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I covered my mouth as I gagged. I bent over and put my hands on my knees. My vision clouded as my pulse roared in my ears.
There were probably no survivors but the ones we’d seen. So many good people, dead, and for what? A tyrant who thought he was making the world better.
I sniffled as my face crumpled. A sob got stuck in my throat. I didn’t know the Delidos, but this could have just as easily been my family. What was to stop Alpha Dane from going to my family’s land and doing this to them?
A warm hand pressed against my lower back. Lincoln kneeled next to me, his other arm coming around to encircle me.
“I know, sweetheart.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “I know.”
“If he finds out we let Willa go, he’ll do this to my family. Won’t he?” I turned my head so I could meet Lincoln’s eyes.
He cupped my cheeks with both his hands. “That’s not going to happen. When he gets back here, you let me do the talking. Let me handle him. Don’t step in, no matter what happens. Do you understand?”
I could barely see him through my tears. I opened my mouth, but only a choking sound came out, so I nodded instead.
Lincoln pulled me to my feet and into his arms. “I promise I’ll protect you, Sloane. That includes your family.” He pulled back from me and tucked his hand under my chin. He held my gaze for a long moment before he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “They’re on their way. Remember, let me do the talking.”
I reached out for him as he pulled away from me and went to the ridge to wait for his father. He stopped at the top so he could look down on them as they made their way back up.
I covered my mouth with my hands and tried to control my breathing and sobs.
In through the nose and out through the mouth.
I could almost hear Darrin’s voice saying those words to me. It’s what he always told me when we got ready to race. I followed his voice.
God, I wished he were here. My heart ached at the reminder that he never would be here again. But I could protect the rest of them.
I gritted my teeth and stood tall.
Alpha Dane was back, and now we had to tell him that Willa had run off.
If we couldn’t get him to believe us, then my family would be the next target.
Twelve
Alpha Dane came overthe ridge with a sick smile on his face. Blood was smeared across his cheek and shirt. He wore it like it was a trophy.
My stomach rolled. Bile crept up my throat. I clamped my mouth shut and chewed on the inside of my cheek.
I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of him seeing me be sick. He would enjoy it and find ways to torment me further.
Alpha Dane clapped Lincoln on the shoulder as he passed him. “You missed a good time, son. Next time, I want you down there with us.”
Asshole!
I sucked in a deep breath through my nose and let it out slowly through my mouth.
Lincoln turned with his jaw clenched and hands fisted at his sides. “The Delidos are taken care of, then?”
Alpha Dane surveyed the area, turning in a slow circle. “All but the ones who got away. No worries. We will find themsoon enough. Did you see which direction they went?” His eyes landed on me and narrowed. He put his hands on his hips. “Where is the other girl?”
I gasped and blinked rapidly as Alpha Dane stalked toward me.
Lincoln stepped in front of him, and so did Sawyer. I didn’t even know where he came from, but I was glad to have them both here.
Sawyer took a step forward, moving in front of Lincoln. “I followed the rogue Delidos to the road. They had several cars there waiting. It was like they knew we were coming and had an escape prepared just in case.”
Alpha Dane growled low in his throat. “They won’t get far. Mikey, assemble a few teams. The faster we catch up to them, the better.”
