by Merel Pierce
The prospect was terrifying, for more reasons than one. Not only was he a beta with no weapons experience, he also had no disillusions about his prospects for survival. Even if he had a chance to get off a shot before he was intercepted, he wouldn’t make it out of that room alive. No doubt, Bulgras had intended it that way. All he could hope was that the man would keep his word and release the captives after he was gone.
Looking back, he wished he’d had the courage to tell Petrovski what happened. But with his brother’s life on the line, it seemed like too big a risk to take at the time. Now, it was too late. He lifted his right hand, staring down on the signet ring on his middle finger with a mixture of despair and regret. The red and green gem chips glittered under the light with the slightest movement of his hand, leading his eyes to the eagle born crest at its center. He took a deep, steadying breath. “For family,” he assured himself, his hand curling into a determined fist as he moved towards the pantry across the kitchen.
He cast a quick glance around before sliding inside, closing the door behind him. He retrieved one of a half dozen plastic cereal containers from the top shelf, a brand no one ever ate that had remained undisturbed since he’d tampered with it several days before. He removed the lid, plunging his hand into the corn puffs to extract a semi-automatic pistol. He blew the cereal dust off the casing, setting the container on the floor before tugging the rubber band-wrapped plastic baggy off the muzzle of the gun. He checked the magazine and made certain the safety was off before reaching behind him to tuck it into the waistline of his pants.
He lifted the hem of the crisp, white chef’s coat, fluffing and smoothing the garment over top of the now concealed weapon. Considering how often he stood in the corner of the dining room with his hands linked behind his back, waiting on standby, he hoped no one would think twice about him doing so tonight. It was his only chance at succeeding.
He felt a crushing sense of shame for what he was about to do. Knowing the lives of his family hung in the balance did little to soothe his troubled soul. Petrovski’s family had been good to him, and the failure of the betrayal weighed on him almost as heavily as the fear he felt for the lives that depended upon him to commit the horrible deed. He closed his eyes again, his face pinching in distress. “I am sorry, Nikolai. Truly. May God forgive me.” With a defeated sigh, he stepped out of the pantry and prepared to serve his last dinner.
***
December groaned, rolling onto her back as she forced open her eyes. She squinted up into the light above, trying to make sense of what just happened. It was the first time she’d been assaulted by a vision when she wasn’t sleeping. It didn’t make sense, but it seemed that fate had cheated by causing her to faint. She’d never considered that she might have an unconscious sense about things that could spur her visions, but the urgency of the situation seemed to have done just that.
Though her mind was still fuzzy, she tried to go over the details of what she’d seen. Nikolai’s chef was the one Bulgras was blackmailing. That much was clear. Clever, really. She’d have never suspected one of the housekeeping staff. No doubt, that’s why he’d been chosen. It appeared that he was going to shoot Nikolai at dinner, the dinner she realized that he was currently waiting to be served. She needed to get moving.
With a grunt of effort she sat up, unsteadily pulling herself to hand and knee. “How long was I out?” She mumbled as she sent a glance towards the bedside clock. What she saw made her heart stutter and trip. “Fifteen minutes? Fuck. Fuck!”
She scrambled frantically to her feet, weaving unsteadily as she stumbled towards the office door. Her fingers were flying over the keypad before she even knew what she was doing, realizing too late that she hadn’t checked to make sure no one was inside. It didn’t matter, there wasn’t time. She steeled herself as the door rolled back, slipping through the growing opening the moment there was room to do so. She gave the interior only a fleeting glance on her way through, relieved to find it empty.
Being a normal interior door, there was nothing to stop her from exiting the office into the hall then. It was a fact that might have been a fatal flaw in her mate’s plans, had she not previously been too terrified to consider leaving the safety of the bedroom. Truth be told she’d still be there now, if it hadn’t been a matter of life and death.
December rushed down the hall on bare feet, struggling to be as quiet as she could while simultaneously covering the ground at a rapid pace. There were no signs of life on the upper floor, and even as she descended into the foyer her progress was unimpeded. She skipped the bottom two steps and rounded the staircase, hanging a right and following the same path her mate had gone only a short while before.
When the hall forked, she took a left instead of continuing straight as the alpha had, knowing the kitchen was located at the back of the house. As she approached the swinging double doors that concealed the room she was seeking, she slowed her sprint to a quick walk, trying to catch her breath and calm her racing heart.
She had little luck with either, inwardly cursing when she realized she hadn’t thought to grab the remaining gun from the panic room cabinet before she’d run downstairs with no plan. It was too late now, obviously. She blew out an anxious breath as she shoved open the doors, not giving herself time to overthink it.
Behind the island stood a man in a chef’s coat, loading plates from the warming trays spread across the counter in front of him. He jumped when the doors clattered against the wall, wide, nervous eyes staring back at her from the face of a middle-aged beta. For a moment they both stared in silence, assessing each other. Then, December laughed.
“Wow, uh, I’m sorry. I thought they doors would be heavier than that.” She pushed a guilty smile onto her face, batting her lashes at the man as she attempted to diffuse the tension that had igniting the air between them when she entered the room in such dramatic fashion. She took several tentative steps forward. “I’m December, I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Nikolai’s mate.” She offered cheerfully.
