“All of the women were being held upstairs, except Serenity and the young girl. They were downstairs,” Becca said. “I had locked the girl into a room so the guards couldn’t get to her. One of the guards was pissed because he had tried to force himself on Serenity. She had just found out about you from Ashley the night before. Ashley told her that her mate, Phoenix, was coming for her. That everyone was going to be rescued soon. Serenity told the guard there was no way he was touching her because she was not going to have her mate smell his filth on her. She sliced his chest open with her claws. He beat her and then drugged her and shoved her in one of the rooms downstairs.”
Phoenix just stood there staring at the women. He had a mate? God, he wanted a mate. He remembered the tiny woman with the long dark hair and delicate features the General had held in his arms. It had to have been Serenity. She had been drugged and at that point he wasn’t sure she had even known what was going on around her. He had just gotten a quick look at her because he had been so focused on getting to Nico. God, if he had only known. He would have done what? He couldn’t get to Nico. He would not have been able to get to Serenity either. But it didn’t matter. She was his and he had let the General take her.
“My mate?” he growled. “You have got to be fucking kidding me! I lost my little sister AND my mate?”
Phoenix swung around and slammed his fist into the car window next to him shattering it. As he pulled his bloody hand back, he looked over at the women and then walked over and got into one of the SUVs. He had to get out of there. Had to be alone. His mate. His beautiful little mate. So tiny. She had been waiting for him to come rescue her. He had lost Serenity and Rikki. That sick prick had them both. Phoenix had failed them. He tore out of the compound, blood pouring from the gashes in his hand. All he could think about was his mate and his sister.
They were all going to die. Every last bastard that worked for the General had just signed their own death warrant, and he was the mother fucking Grimm Reaper.
Nico watched Phoenix leave knowing he had to let him go this time. How much more could the guy take? It was all so jacked up. “Go be with your mate and child,” Angel said. “He has to work this one out on his own. Be there early tomorrow.”
Nico nodded, and with one more glance at the fleeing vehicle, he turned around and ran home. Jenna was there when he opened the door and he yanked her into his arms, burying his face in her neck. He was shaking, and he couldn’t stop.
She pulled back and looked at him, questions in her eyes. “It was Rikki,” they heard a tear filled voice say. They both turned to where Lily stood in the kitchen doorway. “I didn’t know Daddy. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” She ran to him, her breath catching as she sobbed, and he scooped her up holding her close. Her abilities were supposed to be a gift to her, not a burden. He didn’t want her to feel like this.
He gently stroked her hair and whispered, “Yes Princess, it was Rikki. But we are going to get her back.” Lily leaned back and looked at him. “And the pretty white wolf. You have to get her back, too.”
She had to be talking about Serenity. As Jenna watched in confusion, he said, “We will definitely be bringing Serenity home, too, Princess.”
“No, not Serenity, Daddy. The other wolf. She’s scared and wants her mommy. She needs to come home with Rikki.” Now Nico was confused, too, but he promised Lily he would do what he could for all of them.
Nico spent the rest of the evening with his family. After they put Lily to bed, he and Jenna sat out on the back porch on the swing. He held her as he pushed the swing and told her about the mission. And then he told her about Rikki. About how much she had changed and opened up since she had first come to work for RARE. About how she used to always come over and hang out at Nico and Phoenix’s and was the pesky little sister they had never had. About what she had done for him so that he could come home to his family. And about how much he loved her and was scared to death that she was not going to come home to them at all.
He also told her about Serenity and how it had to be tearing Phoenix apart that he had not been able to save Rikki or his mate. A mate he hadn’t even known he had.
Through it all, Jenna held onto him and just let him talk. Afterwards, they went inside and went to bed. Nico held Jenna, thanking God that she and Lily were home safe. He loved them both so much and would do anything to keep them from the General.
The next morning Nico got up while Jenna was still sleeping. He silently got dressed and then leaned over to give her a quick kiss. Without opening her eyes she whispered, “You bring them home, Nico. You find them and bring them home.”
Nico nodded and gave her a hug, then went into Lily’s room and gave her a kiss and hug, also. “Rikki’s hurting, Daddy. But Serenity is going to help her. She has a secret. And she’s still waiting for Phoenix.” Lily yawned and turned back over to fall back to sleep.
Serenity had a secret? Nico headed out to ask Chase for a vehicle, but stopped when he saw Phoenix sitting in front of the house. He went over and got in the SUV. Phoenix glanced at him, then turned the vehicle around and headed to Angel’s. “Lily says Rikki’s going to be ok. That Serenity has some sort of secret and is going to help Rikki.” Nico said softly. “She also says Serenity is still waiting for you, Phoenix.”
One lone tear fell down Phoenix’s face. “Let’s hope she doesn’t have to wait too long,” he said.
Chapter 45
Pain. There was so much pain. She was on fire. The bullet had hit her closer to the shoulder than the chest, but it still hurt like a bitch. Rikki squeezed her eyes shut, breathing hard. She tried to shut out the pain, but it was just too much. She felt a small hand reach over and touch hers. She tried to jerk her hand away, but she couldn’t move.
“It’s ok. Let me help you,” a voice whispered. “Who…who are you?” Rikki gasped. The hand moved from her hand up towards her shoulder. “Shhhh,” the voice whispered.
Rikki felt white hot pain slam through her shoulder. It was agony. What the hell was she doing to her? “That fucking hurts,” she ground out.
“Not much longer,” the voice huffed out. All of the sudden the pain started to recede. The hand fell away from her shoulder. The pain was not entirely gone, but it was more of a dull throb now.
“What did you do? Who are you?” she asked as she opened her eyes. She was in a dimly lit room, lying on a cot that was low to the floor. As she looked over she saw a woman sitting back against the wall, her long dark hair covering her face as she panted heavily.
The woman raised her head and gazed at her, her face pure white. Before she could respond, she fell over onto the floor and was out.
A door opened and the General himself walked in. “Keeping secrets from me, Serenity?” he laughed cruelly. “We will see about that.”
Author Bio
I have a wonderful, supportive husband and three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with all of them which normally involves some baseball, shooting hoops, taking walks, watching movies, and of course reading.
My passion for reading began at a very young age and only grew over time. Whether I was bringing home a book from the library, or sneaking one of my mom's romance novels and reading by the light in the hallway when we were supposed to be sleeping, I always had a book.
I read several different genres and subgenres, but Paranormal Romance and Romantic Suspense have always been my favorites. I read anything by Katie Reus, Lora Leigh, J.R. Ward and Rebecca Zanetti.
I have always made up my own stories, and have just recently decided to start sharing them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
~~ Dawn
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Nico's Heart (RARE Book 1) Page 12
