Page 18 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

Chapter Five

Colt

Demi leads a team of seven with swift efficiency. She commands the largest group, because we’re runningoperation storm the castle. Once we make it over the fence, Mateo, myself, and five of our top vampires follow closely behind the hunter.

Zander and the two other hunters are with Grayson and another vampire. They’ll be coming in from the back, near where the gymnasium is. The final group of six have their orders and are flashing to the other side of the compound to meet us in the middle at the barracks.

The entire compound sits on several hundred acres. From our position, we have to flash across nearly fifty before we approach the barracks.

Outside of three buildings stand a few rows of hunters, ages varying from teens to adults. Since they stop aging around thirty, it’s hard to tell their true age, but there are at least eighteen awakened adults. The hunters who appear closer to Demi’s age are wild cards.

Our presence hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Demi slows enough to yell at us. “They’re not attacking. Fall back.”

Five of our group listen. Mateo and I ignore her and keep pace, stopping when she does about four hundred yards away from the hunters. She glares at us but her attention moves to Maria, who steps out from between Nicole and another hunter.

“Demi.” Gravel crunches under her combat style boots.

“Where’s Blaze?”

Maria begins to respond but the crack of a gun catches us all by surprise. A man I can only assume to be Gerry lowers his weapon, which he had pointed straight in the air, and holsters it.

“Ah, Demetria. So good of you to arrive. I see you’ve brought me presents.” Gerry sneers. “I hope you enjoy watching them die.”

Mateo shifts forward. Demi’s hand lashes out and catches his arm.

He stills at the contact.

She stares at Gerry, but tells Mateo, “Don’t.”

“What do you want, Gerry?” She gestures to the hunters. “Are you willing to sacrifice your people for a wolf and a child?”

Gerry struts across the gravel, eyeing his hunters up and down. Nicole’s eyes are filled with hatred when she looks upon her so-called leader.

“They know what needs to be done.”

Demi shakes her head and turns to the hunters. “Do you hear him? He doesn’t care that some of you may die. After all you’ve been through, do you want to risk losing more lives?”

Mateo clenches his jaw and his brown eyes grow unreadable. He’s throwing on his poker face. I watch him while Demi continues to talk.

“I don’t want to fight you. I want Blaze and the wolf child back, unharmed. Give me them and we’ll go, peacefully.”

Gerry tsks. “That’s the thing about being young and naive, Demetria. You think the best of people. Like those vampires behind you.” The hunter points to us.

“They are your enemies. Don’t tell me you’re stupid enough to think they can love you. Hell, your own mother didn’t even love you enough to come back for you.”

Demi sucks in a sharp breath. “You’re an asshole, Gerry. Where’s Blaze?”

“He’s with Quorana,” Maria says.

Gerry pulls out his gun and points it at Maria. “Picking sides, are we?”

Nicole breaks from the group, as do a few others, to stand behind Maria. The rest of the hunters shift on their feet and share equal looks of concern.

“We’re not all in agreement with what Gerry’s done.” Maria stares down the barrel of the gun with a fearless sneer that reminds me of Demi. “We’re not your puppets, Gerry.”

The gun clicks. “Is that so? Let me show you what happens to hunters who don’t listen to me, maybe then you’ll change your mind. Daniel.”

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