by Jodi Vaughn
There were no lights, no sounds of vehicles moving along the empty road. The rain had stopped but not before drenching him to the bone. Some werewolves hated riding their Harleys in the rain, hated the unpredictability of the weather. But not him.
No, riding his Harley in the rain was like stripping him bare of all the sins and secrets that he’d buried a long time ago and kept hidden for no one to find. Rain was cleaning, healing, and revealing.
Where he’d grown up, the rain always held a hint of ocean as it fell to the earth.
He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. Thankfully, his phone was protected in a waterproof case and safe from the elements. He glanced down at the phone and noted the time.
“Almost three o’clock,” he murmured. “Where are you, Jaxon?”
From behind him, the distant hum of an engine had him turning. Three sets of headlights bobbed toward him, growing bigger as the motorcycles came into view.
He gritted his teeth when Jayden, Braxton, and Zane pulled up and stopped.
All three killed their engines and slid off their bikes.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Barrett growled. “I don’t remember inviting you assholes to come along.”
“Yeah, well, we’re like genital warts.” Jayden beamed. “Shows up when least expected. And completely unwanted.”
“Speak for yourself, asshat.” Lucien shot back.
“It looks to me like I have three fucking Guardians that can’t seem to take orders. Maybe you all would like to find another home? Like Antarctica.” Barrett glared at all of his Gaurdians.
“Nah, it’s too fucking cold in Antarctica.” Jayden shook his head and stuck his hands in his jeans pocket. “Besides, I can’t leave Granny.”
Zane looked like he was fighting a laugh, and Lucien had enough sense to avert his gaze.
“Let’s just say we’re here as a preventative measure.” Braxton said.
“Like penicillin?” Jayden pulled out a sucker and stuck it in his mouth.
“Yeah, for your genital warts.” Zane snorted.
“I think you’ve got your STDs mixed up. I think you need penicillin for syphilis.” Braxton grinned.
“Well, you would know.” Jayden pointed his sucker at the Were.
“Don’t let the blue hair fool you. I’m very selective about who I sleep with. Braxton crossed his arms.
“When did you get here, Braxton?” Barrett turned his glare on the Guardian from Eureka Springs.
“Late tonight.” Braxton frowned and scrubbed his hand across his blue tipped hair. “Or is that early this morning? Hell, I don’t know. All I know is these guys said there might be some problem with Louisiana Pack Master, so I figured I’d tag along. I know what an asshole he can be.”
Zane turned and frowned. “Braxton, why do the civilians of Louisiana put up with Boudier’s shit? Word on the street is he’s looking to eliminate his Guradians completely.”
“Beats me.” Braxton shrugged and studied the ground. “I remember my old man used to brag on Edward Boudier all the fucking time. I guess he used to beat his old lady too. Maybe that’s why he looked up to him. Birds of a feather and all that shit.” Braxton’s eyes hardened, and Barrett knew the Were was thinking about his mother, who’d turned her back on Braxton. Even after he’d been acquitted of murdering his father, Braxton’s mom refused to talk to him. Braxton said he didn’t mind, that he counted himself lucky to have Kate, but Barrett knew that it bothered him.
Barrett couldn’t understand a mother turning her back on her own child.
Didn’t make any fucking sense. Maybe the whole bunch of Louisiana werewolves had been poisoned into thinking it was okay. Maybe they were all brainwashed.
Barrett turned and gave his focused attention to Lucien. “Are you sure this is where Lorcan told Jaxon to cross?”
“Yes.”
Barrett punched the app on his phone and a green-and-white screen popped up. A tiny red dot was slowly approaching. A million thoughts ran through his head. He knew Edward Boudier wouldn’t give up his chance to get one of Barrett’s Guardians this easily.
That was the feeling he couldn’t shake.
“Be ready.” Barrett squinted toward a bobbing headlight headed straight toward them from a distance away. The faint hum of a Harley’s motor drifted out into the night and rested on Barrett’s ears.
“That’s him. I’d know his Harley anywhere.” Lucien let out a breath and nodded. “That’s a good sign right?”
