Page 54 of Wicked Vengeance

My heart leaps into my throat as we wait for the cameras to load on his phone, climbing higher and higher because I know something is wrong. I feel it all the way in my bones.

“Fuck!” Alek yells, grabbing my hand, all but running out of the bedroom with me and Maddox.

“What’s going on?” Snow asks when we race through the kitchen.

“King’s at our fucking house,” Alek growls. “And he has Royal.”

Chapter 38

Raena

The ride to the Shadow’s house passes in a blur. Our people, the Shadows, Kolhe brothers, and the security crew, were all gearing up when we made it outside. Everyone follows us except Snow, and a few men left behind to look after her. I know it’s killing her to be left out of the action, but her baby’s life is more important, and she agrees.

Nightshade roars beneath me, the vibrations grounding me and helping me step into the role I need to face King once and for all. I have a literal army behind me this time. I’m not alone, at the mercy of his depravity and twisted torture.

I’m not alone.

I am the fucking Hunter.

Royal is alive.

Maddox and Alek ride beside me, their sleek, black bikes keeping pace with mine. Alek’s voice fills my helmet, “Royal is smart, Raena. He’ll be okay. He knows we’re coming, and he’ll do everything he can to stay alive until we get to him.”

Well shit… I guess I said that aloud.

“I know.” The driveway comes into view, making my heart beat against my rib cage like a hummingbird trapped within my chest. It takes several tries, but finally, I let the air fill my lungs.

I’m the Hunter.

Royal is alive.

I’m not alone.

When we reach the entrance gate, we stop. We’ll be going the rest of the way on foot. Ronan and Dax meet me at my bike before I can dismount.

“We know better than to ask you to sit this one out, but please, be safe. Don’t be the hero, Red. You’re not a sacrificial lamb to save everyone else from the big bad Wolfe,” Ronan says, gripping my helmet at the sides and bringing his forehead to rest on the top. “Let us clear a path before you run in and get yourself killed.”

“Just get me inside, Ro. This ends today.” That's about as good as he’s going to get from me. He must realize this because he nods before turning around to bark orders to the guys.

“We’ve got this, Baby Girl,” Alek says, dismounting his bike and walking over to mine. Maddox comes behind me, undoing my strap and pulling my helmet off. We wait in silence while Ronan gives orders, and people start breaking off into teams and moving in. After a few minutes, Dax walks over to us.

“We’ve got teams going in to surround the house but not engage. He is severely outnumbered, and if he feels boxed into a corner, he might take Royal out before we even have a chance.”

Panic rises in my throat, burning like acid at the idea of losing yet another person I love to this monster. “Let me go in alone.”

“Absolutely fucking not,” Ronan says, walking up and overhearing me. “We’ve got this under control.”

“No the fuck we don’t. I can distract him long enough to get you in a position to get this under control,” I argue. “You know I’m right. Everything King has done proves he wants me alive. He isn’t going to kill me on sight. But you– and these men, he will. Let me distract him. I have a plan.”

“She’s right, Ro,” Dax says with a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand down his face in frustration. “We trained her for this, and she’s right.”

Ronan looks like he wants to argue, but eventually, he relents. “Fucking hell! Fine! But you’re not going in alone.”

“She’s not. If she goes, we go.” Maddox adds and Alek agrees with a nod as they both turn to me when I try to protest. “We’re not losing you again, Cherry. We go in together, period.”

“Okay,” I breathe with a resigned sigh. “But Ro– Dax. I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything.” They reply in unison.

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