Page 81 of The Devil's Conflict

Theo smiles. “I figured. And if you ever need any pointers, just let me know. I have a few tricks up my sleeves.”

I smile and nod. “I’ll do that. I’ll be back when we’re done.” Then I head out of the room and back downstairs.

We need to figure out our next move and fast. And then I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to Thea just how much of a right choice she made by staying with me. Even if she does like to constantly call me an old man. I’ll just have to think of more creative punishments to doll out in retaliation.

THIRTY-TWO

THEA

No repayment needed.

I hear soft voices,and I force myself to pull out of sleep and turn my head to see Rose standing by the bed, talking to Theo. Theo looks uncertain. “What’s wrong?” I rasp, drawing their attention.

Rose’s face is pale, her eyes red-rimmed, and she’s wearing a long shirt that I have to assume is Bullet’s from the size of it. Instead of answering, she simply climbs into the bed with me, curling around me and holding me as tight as she knows I can stand. I’m a bit more awake now as I look up at Theo in confusion. He moves away and sits down in the corner of the room, not saying a word.

I look back at Rose and her eyes go wet as she stares at me. “Thank you,” she breathes.

I’m confused. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“You threw yourself in front of a bullet for the man that means everything to me,” she breathes out, her voice choked up. “Knowing how close I came to losing him today, that if you hadn’t been there, terrifies me. I will never be able to repay you for that.”

Realization dawning, I shift just enough so my head can lie on the pillow next to hers. “I don’t want you to repay me, Rose,” I murmur. “I want you to know I would do it again. I would do it for anyone here. Because that’s what it means to be a team. To be a family. And I’ve missed being close to people, and as long as you want me around, I don’t plan on leaving.”

She gives a watery chuckle. “Honey, I don’t think you understand. You’re never leaving. I’ll gladly trade you for Sniper if things go south between the two of you. And you have a family, friends, that will always have your back. Especially me. You saved my husband, and you put your life on the line for my grandbabies, and my extended family. Because all of those men, they are my family. And now you are too. And when Crypt wakes up, I’m going to cry all over him for saving my life too. That poor man has been through so much in the past few months, that I’ll be pushing for him to get his patch soon too.”

I smile tiredly. “That sounds like a great idea,” I agree. I can feel sleep trying to pull me under again. “I’m sorry, Rose, I’m so tired,” I whisper.

“Go to sleep, honey,” she whispers. “I’ll be here for you until your man gets back.” Then she tucks me into her side, and I drift off.

THIRTY-THREE

HULK

What is happening?

Cobraand I make our way through the thick brush toward the location Thea decoded. I still can’t believe she managed to get it figured out so fast when there were so many of us that tried and couldn’t. Hell, even Cryos’s person couldn’t, and they’re some kind of computer genius. You’d think this would be a piece of cake for them, but I guess not. Either way, it’s enough we already found the decoy house, and we’ve surpassed it.

If Thea’s location is right, then it’s coming up here momentarily.

Cobra is quiet as he follows me, but I can feel the tension rolling off him. The two of us were paired up to scout this location, while other teams went to check out a few more. It was decided that until the women and children are securely on theirway to their destinations, we won’t strike. We can’t risk them being unguarded. Not with the hits out on them.

I don’t know Cobra well, but he’s keeping up and following my steps expertly to avoid too much noise, so I’ll take it. I’m still a bit unsure of the Misfits, but then again, I’ve not been around too many 1%er clubs before now, so it’s possible that my own biases are getting in the way.

When we finally reach the edge of the clearing, we stop and then I see it. A door hidden in the side of the mountain that two men are currently walking out of. Jackpot.

I quietly pull my phone and take a couple of pictures, before I put it away and turn to tell Cobra to back out as quietly as we can. But when I turn, I don’t see him. Where the hell did he go? I bite back my frustration, turning my head and listening, trying to see if I can figure out where he wandered off to.

I hear a rustling a few feet away and I turn to head that way. Suddenly, something hard hits the back of my head, and my world goes black for a moment as pain explodes in my head, and I feel myself falling to the ground.What the fuck?

“Sorry, brother,” I hear a voice say, but my brain is too fuzzy to make out why it sounds so familiar. Who are they? Another blow to the head almost has me passing out completely.

No, I have to stay awake. I need to remember.

“Consider this the first step to your repayment,” a deep voice says, and I struggle to stay awake. It doesn’t sound familiar. And is that a Russian accent? Why are people talking in Russian?

“What’s going to happen to him?” the other voice asks. Does he mean me?

“That is not your concern. Now, get out of here before I kill you and be done with it.” I hear footsteps crashing through the brush. Wait, where is he going?

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