Shane's Redemption (Maura's Men Book 3)

by Stella Williams

  "You want me to what," Molly screeched.

  As it was Molly was already pissed that Shane had left her bed for that girl and now her best friend was demanding she come and save her. Well, not just the girl but Xander and Claude. I guess Shane too.

  "Look, forget whatever is going on with you and Shane! Molly, this is way bigger than that. We all would have died if you hadn't saved us the last time and from all the evidence the men have gathered. Maura is stronger this time. Way stronger and with an army of men instead of just the two barely transitioned thugs we fought the first time," Cat said.

  Molly crossed her arms over her chest and glanced between Cat and Gretchen. Both of them standing nervously and ready for action. Like at any moment they would grab her and drag her away with them if she continued to refuse. The situation wasn't ideal. Molly could care less if Maura drained every drop of that bitch who'd tried to displace her in Shane's heart. It was tempting to let the dice fall as they may. The problem was that also meant putting her friend's lives at risk.

  "Fine," she grumbled, "but only for the sake of your mates and my own desire for revenge on that psycho."

  Cat smirked before taking Molly's arm and guiding her to the door.

  "I'm glad you made the right decision," Cat said.

  "Thank you," Gretchen sighed, her shoulders sagging with relief but still tense with worry over the men in her life.

  Unlike Cat and Molly, Gretchen stood to lose the most in this fight. From what Cat told her in her hurried spiel. Not only was Claude in danger but Gretchen's brother Greg was the first at the scene. That didn't bode well for him so fresh from his turning. He was the most at risk of falling under Maura's spell. Especially since she was his sire. Molly knew all too well how Maura's powers of persuasion could rob anyone of their common sense. Make them do anything for her, even turn them against their own family.

  "Don't thank me. I can't even guarantee me being there will help." She said.

  Molly glanced again at her best friend, tears welling in her eyes. Molly wasn't entirely sure she'd ever genuinely apologized to Cat for that awful night. She'd been an idiot. That drastic move, so out of character for Molly, brought to light the evil that Maura represented. Molly took a steady calming breath. Molly needed to stay calm and aloof if she was going to get through this night. The few times her powers had emerged had been during times of great emotional peril and stress. If Molly had any chance at controlling it, she needed to be thinking clearly.

  Xander, Claude, and Shane strapped on as many weapons as they could physically carry. The last they'd heard from Greg was that Maura had indeed amassed an army. Shane just hoped the poor man was alright. Shane had used his laptop to help with tracking Greg to the warehouse district, but that was where the signal had been terminated.

  "I heard some metal clanging in the background before the line went dead. It would make sense that the gym over there is our target," Claude said nodding to the only lit building on the street.

  "Even so we need to be careful. I know Greg could be in grave danger, but he could also already be dead. We don't want to run in blind," Xander said.

  "I'll take the front door. I'm the least intimidating of us if Claude is wrong. It's also my fault that Carrie was caught up in all this so I should be the one taking that risk," Shane said.

  His friends just stared at him for a moment before looks of pride crossed their faces. Xander gave Shane a pat on the back before taking off towards the rear of the warehouse.

  "I'm glad to see you've grown some balls in therapy. Just try not to get yourself killed before we even get to see that bitches face," Claude said before taking off as well.

  Shane would have taken the man's jabs as an insult if he hadn't known Claude for as long as he had. Claude was always the first to throw stones instead of facing his emotions. Even his relationship with Gretchen hadn't changed that aspect of his personality. She waited until his friends were in position before he strode towards the door. He placed one hand on the knob and gripped the pistol on his hip with the other. He'd be lying if he didn't feel ready to piss his pants.

  Shane was no warrior. He'd been trained in combat skills out of necessity, but that didn't make his decision any less harrowing. He shook his head. It wasn't just his life at stake. Carrie was in there a prisoner, Greg was also there and likely dead or worse. Shane would never be redeemed in the eyes of his family if he showed the colors of a coward when they needed him most.

