I couldn’t sleep that night.
I tossed and turned, my body sluggish yet wired to blow. It was a weird sensation, being on the edge of such a jagged cliff.
Fortitude went about business as usual, yet there was something in the air that didn’t sit well with me. The garage was quieter than usual, the metallic clangs and the blaring rock music dulled as if I were swimming underwater. I knew Gasket was going to give the order soon, but not knowing was making me break out into hives.
My head swam with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios until the night after the meeting on the roof when there was a knock at my bedroom door.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart hammered in my chest, and I sat up in bed, swiping at the sweat beading on my forehead. I rubbed at the dampness under my boobs as well, cursing the heat and the nervousness-induced sweat.
“Sloane.”
Chaser. Sliding out of bed, I stuffed my feet into my boots and unlocked the door. He slipped through the crack and enveloped me in his muscled arms, his vampiric coolness soothing.
“Is it time?” I asked, holding him tight.
He buried his nose in my hair and breathed deeply.
“Chaser?”
“They’re already on the move,” he replied. “They’re moving the women to a secure location within the compound. Once they’re safe, they will corral the men pledged to Marini, then take him.”
I snorted, the notion of women being guarded like lost puppies not sitting well, but I knew it was the right thing to do. A lot of the women I’d made friends with weren’t fighters, even though they were afflicted with the werewolf curse. They didn’t even know how to fire a gun—which struck me as strange considering where they lived—but I suppose they relied heavily on their men for protection. Maybe, when this was all over, I could teach them. Give them some power of their own.
“I need a gun,” I said, pulling away from him.
“Sloane, you can’t go out there,” Chaser said, holding me back. “Gasket’s got this.”
“I won’t sit back and let everyone else do the dirty work,” I argued. “I wanted this, and I will be a part of it. I’m prepared to face Marini.”
“I can’t let you put yourself in danger. If he uses the talisman—”
“We aren’t on the road anymore,” I said, placing my palms on his chest. “You don’t have to put yourself in front of every bullet. Not anymore.”
“This isn’t the same,” he murmured. “This is more than that ever was. There’s more to lose than ever.”
“I was the catalyst, Chaser,” I said. “Everything we’ve done has led to this moment. There are wolves out there I swore to protect, and I can’t do that from in here. I have to see this through.”
“Gasket and I will go after Marini,” Chaser said. “Go with Hopper and protect the others.”
I knew I was being kicked down a few rungs, but I’d take it. I wasn’t sure I could face my father and point a gun at his face and not falter. That was an admission I had to face now or potentially suffer the consequences for in the heat of the moment. Chaser had taught me something on the road, after all.
“Where are they?”
“The upstairs kitchen.”
I made to turn, but I hesitated. He had to know how important this was to me, right? I wanted my father to know I had a hand in his downfall. I wanted to see the look on his face when I walked into the room. When I saw him, I would finally know how he truly felt about me.
“I want to look him in the eye and…” I didn’t know what I would say to him. All this time spent planning and plotting, and I hadn’t thought about what I’d say to him.
Chaser grasped my waist and squeezed. “You’ll get your chance.”
I’d tell him to be safe, but Chaser didn’t need good-luck charms. I edged around him and made for the door. Game on.
“Sloane?” I turned. “Take the back stairs, okay?”
I nodded, leaving Chaser to go his own way.
The way was clear as I powered up the stairs to the upper level. Ahead, light was trickling underneath the kitchen door, and I could hear murmuring coming from inside. Seemed everyone was already in residence.
I rapped my knuckles on the door, and it inched open, revealing Hopper. I didn’t know him well, but ever since I’d helped Sam get out of Fortitude, he’d softened towards me. It also helped that I’d won over his girlfriend, Shondra. It was comforting to know not all wolves around here were into owning women.
“Come in,” he said, opening the door so I could slide through.
“Sloane?” Shondra stood as I entered, looking on the verge of tears. “What’s going on?”
I glanced at Hopper, who only shrugged. He’d told them nothing, so no wonder everyone looked shaken.
“Something big is going down,” I said, glancing around the room.
“Like what?” It was a woman I’d never spoken to before but had seen around.
“Sloane, be real with us,” Emily said.
“Hopper won’t tell us anything,” Shondra told me.
“He won’t let us leave,” Raquel complained.
“I can’t even get Stewie on his cell,” Kelly added. “Is it trouble with the vampires?”
The murmurings increased at the mention of the Hollow Men. Everyone was afraid of another bombing.
I sucked in a deep breath. How did you tell someone their whole life was about to change? If this went badly, who knew what was going to happen to them. Gasket’s plan was simple, but there were so many things that could go wrong.
“The pack is undergoing a change in management,” I said straight up. “You’re in here so we can protect you from the fallout.”
“I knew it,” Sierra exclaimed.
“You did not,” Shondra spat at her.
“It’ll all be over soon,” I reassured them.
“Who’s leading?” Kelly asked, glancing at Hopper. “Who’s taking down Marini? Chaser?”
Hopper narrowed his eyes, aware she had the hots for a man who wasn’t his buddy Stewie.
“No,” he drawled. “It’s Gasket.”
The room full of women visibly relaxed and talked among themselves. It seemed the old man’s popularity extended to the female population and the big, bad, burly wolves.
Pop, pop, pop.
My head spun towards the door, and Hopper straightened, reaching for his gun. Was that an automatic weapon?
“Something’s wrong,” I said, listening to the gunfire.
