Jaded Hearts
Chapter 74

Matt

At 4:00 a.m., I met the guys down at the garage. We planned to be at the airport within twenty minutes, then in Oregon another forty after that. The drive from the airport to the house would take us another forty-five minutes, giving us plenty of time to be in place in time for sunrise.

“Does everyone have their gear? Lex, make sure your guns and knives are here. We can’t come back if we’re missing anything,” Xander said.

“I’ve got it. This isn’t my first rodeo, Captain.”

“If you come back hurt, Alaia’s gonna be all over my a*s. Double-check.”

Alexi opened his bag to reveal his Kevlar vest and weapons. He was set.

“Tyson, I wouldn’t even dream of questioning you. Judging by the size of your bag, you’ve got an entire armory with you.”

“I’m ready for everything. Whatever’s in that house with Drew is about to get f****d up,” he replied with a grin.

“Kade. Matt. You two set?”

I double-checked my bag, and when it was confirmed that we had everything we needed and more, we loaded up and hit the road.

“I really hate having to leave her again when I just got home. If she missed me half as much as I missed her, it was agony,” I told Tyson as the house disappeared from view.

“It should be just a few hours, and hopefully, we can all be home before lunch. Just look at it as an early start to a regular day at work.”

I shrugged but couldn’t help smiling a bit. “If regular workdays consisted of killing wolves and whatever else we’re about to come across.”

“Exactly.”

Tyson’s phone started beeping in his pocket, drawing the attention of the entire truck.

“It’s a little early for a booty call, isn’t it? Or is it too late? I can’t remember anymore since I’ve settled down,” Kade asked, looking thoughtful.

Tyson just ignored him and scanned his screen. “EE Inc. is either run by a shifter or is extremely shifter-friendly. They’ve had dealings with wolf, vamp, and bear companies in the past. And with the house being so far out in the middle of nowhere, I’d say it would be safe for us to shift without scaring the s**t out of any unsuspecting humans,” he told us.

“Perfect, that was the last thing we needed to verify. I try to avoid killing on human territory, but if the land is owned by a shifter of any variety, it’s all good,” Xander replied.

A comfortable silence fell over us as we all mentally prepared for what was about to happen. There wasn’t going to be any time to talk and catch up, and there was no need for torture or prolonged suffering. A silver bullet between the eyes, and another in the heart; a quick and clean kill, then we’d be back home to continue our lives in peace.

* * *

At the edge of the treeline, the five of us scanned the area as we waited for our queue to go. Tyson walked over to me and crouched down.

“I can’t see well enough to get a good read on the number of occupants. I’m going to shift and see if I can smell what’s going on,” he whispered.

I nodded my head and turned back to the house. I could hear the popping and snapping of a shift, and soon, an enormous dark brown bear was standing at my side.

He was more than seven feet at the shoulders when standing on all four legs, so who knows what he would be when he reared back on two.

“I’ll never get used to how small werebears make me feel,” I whispered to the group.

They all nodded in agreement.

Tyson lifted his head and began to sniff the air. Lucky for us, there was a gentle breeze blowing, and we were downwind from the house. All their scents were being carried right to us. When he was satisfied, Tyson stepped back and retook his human form.

“Drew is absolutely in there, but he smells different. I didn’t pick up any hints of his wolf, but there was something else. I’m not one hundred percent sure what, though. We’ve got maybe five or six wolves, four who seem to be vamps, and a couple of hybrids. No more than thirteen in total,” he said as he dressed and strapped on his gear.

“That’s manageable. We’re here for Drew, so we go in with him in mind. Two teams, and whoever gets to him first, takes him out, then links the rest of us. Don’t kill anyone else unless you absolutely have to. Matt, Lex, and I will be the first team, then Kade and Tyson will be the other. Watch each other’s backs, and we’ll make it out of here alive. Got it?”

The sun slowly began its ascent over the horizon, signaling us that it was go time.

“I’m going to need that Hades-level accuracy and observance. Taylor couldn’t handle losing anyone else she loves, especially if it’s because of this fucker. Be safe,” I said to Tyson before we parted ways.

“I’m not dying today. Hell ain’t ready for me yet,” he replied.

Hopefully, hell wasn’t ready for anyone but Andrew f*****g Witt.

* * *

Drew

Waking up this morning was different, but I didn’t know why. The house seemed quieter than normal, but I took that as a small blessing. There was always some constant, irritating noise creeping into my room and driving me nuts, so whatever made them all shut the f**k up was alright in my book.

I pushed myself out of bed and made my way over to the connecting bathroom. The physical therapy was working well enough that I could move around by myself again without falling constantly. I had high hopes that only a few more months of this would be needed before I could be completely independent again.