“Sure it is.” Jayden’s tone was tense, but he shot everyone a reassuring smile.
“Is he expecting us to be here waiting for him?” Braxton looked back at him.
“I’ve not talked to him since I gave him the coordinates that Lorcan gave me.” Lucien looked at Barrett, his face twisted with worry and concern.
He was worried, and for damn good reason.
Barrett knew Lucien didn’t trust his brother any more than Barrett did.
“Look alive, Guardians.” Barrett stepped forward and brushed the heel of his hand against the butt of the Sig Sauer holstered to his chest. He didn’t put it past Boudier to use humans instead of his Guardians as a shield. He’d made it clear that he hated humans more than his own kind. But he also knew that Boudier wouldn’t hesitate to kill all of them if it kept his ass safe.
The guy was a psychopathic pussy.
The roar of the engine drew closer, and the headlight grew wider. Barrett continued to scan the area for any movement. He inhaled deep, trying to get a better read on his environment, but he still didn’t smell any danger.
Yet the hair on the back of his neck continued to stand on end.
He didn’t like this.
“Who’s that with him?” Jayden cocked his head as the motorcycle continued on its path to them. “Looks like some chick.”
“That’s not just any chick.” Barrett narrowed his eyes. “That’s Ginny.”
“Who the fuck is Ginny?” Jayden glared.
“It’s Edward Boudier’s daughter,” Barrett said.
All the Guardians turned and faced Barrett. Their eyes widened, and he could tell from their scent they were on alert after what he’d just told them.
“You’re fucking with us.” Zane’s tone was harsh.
“I wish I were.” Barrett said.
“Wait, Ginny.” Jayden frowned and looked back at the approaching motorcycle. “The Ginny that was supposed to mate with Jaxon years ago?”
“Apparently her father didn’t know she existed. Her mother had tried to hide her at the grandmother’s house in Arkansas. But he found her.” Barrett stated.
“Shit. So Boudier shows up and…” Jayden frowned.
“He killed the grandmother.” Barrett narrowed his eyes. “He took Ginny back with him. Forced her to write a note to Jaxon saying she didn’t want to marry him anymore and was leaving for California.”
“So why the fuck didn’t she leave her father?” Jayden asked.
“Because once you are involved in abuse like that, it eats away at your soul. I’m sure she stayed in Louisiana because Boudier said he would kill Jaxon. It was his leverage. Abusers are like that.” Braxton crossed his arms and looked back at Barrett. “So for Ginny to agree to leave with Jaxon, that right there tells me some major shit went down.”
Barrett nodded.
“So are you going to tell us?” Zane asked.
“It’s on a need-to-know basis. Right now, you don’t need to know,” Barrett growled. “All I need to know is that no matter what happens, you stand with the Pack.” He rested his gaze on each and every one of them, forcing them to meet and hold his gaze.
“You know we will, Barrett.” Zane cocked his head. “But it would be great to get a heads-up on what the fuck’s going down.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He wasn’t about to tell them about the murders. Nor that Ginny had committed them. He sure as shit wasn’t going to tell Lucien that if protocol prevailed, then the Assa
ssins, including his brother Lorcan, would be showing up in their state seeking justice. No matter how fucked-up it was. No. They were just going to have to wait and let this whole thing play out.
He tensed as the Harley barreled toward them. He dialed Jaxon’s number and watched the Were’s response. In the dark, he saw Jaxon’s cell phone light up and Jaxon read the text that the Arkansas Pack was up ahead.
Like he expected, Jaxon didn’t stop but continued on his course.
A set of headlights appeared behind Jaxon and quickly accelerated.
“Fuck,” Barrett murmured. This was not good.
“Zane and Jayden, see if you can get a lock on that vehicle with your gun.” Barrett reached in his holster and pulled out his gun. Zane and Jayden stepped off the road and grabbed their rifles off their Harleys. They each took a knee and aimed, looking through the scopes.
“It looks like a Hummer. Military style,” Zane answered, keeping his sights on the truck. “Want me to take out the tires?”
Barrett flexed his fingers around his gun. “Wait.” He knew that the Hummer was too close to Jaxon. If the Hummer ran off the road, there was no guarantee that it wouldn’t take Jaxon with it.
