by K. A. Linde
Beckham held his hand out and she hastily jumped off of his kitchen table.
“Was that okay?” she asked, her legs shaking still.
“No one could feel your anxiety but me,” he assured her.
She blew out a breath. “Good.”
“Hey, good speech!” Drew said, appearing at her side and throwing an arm around her. “When did you learn not to throw up when you addressed a group?”
“Very funny!”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” she said with a smile. But her eyes flittered over Drew’s shoulder. “Where’s Laura?”
Drew cocked his head to the side. She followed his gesture and found that Brian and Laura had snuck into the room to listen to her speech and see everyone off. They’d had a tear-filled reunion once Reyna and Brian had made it to Beckham’s place. Brian was on the mend and Laura was there every step of the way to help.
“Come on,” Drew said.
They moved across the room together. Brian had an arm around Laura. She was beaming and he gave her a tentative smile as if he wasn’t sure this was reality. His eyes were shadowed, memories of his time as a vampire and the torture he’d endured from Harrington would follow him for a long time, maybe forever. As it would follow Reyna too. She understood that look.
“What a speech,” Brian said.
“You did really great,” Laura said. “Though, I wish none of you had to go.”
“I know,” Reyna said. “But we do. We have to end this.”
“Give him an extra bullet for me,” Brian said fiercely.
She nodded and then pulled Brian, Laura, and Drew in for a hug.
“I hate to say this, but I have to go,” Drew said. He pulled back and ruffled Laura’s hair affectionately.
“Thank you for taking care of her,” Brian said, holding his hand out. They shook, an unbreakable bond forged between them, and then Drew left.
Reyna kissed Brian’s cheek and left him to be alone with his wife. She knew they needed time together. And she needed to be here for the army.
Drew filed out with the rest of the Elle members, as well as the heavily armed anti-cult crew. Reyna had had more than a few choice words with Everett’s asshole friends about joining the team. The only good thing was that they were super paranoid, so they had guns galore and knew how to use them. And none of them wanted to see Everett’s death be for nothing. Including Reyna.
Beckham’s circle spoke furiously to him in a corner for a few minutes before splitting into teams with the other vamps and exiting the room. Beckham nodded once at her and then followed them out. She knew he wanted to supervise and make sure that everything was going as planned. She liked that he was a bit of a control freak…and yet still let her take the reins.
Reyna turned then to her own team—Gabe, Meghan, Tye, and Jodie.
“Like old times, huh?” Reyna asked.
Jodie threw her arms around Reyna. “We’ve got your back.”
Meghan smiled brightly. “I’m ready.”
Gabe winked and slung an arm over Meghan’s shoulders. Tye crossed his arms and gave her a cool nod. These were her people. Her team. She wished that she could tell them how much they meant to her, but she could see in their eyes that they already knew. She didn’t have to say a word.
Tye tossed the keys in his hand. “I call getaway car.”
“Shotgun!” Jodie yelled as she pushed past Meghan and Gabe toward the car.
Reyna took a deep breath and glanced around Beckham’s little subterranean modern condo. He’d been right when he’d said it wasn’t big enough to house everyone. The place was smaller than the mansion. But it would have to do as their new base for the women, children, and sick who were staying behind. Genevieve had agreed to remain and guard the place. Which meant both Brian and Laura were staying. Reyna was relieved by that at least. Some of them would be safe…for now.
Beckham reappeared in the doorway then. “Are you ready?”
She swallowed and nodded. “Yes.”
He crossed the threshold and pulled her into his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She melted into his touch. Their bodies becoming one. She needed this comfort. To know that she was loved as she went out to take on the world.
“We can do this together,” Beckham said.
“You’re right. We should have always done it together.”
“Just don’t hesitate. You’ll only get one opportunity.”
“I know. We’ve gone over this.”
He tilted her chin up to meet his deep obsidian eyes. They were the hardened eyes of a warrior, with the fierce determination of someone who had gone into battle time and time again and come out ahead. His experience far outweighed hers. He knew what this felt like and he enjoyed it. The thrill of battle was a drug to him. It was all over him. If she reached for his emotions, she could revel in them like a pill for her anxiety.
But she needed her anxiety. Her stress. Her total awareness of every fucking thing that could go wrong.
She’d gone into battle once already against Harrington.
She’d lost.
Beckham had died.
If she wasn’t aware of that, then she would be going into this with false confidence. She was terrified. And she needed to be. The last time she’d faced Harrington she’d been cocky. Young and inexperienced, not yet completely weathered by the reality of her world. Somehow still completely naive to the severity of her world. To the ruthlessness of William Harrington.
She wasn’t walking into this half-cocked. She had a plan. She had a team and backup and the whole shebang.
She was about to walk out onto the chessboard and play the hardest game of her life. Her fear would be safely tucked in her back pocket while she used every ounce of strategy to keep herself alive.
