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“I’ll shut down the system the second we see the leadership. They won’t have access to the cameras for a couple of minutes. I’ve commanded the rest of the crew to take out every visual along the way. We are taking their eyes and ears from them and turning them blind.” Monroe tucks his com device away. “It looks like the leadership is all together, but they have their covens outside their meeting room. We’ll have to work fast and take the shortcut out. There’s a balcony two floors below.”
My stomach flies into my throat at just a thought. It wouldn’t be the first time I have crashed out a window in an attempt to escape. It’s a bit different from my acrobatic performances, because I have to rely on my guys to know what they’re doing. There are so many factors that could go wrong, and that lack of control scares me just a bit.
“We need to separate. I want Hayley with me at all times.” Sawyer holds his hand out to me. “Knox, back up Monroe. Cooper, you’re with us. We need to separate some of the covens. I’m sure they won’t have a problem going after us.”
“You better keep our girl safe.” Monroe closes the space to me and kisses me softly. “Channel that badassness, little bird. It’s important that you kick some fucking ass.”
I open close my mouth, trying to figure out what exactly they’re planning. “Wait, we’re not leaving?”
Sawyer shakes his head. “This is the closest we’ll ever get to the leadership. We’re going to act as if we are obeying them...and then we’re going to hit them hard.” He clenches his jaw. “Are you good with this? I need you, Hayley. We all do. You are our strength.”
I bob my head, my heart racing. I can’t help thinking about if I screw up. What if I can’t summon my dhampir nature? What if I’m not as powerful as everyone thinks I am? What if we fail and this is it?
Fuck. I can’t think like this.
“We just need to take down one. We need to give the whole city a reason to stand against them. They can’t be split between just the crews and the covens. We need some of those covens on our side.” Knox kisses me next, pushing my hair back out of my face.
“Do you think this will change things?” I ask, licking my lips. I don’t know why I question it. Doing something is better than doing nothing.
“Yes. It’s going to change everything. You’re going to change everything.” Knox steps back with Monroe and the two of them look at each other. “Be safe. All of you.”
I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe we are facing the leadership like this.
“See you outside,” Sawyer says, shaking Knox and Monroe’s hand. “You fuckers better be safe.”
Sawyer lifts me into his arms and tosses me over his shoulder until I position myself onto his back, locking my ankles together around his waist. Cooper protects my back, and Knox and Monroe follow behind us, preparing to separate the second we enter the top floor of the building.
At least it’s not as tall as one of the hotels and just a few stories. It might be our only saving grace. I think that the leadership uses this location because of that. In a hotel that has seventy or more floors, things like security get a bit more difficult. They have to be aware of their surroundings and protect themselves even amid their allies. Because no one is truly an ally. At least, not among the leadership and their covens. There will always be a fight for power. And this time, none of them are going to win.
I nestle my chin into the crook of Sawyer’s neck, staring at the world in front of us as he blurs up the stairs, his long legs carrying him faster, forcing Cooper to push hard to keep up. But he doesn’t fall behind, managing to keep the same pace. The metal door comes in to view and Sawyer doesn’t hesitate to shove it open.
“We’re here to surrender. Your security attacked us in the stairwell, so they had to face the consequences. We agreed to meet with the leadership, not be imprisoned by them. Do you understand?” Sawyer towers over a man in a suit with three other guys behind him.
None of them try to fight or anything, remaining expressionless with at least ten other vampires behind them. This must be some of the leadership’s coven members, but not all of them.
“Take us to the leaders. Now. We don’t have all night.” Sawyer steps forward, making the three guys step back.
“Intimidation is not necessary, Mr. Noble.” Narcisa stands in the arched doorway to a gleaming meeting room with a long table in the center. “We have sent the majority of our coven members out to prove as much. You know why you’re here, so please join us.”
Sawyer stares at Narcisa, trying to gauge what the hell is going on and why she’s acting cordial after we’ve denied her.
“My baby doll! I’m so happy to see that you’re safe. How is the baby?” Alexander materializes behind her, smiling at me as if his coven didn’t attack us outside. His appearance keeps Knox and Monroe by our sides instead of leaving like they were supposed to.
And then his words register. He just revealed that I’m pregnant.
Because I’m pregnant, the leaders will never believe that I’m a vampire. I’ll lose the element of surprise. Shit. He did this on purpose. He wanted to get us here and use my nature against me. He can’t get away with this. He can’t. He’s already put me through enough.
Each of my guys puts a hand on me, the four of them ensuring that I don’t rush forward in an attempt to take Alexander’s head. I growl with my anger, hoping he can feel the agony I will inflict on him the moment I get the opportunity.
I can’t allow him to manipulate me any longer. He might think he has power over me, but he doesn’t. Not anymore. His power over me died the second the Bella Crew claimed me and I claimed them. He’s only trying his best to cling onto what little strength he has left, and I’m not going to let him use that against me. I’m not going to let him use my nature against me either. It shouldn’t be such a secret anymore. I want to make the leadership shake before me. I want to see them cower in fear. They need to know that they’re not the big bad predators that they think they are. They are my prey. I will devour them all. I will do whatever it takes to keep my guys and our future child safe.
“I’m not your fucking baby doll. Now come and face me, Alex. You’re weak. You’re trying to use anything you can against me, but it won’t work. So face me like a piece of shit you are. Let me show you exactly what it means to be a dhampir.” I huff a couple deep breaths, practically shouting the words, knowing that every vampire on this floor probably listens in on us.
“Did she say what I think she said?” The masculine voice comes from within the meeting room.
Narcisa swivels on her heels and peers over her shoulder. “What do you think she said?”
“I thought we were here to deal with the punishment of breaking our law and starting a fight with the Aris coven.” A different man appears in the doorway beside Alexander, giving us a long look.
