Page 200 of Black Bird

Wren was mangled. Her hair strung in clumps around her face. Her eye was so dark and swollen that she couldn’t even open it. She screamed around a massive hunk of tape and dried blood. “Wren! Wren, I’m so sorry … it’s gonna be alright,” Brent said, holding his palms up and inching towards her. He trembled with utter rage at the sight of her. “Give her up, Dad … you’re already looking at twenty years for this shit. Let her go.” Wren sobbed as his gun dug into her temple.

“Tell your whore to save your mother’s life. That’s the price for this one. Her blood,” he nodded towards Wren, “for her best friend.”

“You’re too late,” Brent seethed. “You’re too late, Dad. Mom is gone.”

Conrad slackened, his face drooping as the words sank in. For half a second, Brent felt pity for him. “W-what?”

“I offered her Sarah’s blood. Sarah gave it to me to offer it to her. She turned it down. Mom was ready to go. She told me to give it to Annie, and … and I did.” Brent inched closer, keeping his palms up. “Sarah already did what you’re asking before you even took Wren. It’s over. Let her go.”

“She’s—” Conrad’s voice broke with emotion. “She’s gone?”

“It’s what she wanted, Pop.”

Conrad backed up a step, shaking his head and trembling. “No … no, I don’t believe it.” He turned the gun on Brent. “This isyourfucking fault! If you had done what Ifuckingasked you, she’d still be here!” The gun shook, and tears started rolling down his cheeks. Wren moved forward, crying loudly, as if she were trying to stop him, and he made to turn the gun back on her. Brent lunged for her …

BANG…

Gravel flew from her tires as Rhaena’s truck skidded to a stop behind Brent Stratford’s silver Beamer. The driver’s side door was wide open—as was the front entrance to the house. Rhaena pulled her weapon, along with Jenkins and Captain Foley, who were both hot on her heels as she aimed forward and carefully started up the front steps to the massive residence.

“Boston P.D.!” Rhaena called as she approached the open door. A single shot rang out, startling all three of them, and Rhaena turned, pointing her gun towards the sound. “Shit!”

“That was outside! Split up!” Foley said, pointing two fingers to both sides of the house. He took off towards the right, moving faster than Rhaena had expected, and she turned, following Jenkins around the west end of the mansion.

“No!” a voice called out from the back. Rhaena and Jenkins sprinted faster. “Fuck!No, no, no, no!”

That was Conrad Stratford …

Rhaena heard muffled screaming, followed by hard sobs. There was no mistaking that voice, either. They bolted around the side bushes and rounded the corner to the back of the house where a large patio came into view.

“Drop your weapon!” Foley yelled, pointing his gun at Conrad. The senator jumped, spinning towards him and firing a shot. She only heard one gun go off as her heart sank, and Rhaena screamed.

“Cap!” She and Jenkins hopped the stone railing, guns drawn, to find Brent on his stomach, bleeding heavily, while a very battered Wren leaned over his back wailing with her hands bound in front of her. Rhaena’s attention darted towards Foley, who had taken a bullet to his thigh, and had dropped his weapon. It had flown clean towards the open back door to the mansion. Conrad shook violently, hyperventilating as his gun wobbled in his unsteady hands. He was in shock. “Drop the weapon, Stratford!” Rhaena growled, loudly, aiming for the back of his head. “Fucking drop it! Iwillshoot you, you piece of shit! I swear to God!”

Jenkins kept his gun aimed for Conrad, and stayed close behind her as he went after Wren. Conrad continued to breathe heavily. “I—I didn’t mean—I didn’t—” he stuttered through deep grief, “Brent …”

“Drop the fucking gun!” Rhaena warned again, moving closer to the senator. Foley staggered, sweating bullets, and she noticed his movements becomingveryfamiliar …toofamiliar … “Captain, are you good?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, his breathing grew rapid, and his back hunched over. Conrad stumbled back, and Rhaena’s eyes grew wider as his injured leg grew longer … misshaped … along with the other. Feral growls erupted from her captain, and his legs became haunches. His clothes began to tear, and thick black fur grew over him as his body shifted, and his face turned as he roared loudly, long fangs dripping strings of saliva as they all stood frozen in shock.

Foley … he was … bitten. He’s a wolf … holy shit … he’s a wolf …

“Malcolm …” Rhaena whispered under her breath, staggering forward as Foley heaved through his snout. He huffed loudly, and leapt over the railing, disappearing into the wood line. Rhaena’s mind spun. Uncle Elston … he had … bitten him. Turned him. That’s why he’d been so eager to know her. He knew what she was, and he had been alone. Another lone wolf with no pack. Rhaena’s breath hitched, and she was snapped out of her stupor when Jenkins called her name.

“Rhaena!”

Rhaena shook it off, pointing her gun at Conrad, who was visibly shaken by what he’d just seen, and done. He slowly turned to face her, his lip quivering when he looked down at his son. “I’m so sorry, I—I never meant—”

BANG!

The side of Conrad’s face exploded, and Rhaena winced as his blood splattered her face. He dropped like a stone.

BANG, BANG, BANG!

Three shots fired from behind her, and Rhaena jerked her gun towards her right, just in time to see Conrad’s assistant fall—with Foley’s gun in her hand. Rhaena ran over, kicking the gun away and dropping to her knees next to Gretchen. Jenkins had been a dead shot. She had taken two to the chest, and one to her abdomen. Rhaena pressed her hand against the wounds on her breast as Gretchen struggled to breathe.

“I’m—I’m sorry …” Gretchen choked, gripping Rhaena’s shirt. “I w—I wasn’t aiming for you …”

“I know, shhh … calm down. You’ll be alright.” Rhaena looked over her shoulder at Jenkins, who now held onto Wren. Wren sobbed hysterically and still clung to Brent, who hadn’t moved at all. “Is he?” she asked. Jenkins was already on his phone.

---