While the man’s suspicion seemed to abate some, he still watched her warily from the corner of his eye as he went back to filling the plates. “You should not be here. Mr. Petrovski would not approve.” She dared to venture closer, trailing one finger along the edge of the counter opposite him as she drew near.
“I know,” she shrugged a shoulder. “But I’m hungry, and I know Nikolai is busy.” The steadiness of her voice impressed even her, giving her the courage to further perpetuate the lie. “I didn’t know how long he’d be so I just thought I’d run down and see if I could grab something real quick, so he didn’t have to bother bringing me anything.” The tension in the man’s shoulders lessened minutely at her explanation.
“I am sorry, but I am busy. You should go back upstairs before you are seen. It is not safe right now.” Despite the cautiously given words of warning, she edged around the counter, moving closer still as she feigned interest in the food he was preparing for the guests.
“I’m sorry, I’ll go. Could I just get something small? Anything? Maybe some crackers?” As she sidled up cautiously beside him, she smiled again, trying to look as girlish and sweet as she could. “It’s just… Well, I’m pregnant, and I’m really hungry. But I don’t want to bother Nikolai, I know things are bad right now, so I was just hoping.” Something in the man’s expression changed, a flash of guilt softening his expression as he sent a sidelong glance her way.
“I did not know.”
“Yeah well, it’s not exactly common knowledge yet. I probably shouldn’t even be telling you. I’m sorry. I’ll just…” She turned as though she meant to leave, knowing damn well by the look on his face that he wouldn’t turn her away empty-handed now. His hand on her arm stopped her retreat. She glanced down, and saw a familiar ring on the man’s finger. She bit her tongue, lifting her gaze to meet his own.
“Wait. There is extra here, I will get you a plate. Then you go back upstairs straight away, yes?” December nodded, biting her
lip to smother the fake smile that she hoped signified her gratitude. While he proceeded to fill her a plate, she inched minutely closer.
“That’s a nice ring. That’s uh, a signet ring, right? Like a family heirloom thing?” Though he looked uncomfortable, the man merely continued to stack items on her plate.
“Yes.”
“Is it your dad’s?”
“No. My father wears his still.”
“Do you have a brother?” She posed the question carefully, trying to keep her expression neutral, though his eyes narrowed with renewed suspicion anyway. “I mean, they usually make them for all the men in the family, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do.” He sat aside his serving spoon, slowly lowering her plate to the counter. She recognized the shift in his body language and realized she hadn’t played her part convincingly enough. Instead of continuing the failing game, she decided to switch tactics. December placed a hand on his wrist, her free arm raising slowly as she prepared to make a covert grab for his gun.
“You don’t have to do this.” She implored softly. “Nikolai knows. He knows about your brother, and he knows what you plan to do.” The man’s jaw worked furiously as he looked down on her, as if trying to decide whether or not the tiny female was lying.
December tried to ignore the fight or flight instincts that were threatening to send her into a panic, focusing her energy on keeping calm as she tried to talk some sense into the desperate man. “If you walk into that room, you won’t complete your task, and you’ll be dead anyway. But if you just let me help you, I can--”
“No!” The man barked as he shook off her hand, backing away from her quickly. “I have no choice! I must do this!” December followed him, knowing the more space he put between himself and her the more likely he was to get off a shot before she could stop him once he went for his weapon. If she were close enough to attack when he tried to pull the gun out of his pants, she might stand a chance of getting it away from him.
“I know you feel that way, but there’s something you don’t know. If you’ll just talk to me for a second, we can work this out, ok?”
“You should have gone back upstairs!”
The man’s desperate, broken scream echoed in the cavernous space, and she had no doubt the noise had traveled out into the hall beyond. But it was the pathetic sob that followed after that had all of her attention. He was desolate and angry. Taking a chance, December eased closer, up on the balls of her feet and ready to pounce if the opportunity presented itself.
“Sshh, it’s ok. Please, just lis--”
“No!” He screeched. He was devolving rapidly into panic, tears glistening in his eyes even as his hand swung behind his back to retrieve a weapon they both knew he didn’t want to use. The time for hesitation was over. She might die here and now trying to stop him from killing Nikolai. But she’d certainly die at the hands of Nikolai’s enemies later if she allowed this man to kill her mate. Either way, her baby would be doomed if she didn’t do something. Knowing there was no other choice, she launched herself forward.
***
Nikolai wasn’t immediately alarmed by the panic and strain he felt coming from his omega’s side of the link. After all, she’d been in an agitated state for days. Not being able to watch him on camera, he’d expected her anxiety to be higher than normal tonight.
As much as he hated leaving her in a state of unrest, it couldn’t be helped. They had to finalize their plans. Even if her prediction about Bulgras’ demise was true, there was no guarantee that the man’s empire would be turned over willingly, despite his omega’s claim. They had to be prepared to take it by force the instant an opening presented itself.
For the past twenty minutes he and his associates had been discussing strategy while they waited for dinner to be served. Among the men gathered at his table were the leaders of several other small criminal factions who had been most affected by Bulgras’ recent push for power, his own lieutenants, and the man he trusted most, Donovan.