  "One, two...." The door swung open before he could finish his count and the weasel-faced man from before stood in the doorway.

  The man smirked and Shane and stepped aside as if he were inviting him in for dinner.

  "Glad you could make it in such a timely manner. I've dispatched as many as I could, but the rest is up to you, brother."

  Shane was confused. He stepped inside to see a room full of dead bodies. Piles of unmarked flesh laying across every piece of equipment the only evidence of foul play were the sickly scent of poison coming from the cups and bottles of blood. Only new vampires were susceptible to poisoning and only by nightshade.

  "Thank you," Shane muttered.

  His relief was short lived as a guttural scream could be heard from the office above.

  "You go ahead up. I'll clean up here and let the others out back in," The man said.

  He began to lug the massive bodies into a pile close to the stove in the corner. Shane whistled softly. The signal for Claude and Xander to make their move. The men burst in through the back and side entrance but paused when they took in the sight before them.

  "What the hell," Claude cursed while Xander turned his sword on the weasel almost immediately.

  "Hey! I'm Rod. Sorry for uh the last time but you know well my predicament. I just want out like you guys. I took care of these monsters, but the real monster is upstairs with your friends," Rod rambled.

  Xander lowered his weapon slightly but didn't take his eyes off of Rod.

  "I don't like this," Xander whispered.

  Claude nodded in agreement.

  "I'll go upstairs. If this is a trap you will both know soon enough," Shane volunteered.

  The ride to the warehouse district was tense and quiet. So deep in their own heads, none of the women uttered a peep. When they arrived at the spot where the men's GPS trackers indicated, the scene was underwhelming and frightening all at once. It was dark and eerily quiet. The only light coming from a single street lamp two buildings down. Barely enough light to pierce the darkness of the moonless night. They had pulled up right next to Claude's blacked out SUV. Neither he nor the others were inside it which meant they had already made their move. The girls had no idea if they were inside or even which warehouse could possibly be Maura's hideout.

  "Did you bring any weapons," Molly asked.

  Cat shot her a glare before opening the trunk. Molly peered inside and rolled her eyes when all she saw were two measly fencing swords and a crossbow. Thank god she at least had a decent sized pocket knife and a handful of sharpened wood pencils in her purse. As the female owner of a nightclub, Molly kept odd hours and had to be alert. Granted her vampire strength was enough to overpower most human men. Most vampires were afraid of her solely because she was the only female ever sired by Maura. Molly didn't take either for granted. If the incident had taught her anything, it was to be prepared for the worst at all cost. Still, her self-defense precautions wouldn't be much help. Good for a handful of assailants if they came at her one at a time, and she had the element of surprise, but not at all helpful if she was swarmed by an army.

  Gretchen grabbed the crossbow and Cat grabbed the swords. She tried to hand one to Molly, but she shook her head.

  "I don't know how to use a sword! I'm more likely to cut my own head off instead of someone else's, and I am not going through that shit again," Molly snapped.

  Cat rolled her eyes before tucking the other sword into a holster she apparently had hidden under her jacket. Molly saw Gretchen tucking bows in a s
ling before tossing it onto her shoulder.

  "I know you are super powerful and shit, but I swear to god if my brother and Claude die because you were too proud to ask for weapons training. I will make your life a living hell," She spat.

  Normally, Molly would go on the defense in a situation like this, but there really weren't situations like this. She had been too proud to ask for training of any kind from Xander or anyone for that matter. At least for anything other than the Council and even then it was only because according to the Council she had been under Xander's jurisdiction as one of Maura's cursed and untrustworthy turns. Just the thought of the Council made Molly cringe. Well, not the Council, just Maximus, the pureblood representative. He gave her all sorts of hell no feelings.

  "Alright let's go," Gretchen said moving away from the car.

  "Hold on we need to have a plan. We don't even know where to go," Molly said.

  Gretchen paused and straightened, agitation written all over her body.