Beckham brought his lips down to hers. The kiss was short and soft and raw. Jarring enough to drag her back to earth. He brought his hand to her heart, which beat steadily.
“Just remember, I’m always right here.” He moved her hand up to his heart. “And you are always here.”
“Always,” she repeated.
He nodded. “Good. Showtime.”
A voice cleared behind them. They both turned around and found Genevieve standing in the hallway that led to the bedrooms. “Excuse me. Would you mind if I had a quick word with Miss Reyna before you depart?”
“Of course,” Beckham said deferentially. “I’ll wait in the car.”
“I won’t be long.” Reyna crossed the room to where Genevieve was standing. “What’s going on?”
“I have been a vampire for a long time,” Genevieve said. “I was not long on Master Washington’s property before I was turned. He treated me with kindness and respect even before I became one of his kind. What you are doing today is what he always wanted.”
“I know,” Reyna said, choking back the sadness over his death. She couldn’t even believe it was possible. The man who avoided war found that it caught up to him after all.
“Believe me when I say I understand your need to even the score. Master Harrington never deserved Master Washington’s friendship. He abused it for his own gain. He was a wonderful man until you had something he wanted. And you are now what he wants.” Genevieve grasped her hands. “Despite what he has done, think first of yourself, dear.”
“Of myself?” Reyna asked, confused where this conversation was going.
“You have to make decisions that you can live with.”
“I know what I can live with.”
“Choose justice, Miss Reyna.” Genevieve’s hand clasped around hers. “Do the right thing when the time comes.”
Reyna closed her hand tight around Genevieve’s. “I will.”
“You reminded Master Washington so much o
f his Mistress Elisa. He’d only ever trust you with this.”
“I’ll make him proud.”
Genevieve nodded. “I know you will.”
Chapter 32
Reyna bounced from foot to foot in the back of the black van. Zoya had hooked it up with several video screens so they could see everything playing out. Nearly everyone was wired with a tiny camera and they were broadcasting everything live. Anyone who wanted to see the realities of Visage now could. People had called Everett’s video propaganda, but they were listening after video of his murder was released…and they were enraptured now that Elle was broadcasting live for the first time ever.
From Reyna’s vantage point, she could see what she now called the storming of the camps. It was frantic and manic and totally incredible. Guns going off to stop the vampires from obstructing their entrance. People rushing forward through the front. Mayhem as they moved deeper through the trenches.
Humans poured from the front entrance as they escaped their vampire guards and made it out. And all of this was just in the first couple minutes.
Madness.
Panic.
Distraction.
That’s what Reyna wanted and needed.
“Your cue,” Zoya said as a flare erupted on one of the screens.
“We’re sure he’s in there?” Reyna asked.
Beckham nodded. “Affirmative.”
Gabe slid open the van door. He jumped down enthusiastically. “I’m fucking ready for this shit.”
Meghan shook her head. “Only you are this happy about it.”
Jodie cocked the gun in her hand and shrugged. “I don’t know. They gave me a gun. I’m pretty stoked.”
Tye just jumped out of the van and adjusted the many guns strapped on him. Philippé stepped out with them, leaving Gerard with Beckham. Zoya was on comms and Katarina had gone in first.
Beckham grasped Reyna’s chin and turned her to face him again. “If anything goes wrong, I’m coming in after you.”
“It’ll go to plan.”
“It never goes to plan.”
“Okay. Yeah. It never goes to plan.” Reyna ran her hand down her ponytail and shrugged. Her nerves ate at her as she played the plan over and over again in her head.
“Don’t do anything reckless.”
She arched an eyebrow.
“Anything more reckless than normal.” Then he kissed her with none of the softness of the one at his place. This was fierce and loyal and demanding. His emotions exploded through her all at once. She could sense him, feel him, taste him. It was so intoxicating that she thought she’d never be able to walk away from this. Never be able to go into that pit of Hell. Not if it meant she did it without him.
“You won’t,” he said, reading her thoughts. “I’ll be with you every step, remember?”
“Good,” she gasped.
“You’re bloody coming out of there.”
A cool smile pressed to her lips. Adrenaline pumping through her veins and pushing her into action. “You bet I am.”
* * *
—
Reyna followed the vanguard of her army.
Gabe paved the way to a back entrance into the camp. They’d scoped it out yesterday to check for guards. There were two on the door at all times and a rotating round who patrolled the perimeter. And despite the fact that Reyna hated the idea, Beckham had contacted Rowland to get inside information—schematics, blueprints, passcodes, everything that would help. They’d debated it for a long time, but it was the only way that they knew they could definitely get to Harrington. It was a risk. The biggest risk Beckham might have ever taken. But at the end of the day, Rowland wanted to depose Harrington as much as they did. The enemy of my enemy was my friend, even if she hated him. She just hoped the bastard played his part.
Tye discreetly cut his way through the fencing with a cool-looking laser that Katarina had provided. It took a full minute while they waited anxiously before they could slip through the hole he’d created. Reyna ducked over to the other side, with Gabe flanking her rear.
