Chapter 42—Alfred’s Mine
Gemma
a surge of queasiness rolls through my stomach, causing me to instinctively clutch onto Drake’s sturdy arm for support. God, do vampires experience this disorienting out-of-body journey all the time? The entire ordeal has left me feeling completely shaken, and I cannot fathom going through it again.
“You okay, princess?” Drake’s voice, laced with concern, reaches my ears.
I nod and back away, needing some space from his suffocating heat. I’m still riding the adrenaline high, but I know the minute I crash, it won’t be pretty.
The distance from my wolf allows me to scrutinize him more closely. The vampire queen’s words ring true—Drake looks like he’s been through hell. He lost a substantial amount of weight during our incarceration.
Incarceration. The word feels absurd, like we broke the law and did a stint in some cushy jail cell.
What we went through, Drake and I, was a nightmarish ordeal unlike anything imaginable. One that I’m not confident I can ever fully recover from. The torment inflicted upon me by Alfred was excruciating on its own, but having to witness Drake’s suffering multiplied my anguish tenfold. At one point, I was so overwhelmed that I pleaded with Alfred to cease, desperately covering my ears and huddling on the bed.
And what about Drake’s mental state? As Alfred continued his relentless assault, both physical and emotional, he remained a raging spectator through most of it, bearing witness to the horrific acts. He observed my weakness as I surrendered, transforming into Alfred’s submissive sex slave to alleviate his agony and mine.
Will he ever want to touch me intimately again? Do I want him to? Can I stomach the feel of his hands on my body without the horrific images of the past three weeks coming between us?
“Alfred and his parents, along with a small contingent of soldiers, have barricaded themselves inside the house,” vampire Nox informs us. “No doubt they’ve called for backup. So whatever we’re gonna do, we better do it quick, before every cop in the state comes down on our heads.”
Liam, his face etched with concern, steps forward and addresses Drake. “They’ve sealed off the windows and doors with silver, and warded the walls against any attempt to teleport inside.” Without another word, Liam embraces his wolf. His eyes tightly shut in distress, Drake clings to Liam as if seeking solace from whatever nightmare is replaying through his mind.
“I’m so fucking sorry we couldn’t get to you sooner,” Liam whispers.
Drake nods, pounds Liam’s back again, clears his throat, and backs away. “We are just thankful we got out when we did.”
“I can get in,” I whisper, nearly peeing my pants when three sets of predatory eyes land on me.
“How?” Liam asks.
At the same time, Drake growls an emphatic “No.”
“You said it yourself, King Scott. The place is impenetrable against anything supernatural. I’m the only one who can walk right in.”
Drake snarls, his voice dripping with protectiveness. “From the fucking frying pan into the fire? Not going to happen. You don’t leave my side.”
The immortals remain silent, their worried gazes bouncing from the crazed wolf to the fragile human.
After three weeks of intensive, brutal training, my eyes drop to the ground, and I cower in fear. My lip trembles with the need to fall to my knees in submission.
“Jesus,” Drake whispers, his fists clenched at his sides as if it keeps him from reaching for me. “Never fear me, princess.”
He’s not Alfred. He’s not Alfred.
I repeat the mantra, grounding myself and summoning the courage to pull up my big girl pants, lift my chin, and lay out my demands. “I need this, Drake. If he doesn’t die by my hand, I....” My tongue feels heavy, and the sentence hangs in the air. If he forces me to remain on the sidelines, the consequences to my psyche hang in the air with a palpable weight.
Drake scrutinizes me intently as I attempt to control my nervous fidgeting. His gaunt cheeks and tired eyes only amplify the pain that he carries.
“Get Zachariah over here,” Nox shouts to another Guardian. “And have him bring Drake a dozen burgers or some kind of red meat.”
“What do you have in mind?” Liam questions Nox.
Nox lays out his intentions while Drake watches me as though I might crumble at any moment, which might not be too far from the truth.
“With Zach’s penetration vision, he can give us a head count and pinpoint the exact location of the bastard inside the house,” Nox explains, outlining his strategy.
