As they drew nearer he saw what looked like a command post set up further back from the fighting, Quinn and Ace giving out orders over radios and also to at least a dozen or so men who, in turn, spoke into their own radios. That’s where Talon pulled up the Range Rover and they sprang out, rushing over to get more information . . . in Flint’s case, the only Intel he wanted was where the hell Kragen and Stelian were.
“Glad you could join us,” Quinn greeted them, tipping his head to them and smiling at Victor.
“Wouldn’t have missed this little party,” Victor returned, leaping up onto the roof of a brand spanking new Hummer to get a better view of what was going on.
Talon murmured, “Can he see that far?”
Flint shrugged. “Of course he can.” Then he turned his attention to Quinn and Ace. “Where are they? Kragen and Stelian?”
Ace pointed way out to the left, shaking his head with a disgusted look. “Cowards are staying back out of the way. They’re not engaging, yet. That’s if they do at all. I suspect they’re waiting to see how this goes down. If their men look like they’re winning then they’ll enter the fray, so to speak, if not, well, I’ve a good guess they’ll run. But they did take great pleasure in taunting us earlier, saying how easy it was to find out where their property was, and how they were here to get her back. I can only assume they did what we would’ve done and hacked the city’s cameras and got a visual on your vehicle. After that it’s easy to find out who it belongs to, or track it.”
“That’s exactly what my men would’ve done,” Flint agreed.
“Where’s Jana?” Victor asked, his head spinning right and left. “I don’t see her, Quinn.”
“She’s not here,” Quinn replied, obviously uncomfortable. “The first wave attacked at the rear of the property, along the forest line and it was mostly wolves. She insisted she lead the defense. I’m afraid she can be quite . . . unrelenting. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, but she’s got a large contingent of men with her and we suspect that was just a diversion tactic anyway. It wasn’t long after that incursion, when they attacked here with a much larger force. I presume she’ll be here shortly.”
“Fuck, she’s too damn stubborn,” Flint ground out, his jaw clenching and his fists balled at his sides.
“Indeed she is, Flint, but we know that, and I doubt Quinn could’ve stopped her,” Victor added.
“I tried, but as you say, she’s a lady who knows her own mind and wouldn’t be moved once she’d made her decision.” Quinn lifted his hands as if to say, What could I do?
“Let’s just hope she’s in one piece,” Flint huffed out. “I don’t want to be the one to report back to Magno if she’s not . . . or the reason why.”
Quinn bristled, his back ramrod straight and his eyes flicking to him with a look that held a look of . . . what? He wasn’t quite sure but it wasn’t all warm and fuzzy, that was for damn sure. Flint shot him a smirk, cocking an eyebrow. “What? Do you want to make the call? Go ahead . . . be my guest, Quinn. I’ll let you do the honors if it comes to it.”
“It won’t.” Victor jumped down from his vantage point, landing lightly and without making a sound. “She’ll be back and in one piece, so stop being so dramatic, but if she does do something stupid like getting herself injured then I’ll make the damn call. But only as a last resort. I’m sure we can get her healed up before anyone needs to know. I understand that emotions are running high right now . . . but can everyone just calm down so we can focus on what’s important here? We have to deal with this threat and deal with it now. Shall we get on with business, gentlemen? I, for one, don’t intend to stand around here with my thumb up my ass. So, who can tell me where the fuckers are that my friend, Flint, here needs to destroy so we can go take care of that . . . I’m hoping if we lop off the head of the beast that the rest will fall too. What do you think? Are these men so loyal that they’ll continue to fight if Smithson’s taken out? Or will they turn tail and run?”
A vision filled Flint of the way the shifter had looked when his daggers had been sticking out of Stelian’s eyes and groin and he was certain there was no loyalty there. Absolutely none. “I can’t say for all of them, but the Wolf that was in the alley when we found Kenzie, he definitely isn’t loyal. Not to Stelian anyway. He looked like he enjoyed seeing him wounded from when I attacked, in fact, he was more focused on him than anything else with a look that gave away exactly what he thought of the fucker.”
