Jaxon watched as Libby’s eyes glazed over, and the tight coil of desperate anguish that pounded in him made it hard to breathe. His sorrow at everything lost was complete. His cousin, Libby, and now a child he’d not known existed. Bitterness washed over him as he thought of the pain and torture imposed upon this woman.
His Libby.
The one that he knew was meant for him, and only him. He just hoped it wasn’t too late to make things right. There was a river of hatred, mistrust, and pain between them, and he had no clue if it would ever be bridged. Sorrow washed over him at the thought of the way he’d treated her. Like garbage. Like less than garbage.
But he knew he had to try. Circumstance, fate…whatever you wanted to call it had conspired to separate him from his mate, and he would not let it happen again. If it did, he feared the darkness that lived inside his soul would claim the last shred of humanity that still lingered.
And he would be lost forever.
“Libby, I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me about the baby?”
“Are you fucking joking? I tried to! That last day, I tried to tell you everything. All I wanted was one small crumb of commitment, something for me to hold onto. And what did I get? Nothing. Not one goddamn thing.”
She crossed to just in front of him, chest heaving. Jaxon mentally shook himself, thinking she was the most amazing thing he’d ever laid eyes on. She poked him hard in the chest and he did nothing to avoid contact. If anything, heat fingered out from her touch, and the cat began to make noise. He clenched his hands in an effort to maintain control over the chaotic blend of emotions that knocked about inside him.
“I let you make love to me one more time because I couldn’t stand the thought of never feeling your body against mine again. How pathetic is that? I knew you didn’t want me. I knew that you didn’t love me enough to claim me as yours, and yet I still craved your body like it was liquid candy. I let you use me, and then you left.”
He knew the truth that lived in her words would haunt him till the end of his days. He had used her selfishly. He’d not wanted to acknowledge the hold she’d had over him back then. He must have known on some level that she was the only woman for him. And like the coward he’d been, he had abandoned her, and when she disappeared, he’d been quick to believe the worst.
Because it hurt less.
And now they were here, in this time and place with a whole world of hurt and blackness between them.
All because of the DaCosta clan.
He would take his lumps and admit to the mistakes he’d made, but his life—Libby’s life—had been interrupted, altered and torn all to hell.
For that, he would make every last DaCosta pay with their life.
He felt tendrils of excitement wind along the edges of his mind, down his body, and out to his limbs until he was humming in anticipation of the hunt. He would start there. He would have his revenge on the DaCosta clan, and they would know the fury of a Castille.
He would worry about everything else later.
Libby had turned her back to him, and he reached out his hand, wanting to touch, to comfort…to something.
“Libby, I…” He didn’t know how to continue. There were no words to express the pain he felt for her. And he would take to his grave the knowledge that he was responsible for all that had happened.
“Don’t bother with an apology, Jaxon. It’s way too late for that. I don’t want anything from you.” She looked directly at him, her violet eyes wet with unshed tears, “except a ride to Belize.”
Her body was still so very frail, but he noted the determination and strength in the set of her shoulders. He recognized the signs. There would be no swaying Libby when her mind was set.
Her body hunched inward as if she knew he was hovering.
Jaxon dropped his hands to his sides and turned from her, catching the emerald green eyes of his brother. Jagger nodded, and Jaxon made a decision then that he hoped he’d not live to regret. He was going to Belize, and it looked like he would have more company than he’d wanted along for the hunt.
“We leave in ten minutes. We’ve chartered a flight to Texas, where we’ll be rendezvousing with Julian. I’ll contact him and see about getting you some proper gear.”
Jaxon waited for a response, and when there was nothing, turned to leave. A thought struck him then, one that had him pausing mid-stride.
“How did you escape them, and end up in Michigan?”
“I didn’t escape, Jaxon.” She laughed, a hoarse sound that slid across the room like sandpaper. “Don’t you get it? Nothing I did was of my own volition. This is all part of some plan.”
He whirled back around, puzzled and not liking it. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, join the club. Something big is going down. I don’t know what it is. The DaCostas are into some heavy shit, and for whatever reason, they felt the need to even the playing field and get rid of your unit at PATU.”
He watched as Libby began to pace back and forth, and he tried to shake off the sick feeling of dread forming in the pit of his gut.
“They took me three years ago because they wanted to wipe out the entire unit. They fucked up and it didn’t happen. So they kept me. At the time I wasn’t sure why, but now I’m thinking they’re closer to whatever it is they’re looking for. They needed me to flush you out, to blindside you.”
She crossed the room until she was only a few inches away. Her eyes were heavy with emotion, and his heart ached at the thought of how much she had lost because of him.
“I didn’t escape. There was this man, his face is fuzzy but I’m sure he’s the one who wiped my memory. He’s working with them and he left me in Michigan.”
She shook her head. “We’re just a bunch of puppets, and they’re pulling our strings.”
She turned from him then, her posture tense but her voice determined. “Personally, I don’t give a rat’s ass what they’re up to. I just want them to pay for what they did to me.”
