Chapter Twenty-Two
“Got my big guns and my little guns,” Gentry said, all smiles. “And a few knives, too.”
“Knives?” Anders asked, grinning.
“A man can never have too much silver around them sons of bitches.” Gentry nodded.
“Then watch where you’re sticking them.” Anders clapped Gentry on the shoulder. “Our wolves aren’t too fond of the silver stuff, either.”
“Intel, Gentry, intel.” Brown expression remained stony, as always. “If done right, you won’t need weapons of any sort. I’ve got three shooters, all men I trust with my life, waiting to meet you when you land in Chicago.”
“Well, that sounds like no fun at all.” Gentry frowned.
Mal watched the exchange, wishing he could get as amped up as the rest of them. Instead, he was painfully aware of how absent Olivia was. She’d left the room without a backward glance and hadn’t been back since. Because he was a stupid shit.
“Get your head straight, Mal,” Dante murmured.
Mal nodded. Olivia was pissed. She had every right to be. But there was nothing he could do about it now. Now, he had to focus.
“About two hours from Jackson Hole to Chicago. No more than four hours there, then straight back.” He looked at Dante. “You can’t get a meeting or, if we’re really damn lucky, information on shipments, you walk. Understood? I don’t want this to turn into a fight.” Finn leveled a hard look at each one of them before continuing. “Mal, you and Brown’s recruits will take exits. You’re here,” Brown said, pointing at the rear door. “Two will cover the front. The other stationed here.” he pointed at a tower with a wider range. “In case. Gentry, Anders, and Dante are all going in.”
“They’ve seen Dante,” Mal argued.
“In Alaska,” Finn said. “If there’s one thing we know about Cyrus it’s that he keeps his pack regional. The chances of one of them recognizing Dante are slight.”
“I fucking hope so,” Dante mumbled. “But if not, I don’t mind taking a few of them down with me.”
Finn sighed.
“He must think you’re a big spender,” Ellen said as she sat on the corner of the desk. “He will want to impress you.”
Dante nodded again. “Wanna come along as arm candy?”
“No,” she answered.
“They’d know her,” Mal said. “It’s not safe.”
“You care?” she pushed.
“About jeopardizing the mission? Yes.” Mal snapped. He wasn’t really pissed at Ellen. She’d told Hollis. And Hollis, being who he was, had told Finn. In the end, this was better…except for Olivia’s reaction.
Focus.
“You have”—Finn glanced at his watch—“ten minutes before takeoff.” He glanced at Mal. “This can’t be about revenge.”
He nodded. Finn was giving him an opportunity to repair the damage he’d done. He’d shaken the trust his Alpha had in him. He owed Finn—and Olivia. His mate. The person he loved most. He’d lied to her. No matter how good his intentions were, it had been a jackass move and he knew it. Which meant he had ten minutes to say good-bye. He carried his bag outside to the waiting truck, tossed it into the back, and stared at the lodge.
“Wasting time,” Brown said, nodding toward the house. “Bad idea.”
Mal headed toward the front door, fully aware that they were all watching him. This was new for them. Hell, it was new for him. He wasn’t one for giving a shit about what other people thought. He still wasn’t. With one exception.
He pushed through the front door and went into the kitchen. Olivia, her hair slipping from the clip on her head, stood working amongst stacks of bowls, aggressively whisking something.
“Smooth?” she asked, peering doubtfully into the bowl.
“Yes,” Jessa said. “It’s all in the wrist.”
“Apparently, my wrist is faulty,” Olivia mumbled, blowing a stray hair from her face.
He could watch her all day.
“What does light and peaked look like?” she asked, glancing at Jessa. But she saw him, and everything about her changed. For one brief moment, she looked so goddamn happy his heart almost thudded out of his chest. But then her anger returned, and she tore her gaze from his.
“You know, I’m not really sure,” Jessa said, yawning, cradling Oscar in her arms. “Oscar’s finally out, so let me put him down, and I’ll come help you.”
Olivia continued to ignore him. “You rest. I’ll keep trying.”
“Need help?” Mal asked Jessa.
Jessa looked pointedly at Olivia. “I am fine. Just tired.” She stared at him. “You be careful. I get what you are doing, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying about you guys.”
Mal nodded. “In and out.”
Jessa sighed. “See you soon.”
Tess unfolded herself from the corner of the couch, nervously glancing his way before hurrying out of the room.