  "All the buildings are dark except for that one three doors down. That should be our first stop," Gretchen said.

  "Fine, but you just want to walk in the front door?" Molly said.

  "Look we know the men are here. My brother has been here. They would have gone in there by now," Gretchen said.

  "We don't even know if there is where they are," Molly yelled in frustration.

  "Shhh! Both of you calm down. Gretchen is right, it's worth a look. My weapons are concealed, and I'm the least likely to be recognized by Maura or her minions so I'll go in first. I'll walk in. If it's a normal warehouse, I'll walk right back out. If not then you two will be right there," Cat said.

  Molly was seriously regretting the decision to follow her friend's insistence that she come along with them. Even the first time, before she'd known about her powers, had been easier than this. A lone cabin in the woods was a lot more obvious than a warehouse with its lights on when everything else was dark. Hell, a lot of vampires didn't even use lights because of their sensitive vision. This was a long shot, a serious long shot.

  "This is stupid. We should call the guys. If they are inside, they won't answer. If they are a safe distance away, they will give us some indication of where to go," Molly tried to reason with the two women who were the sum total of those she considered family.

  "If they don't answer they could be seriously hurt, and if they do? Well, you know they will make us go home. They wouldn't accept our help in this," Cat said.

  "Pretty sure they didn't ask for your help in the first place so no harm no foul," Molly said and picked up her phone.

  She found Xander's number in her recent contacts and hit dial. It rung four times before Molly frowned and hung up.

  "I guess we're going in," Cat said and marched off before Molly could stop her.

  Brody checked his phone again. Molly’s cell phone was no longer pinging at her home. Instead it looked to be heading to the warehouse district.

  “I know where they are headed, sir,” He said looking up at Maximus who sat anxiously at the other end of the SUV.

  “It’s about damn time! They better have my daughter and she better be safe,” the man snarled.

  It didn’t take long for the driver to change course. The warehouse district wasn’t very large. They cruised each block until finding the discarded vehicle of the exiles. Brody recognized it from his few encounters with the men around town. They parked on a different block to be on the safe side. Maximus was practically climbing out of the vehicle before it had stopped.

  “Sir, I suggest you let us take the lead on this. There is no telling what we may encounter,” The head of the Council’s security force said.

  Maximus didn’t care what the man thought. He was here for his daughter and nothing else. Those devil spawn were dead meat as far as he was concerned. Brody was glad the man was focusing his ire on the situation and not on the fact that he hadn’t been able to deliver Carolina to him unharmed as promised. They’d gone to the condo she’d rented and then to the mansion where Maura’s Men stayed. They hadn’t been allowed entrance. He had to give the men credit. Their human security were immune to even Maximus’s power of influence. That kind of paranoia was impressive yet warranted in their case.

  If it weren’t for Molly leaving the location services on her phone, Brody likely would have been killed on the spot. Maximus wasn’t a patient man, especially when it came to the well-being of his precious Carolina. At this point Brody wasn’t even sure the spoiled brat was worth the hassle. If she wanted to live her life as an exile that was on her. It was a waste to be sure but at this point Brody was willing to move on.

  “Fine, but I’m not just going to sit here and wait. I have not reached the position I have without skill in battle,” Maximus huffed.

  The head of security sighed but nodded in acquiescence. Arguing with a pureblood wasn’t in his best interest, even if it meant possibly leading the man into a trap. Brody on the other hand would much rather stay in the car. He was not battle hardened. Sure he could be ruthless in politics and the boardroom but hand to hand combat had never tickled his fancy. The scout they had sent returned with more detailed news of the men’s whereabouts.

  “I can stay out here and make sure no one slips by,” Brody offered.

  “If you want to mate my daughter you better be prepared to fight for her. I will not have a pansy mated into my family,” Maximus spat.

