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Matt’s breathing increases, and his wolf stalks the confines of his mind, letting out a low growl. Neither of them will be satisfied until their pack members are found.
Standing in front of a metal door, Matt’s heart sinks, and he tries to catch his breath, but that is the problem. Each inhalation leaves little doubt as to what and who is inside, even with the ammonia messing with his sensitive nose. His wolf whines, and tears burn behind his eyes. Not opening the door isn't an option. He would bring April home. He owes her that much.
He takes a steadying breath and turns the handle before swinging the door wide. Matt’s heart pounds within his chest as a roar fills his ears, and his wolf rushes to the forefront in anger. His wolf’s snarl ends in a low howl as Matt stands frozen to the spot, taking in the sight of April chained to the wall in her lioness form. Her two front paws are missing, and her bulging eyes are glassy and sightless. Her muzzle is open, and her head is angled in an unnatural position. A mournful sound pierces the air at the sight of the mangled lioness and the many wounds marring her fur. The tightness of Matt’s throat as he tries to swallow leaves no room for doubt that the sound came from him. Jax squeezes his shoulder as Matt grips the other man’s arm to return the gesture.
They approach their long-time friend, and Jax pulls the keys from his pocket. Ever so gently, they remove her collar and shackles and lower her to the floor before Jax turns and tosses the keys to Gage, who had just entered the room. “Keep looking for Lilly.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Matt observes Gage as he turns his head away and mutters, “Those pricks. Look at what they’ve done.”
He understands the revulsion the man is feeling because his own stomach rolls at the sight before him.What must she have endured?
Gage moves cautiously through the hallway with Finn at his back and Matt and Jax right behind, carrying the lioness’ body. He scans each room for any sign of the second woman. As they search the many rooms in the basement of the sprawling house, his heart pounds harder in his chest and adrenaline courses through his veins.Please let us be able to save the other woman.
A faint rattling noise from further down has him stopping midstep. He instinctively raises his hand in ahaltsign and glances over his shoulder to Matt, who is cradling the lioness in his arms. Matt jerks his chin at him to keep going, then turns to hand her over to Jax. “Take her upstairs.”
A commotion at the end of the hall has all four men turning in time to see Taryn take a swipe at a monster of a man, her six-inch claws slash across his face. She half shifts, causing her body to almost double in size, her muscular arms and legs shredding her clothes. The man, eyes wide, with blood trailing down his face grasps for his gun, but Kaitlyn reaches out from behind him and grips the sides of his skull in her palms. One twist, and she rips his head off. Gage barely catches Taryn’s eyes widening. Kaitlyn immediately ducks as Taryn whips to the side just as a bullet from another guard’s gun whizzes by her. Two muffled shots thud as Kaitlyn spins back around. Gage’s lips form a slight smile as Jax, with the lioness draped over his shoulder, lowers his still-smoking gun.
Gage’s gaze flickers between the twins, and he gives them a nod. There’s no denying those two are effective, and he is proud to lead them.
Reaching out, he places his hand on the knob and opens the door, recoiling as the stench of blood and other bodily fluids overwhelms him. Inside, a woman huddles near the corner with her face so badly bruised and swollen that she only marginally fits the description Matt gave him.
He rushes over and kneels next to her. More bruises mar her arms, and her fingers are bent at an unnatural angle. The sight makes his blood boil with rage. They must get her to safety and to Doc as soon as possible. Her teal eyes are cloudy as she looks up at him, the pupils blown wide from whatever cocktail of drugs the bastards must have used to keep her compliant.
“Lilly?”
She grunts.
“You’re going to be okay,” he reassures her.
Sickened by the shape she’s in, his hands tremble as he gently unlocks the cuffs around Lilly's wrists before moving to her neck. As the lock at her throat gives way, she mumbles something in a hoarse voice that he can’t quite make out. Gage glances over his shoulder as Matt and Finn rush into the room. Their muttered, “Holy fuck,” reaches his ears before he’s being brushed aside and their hands are on Lilly. Matt picks up his friend and gently carries her down the hall toward the stairwell.
"Let's get out of here," Jax whispers, guarding the rear. “Gage, take point, I’ve got your six.”
As they make their way back through to the kitchen, Gage is met by Abigail, whose arms are wrapped tightly around a young woman with long, blonde hair that hangs around her face in mats.Is this her daughter, Renee?Purple bruises with the distinct pattern of handprints pepper her arms. His blood boils even more.What else happened in this house of horrors?
Gage stiffens. “We need to go. Now. Stay close,” he says to the two women.
They rush through the glass doors in the den and into the darkness of the tree line, working their way toward the front of the house under the cover of the forest.
Gage is intercepted by a few men heading toward them, guns drawn and firing shots. Matt, with Lilly in his arms, and Finn join them. He and Matt exchange a glance.We’re going to have to fight our way out.
As bullets ping off the trees near them, the group takes cover behind a copse of pines and Matt lays Lilly on the ground near some bushes before moving into a better position. With his hands free, Matt can now return fire, and the others spread out to do the same. Gage moves closer to where Lilly is lying and shields her unconscious body with his own. Her shallow breaths brush against his chest. She is alive, and he takes a small slice of comfort in that. Echoes of gunfire and the dull thud of their enemies’ bodies hitting the ground fill the air.
"Stay with me, Lilly," he says, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "I've got you."
As Kaitlyn and Taryn move to take out the remaining men, Gage keeps a watchful eye on Lilly, ready to protect her at all costs. Once the gunfire ceases, Gage lifts her in his arms and follows the others back out of the forest to Vance’s men’s vehicles parked in the driveway.
Gage spots a vehicle with its rear door ajar, the interior light a beacon in the dark night. He gently places her in the backseat, mindful of her numerous injuries, then quickly hot wires the car, his fingers flying over the cables with practiced ease. Sliding into the driver's seat, Gage turns to see Jax and Matt climbing into the backseat with Lilly. He watches as Finn jumps in the driver's side of the van parked near them, and within moments, the motor revs. At the same time, the twins carry the lioness and place her body in it before climbing in after her as Abigail and Renee hurriedly jump in the back. Once everyone is secure inside, they take off.
"Go!" Jax yells, pounding on the back of his seat. "We need to get out of here!"
Lilly’s soft groan reaches his ears, and Gage slams his foot on the gas pedal, peeling out of the driveway, their vehicle fish-tailing on the gravel road.
"We're almost out of here, Lil’," Matt says, his voice soothing. "Just hang on a little longer."
A sense of relief washes over Gage as the house grows smaller in the rearview mirror. They've made it out alive, but they still have a long way to go before they're truly safe.
Chapter eight