Ace concurred, arms crossed, his face stern and harsh as he grunted, “Most of those out there are thugs for hire. They’re not on Kragen’s payroll, not on a regular basis anyway, they’re ones he uses when he has to. So, yeah, I’d agree that they don’t have any loyalty to him. They’re here for the big payoff he’s promised them if they win . . . and only that. If he’s not around to pay them, shit, that’s a whole different ball game. What do you think, Quinn? Do we send out a small group with the sole purpose of taking him out? It could mean a quick end to this bloodbath if we do.”
All attention turned to the master of the estate who looked out toward the battle that had invaded his land . . . the beautiful estate that was now marred by blood and gore, groans of wounded and roars of bloodlust filled fighters as they clashed together in mighty combat. The sights and sounds reminding Flint of some godawful scenes from a movie instead of the beauty he’d seen when he’d first arrived. Fuck. He’d caused this . . . the land before him mauled and destroyed by these marauders hell-bent on reaching him and Kenzie.
No! This was Kragen Smithson’s doing and it was him that would pay, and soon.
“Quinn?” Flint prodded, desperate for the man to make up his fucking mind. If he didn’t then he wasn’t waiting around for much longer. He would take matters into his own hands and go after Kragen regardless, even if it meant he did so alone.
“I agree. We take out Kragen, as well as Stelian, and hopefully the rest will scatter when they realize that he won’t be paying them a penny. I’ll go with you two as well as Ace and a few of his best men.” Quinn squinted his eyes, looking off to the side. “We can make our way around them and come up behind their position and take them by surprise. We’ll be outnumbered . . . Ace, how many are with him?”
Ace didn’t hesitate, barking out, “Around twenty, give or take.”
“Okay, there’s only going to be eight or so of us. We can’t risk more or they might spot us, so yeah, we’ll be outnumbered.”
“That won’t cause a problem,” Victor said coldly. “I’ll take up the slack and Flint will be going straight for Kragen and Stelian, remember they’re off limits so pass that along to everyone.”
Ace’s broad chest puffed out even more at Victor’s words, flexing his wide shoulders he countered, “Take up the slack? What exactly does that mean?”
Flint shook his head, sighing, “He’s as old as Methuselah, fuck, probably older. You’ve no idea what he’s capable of, Victor is worth a dozen of your men, so yeah, he’ll pick up the slack. Now, can we stop yacking like old women and get the fucking job done? Or am I flying solo?”
His words hit home, Ace’s jaw tightening while Quinn spat out orders to several men who stood nearby. One was huge, built like the side of a barn, and it was him that Quinn passed the reins. “You’re in charge until I return. Make sure everything is taken care of and whatever you do . . . you ensure that the line holds. Nothing and nobody breaks through. Understood? I’ve given my word that girl would be safe here and, damn it, that’s what she’ll be. All our reputations are at stake here, all of them. Do I make myself clear?”
The bear of a man hefted himself higher, his chest puffing out and his eyes glinting with . . . pride? Yes, definitely pride, Flint thought, as his gruff voice rumbled, “Naebody will make it anywhere near her. I’ll rip them apart myself, Sir.”
“That’s what I thought.” Quinn reached up, patting the man’s shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He turned, facing them with a determined air and tippe
d his head to the men that now stood gathered behind Ace who addressed them. “I know the area better than anyone so I’ll take point. I’m aware that you’re faster than me but the aim is to get there without them being aware of us until the last second so we have the advantage. Stay close and I’ll make that happen . . . okay?”
Flint’s nerves were frayed, the urge to reach the enemy rushing through him like lava burning in his blood. He felt like as if his insides were boiling with rage, but he did his best to tamp it down, knowing that Ace spoke the truth. Victor’s hand landed on his shoulder, a welcome and steadying comfort with the turmoil rampaging through him. Glancing quickly at his friend, he knew that Victor was well aware of how he was feeling, he could see it in his eyes as Victor gave him a brief nod before they both answered Ace.