And still Olivia ignored him.
He crossed the room, his irritation mounting, and pinned her against the kitchen counter with nowhere to go. “I’m sorry.”
She didn’t look at him.
“I didn’t think things through.”
“You thought it through with Anders.” Her eyes blazed. “You had a plan. You knew exactly what—”
“I messed up,” he ground out.
“You lied, Mal.” Her voice broke. “You promised.” She shook her head. “What do I believe now? How do I trust this?”
His frustration bubbled over. “I’m leaving.”
“I know.” She pressed a hand to her chest.
“Dammit,” he pulled her against him. He’d done this to her. “I’ll be back. Soon.”
“I don’t like this part,” she muttered.
“What?” He didn’t like the sadness in her voice.
“Being hurt by you.” Her words sliced through him.
He pressed his forehead against hers, reeling. No matter what he said, it wouldn’t undo the pain he’d caused them both.
“Don’t kill him,” she whispered. “Chase.”
He tilted her head back. “No one’s getting killed.” Her hazel gaze searched his, making the ache in his chest ten times worse. She doubted him now—because of what he’d done. He could see it, could feel it. So he added, “But if it comes down to them or us…”
She nodded. “He’s a ‘them.’ I know.” She blinked away the tears in her eyes.
“Olivia…” What could he say?
“Go.” She tried to shrug out of his hold, to put space between them, but he couldn’t bear it. “You’ve got stuff to do.” Her eyes flashed.
“Kiss me?” he pleaded, leaning forward.
The brush of her lips against his wasn’t going to cut it. Only cupping her face, savoring the softness of her mouth, sliding his tongue inside would satisfy. The kiss went on until her posture eased and her hands gripped his shirt, holding on to him—he needed her to hold on to him.
The rev of the engine was hard to miss. Someone laid on the truck horn.
She broke away from him. “They’re waiting for you.”
He nodded, staring long and hard at her before leaving the room and slamming out the front door.
“Better?” Anders asked as Mal climbed into the truck.
He pulled the door shut, peering out the window at the empty front porch. No, it wasn’t fucking better. Knowing what he’d done to her? Fuck no. His chest hurt. But worrying about Olivia wouldn’t do any of them any good. He shoved it all down and tuned into the conversation taking place.
“You want a knife?” Gentry asked. “In case Chase is a threat?”
Mal shook his head. “It won’t come to that.” He’d given Finn his word, and he’d keep it, no matter what. “Chase isn’t a fighter. If he suspects anything, he’ll run.”
“How do you know?” Anders asked.
“When they jumped him, Olivia tried to stop it. He ran—leaving her.” He bit out the last two words, trying not to think about the state she had been in when they’d met.
“You shitting me?” Gentry called back from the driver’s seat.
“No.” Mal’s hands fisted at his side. She was one of them now, the surge of anger and hostility filling the cab of the black SUV confirming it. “She wants him to live.”
“He’s still her brother.” Dante nodded. “But damn, that’s got to be a hard pill to swallow, knowing everything.”
“He’s sort of the bad guy here,” Anders reminded them.
“No,” Mal argued. “Chase is a waste of humanity, but he’s not the prize. Cyrus is. We find out where to find him, how to hunt him—we have an edge. We have surprise.” He didn’t want a pack war any more that Finn did. They might be stronger than the Others, but their numbers couldn’t compare. There was no guarantee Chase would know something to help them with Cyrus, but if they could help those girls—expose the trafficking ring—that was more than enough.
Dante nodded. “Not that I’m opposed to seeing this Chase kid bleed a little.”
Mal grinned; he couldn’t help it. “Agreed.”
...
Jessa was in labor. Mal had been driving away when her first cry reached Olivia. For the past thirty minutes, Jessa’s ragged moans and screams spilled down the hallway. Olivia was helpless—and useless. Hollis and Ellen were with Jessa. Finn was with her.
At Finn’s request, Brown was in the control room, tracking Mal’s group while staying close to Tess—Brown was never far from his daughter.
Tess hadn’t moved. She sat, staring down the hall, at Jessa’s room.
“She’ll be okay,” Olivia said to her. She talked to the woman all the time, unable to pretend she wasn’t there. She was a living, breathing person, even if she didn’t necessarily act like it. “She’s strong. Ellen and Hollis know what they’re doing.” Maybe Hollis didn’t, but Ellen did. At least she acted like it.
