by Hawk, Ryanne
Hammer shook his hand and said, “Thanks for coming, Buzz. We appreciate your help.”
He pounded Lucky on the back and met the eyes of the others in the room. “Happy to assist. Anything for Lucky and Cecelia.”
Flip gave him a head nod, Oliver rose to his feet and shook his hand, and once the newcomer came closer to her, he extended his hand and said, “I’m Buzz, I don’t believe we’ve met?”
She shook her head and cleared the spit from her mouth then extended her hand and gave him a firm shake. “I’m Amara, from Britain. The people we’re tracking are the ones that tortured me.”
Buzz sucked air in through his teeth and whistled out. He tilted his head to the side and examined her. She wasn't sure what to make of it; it wasn’t sexual, but it felt like whatever magic was inside of him was glossing over her animal. “That sucks,” he said and turned, looking for a place to sit. He was tall, but lean, with well defined muscles that pressed against his skinny jeans and Inked Menace t-shirt.
“So anyway, as I was saying,” Hammer started again. “We’re going up into the Catskill Mountain Park. There is a lab outside of Shokan, somewhere near the reservoir on fifty acres of protected land. We’ve got an address. Brick’s contact came through with more information on one of the head scientists.”
Hammer reached into his black leather bag and pulled out a manila envelope then passed it to his left where Flip sat and opened it, pulling out a stack of pictures and papers.
“This is Dunstan Octavius, the Third.” The picture showed a fortyish man with greying hair shorn close to his scalp, thick brows, small, beady eyes, and square-rimmed glasses. He had a small head and soft jaw with small lips.
Amara trembled. She’d never gotten a good look at the leaders’ faces. They’d always worn white suits and masks to prevent airborne infections and diseases from spreading. But she did remember those eyes.
“And this,” Flip said before he sent Dunstan’s photo to the next person in line, “is Betty Pierce.”
Ms. Pierce, Amara noted, was curvy, forties, blonde pin-up girl material. She even had her hair curled like the photos of old – to her shoulders with soft waves held with bobby pins.
“Damn, they look like they belong on a sitcom, not part of an evil science lab,” Oliver said, drawing a few chuckles from a couple brothers. He reached and grabbed the first photo and Amara leaned in to get a better look at one of the monsters responsible for hurting her.
“Bastard,” she whispered as her canines extended in her mouth and she liked the taste of blood from her swollen gums. “I’d like to kill this one,” she said to the room.
“As you wish,” Maura said, stilting any opposition with the raise of one her hands. She sat on Hammer’s left, perched on the arm of the loveseat with one leg dangling, the other planted on the floor.
Buzz was the last to receive the photos and he scanned them for a long moment before he tapped one hard. “This one, I believe, but I could be mistaken, is some kind of witch, so I’d be careful around her.”
“They’re likely to have some muscle around the facility. Probably hired guns, possible ex-military. They’ve got government funding for a lot of their research, and who knows how far up the food chain the information they gather goes. We need to proceed with caution, take any paperwork, computers, and information we can find with us, kill the humans responsible for the pain of one of our own, and then get the hell out of Dodge without being caught. Any questions?”
Amara lifted her hand. “When do we leave?”
“It’s a good two hour drive from here. I’d prefer we all get a few hours rest, eat something substantial, then drive out before the sun sets, get a lay of the land, and hopefully get there right at closing time to surprise them when their guards are most likely to be down.”
“Solid,” Oliver said next to her and touched his shoulder to hers. “I’m famished.”
Maura rose and her knees popped. “I’ll call in some takeout. Anyone want anything specific?”
They all started talking at once. She smacked herself in the forehead.
Hammer whistled loudly and the voices cut off. “Pizza it is then,” he said with a smile, throwing an arm across his old lady’s shoulder before he kissed her cheek. “With extra meat, yeah? We’re gonna need the protein.”
