Chapter Seventeen
Jade
The trip down to Crested Butte had been uneventful. Noah had slept with his head on her shoulder and she talked to Drew.
“Our parents were typical of that time. They wanted kids who could work the farm and not much else. You fed the chickens and the horses, and I worked the field with Dad. Harvest was hard, but at least it lasted only two weeks. The rest of the time was fixing the equipment and gathering hay for the winter.”
Jade couldn’t believe that she had a brother, but the more she learned about him, she felt as though she already knew him. She understood that was the feeling when she first spotted him outside Ghost’s office.
“Are you up for this? I know that you’re planning on training to be an assassin, but right now, you’re a newbie.”
Drew nodded. “While you were with Noah, Reaper and Kai taught me a few moves. I’m not completely useless. I picked up some information when I searched for you, especially after I learned what you did for a living and thought I wanted to kill you. Sorry about that.”
Drew looked so apologetic that she huffed out a small laugh. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to that reaction.”
“There are a lot of people who want to kill you?”
“Not that many because I kill them first.”
Jade was more curious about their past than her past assignments. “We were close, as kids?”
Drew shook his head. “As kids, no. We both worked too hard on the farm to be close, but when you turned eighteen and you were thinking about going to university, I helped you write your admissions essay that got you accepted into the University of Boulder.”
“What happened?”
“Dad. He had an old-fashioned view on women. He wanted you to marry and you refused. He’d even gone so far as to find you a local boy who took you on a few dates, but you were determined to get your education.
“At first, I thought that Dad might have, you know, killed you for disobeying him. That’s why I doubted his story that you went into town for a movie. But my instincts were telling me you were alive.”
“I wish I could remember.”
Drew reached for her hand and squeezed. “It doesn’t matter. You’re alive and I know you didn’t leave without telling me goodbye on purpose. You’re a good person, Jade. I’m proud to be your brother.”
“I’m glad you found me.”
“Me too.”
ETA five minutes.
“Kai doesn’t mess around, does he?” Drew asked.
“Nope. He’s gotten a lot better since he found Liv, but yeah, he’s usually a by-the-book hard ass.”
I heard that.
I hoped you did, Kai.
Jade quickly piled her hair at the top of her head before she made a tight bun. She slipped on her black tactical gloves and along with the others, smeared black paint over her face and neck. All this before she turned to Noah, who had an amused expression on his face.
What?
I never thought face paint looked sexy, but you manage to pull it off.
She gave him a smacking kiss, leaving some paint transfer on his cheek. Ready for this?
He scoffed and she smiled at him just as the SUV came to a halt.
Jade on point.
Looking around the abandoned mine, Jade took in her surroundings, even closing her eyes to hear any movement from the surrounding area. Hearing none, she walked toward the north entrance and waited for the explosions and word from Ghost.
The first explosion rocked the ground underneath her and she counted three seconds before the second explosion sounded.
Go.
Jade reached for the steel door and, with a little pressure, ripped it off the hinges. While holding it in front of her, she snuck a glance around it to see if there were any shifters waiting for them. She could hear footsteps coming their way, but no one by the door.
Jade tossed the door away from the structure and proceeded inside. She could feel Noah at her back and when she paused to check the first doorway on the left, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
With a quick movement, she bent forward and took in the two shifter’s positions, both in the corner with guns at the ready.
So much for no weapons.
Jade sighed before she relayed the message. Two…with guns. Stay here.
Noah tapped her shoulder once and she burst into the room, going for the shifter on the right first. He shook as he held the gun and when she landed an uppercut to his throat, collapsing his trachea, he dropped the gun and she turned her attention to his companion. His eyes widened as he took in Noah’s huge shape in the doorway, but before he could fire, Jade broke his arm and shoved the gun into his mouth and emptied the magazine.
Noah walked into the room and detached both heads from their torsos and threw them into the hallway.
Two down.
Jade moved first, entering the hall and pressing her back against it as she traveled to the next door. Before she could open it, gunfire rang out and holes exploded through the flimsy plywood door. When the gunfire stopped, Jade broke through the weakened door and grabbed the gun of the first shifter she came across. She could hear Noah shift into his tiger form outside and when she threw the first shifter across the room, Noah burst through the door and immediately went for the throat of another shifter.
The gurgling sound told her Noah was successful. When she had gotten to the two shifters who were struggling to get to their feet, she allowed her claws to grow and with two quick swipes, she decapitated both shifters. When she turned back to track the last one, Noah had his claws in the shifter’s chest. His mouth opened over his throat and cleanly removed his head.
Having fun?
If I could smile as a tiger, I would. But that’s another thing I can’t do to add to the list.
What are the other ones?
Shaking my head and shrugging my shoulders.
Jade smiled at her sexy tiger.
Four more down.
Kai got three; Xander, two. Nine more to go.
She walked toward the door but turned back. Do you want to take point?
Nah, I’m good back here. I’m used to my MP5 if I take point.
She nodded and exited the room. The next two rooms were empty and they met Kai and Reaper at the end of the hallway. They didn’t have to go searching for the rest. The group of shifters decided to advance together, and a .50 caliber led the way.
They hit the deck as the automatic gun fired round after round in the enclosed, underground space. It was fucking loud and to the immortals’ already enhanced hearing, it was almost deafening. Maybe that was their plan, but they would have been just as affected, if not more, because they were by the fucking monstrosity.
She glanced at Noah, who, as a tiger, made the disgruntled look work.
When the gun cut off, Jade could hear the distinct clicking that told them they were out of ammo. Before they could reload, Jade was on her feet and rushing the shifters. The first three were dispatched with said weapon as she picked it up and bashed their heads in with it.