“That’s fine, Ace,” Victor said with his usual aplomb.
While Flint could only manage a curt, “Fine, just get us there as quickly as possible.”
“We’ll get there as fast as we can, as overtly as we can,” Ace returned. “Let’s go.”
And finally, they set off, Ace leading the way with Flint right on his tail, death and destruction in his mind.
Chapter 24
Although Ace had warned he would take his time, in truth it went better than Flint expected. Ace led their small band away from the estate, keeping them hidden from view and downwind from where Smithson and his men were. He set a brisk pace, running rapidly and making no noise whatsoever, neither did any of his men, and that was impressive with the terrain they were encountering. Rocks, grass, brush, and bushes abounded but they traversed all in complete silence before he stopped, waving his arm for them to drop down as he whispered, “They’re just over the rise there with their backs to us. They’re focused on the fight, obviously, with no thought to this area behind them. I’m afraid we got the numbers wrong though.”
He stopped, glowering as he crawled up on his belly, his head darting up for a split-second before he backtracked and shook his head, cursing. “Fuck it. I can’t be certain, but I’d say there’s more like thirty there, not twenty. Maybe we should go back and get more men. It won’t take long for them to reach us. Quinn, what do you want me to do?”
Flint’s head just about exploded as the thought of waiting any longer passed through his mind. No! He couldn’t do it. Not one more minute could he stand and do nothing while Kenzie was still in danger from a marauding horde of bastards. Not fucking happening!
He stood, his heart galloping wildly in his chest as he stared coldly at Quinn. “I’m going to end this and I’m not waiting another damn second for reinforcements.”
Victor also unfurled himself, standing tall, cracking his neck and stretching his hands out in front of him, clenching and unclenching his fingers. “I’m afraid I agree. We have the advantage right now, we should use it before that’s lost to us. I’m with Flint on this . . . I’m going with him.”
Quinn’s eyes roved over Victor, then Flint, and finally turned to Ace, then back to Victor. “I know what I’m capable of, but I’m not sure even I can take on thirty myself. Yet here you are, looking like you’re going for a stroll in the park. Tell me, Victor, what’ve you got up that sleeve of yours that makes you so damn calm about this situation?”
Flint’s face was like stone, his eyes cold and hard as Victor tipped his head toward him. “Firstly, I’ve got him. He’s one of the deadliest fighters I know.”
Everyone heard Talon commenting. “Fucking right. I’ve seen him in action.”
Victor carried on as if the Wolf hadn’t spoken. “Then there’s my own power, and I don’t usually share these, not unless I have to, but let me just say this . . . don’t get in front of me. Not any of you, because you’ll probably get your asses blown apart. I have this little trick and it’s . . .”
Flint exhaled, exasperated. “Fuck it, will you all just stop talking! Look, Vic here can blow stuff up . . . he can shoot bolts of power, or some shit like that. So stay the hell away from him. That’s what he meant when he said he can take up the damn slack. Right! Got it now? Can we fucking get going? Or are you all gonna stand here all day and measure your dicks?”
There were a few comments which Flint didn’t hear, mainly because blood was pounding so fast through him that he wasn’t hearing much of anything. Talon sidled up behind him, his massive paw landing on his shoulder. “I’m with you. I’ll go in now.”
“Fuck this.” Flint looked up at Victor, the look that passed between them was all he needed. His friend was with him and he took off. His thighs propelling him up the small incline and over the top. Although he was desperate to get this over and done with . . . he wasn’t stupid. He kept himself low as he ran silently toward the group that was spread out watching the bloody battle, with a smaller group set off to the left and surrounded by a few large men who looked suspiciously like bodyguards. Veering toward that particular group, Flint squinted, zeroing in on the people and as two of the guards moved slightly he caught a glimpse of Stelian . . . his face healed from his injuries but it was him all right.