The distraction had done its job. All the guards were missing from the back door and the patrol was gone. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t meet someone on the inside, but for now they were in the clear.
Reyna hurried after Jodie and Meghan to the back door. She plastered herself against the wall. Her breathing heavy and terrified.
“You’re doing great,” she heard Beckham’s commanding voice in her ear.
She pressed her finger to the tiny earpiece. It was amazing to be able to hear him. Though she knew she wanted to rely more on sensing him. She opened herself to him and sensed him in the van. Good. Close enough. Not too far away.
“Enter the passcode and follow the hallway to the left.”
Reyna repeated the instructions. Gabe was already a step ahead of her, entering the fifteen-digit code. The lock gave with no resistance.
“Here goes nothing,” Gabe said. He yanked open the door, holding the gun aloft in front of him. He took out a vampire waiting on the other side. Philippé took out the other one and then checked the hallways. “Empty. We’re clear here.”
A sinking feeling set into the pit of her stomach. He couldn’t know they were coming. There was no way the motherfucker had predicted they were coming. He wasn’t just clearing the path for her to walk into another one of his traps. Had Rowland given them up? Given them all the information that they needed to hang themselves? God, that bastard. He would do it too. She couldn’t believe that Beckham had trusted him even this far. No, she’d have to do something he wasn’t expecting.
“What’s this mean?” Meghan asked. Her red ponytail was high on the top of her head and she held a gun in her hand. Jodie came in behind her, looking around wide-eyed.
“He knows?” Tye guessed.
“If he knows and he wants to see me, well then, let’s make that fucking easy for him.”
She strode forward and did the thing that Beckham had told her not to do. She abandoned the plan.
* * *
—
“You are not walking to the left, Little One,” Beckham said in her ear.
She sighed. Yeah, she wasn’t. “He knows we’re here. Rowland must have told him we were coming. We have to go with Plan B.”
The silence on the other end was enough for her to know he was not pleased. Five minutes in and already shit was breaking down. But that was okay. She could roll with the punches. It didn’t change what she needed to do. Nothing did.
“Where the hell are you heading?” Gabe asked, jogging to catch up with her.
“You can’t walk in there,” Jodie said.
“I appreciate it, guys, but clear the way for me.”
“But…” Meghan began.
“That’s what I need from you,” Reyna said. “I’ll be fine.”
Meghan looked skeptical. Jodie actually snorted. Philippé said nothing of course. But none of them contradicted her and they all ran ahead to clear the hallways as she walked through the first floor of the feeding camps like a woman on a mission. She passed dozens of closed doors on her way. She knew from studying the blueprints Rowland had given them that these were all holding facilities. The nicer ones. The ones they kept the new prisoners in before they got them doped up on bites and forgot to care where they were living or eating or breathing.
That knowledge made her grit her teeth. She was glad to be immune to bite addiction. The venom had never made her crave it like an addict after her next fix. She’d actually hated the euphoria that swept away everything else. After one bite from Beckham, she’d been ruined for all else.
She needed to save these people. Give them back the lives they deserved and not the one forced upon them by Visage through poverty and desperation.
A set of double doors stood closed at the end of the
hallway. Two guards were unconscious on the floor in front of them. Philippé stood by impassively while Gabe shook out his right fist. Meghan’s gun was aimed on the vampires. Her hand was steady, but Reyna knew she’d rather heal than kill. Jodie and Tye returned a minute later from connecting hallways.
“Clear,” Tye said. “What’s our next move?”
“Help get others out this way,” she told them.
“What about you?” Jodie asked.
Reyna kicked one of the vampires out of her way with the edge of her black boot. “I have an idea.”
“Little One, do you know what you’re doing?” she heard crackle through her earpiece.
Yes. Yes, she did. This might look reckless, but she didn’t want to walk into Harrington’s trap. She needed to do this her way and on her terms. She stepped over the second vampire and pushed the double doors open with both hands.
“Did someone throw a party without me?”
About a hundred pairs of eyes snapped to her and her grand entrance. She’d entered the main holding facility for the humans here. Medical equipment lined the walls and rows of chairs filled it to its entirety. As with most things from Visage, the room was strangely sanitary. No one would guess that they were dosing humans with antidotes and feeding a vamp army out of a place like this. But it didn’t surprise Reyna. Not when she knew about Harrington’s insane idiosyncrasies.
“Get her!” someone cried as a group of vampires lunged for her.
Philippé and her friends kept most of them off of her, but one got through and grabbed her upper arm with enough force to bruise.
“I’m here to see the boss. It’s time that we had a face-to-face.”
The vampire with a mean-looking face and giant fangs snarled, “You’re not seeing anyone.”
“Ouch,” she yelped. “That hurts! I’m needed in one piece. You do not want the boss to get mad at you!”
The vampire released her abruptly. Apparently that had struck a nerve. Seemed Harrington had instilled some discipline into his army.