“Barrett?” Jayden kept his gun aimed at the target.
“They’re too close to Jaxon,” Barrett growled. “Can you see who’s driving that truck?” He glanced over at Zane and waited for an answer.
“I can’t tell, it’s too dark. But one of the passengers has a cell phone up, and it looks like it’s Boudier.” Zane kept his gun aimed and looked over at Barrett with a question in his eyes.
Barrett knew that look. He knew what Zane was asking without actually saying the words. Saying it out loud was dangerous and criminal, and yet the wheels in Barrett’s head began turning swiftly.
He only had to give Zane a look, a quick nod of his head that would be indiscernible by the other Guardians. Zane had been with him from the beginning. He was a strong Guardian and a damn good soldier. And he would do whatever Barrett commanded.
If he gave the go-ahead, Zane would take out Boudier with one shot. It would start a war that would consume not only their Pack but every Pack in the South.
He wasn’t willing to risk that.
He held Zane’s gaze and shook his head. Zane hesitated and then looked back through his scope.
Barrett held his breath as the Harley got closer. Jaxon was almost home. Almost home.
“Hang on, what’s that? Behind the truck?” Jayden asked.
“What?” Barrett demanded. Three motorcycles appeared from behind the truck. They passed the truck while the truck fell back, letting the Harleys get closer to Jaxon.
Barrett growled and looked over at Lucien. “Tell me that’s not the Assassins?” He already knew the answer. Deep in his gut he knew.
“That can’t be.” Lucien shook his head. “He wouldn’t do that.” He looked at Barrett with wide eyes and blinked.
Nausea rolled over Barrett’s stomach.
Time slowed and lengthened.
If he ordered his Guardians to shoot the truck or the Assassins, then Boudier’s men would turn their weapons on Jaxon. He had no doubt that the fucker already had a gun aimed at Jaxon. If he made his men hold their position and wait then it might be too late. Boudier might be waiting for Jaxon to cross before shooting him in front of Barrett, which would be the ultimate fuck you.
“Keep your guns trained on them, Jayden and Zane. No matter what happens, you don’t fucking cross the state line.” He holstered his gun and straddled his Harley.
“But…” Zane frowned and started to stand.
“Fucking do what I say, Zane,” Barrett growled. He turned his attention to Lucien. “You stay here. If Boudier sees you, it’s going to remind him of what went down in New Orleans. Plus, I don’t want you anywhere near Lorcan. Got it?”
“Got it.” Lucien nodded and continued to hold his gun up at the approaching caravan.
“Braxton. You come with me,” Barrett ordered.
Braxton straddled his Harley and started then engine. The bike roared to life.
Barrett eased onto the road with Braxton at his side. He slowed as Jaxon approached.
Barrett stopped in the middle of the road and got off his bike. Braxton followed. They waited as Jaxon approached.
“Be steady, Braxton.” Barrett stepped in front of his bike as Jaxon slowed and then stopped in front of him.
“Jesus, Barrett, what are you doing? We need to get out of here.” Jaxon hissed.
“Stay where you are, Jaxon.” Barrett glanced at Ginny on the back of the bike and then turned his attention back to the three motorcycles and the truck stopping in front of them.
“Barrett…” Jaxon tried to talk, but Barrett held out his hand to silence his Guardian.
“Trust me.” He narrowed his gaze on the three Assassins. All three had killed the engines on their bikes and were stepping off.
The one named Brutus led the trio, with Killian and Lorcan flanking him. They stopped a few feet from Barrett.
“Barrett.” Brutus acknowledged him with a growl and then turned his glare on Braxton.
“Hello, boys. You guys miss me?” Braxton smirked and gave a little finger wave.
“You need to have better aim, Killian,” Brutus told the Assassin who’d tried to kill Braxton and missed.
Killian narrowed his eyes at Braxton.
“Where are your other Guardians, Barrett?” Lorcan asked, his expression neutral.
“Oh, they’re here. And I’m pretty fucking sure that Lucien has a gun pointed right at your head,” Barrett stated.