When the weapon was tugged out of her hand, she quickly flipped onto another shifter’s back, ducking when one of his teammates pulled out a .45 and shot him right between the eyes. She pushed the dead shifter onto his friend, and when he became trapped, she cut his head off with one swipe.
The four had made a sudden retreat down the opposite hall. Jade gave chase, Noah right by her side. They split. Two right and two left. Kai, Reaper, and Xander took the right.
I’m gonna fucking kill them when I get my hands on them.
Why are you raging right now?
Jade scoffed. They fucking shot a .50 cal at my mate. I’m gonna rip them apart.
Noah slid to a halt with Jade taking a few steps past him before she stopped and turned, watching Noah as he quirked his head. She knew he had better hearing in his animal form. They all did.
I hear someone saying your name.
Jade concentrated on listening to what Noah heard, and sure enough, she heard her name in a singsong manner. Taking the lead, she took corridor after corridor, looking for the owner of the taunting voice.
Ghost. One of them knows my name.
There was a long pause and Jade knew Ghost well enough to know he would answer when he could. She glanced at Noah.
Don’t worry, he’ll answer.
Okay, three down. Only one left of the twenty. We’re coming to your position. Wait.
Jade leaned against the wall and she smiled when Noah sat back on his haunches, looking regal and handsome as he cocked his ear and listened to the movement around them.
They are coming.
She nodded at Noah and heard the group coming up fast.
“Can you still hear the voice, Noah?”
Yes. Down the hall, to the right, about fifty meters.
Ghost led the way, glancing at Jade and looking unsure about what was going on. The rest of the assassins absorbed Jade and Noah in the middle of the ranks and soon, they could hear the voice clearly.
“Jade. Jaaaaade. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Let’s go.
With that, all of the assassins filed into the small space and faced the lone man in the room smiling at them. He scanned the group until he found Jade and then gave her a leering smile.
If she’d ever met this man, she had no recollection of who he was. He was older than most shifters, looking close to forty, while most shifters were in their early twenties. He had gray hair scattered throughout his short blond locks, making him look even older. His two front teeth were missing, but there was nothing wrong with his gaze, which kept sweeping over Jade as if she belonged to him.
“How do you know me?”
The cackle that exploded out of his throat sent a shiver of discomfort down her spine. And while he laughed, his creepy gaze came back to her. She stayed silent as her eyes narrowed.
“I knew you would be special. I knew you would be the best out of all of them. That’s why I changed you, because I knew you could take it.”
Again, it didn’t truly matter to her how or who caused her transition. She was happy where she was and the past was just that—the past. When he saw that she couldn’t care less, he stopped laughing like a loon and his face showed his true nature as he sneered at her.
“Don’t you care?”
She didn’t say anything.
No, I truly don’t give a fuck. Can we kill him and leave?
She could hear Xander, Hunter, and Gunnar chuckle in her head. Noah leaned into her and she reached her hand through his fur.
“Well, does your mate care that I kept you for six months before I turned you and passed you around to anyone who would pay to fuck you? Sometimes I would indulge as well. You were sweet.”
She could feel Noah leave her side, but she wouldn’t look away from her taunter. His sound was hidden when the group around her growled at the man, ready to snap his head off if she gave the signal.
“But then a stupid fucking fox shifter bit you and you almost died. No one wanted you after that. Used goods, but not only that, you were broken. You couldn’t even shift and no one wanted a shifter who couldn’t shift. Pathetic little thing. So I ordered you killed, but apparently the stupid shifter I assigned fucked that up.”
Jade was surprisingly not affected by his words. What did she care whether he was telling the truth or not? But she couldn’t help but think there was a reason they were lured here. Soon, her silence got to him and he spilled everything.
“Apparently we don’t care about your past. What you should be worried about is the group of shifters who left about an hour before you arrived. They are going after the white-haired shifter’s mate and their baby. He’s an abomination and must be destroyed. And if you think this is the end, you’re mistaken. We already have our new leader.”
Xander. Go.
Ghost could tell that Xander needed to see if his family was safe. Xander didn’t hesitate.
The man threw his head back and laughed. At that moment, Noah leapt at the man’s throat and ripped it out. As he lay gurgling on the ground, Noah lifted his huge paw and detached his head from his body. And not quite happy, Noah stepped on the detached head, making sure no amount of regeneration could help him.
“Well, I need a shower to wash that filth off. We should have killed him when we spotted him.” Gunnar shivered.
“He was lying. He doesn’t know me at all. He might have found my name somewhere, but he didn’t know me. There was no recognition in his eyes when he saw me. He was ordered to do it. When he told us about a new leader, that was the truth.” Jade sighed.
“Let’s go. And Gunnar…”
“Yeah?”
“Burn this place to the ground.”
Gunnar nodded as they headed back to the SUVs. Noah shifted back and quickly dressed before they piled into the remaining two SUVs and started home.
“Took offense to what he said, huh?” Jade laughed at Noah’s reaction.
“I wish I could have brought him back from the dead and killed him in a more painful way.”
“Well, it looks like there’s more tracking in our future,” Jade said.
Noah nodded. “But first, let’s get married.”
Jade sputtered as she looked at Noah’s growing smile. “It’s a good idea, baby. You know you want to marry me.”
“I do, but can we get married at the courthouse? I don’t want to plan anything or be the center of attention.”
Noah laughed. “Of course. Tomorrow.”
Jade couldn’t help it. She started giggling but nodded her head, agreeing.
“I love you, baby.”
“I’m so glad I met you. I love you, too.”