“Adam believes he’s ready physically.” Ty glanced to Tex. “Emotionally…we’ll see. Robin thinks he can handle it. Actually, she seems to think it would do him good. There’s a chance he’ll get himself killed but it’s his right.”
“There’s a chance he’ll get us all killed,” Jinx reminded him.
“I don’t think so, or I wouldn’t have brought him. He’s going to be fine.” Ty tied his shoulder length hair back in a leather strap. “Let’s go!”
He slipped the rifle over his chest and climbed into the SUV with Ty, Styx taking the wheel again.
“Get us there in one piece,” Ty ordered Styx as they pulled out of the lot, heading back to the resort.
Styx sat quietly behind the wheel, the anger pouring off him. Styx was a damn good warrior. He had been an assassin at one time, and some said he killed without feeling. Those who knew him knew it wasn’t true. Every kill affected the warrior but he did it to keep his kind safe.
Somehow Ty had managed to surround himself with amazing warriors, those that could be running their own clan but had chosen to serve under him. That in itself was truly remarkable. Just a few months ago, Adam had been offered the position of Alpha over the Ohio clan. Instead of taking it and leaving his position of second to the Captain of Tabitha’s guards, he remained in Alaska. The Elder guards were truly an amazing bunch. They’d take on the world if they believed in the cause, even if it meant their deaths.
“Shadow believes this is the direct route from outside to where Avery should be. It’s where we’re going in.” Ty pointed to the yellow highlighted route. “Once inside, Tex should be able to get us where we need to be. He’s familiar with the inside, just not outside. Avery rarely allowed him above ground.”
“Did it sound like there were others gathered…watching?” Tex asked from the front seat. “He used to like to make us watch when he…”
“All I could hear were her cries, but let’s be ready for others to be there. Did he have the whole clan there or just selected ones?” Ty folded the map and set it aside.
“Never everyone, but normally at least a few.” Tex rambled on as the resort came into view. “He’ll be occupied with what he’s doing. He won’t even know we arrived as long as we don’t alert any of the guards.”
“It’s possible they are expecting us. He can’t think that another Alpha would allow the threats to continue without some consequences.” Ty looked to Jinx as the SUV came to a halt.
“Doesn’t matter now, this is coming to an end.” Jinx climbed out, positioning his assault rifle. Without waiting for anyone, he jogged to the door and swung it open. While his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness he did his best not to gag. The scent of blood assaulted him.
“You should wait for everyone.” Styx came up behind him, his weapon at the ready.
“I won’t wait any longer while a woman is being tortured. Now if you’re ready, let’s go.” He didn’t wait for Styx or anyone else to agree, he just jogged down the hall.
“Turn left,” Tex whispered from somewhere within the group. “About halfway down the next tunnel, you’ll come to another one on the right. That’s where Avery will be, it’s the best room to amplify the screams.”
The fact that Tex knew this was yet another reminder he had suffered years under Avery. The scars laid witness to the abuse.
Jinx followed the directions, each passageway clear until the last one. A solitary guard stood outside the entryway.
“Take your hand away from your weapon.” Jinx raised his gun, letting the man know he was serious.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t shoot, it’s Ben.” Tex stepped closer, moving in between Styx and Jinx. “Ben, don’t do anything stupid. Just step aside.”
“He’ll kill me.” Ben’s hand twitched toward his gun.
“He won’t because we’re here to stop him. Either step aside or fight with us. I don’t care which but I will no longer stand aside knowing he’s hurting people.” Tex tried to convince his friend while the others waited.
“How many are in there?” Ty asked.
“Six.”
“That’s better odds than I thought it would be.” Tex nodded. “Now move aside.”
“I can’t.” The young guard shook his head. “He has Summer.”
“Then help us and we can try to save her.” Jinx moved his gun to the side. He didn’t have time to play games with Ben.
“You don’t understand, if I allow you in once he’s done with the woman he’s working on, he’ll go after Summer.”