An especially loud cry echoed down the hall. Olivia winced, gripping the kitchen towel in both hands. Poor Jessa. Poor Finn. She hurt for them.
Pain was a part of a normal childbirth. This wasn’t normal. She wished Mal were here. Even with her mad at him, he’d ease the anxiety in her gut.
Oscar was playing on his mat on the floor, content and clueless. She joined him, needing a happy distraction. “How’s your day going? You look pleased with yourself.” She held one of his little fists in each of her hands. “Yep, you’re getting stronger every day.”
Oscar cooed, loudly, startling himself.
“That was all you, big guy.” She laughed. How could holding something so small make everything feel better? She lifted Oscar and sat back, bracing him on her knees. He pushed his legs straight and flailed his arms in excitement. “I know. You are adorable.”
Oscar squealed, his smile full or bubbles and gurgles.
She shook her head. “You don’t say?” She ran her hand over his head, smoothing the blond curls. “Want to read a book? I have this amazing one that counts to five.” She picked up the padded red, white, and black illustrated book, and Oscar’s gaze focused. “Riveting stuff, right?”
She flipped the pages, watching his animated expressions as his bright blue eyes narrowed then drooped. She hadn’t realized she’d drifted off until a shrill beep flooded the room. Her arms tightened around Oscar’s sleeping form, senses immediately on alert.
It beeped again.
“Fire alarm?” she asked, holding Oscar close as she stood.
Jessa’s door opened, and Hollis emerged. “What’s up?”
“I don’t know.” She bounced Oscar on her hip. “Oscar and I were chilling out with Tess—”
Tess was gone. Olivia spun, searching the corners for the woman’s favorite spots. No sign of her.
The alarm beeped, setting her nerves on edge.
“Brown?” Hollis asked.
She shook her head, foreboding crushing in on her. “Still in the control room?” Something was wrong. Her wolf was pushing, eager to come out.
Another beep.
Hollis ran down the other hall, past the gym to the control room. Olivia waited, staring after him. When Hollis came back, her fears were confirmed. “No Brown.”
“Jessa?” Olivia asked.
“She’s close.” He ran a hand over his face.
“I’ll find him. Tess was freaking out over Jessa. He’s probably calming her down.” It was a logical explanation. But her wolf didn’t believe a word of it. “Or maybe she got scared and ran, and Brown followed her.” Another possibility her wolf dismissed.
Finn came stomping down the hall, wild-eyed and tense. “What’s happening?”
“Tess is gone. Brown isn’t in the control room,” she said calmly.
Finn stiffened, bracing. “Call Mal back,” he told Hollis.
“Wait,” Olivia said, knowing how important their mission was. “Give me five minutes to find them.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed. “What does your wolf say, Olivia?”
She frowned. “Something’s not right.”
Finn nodded. “Call them back.” Hollis headed again to the control room.
“Let me do something, Finn. You kept me here for a reason. Don’t tell me it was to babysit while the others are protecting the pack.” She swallowed. “I need to do something.”
Finn rolled his neck. “Track them—at a distance. I mean it, Olivia, stay upwind and out of sight. When you find them, head straight back to report.”
She nodded, her wolf thrilled.
“At a distance. If something is wrong, you get back here.” Finn’s brows rose high. “No taking chances, you hear me?”
“I hear you.” She nodded. “Oscar?”
Finn took the baby. “Be safe Olivia, or Mal will rip my goddamn head off.” He headed back down the hall to Jessa.
She ran from the house. Her skin was aching, the pull and push of bones and muscles making her itch. Whatever was happening, her wolf demanded control. Olivia breathed through it, relaxing her mind and body. It hurt, but not the way she imagined it would. She had to push to find the relief on the other side. When her claws sliced through her knuckles and her skin gave way to fur, the shift was over.
Her wolf was running, pausing to sniff and search. Her ears perked up, shifting through the sounds of the forest for something else—some sign of Brown or Tess. But she was too agitated, her senses all over the place.
She let instinct take over. Through the forest. Over two mountains. Up high, in the snow.
Her wolf found Brown’s scent. Sour. Stressed. Musky. He was running hard.
Tess’s scent joined his now.
Olivia slowed, not wanting to intrude on father and daughter. At the same time, she couldn’t leave without knowing they were okay. Why had he left his post? Why had they run off—now, when Jessa was so vulnerable.