“There,” he growled, pointing to his destination as his other hand sought several of the weapons planted around his body . . . not the precious silver tipped ones. Not yet. Those would be kept for last. When he had time to wield them with precision and wreak agony on the men responsible for all of this as well as Kenzie’s suffering.
“I see them,” Victor replied, “I’ll be there in a moment, after I’ve taken care of some of the main crowd. I can’t leave Ace and his men to deal with all of them . . . that just wouldn’t be good form, Flint. I’ll be with you shortly.”
“I’ll stay with him,” Talon grunted. “I’ve got his back.”
Quinn stepped forward too, issuing orders as he joined Flint and Talon. “Ace, take your men and go with Victor, ensure that larger group is taken care of and then come and find me.”
Ace’s mouth tightened into a grimace as he looked at his boss, immediately disagreeing, “I’ll send the men but I’m staying with you, Quinn. Sorry, but that’s just the way it’s going to be. I’m not leaving your side. You can reprimand me later if you wish, but my first, and only duty and responsibility is to keep you safe, and that’s what I plan on doing . . . Sir.”
Victor gave Quinn a long look before he cut in, “And that’s the reason we’re going to win. Your men respect you and will lay down their lives for you because of that. Kragen’s don’t. They’re here for his money only and if we take that away they’ll be out of here so fast that we’ll not see them for dust. I suggest we get the job done so we can get back, put our feet up and enjoy a decent bottle of whisky. Don’t you?”
“Agreed. Let’s do this,” Quinn gave the order and they broke into two groups.
Flint leading one and Victor the other, his friend giving one last warning before he set off. “Remember not to get directly in my way, boys, because I’m going in hard and fast and I won’t have time to think. I’ll be letting it fly the entire time, so either stay back or off to my sides . . . that’s if you can keep up.”
Victor let loose a chuckle before turning to him. “Ready?”
“Am I ever not?” Flint shot back, lifting his hands and hefting his daggers.
“Not that I recall.” He shrugged and without another word he took off, leaving Quinn’s men standing still for a second before Ace spat out, “Go, go, go!” His voice low and urgent, his men darting off, attempting to catch Victor but Flint knew that was an impossible task.
Flint was already on the move, his eyes flitting between Kragen and Victor, watching his progress. His friend staying on course and using his Vampire speed to fly across the ground, his feet barely making contact as he closed the distance between him and the enemy, but he didn’t launch his attack. Not yet. He wasn’t going to alert anyone until the last moment . . . giving Flint and his smaller group the opportunity to reach their target first before they were aware of their presence, and giving them the advantage they needed.
&nb
sp; Quinn sped up to keep pace with him, and he could feel his body thrumming with power as he joined him in the race toward the bastards responsible for the carnage now taking place just a short distance away. Talon was doing his best to keep up, as was Ace, but as wolves, they weren’t equipped with a Vampire’s speed and were soon lagging behind, which Quinn pointed out with a curt nod and a raised eyebrow.
They were already a small force, but fuck it, Flint couldn’t hold himself back . . . he was desperate to get his hands on Kragen but, more importantly . . . Stelian. The man who’d landed the blows so carelessly to his Bloodmate that had caused her such devastating injuries. That was bad enough, but the fact the fucker was still ready to abuse her in a filthy alleyway? No! That was something he couldn’t get out of his mind and something he was ready to avenge with as much pain as he could wreak before sending the bastard to Hell where he could rot for eternity.
He had two daggers in each of his hands, and he already had targets in mind for them. He’d disable his marks and then help Quinn and Talon destroy the others in the group . . . and go back and take his time with his quarry. A sly smile slid onto his face, a coldness creeping inside his heart as he pictured them screaming for mercy. A mercy he would not yield. One that they did not furnish to their many victims and certainly not to Kenzie. No. Mercy was not on the agenda today. Flint would purge the world of their cruelty, their evil, the malevolence that they spread without a thought for anyone but themselves . . . and he’d do it with a smile on his face and his heart singing with joy as he sent them to Hades.
A Vampire's Thirst: Flint Page 14