Jaxon’s brain went into overdrive. Suddenly everything seemed so much more complicated. What the fuck were the DaCostas up to?
His desire to wrap his arms around Libby was so strong it almost hurt. But she’d closed herself off to him, and after a few more moments he quietly left the room. He was filled to the brim with pent-up energy, and it pulsed through him with every heavy beat of his heart.
He needed to clear his mind. He needed to focus.
He snarled bitterly as he felt everything fade away, leaving him quiet, almost serene—yet incredibly deadly.
He had DaCostas to hunt. The cat roared inside at the coming task, and Jaxon welcomed the aggressive nature that lived in him.
Saliva pooled in his mouth, and ignoring the excited tremble that shimmered over his taut skin, he went in search of the rest of his team.
They met the small chartered plane at a local air field close to the Canadian border. It was a somber bunch. Ana was pissed that Libby had been allowed to tag along, but Jaxon ignored her surly attitude. In fact he had briefly considered leaving Ana behind. Being a vampire, the heat, humidity, and sunlight were more then she could take. But she was a fierce fighter, and once their base was set up in Belize, she could man it while the rest of them hunted the enemy.
A little over three hours later they landed on a private airstrip just east of Houston. It was owned by a group associated with his family’s holdings, and Jaxon felt a tug of emotion run through him at the familiar face of his oldest brother, who was there to greet him.
Julian was three years older, and though all three Castille boys were similar in both coloring and physique, he was truly worlds apart from his siblings, just a different animal altogether. He was a jaguar; that was something he couldn’t change even if he wanted to. But when Julian’s body shifted, he became the spotted creature most associated with the great predators, his rosettes golden. Black cats were rare indeed, and in his race only those bearing the warrior tattoo were covered in a thick black pelt when they
shifted into their animal form.
Jaxon and Julian had been very close when they were younger, but when Jaxon matured and warrior tattoos began forming on his body, a distance had crept between them, one that only widened with time. Jaxon had gone the way of the warrior, forging a career for himself in the military, and Jagger had followed in his footsteps.
Julian, however, had followed the path laid out by their father, and as of now was basically running Blue Heaven Industries. The entire operation was an ode to the temple where the ancient jaguar warriors worshiped, one that belonged to their god of war, Huitzilopochtli. Jaxon snorted at that thought. It was ironic, considering how antiwarrior both his father and brother were. It was a bone of contention that the warrior gene was prevalent in his mother’s family, something the elder Castille had thought he was avoiding with their union. His father had built the company up from meager beginnings and made it successful, but with Julian at the helm, it had diversified and quadrupled in both size and worth.
But, blood was blood, and he was grateful that his brother had not hesitated when he’d called and asked for the family jet. They needed to fly into Belize under the radar. No government agencies on either side could know their intent. Jaxon needed to attack quickly and with deadly force.
He still had no clue who had broken through their sophisticated defenses in Washington, and that concerned him. No one, not even Commander Drake, could know what he was up to.
Jaxon exited the plane and found himself staring deep into the topaz-colored eyes of his older brother. They were warm with affection, and he bypassed the outstretched hand and enveloped Julian in a hard embrace.
A greeting from behind broke the men apart, and Julian smiled broadly as Jagger, the youngest of his brothers, jumped down.
One after the other his whole team gathered around, Ana swathed from head to toe in protective gear; Libby, quiet, reserved, as she observed everything. Julian tossed him a bag, and he in turn handed it to Libby. She was still avoiding his eyes, but took the bag, clutching it to her midsection protectively.
“Some clean clothes,” he murmured, wincing as she jumped at the sound of his voice. Julian elbowed his way into their inner circle, and Jaxon had to urge the beast inside to quiet. He watched as his older brother held out his hand, the long, elegant fingers palm up, a submissive greeting, and one that did not go unnoticed. He was doing his best to alleviate any fear that Libby had, and to let Jaxon know he had no interest whatsoever in the thin blonde who stood so unsure before them all.
“I’m very sorry to hear what you’ve been through, Libby,” he told her. “But rest assured, the DaCostas will pay for their sins, I will personally see to it.” Julian’s voice was soft, but the underlying steel that clung to his words reassured Jaxon that even though his brother might look the corporate magnate, he was still a jaguar at heart.
And apparently he was going to join in the hunt.
She took his hand, and the two of them led the way toward the Castille corporate jet. Jaxon took a seat in the very back, his eyes never leaving the blonde, who, to him, still appeared too vulnerable for the type of mission that lay in store.
Once they were up to a cruising altitude, he unfastened his seat belt and made his way toward Libby. He felt her stiffen as he sat beside her, his body so very aware of the heat from her skin.
It was approximately two and a half hours until their landing in Belize City, a place he’d not been to in decades. Ironic, that his enemy now made their home in the very jungles he’d once run through as a youngster.
Jaxon pushed that thought aside and concentrated on the task at hand. He needed to know where they were headed. His team had pinpointed three locations, but Libby had indicated back at the cabin that none of them were the right ones.