She passed through a ravine, ears alert, and paused.
Brown sat in the snow several feet from Tess. Tess’s wolf sat, uneasy, at his side. Olivia’s wolf moved into the trees, watching.
Her heart ached for Brown. He’d never give up on his daughter. He didn’t care that she was a wolf, or that her human form was utterly broken. The man was loyal and patient. Whatever had brought her out here, he seemed content to wait until she decided it was time to return to the lodge. He loved his daughter.
An image of her father popped up. He’d had the biggest laugh. People loved him; he had a sort of magnetic pull that made them want his approval. She’d always had it. Chase always tried. It was hard to reconcile that man, her father, with what she now knew of him. For all his charm and affluence, she would trade her memories of him for one moment with a father like Brown. To sit in silence, knowing he was there for her—no judgment, just love. Did Tess know how lucky she was? Did she know she had a second chance here, a chance at a good life?
Brown looked at his daughter, speaking to her softly—too soft for Olivia to hear.
Tess’s wolf’s ears dropped, her tail wagged, but she didn’t move.
Brown smiled.
Olivia’s wolf tensed. A new scent. New but familiar. And terrifying. And a ripple in the air so strong, her wolf pressed down under the trees. Memories and fear crowded in on her. Of punching Chase, being stabbed, and getting thrown in the back of a van. This scent belonged to the creature responsible for that. Which was nothing when compared with what he’d done to Mal—tearing his throat out. Skinning him.
Fury choked out fear. Her wolf coiled, aching to pounce—to attack. Byron was here, somewhere.
Tess perked up, her eyes focusing on a distant point. She stood, ears pivoting, then looked directly at Olivia.
She knew? She knew they were coming. And she’d led Brown here.
Two more distinct scents reached her. Scents she didn’t recognize rapidly approached, coming through the ravine at her back. Others.
Something cold and hard was pressed against her head. “Shift or he bleeds out on the snow.”
Olivia’s wolf fought her, wanting to run or howl. She glared up at the man, ignoring the gun he pressed against her skull.
“Now,” he repeated, smiling.
She did, and her wolf fought her the entire time. Her lungs ached, gasping for air when he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her to her feet. Her wolf fought to be free, aching to protect her—and go for the jugular.
“Damn shame,” the man said. “Boss claimed you.”
Olivia was still recovering from the shift and couldn’t speak. Cyrus had claimed her?
“Come on,” the other one said, far less interested in her. “The sooner we get this over with, the better. Even if we don’t get the other female, we have her.”
Olivia tripped over her own feet, the man’s hold punishing her scalp and dragging her behind him. Why were they here? What did they want?
“Shit.” Brown stood, his hand going to his waist.
“Nope.” The man holding Olivia pointed the gun at her.
“You were supposed to come alone,” the other man said to Tess.
Tess cowered, her eyes shifting to the ground.
“They’re coming,” Olivia said, looking at Brown. “Finn. His pack.”
“No one’s coming.” The man yanked her hair for good measure.
The other one sighed. “You mark her, he’s gonna be pissed.”
The man smiled at her. “He won’t care.”
“He will.” It was Byron—big, tall, and emerging from the trees like nothing out of the ordinary was taking place. “Mr. Brown, you were not supposed to be here. I apologize for this. Give it to me, Jake.”
Jake handed Byron the gun.
“Silencer,” Byron added.
Jake frowned. “Why do we—”
“No backup,” Byron ground out. “You shoot, you announce our presence.”
Jake rifled through his backpack, handing the silencer to Bryon.
Panic clamped down on Olivia’s throat. Byron wouldn’t need a silencer if he wasn’t going to use the gun. The air grew charged, crackling with anticipation.
Tess whimpered then, stepping between the two men. She glanced back at Brown, her whimpering more desperate.
“He can’t follow us.” Byron’s voice was sharp. He fired once, and Brown crumpled to the ground. “You’ve outlived your usefulness.” He fired again, and Tess collapsed, flopping to the snow. His gaze shifted to her. “We have you. Once we have the Alpha’s mate and his pups, Cyrus will see how much he underestimated us. We get them all, and he’ll welcome us back.”
Had Tess brought them here to lead them to the compound—for Jessa and the children? Olivia stared, horrified, as the snow beneath her bare feet turned a brilliant red.