Page 17 of Passion & Betrayal

I may be open to sharing my mate with him, but living on his turf with his people is still uncomfortable. Not to mention, we have both had members desert our club at the news. People are unhappy that a feud going on for years is suddenly called off because of a woman.

“I’ll get us something to eat. Why don’t you stay in case she wakes up?”

Cian doesn’t wait for my reply. He grabs some grey sweatpants from a chest of drawers before getting dressed and slipping through the door. I lay beside our beautiful mate and watch her breathe, a sense of complete contentedness washing over me and my animal. My damn tiger is so impressed with himself that he purrs loudly in my mind.

My peace is shattered when gunshots erupt outside. I don’t hesitate before jumping out of bed and starting to dress.

Isabel startles and sits upright in the center of the bed we will soon be replacing. “What is happening?”

Her features are painted with worry as she scans the room, looking for her other mate.

“I don’t know, Doll. But I am damn sure going to find out,” I grumble as I search for my gun on the floor.

“Don’t go,” she says, fear lacing every word.

“I can’t just let Cian fend for himself. You wanted us to be a unit, a family. And I take care of my family.”

Finding my gun, I stand and stare at her. I don’t want to leave her alone, but there is still shooting happening outside. I press my lips to hers harshly before I walk toward the door.

“Lock the door. And don’t open it for anyone except me or Cian.”

I don’t hesitate as I step into the hall. The smell of gunpowder and smoke reaches my nostrils, and I head toward the front of the clubhouse, looking for Cian while I try to assess what the fuck is going on. It’s carnage once I reach the bottom of the stairs. The door has been blown wide open. People are lying on the ground, some injured, others already dead.

My gaze narrows on Cian, where he stands beside his brother, firing at the men outside.

“What the fuck?” I shout once I reach them behind the overturned pool table.

“I wish I knew. Where is Isabel?” he asked, popping off more rounds.

“Safe,” I say, and he nods. “What can I do?”

Psych turns to me and hands me a semiautomatic rifle. “Shoot anyone that isn’t inside.”

The smile on his face says he is enjoying this gunfight more than he should be, but I get it. This is what we live for. The danger. The adrenaline rush. But I am also terrified behind all the other emotions. What if something happens to Cian or Isabel? I’m not sure I will be able to survive that, even if we aren’t fully mated just yet.

I grab the weapon from Psych and point it through the gaping hole that used to be the entrance before opening fire. I need to make sure everyone I care for is safe and sound by the end of this fucking mess.

I don’t get the opportunity to sow as much anarchy and chaos as I would like. Mere minutes later, the shooting from outside ceases, and we hear tires squeal as someone pulls out of the parking lot in a hurry. I want to be grateful that it’s finally over, but I am beyond pissed that the people responsible for this bullshit have gotten away.

The three of us sit behind the dark wooden table and wait to make sure it isn’t a trap before we move. Slowly, each of us moves toward the front of the building, assessing people as we make our way. Outside, vehicles are on fire, and bikes have been overturned in the chaos, my own included. Rage sparks in my chest, and I swear a silent oath to strip the skin from his bone when I get the motherfucker that thought this attack was a good idea.

“Draven!” a woman screams from inside, and I watch him pale before running in the direction the voice came from. Cian follows hot on his heels, and so do I.

“What the fuck?” Cian roars when we get upstairs to find Draven’s mate holding Rat’s head on her lap, the gunshot wound in his chest bleeding profusely even as she tries to apply pressure.

Her gaze collides with her mates. “We tried to stop them.” She sobs. “But they took her.”

“Took who?” Cian and I ask in unison.

“Isabel.”

****

Isabel

My heart is beating heavily in my chest. It kind of feels like it will burst from me at any moment. I rush around the room, putting on one of the guys’ shirts, my panties, and jeans. I was just slipping my shoes on when an explosive crash sounded behind me.

I turn and see two men, all in black, jump into the room through the window. Before I can scream or shift into my cat, I feel something sting my neck, and then nothing.

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