He cleared his throat, then spoke. “We’ll be landing in a couple of hours. I need to know where we’re headed. I need numbers, how many civilians, targets, etcetera. And I need to know the exact location of the DaCosta residence.”
He looked at the long fingers stretched out on her lap. The nails were short, and he was surprised that he’d forgotten how graceful they were. As if they belonged to a musician and not a trained assassin.
Her voice was soft, and he strained his ears in an effort to hear her.
“We’ll need to go to San Ignacio. It’s southwest of Belize City. From there we’ll take the Pine Ridge Road south into the Cayo district. There are some ruins there, in Caracol. They’re old and there are people excavating. The DaCostas have a compound to the east, high up into the jungle. It will take the better part of a full day’s hike to reach it. It’s deep in the heart of the Maya Mountains.”
Libby stopped fidgeting and met his eyes fully. “You’ll need a lot of firepower. There are no civilians.”
“Thank you. That’s good.”
Silence hung heavy, and it ate at him, the slowly widening space between them. All he wanted to do was close it.
“Libby, we need to talk about a lot of things. I think—”
“Don’t think, Jaxon. I can’t do this right now, with you.” Jaxon felt her sadness and kept quiet as she went on. “I have a lot to figure out, and right now, most of what is on my mind has nothing to do with you. I need you to give me some space, and let me do what I need to do.” She raised her eyebrows to him. “Are we clear?”
Libby closed her eyes and rested her head against the headrest, effectively dismissing him. Jaxon took a second to absorb the information, then left her alone with her thoughts as he made his way back to Declan and Ana.
“Declan, call ahead to your contact and let him know we need a base set up near a place called Caracol. There are some Mayan ruins there, should be easy enough to find. It needs to stay under the radar. We’ll rendezvous there before heading into the jungle. Tell him to get his hands on as much firepower as possible. We’ll be landing in a couple of hours and I want to be at the base by early evening.”
“You do know that we’re most likely walking into a trap?” Ana replied. “I mean, they seem to know our every move. Maybe we need to take some time and think on this a bit before rushing headlong into the jungle on intel she’s fed us.” She spoke quietly, but everyone heard her. “I just feel like we’re playing into their hands.”
Jaxon’s face was tense. “Don’t think that hasn’t crossed any of our minds. But the fact remains that Belize is where we need to start. We need to proceed with caution and be smart.” He lowered his voice and looked directly at Ana. “And I need to know that everyone on board is here to fight. Because if not, now’s the time to speak up.”
Ana was quiet for a few moments, then piped up. “Don’t worry about me. I have my own reasons to want to see every single DaCosta dead. But are you sure it’s a good idea to take her along?” She kept her tone neutral, but clearly thought of Libby as a hindrance on the mission.
“Nope. Don’t think it’s a good idea at all.”
He ignored her snort and turned toward the porthole of the plane. The sun was shining brilliantly, and he squinted out at the blanket of clouds that dotted the landscape. His gut was nervous, and a cold pressure was pressing into his chest. His heart began to beat heavily.
The jungle called to both his jaguar and the humanity that lived inside of him, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that stuck in his throat.
He didn’t have a good feeling about this one.
Not at all.
Chapter 17
They landed amid heat, haze, and a strong breeze that blew across the tarmac, fresh off the Caribbean Sea. The air was thick with moisture, and Jaxon felt it heavy against his cheek as he deplaned. It called to something primal, deep inside his soul, and his spirit lifted even as the coming mission weighed on him. He quickly scanned the area surrounding the plane, and his nostrils flared as he scented the air.
Nothing seemed out of place, and he proceeded, acutely aware of Libby following a few paces behind. Her heart rate had elevated and he sensed the turmoil that rava
ged her psyche. He knew that it had to be hard for her to return to this place.
This paradise that hid so many dark dangers.
He cleared all thoughts from his mind save one, and proceeded toward the small building that housed customs. He couldn’t afford for his focus to be compromised. His thoughts were centered on the DaCostas and what he would do to them when he had them in his sights.
They were waved through customs, and Jaxon shook his head at how easily a few dollars in the right palms eased their way into the country. Ana drew her share of looks as she walked through the small building, swathed from head to toe in a thick cotton weave with a sun repellant charm courtesy of Declan.
So much for flying under the radar.
Their contact met them outside the airport. John was a tall man, lanky, with strong features that hinted at his Indian heritage. He leaned nonchalantly against a large, older model cargo van that had seen better days, but it blended in perfectly with the odd assortment of battered vehicles parked along the curb.
Drivers were lunging for luggage, trying to outdo each other in a bid to capture a tourist for their next fare. When John saw them approach, he flicked the cigarette he’d been smoking and smiled broadly.
“Welcome to Belize, man.”
The drawl was soft, full-bodied, with an island roll that caressed his words. He quickly helped load their gear and stowed it in the back of the van. Once they were all inside, he pulled away and they began the trek to San Ignacio.
They followed the Western Highway as it headed out into the lush tropical countryside. The town was approximately seventy miles away, but the roads were busy, and despite John’s aggressive driving style, the ride took almost two hours.
His Darkest Hunger Page 18
