"Wait, Vivian. Don't do that," I plead, wanting her back in my space. Touching me. Talking to me. Jumping to my feet, I try to grab her and realize I was just going for the bicep she held so reverently. "Come back here."
Muttering something under her breath about being alone, Vivian shuffles away from me clutching her arm and throat.What the fuck is going on now? Why, just when I feel like we're getting closer, do I fucking ruin it? I didn't even yell this time.
"Vivian, tell me what you're talking about. Please?" I couldn't have sounded more panicked if I tried. Shit, this woman twists me up inside.
Effectively ignoring me once again, she stops near the edge of the door of her cell and peeks out. Her hand ticks on her thigh, and I swear she whispers something to herself.
"What are you doing?" I whisper, wondering if she can see anything around the corner where the guards come from. Maybe she can see more from her angle than I can.
See? This is why we need to fucking work together. I've seen her do this a few times and never thought much of it, but now I'm really watching.
"Vivian? Vivian? What's going on? Firefly!"
I'm stunned absolutely shitless when she whirls around and snarls, "Shut the fuck up!"
"I—" What thehell?! Where didthatcome from?! Holy shit, if this were anyone else I would snap back with something really fucking rude, but I can't bring myself to say anything. No matter anyway, because she turns around, leans her shoulder on the bars, and continues to watch the dark hallway.
Two steps forward, five steps back.
Thirty-Six
Kade
"What the hell am I looking at here?"
Silas scoots toward me in the back of our borrowed van. There's a concerning amount of weapons and medical supplies, but I wouldn't expect anything less from some of our morally questionable friends.
It was a stroke of luck that we ended up so close to Trent's town. Definitely the break we needed, even if I have no idea what exactly he and his men are going to do here. My only focus is Vivian.
Jarek was the one who suggested we might need some medical supplies and more space than our F-150 could provide. He was a little cagey and nondescript about what he was thinking, but I could tell there was more to it than just needing space for Vivie to lie down.
"This is the mansion," Silas explains, pointing at a spot on the screen. "And these are the cabins I think they hold people in. Or something. I don't know, but Jarek says Vivian's at this back corner. Furthest from us."
With a deep breath, I remind myself I can trust my pack. If I could feel as much as Jay does, I wouldn't be hesitant. But I'm pack lead; I should be the one with all the answers. Silaswould kick my ass if he knew I felt that way. I told him less than two hours ago that he needed to trust Jarek, and here I am questioning everything.
My emotions and pent-up aggression boils over in a shout that makes my beta cringe away from me. "What sick fuck lives in luxury while people are being tortured in their backyard?!"
Jarek grunts, tying his shoes for the fifth fucking time. We can't do anything until the sun sets, so with the help of Trent's technology we're scoping out the best way to get to Vivian.
"Trent's wondering if we need to chat before heading in," Silas announces, typing on his phone. "I told him yes."
"She'souromega!" I snarl and immediately suck in a cleansing breath. Fucking hell, I need her back before I lose my mind for good. "Damn it..."
"Yeah..." Silas drawls, eyeing me like I'm a ticking time bomb. "I know she's ours. But we're also not cut out for this, Kade. Trent and his people are. I think we need to follow their lead."
"Let them do whatever they need to do. We just get our mate to safety," Jarek murmurs, still staring down at his shoes.
"Dude, are you okay?" Silas kneels in front of Jay, who looks like he's in a different universe right now.
"Fine," Jarek grunts, hardly moving. "How long?"
He could look for himself, yet he seems like he's about to pass the fuck out. "Thirty-seven minutes until sundown," I reply, watching him closely. "Are you going to be able to help?"
Thatgets his attention. His head whips up, teeth bared, ready to go toe to toe with me. "Of fucking course I can. I'm preserving energy. Does anyone else feel like they're being drained?"
"Yeah, evenInoticed it. But if Vivie has somehow figured out how to channel us, she can have it all," Silas replies, rubbing his chest absently. It's hard to like Amaya, Vivie's friend, when she'sthe one who taught her how to block us in the bond, but I'm grateful she shared with Vivian how to use our extra energy.
I hate when Silas says stuff that undermines his importance. Towering over his still crouched form, I wrap my hand around the front of his throat and pull him back to look up at me. "Noteven you. Being a beta doesn't mean she doesn't feel you as clearly in the bond as she does us."