14 Chapter Fourteen
The entire crew piled into a dark panel van as the day turned toward evening and they made the trek to the mountains. Amara admitted, if only to herself, that the majestic views and the greenery were beautiful, albeit sparse, with houses spaced far apart and limited humans, though that was more a plus than a negative.
They rode on Route 28, a small, narrow road that wound around the reservoir, until they found a tiny sign and a dirt drive that drove up a steep incline. Hammer found a discrete pull off for a trail walk, and they climbed out of the van, stretched, and surveyed their surroundings.
Oliver came out last, carrying a black duffle bag and a huge grin. “Lock and load, people.”
Amara dug through the contents and came up with a KG-9, two clips, and two pistols that she shoved into her shoulder harnesses. After attaching a long handled knife to her belt, she said, “Ready,” and it was true. This was a long time coming.
Maura came up next to her and bumped her shoulder. Her long blonde hair had been plaited and spun into a bun to keep it from being used against her. They’d all changed into battle attire at the brownstone before leaving. Standard black pants, boots, long-sleeved shirts, and skull caps.
Flip and Meat shifted into their animal forms and trotted out from behind the van so Lucky could fasten custom harnesses to their necks filled with their own gear and supplies.
“All right people, this is a kill and rescue mission.”
Hammer’s words caused Amara’s breathing to increase. On one hand, she disliked killing humans, but on the other, these were the people who’d taken and experimented on her and countless others.
“We clear on our jobs?” Once they nodded, he said, “Good. Let’s move out.”
Oliver stuck close to her as they walked on silent feet through the forest toward the large building they’d seen on Google Earth. Amara checked her GPS coordinates and calculated they had another mile or two before they reached their destination. The others fanned out and stalked forward out of Amara’s line of sight, but she knew they were there, putting themselves at risk for her.
And didn’t that thought almost stop her cold. She closed the door on the negative emotions trying to wreak havoc on her mind and chose to focus instead on their true mission. Rescuing any shifters and animals from further harm, and retribution for those responsible.
A twig snapped behind her, and Amara spun, gun trained, and paused when Flash’s face registered in her mind as friend, not foe. At least, for now. Some day they’d have it out over what had transpired years ago with Lucan Trivane. Amara lowered her weapon and stared her down. Too bad today was not that day.
“Boo,” she called loud enough for Flash to hear, but not anyone else. Amara made shoo motions with her hands much to Flash’s entertainment. She grinned and waved, then took off at high speed, weaving through the dense underbrush like only a fox could.
She stared after her for a long moment, past memories surfacing, then resumed forward, slapping herself in the forehead. Oliver was about fifty feet ahead of her, so she jogged to catch up with him.
“How come you didn’t stop?”
“I trusted you to defend yourself, plus I knew it was Flash.”
“How?”
Oliver swung his face toward her and cocked a brow. “I scented her. I’ve been around her a long time. I know her flavor.”
“So you’ve fucked her, then?”
An amused snort split the quiet air. “Me and Flash? No. Her tastes lie elsewhere, sweetheart. Far as I can tell, she’s more up your alley than mine.”
Hm. Her being into women was news to her, not that Amara cared one way or the other, but why had she slep
t with Amara’s boyfriend back in the day when they’d all been young? Although, truth be told, Flash had been visiting Britain on some errand for Hammer when she’d first met her. Her and those giant tits and come-hither smile.
Lucan had jumped at the chance to bone the sultry redhead from America, and when Amara had walked into the clubhouse apartments and found them in bed together, the bastard had shrugged and kept shagging her without a moment of remorse.
A tiny fissure formed in Amara’s heart that day. In Flash’s defense, Lucan hadn’t exactly disclosed he was involved with someone. Still. It stung, even now, years later.
“Take the haughty down a notch, will ya? I’ve no interest in any female other than you, though yeah, I slept with my fair share of ladies.”
“Slut.”
He shrugged. “I make no bones about the affairs of the flesh, my lady. Sex is fun, and a good stress release. There is a reason we have club whores.”
