Page 155 of Body and Soul

A snarl ripped from my throat at the sight of the gun pressed to Eli’s head. “Let him go right fucking now or I'll rip out your fucking spine and choke you with it.”

Algerone's lip curled in a sneer. “Put down your weapons. Put your hands above your heads and get on the ground now and maybe I’ll let the law execute you.”

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms until hot blood dripped onto the concrete. River and Warrick exchanged glances.

“Do it!” Algerone snapped. “Do it right now or I swear I’ll kill every last one of you myself!”

Valentine's sudden movement snapped my gaze to him. The grim-faced agent drew his sidearm in one fluid motion, the barrel swinging up to press against Algerone's temple. Algerone froze, eyes widening in shock and fury.

“Just what the fuck do you think you're doing, Valentine?” he hissed through clenched teeth.

“What I should've done a long time ago,” Valentine growled. “Release the boy.”

Algerone's lip curled in a sneer even as his eyes darted between Valentine's gun and my murderous glare. “I thought we had an understanding.”

“We do,” Valentine said coolly. “As long as you understand I won’t compromise my principals for cash. Plus, this has gone on way too long. I’m fucking tired. My knee hurts and it’s past my fucking bedtime. So, in the interest of wrapping this shit up in a nice, neat little bow with as little paperwork as possible… Let the fucking kid go.”

Algerone snarled and shoved Eli away from him.

My little rabbit stumbled and fell to his knees, gulping down ragged breaths between choked sobs.

I lunged forward, a roar tearing from my throat as I seized Eli and clutched him to my chest. His scent flooded my nostrils, sweat and fear tinged. I buried my face in his hair, rumbling deep in my chest as I scented him, re-marking him as mine.

Eli clung to me, slender body wracked with tremors. Hot tears soaked into my filthy shirt as he pressed closer, trying to burrow into my skin. “Keres,” he whimpered, my name a broken litany on his lips.

I held him tighter, mindful of my strength, even in the grip of my possessive rage. River and Warrick closed ranks around us, weapons pointed at Algerone. Valentine kept his gun trained on Algerone, who threw his hands up in surrender.

“There!” Algerone declared. “You got what you wanted.”

“Not quite yet,” Valentine said. “The next thing you’re going to do is push that button on your watch that lets you talk to your lackey with the tablet. You’re going to tell him to release everyone you’re holding over them. Daniella and her baby, all the Laskins…Everyone.”

“Are you insane?” Algerone hissed, glaring at Valentine. “You want those criminals back out on the street?”

“Yes,” Valentine barked. “I want the Laskins and all their friends back out where they can do some goddamn good.”

“They’re murderers, Ash! What about your fucking principles?”

Valentine shot a long look over Algerone’s shoulder at us. “I’ve been in the FBI twenty years. Twenty fucking years. Do you know how many collars have gotten off on a technicality? Mishandled evidence. Fake alibis. Goddamnlawyers.” He shifted his grip on his gun. “The system is so fucking tied up with red tape that we let more killers go than we ever put behind bars. Maybe the Laskins are killers, but dammit, the world fucking needs someone to do what the law can’t.”

Algerone hesitated, his face blank. He looked at us for a long moment before closing his eyes and letting out a shuddering sigh. “Fine. I have what I wanted. I have my sons back. And this… This needs to end.” He raised his other hand slowly,fingers inching toward the sleek black watch encircling his wrist. “Maxime, release the prisoners. All of them.”

A tinny voice crackled from the watch's tiny speaker, confusion evident even through the distortion. “Sir? Are you certain—”

“Just do it!” Algerone snapped.

“Right away, sir.”

Satisfaction curled hot and vicious in my gut as I imagined the cell doors clicking open one by one, my pack staggering out into the light, blinking away the darkness.

In my arms, Eli shuddered, a broken little sob escaping him. I rumbled deep in my chest, the sound more animal than human, and nuzzled into his hair. Beneath the tang of fear-sweat and blood, his scent shone through, bright and sweet. Perfect. Mine.

I shifted him in my arms, tucking his face into the crook of my neck as I pinned Algerone with a feral stare. “You took what's mine,” I growled. “I should rip out your fucking throat.”

Valentine lifted the gun from Algerone’s head, pointing it at the ceiling. “But you won’t. This truce has to go two ways. Nobody else is going to die here. You’re going to take your family and go. Everybody is.”

A snarl pulled at my lips, the beast inside me howling for blood, for vengeance.

River snorted. “Who died and made you God?”

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