Ben tried to explain, which only upset Jinx more. He didn’t like Ben’s word choice, as if Avery was just working on a car, or working the kinks out of her back, when in fact he was torturing a woman.
“Get the hell out of the way or I’ll shoot you. I won’t stand here while he hurts anyone.” Jinx was itching to squeeze the trigger.
“Summer is his sister,” Tex explained. “We’ll save her if you get out of the way. Come with us and get her out of there yourself.”
Ben stood there undecided until Styx reached forward, snatched the boy’s gun away from him, and pushed him aside. “We don’t have time for your games.”
“Cover me.” Jinx pulled the door open, and a flood of screams poured out. A woman lay stretched out on the table, blood everywhere. “Step away from the woman!”
“What the fuck!” Avery glanced to the door, an instrument resembling a scalpel in his hand. “How did you get in here?”
“Through the door.” Tex stepped out from behind Jinx, letting Avery see just who had led them there. “Years ago, before you beat the will out of me, I told you that someday someone would stop you. Well, that day has come and I’m one of the people who plan to stop you.”
Avery laughed. “Boy, you don’t stand a chance.”
Tex nodded. “Not alone, but as a whole we do.”
“Where did you find them? A bunch of solitary shifters? No Alpha would dare take me on.” Avery was cocky and full of himself.
“I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m Jinx, the West Virginia Alpha, and this is Ty, Alpha of the Alaskan Tigers.” He tipped his head to Ty, standing next to him. “One Alpha might not, but Ty and I are nothing like the others. We’ll fight for what’s right, no matter the cost. Now I told you once to step away from the woman.”
“What do you think this will accomplish?” Avery lowered the scalpel before shoving it into the woman’s chest.
Jinx squeezed the trigger, shooting Avery. It was the first of many shots that rang out.
Chapter Three
Jinx step forward, his gun still trained on Avery, while his gaze traveled between the woman and Avery. He wanted Avery to suffer for the damage he’d done to the victim, the deep cuts that covered her body, the burn marks that looked like he’d placed an open flame on her skin.
For each mark he wanted Avery to feel it. To know what it was like to be tortured, the fear coursing through him while he begged. It didn’t matter to Jinx if Avery begged for death or for his life, in the end death would be the only thing he got.
“Finish it,” Ty ordered while he subdued one of the guards. There were no options for Avery, no chance to surrender. He couldn’t continue to live because he’d never quit. There were no prisons for shifters.
“You’d kill an unarmed man?” Avery’s voice lost the authority it held only moments ago. Now he seemed weak and pitiful, his eyes full of terror.
“She’s dead! You’ve killed my sister.” Another woman sobbed over the body on the table. Her blonde hair slipped into the pool of blood as she cradled the woman to her, tears running down her face.
“You brought this upon yourself.” Jinx aimed the gun at Avery’s head and squeezed the trigger. There was no guilt, not after knowing Avery’s final act had taken another’s life, that they hadn’t arrived in time to save her.
A man came bursting through the door, straight for Jinx. Noticing he held a gun, Jinx launched himself forw
ard, taking the stranger down before he could reach the women. They wrestled across the room, Jinx’s grip tight on the man’s jacket so he had no chance to get away.
He slammed him into the back wall, bouncing the man’s head off the concrete. “What do you want?” Jinx snarled.
“Your life, to revenge my Alpha.” The man growled, trying to get a good shot. “I’ve already killed one of you and I’ll do it again.”
“Stand down or I’ll kill you,” Jinx warned. He slammed the man against the wall again, hoping to make his point clear.
“Screw you. I’ll revenge my Alpha if it’s the last thing I do.” He squeezed the trigger but missed his target. The sound was deafening as it amplified through the enclosed space.
Jinx grabbed the gun, and threw it across the room toward an empty corner. “You had a choice.” With his weight pressed on the man, he aimed his gun at his heart, and pulled the trigger.
