Page 20 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

None of the hunters respond.

She points the gun at Gerry. “You all agreed to Gerry’s plan.” She points to Tyra’s body. “Look at what you’ve done!” They flinch at her screamed words. “Look at her! Do you still agree with him?”

A few shake their heads while the younger ones cover their mouths, eyes watering. Tears stream down Maria’s face. She swipes at them with her palm, anger making the motion jerky.

“You’re all a bunch of fucking cowards,” she whispers, turning her back to them.

Nicole cocks her arm back and launches the gun across the clearing. “Mack, get me the restraints.”

One of the men who stepped forward with her and Maria earlier nods and flashes away.

With the hunters backing down, I turn my attention to my men. They’ve taken care of the other two hunters. They lie on the ground with necks twisted in unnatural angles.

Even though they untied her, X is still lying on the ground, pounding her fist into the gravel.

Zander is suddenly surrounded by a group of guys. They help him up and check him over. They’re his friends. I don’t think they’ll hurt him, so I leave them be.

I take pity on X and go to her, helping her sit up. Her face is coated in tears and snot. She fights against my hold, sobbing and screaming.

“Go away!”

I shake my head. “No.” Then I clench my arms around her to stop her from hitting me and hold her tight.

“Tyra,” she whispers, moaning in agony. “What am I going to do?” She tries to headbutt me, but I dodge it and wrap my arms tighter around her, trying to keep her from moving.

An unnatural, animalistic growl leaves her lips and she thrashes.

“Shh, it’s okay.” Even I realize I sound ridiculous.

What the hell else am I supposed to say?

After a minute she stops fighting and sags against me, crying even harder than before.

Maria squats down and brushes X’s hair from her face. “I’m so sorry. This was never meant to happen.”

The hunter glares at her. “You’re as much to blame as anyone else, Maria. You knew who Gerry was. You’ve all known he was radical for a long time. This is what unchecked power does.” Her lips tremble. “I love her.”

Maria hangs her head and clasps her hands together. “I’m so sorry.”

X turns away from her and presses her forehead against my shoulder.

I grind my teeth together and force myself to be patient. I’m not a nurturer by nature, but I’m of no use anywhere else right now. I have to keep X safe and hope Mateo, Demi, and Zander can kill Daniel on their own.

I do hate being left behind.

* * *

Demi

I watch in horror as Daniel jams his knife into Tyra’s chest.

X’s screams reverberate in my skull, spurring me into action but I’m too late. Daniel’s already done significant damage. His fingers clench Tyra’s heart and he sprints away using his supe speed.

“Fucker.” I hurry after him, red tinging my vision with every pounding step.

My heart slams against my chest. I pump my arms and legs as fast as I can, making up for the small head start he got and closing the distance between us.

My eyes widen when I see where he’s heading.

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