The meeting was tense. Considering how big a bite Bulgras had taken out of his competitors' businesses, Nikolai could understand why the men were so insistent on being taken seriously. They felt they had more to lose. Little did they know, the alpha at the head of the table had more at stake than most. He certainly understood the gravity of the situation, despite what those seated around him seemed to think.
The men were arguing about angles of attack, now. So loudly in fact, that Nikolai had grown tired of the noise. He slammed a fist down on the table, startling those seated nearest to him.
“Enough!” He pointed a finger in warning at the lieutenant who was already on his feet, bristling at an alpha across the table. “Gentleman, we do not have the time to waste, bickering like children.” His lieutenant reluctantly sat down, still glowering at the man opposite him. “Now. If we--”
Nikolai’s words were interrupted by the sound of gunfire. One shot, and all his men were on their feet. By the time the second shot echoed down the hall, so was he.
A subtle dip of his head and all his men save Donovan were gone, filing out of the room with weapons drawn to identify and neutralize whatever threat had invaded his home. As Nikolai rounded the table to follow, he gave a tight smile to his guests. “Please enjoy your wine, gentlemen. I’m sure we’ll have this handled momentarily, then we can continue our discussion.” Having been tasked with ensuring the safety of their guests, the older enforcer remained behind.
Incredulous, angry faces stared back at him from the group of gathered associates, obviously annoyed by the interruption and what appeared to be a lack of proper security. Wisely, no one dared give voice to their frustrations as the alpha left the dining room and closed the door behind him.
His steps were quick, a sense of urgency carrying him towards the back of the house where the gunfire seemed to have originated from. His concern doubled when a familiar female voice joined the riotous shouting of his men, her fear and desperation clear despite how the booming alpha screams nearly smothered her noise. His chest tightened with panic, and the male broke into a run.
As he rounded a corner, the origin of the disturbance became clear. Two alphas stood tense in the kitchen doorway, their shoulders holding open the wooden swing panels. Guns raised, both were yelling at the assailant, who remained out of his range of sight. Knowing his female was somewhere nearby, he realized with dread that she may have been taken hostage. It was the only reason he could think of that his men wouldn’t have already dropped the intruder.
“Drop the weapon!”
“Drop it now!”
From somewhere inside the cavernous kitchen the command of a third joined the fray. “Drop the fucking gun!”
“Stop pointing your guns at me! It’s not what it looks like!”
The last was the terrified screeching of his omega, and the sound alone instantly birthed a heated rage. He snarled as he came to a stop behind his men, wholly unprepared for the sight before him.
Chapter 37
The person on whom all guns were trained was his mate. The little female was standing astride a slumped body on the tile floor, her fingers were wrapped around an unfamiliar weapon. Though her hands were up in surrender, it seemed that panic had negated her ability to understand why his men believed she posed a threat. Had she realized, she might have dropped the gun.
The roar that erupted from his chest was monstrous, rattling the glass panes of the cabinets and sending every living creature in the vicinity into an instinctively submissive stance. The posturing wouldn’t save them. The alphas before him were grabbed by the back of their jackets and thrown away from the doors as easily as if they were sacks of trash, crashing to the floor of the hallway behind him in an undignified heap as he stalked forward.
The remaining enforcer in the room dropped his gun, throwing his hands up as his boss covered the ground between them. The man swallowed hard, obviously afraid. “I’m sorry boss, I thought--”
He didn’t have a chance to fini
sh his sentence. Nikolai’s fist collided with his jaw before either of them seemed to fully realize what happened. In a startling display of raw power, the single hit toppled the equally matched male. Chest heaving and nostrils flared, he glared down on the now unconscious body at his feet. Briefly, he considered kicking him to death for daring to draw a gun on his mate. But a feminine whimper from across the room stole his attention.
His little female was still behind the island, partially obscured by the cabinetry she’d crouched behind in an obvious attempt to hide from his rage. Remembering the body that lay beneath her, the male growled, advancing on her with all the hostile grace of a predator.
The closer he came, the lower she went. It was an action he might normally have associated with submission, had he not recognized a subtle defensiveness in her posture. No, his omega wasn’t submitting. She was protecting something.
When he rounded the counter and identified that the body she was now practically sitting atop as male, the first instinct of an agitated mind was to jerk the body up from the tile and rip off his head. The fact that the man was already lying defenseless and prone didn’t matter. The notion that his female meant to protect him, let alone touch him, was cause enough to justify his death in that moment.
“Nikolai,” she pleaded softly. “Please, listen. I can explain.”
He snatched the gun from her still raised hands, ignoring how she yelped as he tossed it away. “Is this Bulgras’ man?”
“Yes, but he didn’t have a choice. Please, just let me talk?”
“Get up, December.”
“No. Not until you promise you won’t hurt him.”
The viciousness of his resulting growl had the little female’s eyes pinching closed, her body shivering under the weight of its combined fear and arousal. “If you don’t get off him right now, I’ll blow his brains all over this fucking floor, do you understand? Up!”