The other two Assassins looked at Lorcan and then back at Barrett.
“I’m not too worried,” Lorcan said.
“Yeah. Why is that?” Braxton crossed his arms over his chest and glared.
“Lucien always sucked at shooting.” Lorcan shrugged.
“Maybe he did when he was in Louisiana. But I assure you all my Guardians know to kill on sight when needed.”
Barrett didn’t miss the longing in Killian’s eyes as he looked on the Harley that was once his. After Braxton had been found innocent of all charges of murder, Barrett had forced the Assassin to give his bike to Braxton as a recompense. Plus, he did it to piss Boudier off, since he would be footing the bill for a new Harley for his Assassin.
The Hummer stopped behind the Assassins’ bikes.
Every muscle in Barrett’s body tensed as Boudier stepped out of the passenger side of the truck.
He wasn’t sure what the fucker had planned, and he knew enough to keep his gaze locked on him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Barrett,” Edward Boudier snarked, “looks like you’ve got a problem.”
“Actually, it looks like we both have a situation.” Barrett propped his hands on his hips and held Boudier’s stare.
“Hmmm. I don’t think so. You see, your Guardian right there”—he pointed to Jaxon—“has my daughter on the back of that bike. And I’m going to need you to hand them both over to me.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Barrett kept his gaze on Boudier.
“Ginny, as Pack Master of Arkansas, I need to ask you a question. And I want you to answer honestly,” Barrett said.
“Okay.” Her voice was shaky as she answered.
“Ginny, have you been in any way, shape, or form abused or assaulted within the state of Louisiana?”
“Ginny, you better think before you speak, girl,” Boudier growled.
Ginny looked at her father and then back at Barrett. The color seemed to drain from her face. He knew she was terrified of her father.
“Ginny. I asked a question.” Barrett held her gaze and waited.
“Yes, sir. I have.” A single tear slid down her face, and she tightened her hold around Jaxon’s waist. Jaxon narrowed his eyes at Boudier. The Were looked like he wanted to kill Boudier.
“Ginny. When you were abused or assaulted, was it by or at the hands of your husband?�
�� Barrett looked back at Boudier and then looked at Ginny. “Or any other family member?”
Ginny took a deep breath and held Barrett’s gaze. “Yes, sir. Both my husband and my father physically abused me.”
“You fucking bitch.” Boudier snarled and took a step forward. Lorcan stepped in front of him and held up his hand.
“Under the circumstances, do it think it wise to take action, sir?” Lorcan cocked his head.
“Lorcan, you are treading on very thin ice. Do not forget who owns your ass,” Boudier growled.
“I meant no disrespect.” Lorcan dropped his hand and stepped to the side.
Barrett studied Boudier’s group of Assassins. He couldn’t get a read on Lorcan, despite the fact that the Were had helped them out in New Orleans. He still belonged to Louisiana, which meant Barrett still didn’t trust him.
Brutus stood silently still. For a brief second, a look of discomfort had crossed over his face at Ginny’s accusation that not only had her husband hit her but her father—his fearless Pack Master—had done the same.
Killian was easier to read than the others. His eyes widened and he looked at Boudier. That Assassin was clearly shocked that Ginny had been abused.
Either Edward Boudier had kept a tight lid on how his daughter had been treated or maybe he had trained his Guardians to accept how he ran his household.
“As Pack Master of the state of Arkansas, I am hereby taking this female into my protective custody until a Tribunal is called to assess the accusations made against the state of Louisiana.” Barrett leveled his gaze on Boudier.
“Wait a fucking minute. You are not taking my daughter anywhere. And you sure as shit won’t be taking Jaxon after what he did.” Boudier raised his voice.
“And what exactly did Jaxon do?” Barrett could feel the blood rushing into every cell of his body. The urge to shift into wolf was almost too much to contain. He clenched his muscles, ready for whatever Boudier was going to throw his way. He didn’t put it past the fucker to shift and then order all his men to open fire on his Guardians.
“Jaxon murdered my wife and my son-in-law.” Boudier’s satisfied smirk grew wide, and he looked to Jaxon to deny it.
