep rumbling, cold and cruel; the sound of a devil. “You think I did that? You’re just killing the messenger.”
“Finish him, Briar!” Behind me, my uncle slammed the basement door shut and locked it. “He deserves to die for what he did to us.”
“Us?” Dominic looked from him to me. “Of course. You’re related. I always thought it was a mistake to let who I thought was the last Moretti live.”
My uncle shoved over a large desk in front of the door. “Do it now! This won’t hold them for long.”
Dominic continued to speak and with every word, his eyes cleared and he straightened. “The shadow knows all. It is more powerful than any being on this earth. You think you’re special because you’re a Komira? You are nothing. A fly trapped in a web.”
I smashed my fist into his cheekbone. It cracked under the force. “Tell me who you’re fucking working with!”
He opened his mouth as if to tell me, but his face suddenly slackened, and his eyes glazed over.
“What’s wrong with you?” I stepped back a bit, startled by the sudden change in his demeanor. He stared through me, passive, almost zombie-like. Something about questioning who his master was had triggered a reaction he couldn’t control. Only one thing could cause that—magic.
“They’re coming!” my uncle shouted. “Do it now, Briar.”
I grabbed Dominic by his shirt and shook him hard, like the way he had shaken me only a few weeks ago. The move was effective, and clarity returned to his eyes.
“You are a nobody,” he seethed, acting as if the last ten seconds hadn’t happened.
I returned my forearm to his throat and pressed firmly into his larynx. “Tell me where Jake is, and I might let you live.”
He frowned. “Jake?”
“Luke’s brother.”
The side of his mouth curled upward in a cruel smile. “Ah, Jake. Such a foolish young man. I thought Luke had forgotten about him.” His smile grew. “You can’t kill me. You love Luke too much to kill the one person who knows the truth about his brother.”
I pressed harder on this throat until his face reddened, and his eyes bulged. His weakened hands clawed at mine.
“Tell. Me. Where.”
He pushed at me again, straining from the effort. The red in his face turned a deep blue, and his lips whitened. I loosened my hold, just a little bit, to let him suck in a shallow breath.
“Last chance.”
Someone banged on the door upstairs, the sound echoing down the stairs and into the large empty space of the basement. They were yelling too, but I couldn’t hear their words over my uncle’s loud voice, telling me to stop wasting time.
“I guess you’ll just have to kill me,” he wheezed, chuckling through the tightness in his throat. “Or you could let me live. My life for Jake’s.”
I considered his words. If I let him live and he lied to me about where Jake was, I could just kill him then. He knew how strong I was. And if he ran, I’d find him again.
I groaned. Damnit! I wanted to kill him right now for murdering my family. For taking away the only thing that had made me happy as a child.
Sucking in a breath, I tried to concentrate, even though my uncle was shouting at me, trying to be heard over the growing voices and continued banging on the door. The moment those shifters entered the room, Dominic would surely order my execution.
But wasn’t Luke worth the risk? If I could just give him this one chance to be reunited with his brother.