“They weren’t supposed to shoot,” Hopper said.
“Do you think they were ambushed?”
“Maybe.”
I strode towards the door and twisted the handle, but the wolf grasped my arm and wrenched me away.
“Do not go out there,” he barked at me and realisation hit me square in the face.
Chaser had set me up. I wasn’t here to protect anyone. I was here to be protected.
Lifting my leg, I was grateful for my flexibility. Using my werewolf strength, I smashed my heel down on Hopper’s wrist and he yelped, dropping his gun. Breaking free, I dove for the firearm and snatched it up. Pointing it at his head, I curled my lip.
“No more games, Hopper,” I drawled. “You can’t make me stay in this room. I will shoot anyone who gets between me and Marini, so help me God.”
He grimaced and shook his wrist. “They were right about you. Human my arse.”
“Step aside,” I said, the warning clear in my voice.
“Then go,” he snarled. “I ain’t gonna try to stop you again.”
I reached for the door but was brought up short when Shondra called out my name.
I turned.
Her bottom lip quivered. “Be careful, okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said with a smile. “I’m tough, remember?”
I went back the way I’d come. Passing my room, I weaved through the compound, taking the long way to Marini’s rooms.
I hadn’t been there since the awful dinner I’d endured weeks ago. I’d hardly seen him at all, which was a glaring indicator as to his affection for his only offspring. The more I thought about it, the more I saw the signs. They were all there—the absence, the threats, the cold stares, the baiting… I should have known, but it was too late to do anything about it now.
Sounds of movement echoed along the concrete halls. Boots thumped overhead, voices called out somewhere in the distance, but I didn’t see a single soul. It was unsettling.
A shiver ran down my spine as I stood outside the door to my father’s room. If he was in there, I couldn’t hesitate. There was no room for doubt.
I held up Hopper’s gun and opened the door, tracking the barrel in front of me. I was ready to pull the trigger and cut down any bastard who got in my way, but it was pointless. The moment I stepped inside, I knew… My wolf senses told me exactly what I needed to know.
He wasn’t here. Marini was gone.
I clicked the safety on Hopper’s gun and shoved the firearm down the back of my jeans with a sigh. It would never be this simple. A girl could hope, but hope meant nothing when it came down to the wire.
Of course, he wasn’t here.
Marini’s revolver was sitting on the table. Picking it up, the mother-of-pearl shimmered on the butt as I tilted it to the side and checked the barrel—fully loaded. Had Marini left in a hurry? I doubted he would leave this treasure behind.
The revolver was heavy in my hand, but still, I slid it into the waistband of my jeans. It was getting full back there.
Opening the bedroom door, I stared into the lair of the monster and scowled. It stunk of him, gunpowder, sweat, and blood. Curling my nose, I backed away but not before a glint caught my eye. A ring was sitting on the bedside table, and as I approached, I instantly recognised it.
It was my mother’s diamond engagement ring.
A memory surfaced of sitting in her lap and playing with it, twisting the gold band around and around her finger, watching the diamond sparkle. Daddy gave that to me on the beach, she’d said.
I took one last glance around the room before I left, the ring heavy in my palm. I didn’t know what it meant that he’d kept her engagement ring, but it was mine now. The one and only thing I had left of hers.
It was mine, and I took it from him.
Leaving the bedroom behind, I put the ring in my pocket for safekeeping and went out into the hall. I had to find Chaser and Gasket and get this thing done. Lingering here was pointless.
Movement at the end of the hall pulled me to the right, and my breath caught.
Rocket.
The word enemy flashed through my mind. He hadn’t seen me yet, but he just needed to turn a little to his left, and it was game over. There was nowhere to go except straight ahead, so I raised Hopper’s gun and took a step forwards. Shoot or be shot at. At this range, the spoils went to the quickest draw.
I gasped as a hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me into a dark room. Instantly, my flight mode activated, and I lashed out, smashing the butt of my gun into my assailant’s face.
“Bloody hell!” a male cursed. “Settle down, amore mio.”
DeLuca.
I twisted, gaining enough room to bring my head forwards, then I reared backwards to smack him in the teeth with my skull. He grunted in pain and let me go. Turning, I saw the blood on his lips in the murky light and smirked.
“You’re one of them,” I snarled, aiming right between his slimy werewolf eyes. “Say your prayers.”
“I’m Gasket’s,” he replied, holding his hands up. “And if you didn’t notice, I just saved you from being gunned down by Rocket, little wolf.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Who do you think informed on Marini to Gasket?” he asked with a sneer. “Santa Claus?”
I narrowed my eyes. “He knew we were coming.”
“It wasn’t me, amore mio. It might’ve had something to do with Rick being strangely absent, don’t you think?” He snorted. “Either way, you’ve got no options. We have to find Gasket and regroup.”
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out.
“They got him,” he said. “They’re regrouping in the garage.”
“They got Marini?” I should’ve been happy, but I was thoroughly annoyed I wasn’t there to see him squirm. “Alive?”
“Hell if I know.”
DeLuca opened the door and peered out into the hallway as a new round of gunfire erupted somewhere in the compound. It was farther away this time.
“I thought they got him?”
“Rocket is leading a group loyal to him,” DeLuca said. “That’ll be them. Quick.” He beckoned me to follow. “We’ve got to get back to the garage.”
Fine by me. I wasn’t staying in this hole a moment longer than I had to. I had overdue business with my father, and it was time to collect…with interest.