Killian was still missing, but I figured that once I healed enough or really needed him, he would come back. After brushing the few teeth I still had, I looked over myself in the mirror. The Frankenstein look was not all it’s cracked up to be. I hated it. Thankfully, it was Monday, and I had my appointments with the oral surgeon and prosthetic. It was time for a change.

“I could’ve sworn we f****d those knees up enough that he’d never stand again. I guess a sledgehammer wasn’t good enough. Maybe we should just shoot them this time,” I heard someone say behind me.

Terror immediately surged through me. I didn’t hear or smell anyone approach, and I was completely helpless. I knew the voice; I could never forget it. If he was here, then so were his friends, and my life was more than likely over.

I looked up in the mirror, and my eyes were met with the dangerous blue ones of Blue Moon’s beta. “Did you miss us? You were taken away before we had the chance to finish our game. Colton and Isaiah say hi, by the way,” he added with a smile.

I finally found my voice. “You spoke to my brothers?”

“Sure did. Colton gladly told Xan where you were. He traced your call, then spent days trying to replace you, just so he could turn you over to us. That must hurt like hell.”

“You’re lying. Colt would never turn me over to you fuckers. He’d never betray me!”

Kade slowly shook his head. “Still delusional. Whatever. Tyson, you wanna do the honors, or should I? You can end your career on a high note.”

When the bear stepped into view, I began counting the seconds until I met death.

“Same time. You take the heart, and I’ll take the head. Teamwork and all that shit.”

They probably wanted me to beg or some weak, pitiful s**t like that, but I wouldn’t. They’d taken enough from me. My last bit of dignity was mine, and it would go with me to my grave.

They raised their guns, but right before they took the shot, a loud bang followed by yelling rang out down the hall.

“What the f**k is going on?” Kade asked as his focus was drawn away.

“We’ll replace out soon enough,” the bear replied before he straightened his aim and fired.

He was Hades, and Hades didn’t miss, but I was surprised that it didn’t hurt. As the sound of the gunshot rang out, my final thought was of my flower and how she’d never pay for all she’d done to me.

* * *

Tyson

Kade dramatically threw his arms in the air. “f**k! You already shot him! It was supposed to be at the same time.”

“Stop bitching and finish him off so we can see what the f**k is going on with the others.”

“It’s not fun anymore now,” Kade replied.

“I don’t have time for this shit.” I walked over to Drew’s body and looked down. There was a hole dead center between his eyes, just where I wanted it.

I rolled him onto his back and put two more in his heart. No wolf could survive three perfectly placed silver bullets.

“Link the guys and see what’s going on, I’ll check the hall,” I said as I stepped over Drew and to the door. I slid a small mirror out just enough to see four bodies on the ground, but none of them were ours. They were all covered in b***d, so I had no f*****g clue what took them out.

“They aren’t answering. It’s like all three are blocking me,” came Kade’s reply.

“I don’t like this. We took care of Drew, so let’s get the hell out of here and replace them. Unless someone else had joined the party since we arrived, there shouldn’t be more than eight more here. Stay close; anyone I see is getting one between the eyes.”

Kade grinned. “I love that plan. Let’s go.”

We moved low and slow out of the room, then went down the hall to a large living room. I saw two more bodies on the floor, injured but alive. We walked over to one and rolled him over.

“Where are the other wolves I came here with?”

The vampire’s red soulless eyes almost seemed to look through me. He hissed and spat thick, black b***d from his mouth.

“Vamps are f*****g nasty, man,” Kade said behind me.

I pulled the stake from my belt and drove it into his heart, then moved to provide his friend with the same end. “Six more. Let’s go.”

We made our way out of the living room and headed towards the kitchen. Before we could step foot over the threshold, two more wolves appeared from my blind spot. Kade took them both out smoothly and effectively before they got anywhere near us.

“Damn, that was impressive,” I said.

“You’re not the only one who can handle a gun. Four more.”

I looked outside and saw something that immediately grabbed my attention. I rushed to the door and threw it open. Hanging by his neck from a flag post was a tall, skinny guy who could have definitely used a tan.

When the wind blew his scent to me, I began to understand why. “There’s another of the vamps, but this one’s a hybrid,” I said.

Pinned to his long black coat was a golden envelope, identical to the one that had been dropped off at our border.

“Kade, check the envelope,” I said as I scanned the area for signs of our friends or anyone else. He snatched it down and opened it. When he began stringing together every curse word ever spoken, I knew it was bad.

“Let me see!”

Gentlemen,

It appears that somehow, you were able to have my most loyal lieutenant turn his back on me and betray my orders.

For that, he has paid with his life, but the scales still must be balanced.

Today I lost family and friends, but you will as well.

Your three companions are mine now—that’s only fair. There will be no negotiations or requests for trades.

They will die, Blue Moon will crumble, and revenge will finally be mine.

-L

There were three drops of b***d at the bottom of the letter, and when I smelled them, I knew.

“They’re gone. This fucker kidnapped our family.”