  Brody nodded and stifled a groan as he slid from the leather seats and out into the cool night. He took a look around as the security force prepared for action. Brody might have to go inside but that didn’t mean he had to be the first one in. He would stay behind with Maximus and if things got hairy it would be easy for him to slip away unnoticed and hopefully unscathed. Brody had come this far in his little game. All it would take was a little more effort for his goal to be realized. It was too close to give up now.

  “Alright, let’s move,” The head of security called out.

  “Remember they are all under order of death, even the women,” Maximus cried as they moved forward.

  Fire and Brimstone

  Maura stood over the two men battling for life and honor at her feet. She couldn't hold back the smile that crept to her lips at the sight as they tore into each other. Blood flowing freely from the men's open wounds. The pureblood bitch was whimpering in a panic over the state of her would be rescuer, and that made the moment even sweeter. Maura had missed having a show before her feast. It was like the old days when she'd lived in Rome. Two gladiators fighting for death at their master's command.

  This pittance of an office was far from the grandeur and spectacle of the Colosseum, but it was the closest she would get in this day and age. Axel and Gregory were locked in a heated battle. Nothing was off limits as they pummeled each other. Maura was almost sad that Gregory would have to die at the end of this, no matter who reigned victorious at the end. He was a magnificent fighter, his muscles rolled delectably under taut skin as he moved with practiced ease. His attacks were graceful and deadly whereas Axel relied on brute strength and opportunity.

  The girl chained at Maura's side strained at her bonds, screaming around the ball gag, shoved between small lips. Her lips were beginning to crack at the edges, the scent of her blood wafting up to Maura. It was all Maura could do not to take from the girl already. Her pureblood was just what she needed to revive her strength. There was a hint of magic in the girl's blood as well. Something that would only be possible if she fed on a magic wielder. In the years since her resurrection, Maura had searched for the people who had given her the tools to become the woman she was and had found no trace of them.

  They'd gone underground after the persecution of both human and undead alike. Where Molly had no idea but with this new development, perhaps their fate was worse than she expected. To be a blood slave was a worse fate than death itself. Maura knew that from experience. It was one of the reasons she made sure to take every last drop from her victims. Not just to ensure her
beauty was sustained but also to make sure they could never be used again.

  Axel and Gregory tumbled forward, closer to Maura and her bait. Maura looked up at the door. What was taking those idiots so long? She had left the man's phone operational for long enough. They should have been able to track them.

  "I guess you mean less to Shane than even you thought," Maura spat at the girl who was proving to be even more useless as bait as she was for entertainment.

  "Maybe I'll throw Axel a bone once he finishes with your guard. I'm sure he has lots of pent-up anger ready to be spent on the tender likes of you."

  That got Axel's attention. The man's gaze went from murderous to lustful as he gazed on his would be pride. Too bad it also took his eyes away from his opponent. Seizing the opportunity, Gregory grabbed one of Maura's discarded toys and shoved it through Axel's abdomen. Axel screamed in agony before falling to the floor in a heap. He was not dead yet, but he would be soon after Maura was done with the traitors. If they ever arrived, that is. Gregory charged at Maura, but she caught him by the neck.

  He may have won the battle, but he unquestionably was no match for her. She tossed him against the brick wall, his head smacking it with a satisfying thud before he slid to the ground. She would have her fun with him later. She was done waiting for the others. She would have her prize now and dangle the purebloods exsanguinated body from the flagpole out front. A symbol of the traitor's failure and the return of Maura to power.

  Shane entered the room just as Maura was about to strike. Jumping into action, Shane pulled the trigger on the gun in his hand. The bullets landing in Maura's arm. She hissed, dropping Carrie to the ground.

  "It's about time you showed up," Maura growled.

  Shane hated the way his body froze under her direct glare. It was as if it hadn't been years since she'd ruled his world. His hand was still outstretched, his gun pointed at her head no instead of her arm, but he couldn't pull the trigger. It was as if there was a miscommunication between his brain and his limbs. His fingers refused to work, but his legs moved him closer and closer to the devil.