Within seconds, a towering vampire with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Nox. He hands Drake several white takeout bags with a snarl of disgust.
“How can I be of assistance?” Zachariah’s deep voice resonates with a mix of eagerness and determination.
Drake hands me a burger, but I shake my head. The thought of food in my already nauseous stomach churns it even more.
He sighs but doesn’t push the subject as he devours several burgers in minutes.
Nox retrieves a photograph from his vest and presents it to the other vampire. “I need to locate this man within the house and ascertain the number of soldiers present.”
Zachariah’s intense gaze fixates on me briefly before shifting towards the house. He meticulously surveys each floor before returning his attention to Nox. “Ten soldiers in total. Two stationed by the front entrance, two by the rear, three posted outside an office door on the first floor, while the remaining three patrol the second floor. All heavily armed. Your perpetrator is in the main floor office, accompanied by an older couple.”
The air fills with the fragrant aroma of beef and cheese as Drake solemnly nods and finishes his sixth burger. “His parents.”
“I hate to say this,” Nox turns to Drake after thanking Zachariah. “But we need to keep one of them alive for questioning.”
“Fuck that!” I exclaim, immediately dropping my gaze in horror at my outburst.
“I’m sorry, Gemma. The decision is not yours to make. We must uncover what they know and understand the threat we are facing,” Nox explains.
Focusing on the grass beneath my bare feet, I quietly interject, “I know exactly what and who you face. No one leaves this house alive.”
Cautiously, I lift my eyes to meet Drake’s, silently pleading for his understanding. I cannot spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. The Pearce family will face their demise tonight, and I won’t rest until every last one of them is eliminated.
Drake nods. “She’s right. As much as I would relish the opportunity to torture Alfred and his father for hours on end, I cannot jeopardize my mate’s safety with a potential rescue. They all die.”
Am I ashamed or appalled that I’m standing here discussing the murder of an entire family? Nope. Not in the slightest. Alfred and Frank will never draw another tainted breath after tonight. Their role in this nightmare ends.
Drake takes charge. “I need a vampire who can cloak me until I’m through the door.”
My heart nearly leaps out of my chest as Logan and the queen materialize before us. “I possess the ability to cloak,” Logan declares.
“How did it go at the facility?” Liam asks Nicole.
“Can we discuss this later?” Drake interrupts. “I want to get this fucking night behind us.”
Logan raises an eyebrow and asks, “What is the plan?”
“Gemma’s gonna walk right up and ring the doorbell, with you and I cloaked at her back. Once that door is open, take her to safety until I signal all clear.”
“Wait. What?” I confront my mate. “No. I’m going in.”
“No. You are not,” he says in that stern Alpha tone. “You’re mine. I protect what’s mine. Allow me to annihilate the threat first. There are too many men and guns inside. I can’t do my fucking job if I’m worried about you getting shot.”
I arch an eyebrow, skeptical. “You’re going to take down ten armed men all by yourself?” I challenge, placing my hands on my hips. Drake’s gaze hardens, a flash of determination entering his eyes. “Considering your obvious weight loss, it’s clear you haven’t eaten in weeks besides the few burgers just now. You can’t confront this alone.”
“He won’t be,” Liam interrupts, slapping Drake on the shoulder. “I’m going in with him. Just like old times, before all the kingly bullshit.”
Drake doesn’t crack a smile. He merely lifts an eyebrow and nods. “Are you satisfied with that?” he asks me.
Not entirely, but what other choice do I have? I’m no trained soldier, and I’ve never held a firearm in my life. I clarify that he understands my role in this coup. “Alfred’s mine.”
Drake nods once, his gaze unwavering. “You ready?”
“I’ve never been more ready. Please... please be careful.” My body buzzes with a potent mixture of adrenaline and fear. Every fiber of my being craves Alfred’s death. I hope I can maintain composure when the pivotal moment arises.
“Then get your beautiful ass up the drive. We are right behind you.”
Oh shit. Here we go.