Amara reared back and punched him in the arm, causing him to stumble.
“What the hell? I’m just being honest,” he said, rubbing his bicep.
It was Amara’s turn to shrug. “Color me jealous. Are these women going to parade around you and strut like beautiful peacocks for your undivided attention?”
“Maybe. But you have my permission to stake your claim and give them the what for.”
“Huh?”
He stopped walking and grabbed her shoulders, then stared into her eyes. “You can tell them I’m taken and to back off.”
Laughter danced across his face at whatever expression he saw on hers.
“You bloody well are mine,” she said through gritted teeth. “And when we’re alone again…” She leaned closer and pressed her lips to his, sliding her tongue along his bottom lip. “I’ll prove it.”
“Promises, promises.” He pulled back with an apology in his eyes and desire on his tongue. “Come on, love, we’ve gotta move or we’ll fall behind and leave the others without backup.”
Amara peered into the darkness ahead, picking out her route. “What’s the warlock going to do?”
“Make it so any thermal or heat detectors don’t pick up our signatures.”
“Handy.”
“He’s a good guy. He and Lucky have been friends since they were kids. He helped rescue Cecelia when the Ice Rangers kidnapped her a few months ago. Not that she needed our help. She’s a force to be reckoned with when she needs to be.”
“How does her magic work?”
Oliver exhaled and Amara noticed his hands had tightened into fists. “Are you asking because you’re curious or for Luther?”
The question stung and her first instinct was to lash out. Rather than start a fight, she waited a few beats before she opened her mouth and said with less heat, “I’m curious. But if you still don’t trust me, then keep the information to yourself. It’s not vital to this mission.”
A low growl permeated the space between them. “Fair enough. I’m sorry, it’s just not my secret to tell. What Cecelia can do is…scary, on some levels. At least to my beast. However, she’s Lucky’s old lady and mate, and a member of Inked Menace. She earned her way into the inner circle. She’s powerful when she needs to be, which hopefully, won’t be often.”
Somewhat mollified, Amara said, “I’m not trying to pry, just make conversation. My animal is clawing at the surface to break free and maim, to taste blood and death. I’m trying to stay in control.”
Oliver stepped over a downed tree. “I get it. Mine’s not too far behind. He can’t wait to sink his teeth into the man who hurt you and draw blood. To hear him scream.”
The leopard inside swiped at Amara without claws and hissed. I know, don’t worry. “That bastard is mine, don’t forget. You’ll have to make peace with the girl.”
He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “We should be getting close now, I’m gonna text Hammer and get a status update.”
A few seconds later, Oliver read a text from his phone. “He says the property is surrounded by twenty-foot tall fencing with barbed wire spirals. They’re waiting at the farthest corner for us, so we can all go in together once they cut through the steel and Buzz uses his mojo to shield us.”
A tremble of nerves rolled through Amara that she used to spur her animal faster as she and Oliver ran through the woods to their rendezvous point where collective heads were about to roll.
15 Chapter Fifteen
“I just want you to know that whatever happens in there, I’ve got your back,” Oliver said right as they breached the rear perimeter and darted toward a set of steel doors at the back of the building. He needed her to understand.
“Um, thanks?” his mate said as she sprinted to the door.
“I mean it, Amara. I’ve got you.”
“O-kay,” she said slowly, and nodded once for good measure. She met his stare for a brief moment, then turned her attention back to the others in their small group. Meat, Flip, and Buzz were waiting by the side entrance for the go ahead text from Hammer, and the rest of them, minus Flash because she was cutting the power to the plant, huddled under the small awning waiting for the outside lights to cut off.
Oliver figured it was prime time to pour his heart out to his female. At least, if she’d freaking let him. At the moment, she was inching closer to Maura and that just wouldn’t do.
“Amara.”
“Hm?” she said absently, checking her guns to make sure the safeties were off.
“I like you. You’re my mate.”