It was over as quickly as it began but there was no satisfaction. Jinx slipped off the body and leaned against the wall. Everything was under control. Tex held back a few of the witnesses, while Styx and Ty dealt with two of the remaining guards who didn’t want to surrender. Taber had his hands full another woman, and Tad and Milo were nowhere in sight. Someone had to find them, but first the woman needed him.
“Miss.” Jinx slung the rifle over his shoulder, keeping it close if he needed it, and neared the trembling female.
“He killed her.” She sobbed, rocking back and forth.
Her pain hung thick in the air, making it hard for him to breathe. “I’m sorry.” He laid a hand over her arm and instantly the electricity coursed through them. “Shit.” Stumbling back he broke the connection, his stomach turning as he saw the grieving woman in a different light. His mate.
The long blonde hair, parts of it red from blood, made him want to run his fingers through it, tangling them in the long strands. Her curvy body made his hands itch to explore. But most of all it was her plump red lips that drew him in, making him want to dip his head and kiss her.
She glared at him, setting her blazing green eyes on him. “This isn’t the time. Go away.”
“Whoa, lass.” He held his hands out in front of her. It was obvious that it wasn’t a suitable time to find his mate, but fate never took convenience into consideration. “I’m just trying to help. There’s nothing you can do for her now. Come with me, I promise we’ll see to her properly.”
“He’s right, Summer.” Ben came toward them, glaring at him. “I’m her brother and I’d like to take her away from this.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Ben shook his head. “Not mine, only Summer’s. Long story.”
Ty cleared his throat, gathering everyone’s attention. “No one is going anywhere at the moment. In a few minutes we are gathering everyone in the…”
“Manetka’s conference room one,” Tex interjected. “It will be large enough to host everyone.”
“There’re some announcements that need to be dealt with before anything gets out of hand. Any members of the Texas Tigers in this room must accompany us there,” Ty interjected. “Tex will be leading the way. Please follow him.” He turned and nodded to Tex, giving him the go-ahead to gather everyone up.
“I can’t leave her.” Summer sobbed.
“Ben, if you’ll help Tex get everyone to the conference room I’ll see to Summer and…”
“Autumn,” Ben interrupted, nodding toward the dead woman on the table.
Summer and Autumn; it was too bizarre even for Jinx. He made mental note to find out more about Summer’s family, and what possessed her mother to give her daughters such unusual names. Their mother had to be some kind of flower child.
“I’ll make sure Autumn receives the proper treatment, and I’ll look after Summer,” Jinx promised.
Ben leaned in close to her, his hand on her shoulder. “They’re going to need my help with the clan members. Are you going to be okay?”
“Go.” Her voice was thick with sorrow. “I’m fine.”
Somewhat alone with the woman he was supposed to mate with, he let his mind wander. He had always been open to mating, but never expected to find it in a situation like this. If anything, he’d expected to find her once things were calmer. Not in what could be the middle of a shifter war.
Their kind, especially those tightly bound to the Alaskan Tigers, had an uphill battle ahead of them. Tabitha was about to announce herself as Queen of the Tigers, making this more dangerous for them all until they had the rebels under control, not to mention the rogues lurking somewhere out there, waiting for the perfect time to attack.
“Why now?”
“Excuse me?” Jinx wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.
“Why do you come into my life now? At the worst time of my life I find you. It seems wrong.” She glanced up at him, her big green eyes still full of tears. “Mating is supposed to be a happy time, but it’s an unsuitable time with the death of my sister.”
“Maybe fate threw us together now because you need it.” The words sounded too full of emotion for him. He was a man ruled by his head, not his heart. Decisions were made after careful consideration, not by flipping a coin.
“What happens to me now? To the clan? Will you kill us all?”
He reached forward, taking her by the shoulders. Her eyes went wide with fear, and her body trembled under his touch. “I won’t hurt you.”
