I shove my seat back to get enough leg room and then ignore my seat belt to lace my boots as Kylian drives like a bat out of hell.
A string of fatal promises falls from his lips in between screeching, tire-burning turns.
“Those fucks. I’m going to use their intestines for a jump rope.”
“I’m going to carve their torsos like a jack-o-lantern, pulling out chunks of flesh one by one so they can see. Then I’m gonna shove a lit candle up their asses?—”
His list of extreme methods gets longer the farther we drive, and I have no doubt that he’ll execute each and every one. I’ve seen it.
When Kylian goes on a spree, he’s manic. He turns a slow death into art.
I’m grateful to have him at my side right now because he’s exactly what Brylee needs.
Deserves.
Our mate deserves to be protected.
Adored.
Worshipped as she’s painted with the blood of our enemies like some pagan goddess.
We’ll throw body after body like sacrifices at her feet.
I crack my knuckles and resist the urge to punch out a window just to release some of the wild violence roaring through me like a squall.
“Here.” Ridge’s voice crackles through my earpiece.
Glancing around, I realize that we’re in a suburb that’s heavily wooded, a little fairytale forest community where parents can pretend things are as good as they were “back in the day.”
My lip curls at that realization because it means things could get messy.
Dammit.
They better all be tucked in for the night.
“Civvies all around.” Ridge points out what we already know. “Park here. We’ll go the rest of the way on foot.”
I throw open the door of the car before Kylian’s even stopped. Jumping out, I let him worry about parking while I scan the trees for snipers.
“All clear,” I call.
“Van’s parked at the building down this unkempt road. The satellite image looked like an old warehouse.” Ridge’s voice is calm and steady as we fan out and raise our guns, walking slowly under the canopy just like we’ve done a million times before.
Except, this time, the stakes are higher.
We glide through the forest like wraiths until we come to the tall warehouse building. With two stories of windows, it’s a combination of cinderblock and metal sheeting. A faded logo on one wall shows it’s been abandoned for a while.
Easy target for guys like us…which means we’re probably facing our Noth equivalent.
Tension rachets up my spine. Tight. Tighter.
I spot a sniper atop the warehouse building. My rifle comes up. I zero the target.
Deep inhale.
Exhale.
Pull.