The look she cast his way made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “You wait until right now to have this conversation?”
Fire danced in the blue depths of her eyes, so deep and dark due to the light fading fast from the sky. Oliver’s tongue dried in his mouth at the sight of this tremendously courageous female slamming weapons into her holsters and slinging the assault KG-9 over her shoulder with a strap.
“Now’s as good a time as any.”
A few steps away, Maura muttered, “Moron,” loud enough for them all to hear her.
“What are we, in high school? Are you going to ask me to go steady next? Is that what Americans do?” Her puzzled expression and clenched fists made Oliver want to plant a hot kiss right on her lips to make her understand.
“I’m giving you a gift,” he said with his arms raised out to the sides, palms up facing the sky.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, bro,” Lucky said, moving in to stand beside him. “You’re lucky she doesn’t jam her fist in your throat with that bullshit.”
“I’m still thinking about it,” Amara retorted.
He was almost sure he saw the ghost of a smile, nearly too quick to catch, but there was a lightness to the set of her shoulders and the cocked hip she tossed out as Hammer fiendishly texted with the other two groups.
“Flash is counting down from ten,” he said. “Get ready to blow these motherfucking doors off their hinges, y’all. It’s feeding time.”
“Ew. Humans taste gross,” Maura said.
“Seriously. More bones than meat,” Lucky chimed in.
“Well, the blood’s rather refreshing though,” Amara said with as straight a face as she could manage without choking.
Oliver lifted his hand to her face and cupped her cheek. “Like a warm, aged scotch, I’d say.”
“We’ll finish this bloody conversation if we both get out of here alive, yeah?”
As the seconds counted down, a fierce pounding knocked against Oliver’s ribs from the inside out and a second later, his tiger burst from his skin to take control. His flesh burned, muscles lengthening and popping into new shapes as his face altered and razor sharp teeth and claws sprouted from his hands and mouth. His weapons clattered to the ground surrounded by his shredded clothes.
By the time the clock wound down, his huge form pressed against Amara’s leg and he licked a huge line up her arm.
“Gross, bro.”
Oliver ignored his brother and memorized Amara’s scent, h
appily lapping at the flesh of her hand.
“It feels oddly…good,” she finished and then her attention was jarred and she pulled her hand away to ward off the shrieking metal being forced from its hinges.
“It’s showtime,” Hammer called, doing his best impression from the movie, The Mask, with lips parted and all his teeth gleaming in light of the moon.
Amara crouched down and said to Oliver, “I’ve got your back too. Stay safe.” She hesitated, opened and closed her mouth once, then shook off whatever it was that was on the tip of her tongue. “See you on the flip side,” she said and rose to her full height, a steel set to her spine, and charged through the open door into god knew what horror show.
16 Chapter Sixteen
Amara blinked her eyes at the grotesque scene before her, then lifted her guns and started shooting the scientists and assistants one by one in the head. Rows and rows of tables lay perfectly spaced and were filled with various animals – from lions, to tigers, and bears.
Oh, fucking my.
As she walked by each table, she catalogued the animals and unhooked them from the machines and pulled out the tubes, knowing that if they were shifters, they’d start to heal without the chemicals being pumped into their blood. And if they weren’t, then at least she’d spared their lives any more torture.
The cloying taste of antiseptic and bleach rolled her stomach.
A humongous tiger leapt over one of the steel counters and attacked a human fumbling with a gun in a vain attempt to protect himself from certain death. He shrieked as Oliver swiped him with vicious claws, and the man went flying across the room and smacked hard into the wall. Her mate followed and then opened his huge maw and bit the head, severing it from the body. He shook his face and tossed the severed flesh, then roared, the vibrations shaking the instruments and floor.
They cleared the room in a few minutes, blood spatters and gore covering the walls, their crew making quick work of the unprepared humans. A second was all Amara spared for their lives, then she turned, and with Oliver stalking at her side, went through another door.