She eyed him with suspicion. “What about the others?”
“Let me put it another way, no one is here to hurt you. As for what happens to the clan, a new Alpha will have to step up and try to gather the pieces. My clan, as well as Ty’s, will be here to help in any way we can.” He nodded to Ty, who stood near the door with Styx and Tex.
“We could use you upstairs,” Ty called to him.
He nodded, knowing he had to be there in case there was more of an outburst. “Will you come with me? Once it’s over, we can see that your sister has a proper burial.”
She brushed a strand of Autumn’s hair from her face before turning back to him. “Will this pain ever end?”
“No.” He took her hand in his. “With time it will lessen, but it will never completely leave you. In time you’ll stop thinking about her every second of the day and then something will spark a memory and you’ll be right back to this moment. The loss fresh within you, tearing at your soul and breaking your heart.”
“Wow, I can see you’re a cheerful one. No sugar coating, just wham bam. I like that.”
“That’s good, because I’m not sure I know how to sugar coat anything. I’ve never had a problem telling people how it is, even if they don’t want to hear it. I am truly sorry for your loss.” He took her other hand, letting the energy flow through them, warming them both from the inside out.
“Thank you. Autumn was my best friend, my sister. I don’t know how to go on without her.”
“I know it sounds cheesy, but take it one day at a time. I can’t replace her, no one can, but each day I’ll be there to help you through it.” Behind him, Ty cleared his throat. “Will you accompany me to the conference room?”
She looked down at her bloodstained clothes and nodded. “Yes. My clan members are there and they look to Ben for support. I might be able to help keep them calm. Unless you start shooting into the audience.”
“I promise nothing like that is going to happen.” Enjoying her touch, he kept his hand in hers and led the way to the door. “We came here to free you from what he was doing, not to kill any of you.”
“I hope that’s true.” She stopped as they neared Ty.
“Come on, lass, he’s not going to hurt you.” Jinx tugged her hand, forcing her to come with him past Ty. “I understand you’re distrustful, but we’re not here to harm any of you.”
After Ty fell in step behind them, Jinx turned enough to look back. “Did anyone go in search of Tad and Milo? The man that came through the other door said he killed someone.”
“Mi
lo and Tad are fine. They were dealing with another group of guards outside the other door, which is how that one got through. He killed someone all right, but it wasn’t one of our men. He killed one of his own clan members.” Ty shook his head, clearly unable to believe he had mistaken one of his own clan for an enemy.
What kind of training did Avery give his guards? They reacted without knowing who they were shooting at. That would get more people killed than would keep them safe. Whoever took over as Alpha had some serious issues to deal with. The first being security. There were always shifters passing through the resort, and the threat level could be higher than that of a clan with a compound.
Chapter Four
While the newcomers tried to calm the clan members, Summer stood off to the side of the platform with Ben. Her emotions were twisting her up inside. The tigress within her wanted to be with Jinx, standing beside him while he liberated her clan, but the other half of her could only think of losing Autumn.
“Don’t listen to them, they killed the guards in the tunnels,” someone in the audience hollered.
Unable to stand by as the two sides argued, Summer squared her shoulders and stepped onto the platform. For the Texas Tigers only have thirty members, the room was extremely noisy.
“Hold on!” she called out, determined to quiet them down. “Everyone just hold on for a moment and listen.” When people turned and looked toward her, her nerves caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end.
“Say your peace.” Jinx nodded, encouraging her.
“Many of you knew Autumn and her visions.” Anger and sadness tugged at her heart, making her chest ache. “She believed Tex would bring help when he escaped. He did. For those who said they killed the guards downstairs—I was there. They were given the chance to surrender, but they’d been brainwashed by Avery. This is our chance. Don’t throw this away because you’re frightened. We’re free of Avery, why can’t we elect a new Alpha and start over?”
Jinx's Mate (Alaskan Tigers) Page 2
