“That had to be the shifter Vera.”
Olivia returned, her features pinched.
I climbed out. “What did you find?”
She hurried to the back of the Hummer and threw open the door, then began loading up on grenades and other weapons. “We have vampires roaming the woods and going through the homes. Roman does have an army.”
I took comfort that it wasn’t my uncles. “He’s looking for Abbey,” I said even though all of us knew that to be true. Thankfully, Jo had taken Abbey somewhere safe.
I reached into a duffel bag to grab a grenade or two when Olivia grasped my wrist. “I want to fight," I told her. “If Roman is here, then Jordyn is too.” At least I hoped she was.
Olivia’s expression was circumspect as her vampire black eyes glinted in the glow of the light from inside the Hummer.
“I know how to fight,” I assured her. I was going in whether she liked it or not.
Rianne hopped out of the vehicle on wobbly legs. “What can I do? I would fight, but I don’t think I’m in any shape to.”
Olivia secured what looked to be a police baton to her belt. “Take the Hummer up to the top of the road and wait for Sam and Kraft. When they get here, tell them to use the west entrance. I tried to get them on the comm again, but they’re not answering.”
A small pang of worry pinched me at the thought that Sam could be dead. But that was impossible. The vampire had survived an explosion. “Do you think Roman’s men got to them?”
Olivia strapped grenades to the belt I had around me that could hold several weapons. “Possibly.” She picked up one of two crossbows and handed me one. “Do you know how to use one of these?”
I briefly regarded Rianne, who pouted, seemingly jealous that I was going to use one of her coveted weapons. “Rianne is better with a crossbow than me, but I know how to use it.”
Once we were armed, Olivia handed her phone to Rianne and proceeded to give Rianne her password. “Find Steven Mason’s number in my contacts and call him. Let him know what’s happening just in case Webb or Tripp can’t get word to him. Also ask if Jo and Abbey made it safely. Got it?”
Rianne nodded.
“Layla, you might be experienced at this, but I doubt you’ve fought with several vampires at one time, so I need you to follow my lead. Is that clear?” Olivia asked.
“Crystal,” I said, even though in my experience, our family had battled a handful at one time, not several, and I would guess Roman had more than five vampires with him. Plus, if Vera was part of Roman’s team, and I was sure she was, then the shifter brought a whole different dynamic to the fight—one I had no experience in fighting.
“Stay alive,” Rianne said as she got behind the wheel.
I planned to as a surge of adrenaline zipped through me, and as soon as Olivia and I were on a narrow path leading into the dense woods that separated the naval base from human civilization, a ball of nerves tightened in my stomach.
Snow fluttered to the ground from the tree limbs above as I trailed behind Olivia with my crossbow in front of me, ready to fire at the first sign of a threat. Anxiety continued to mix with excitement as we trudged through the woods. It had been a while since I’d hunted vampires, and I couldn’t help but think of Dad. But this wasn’t the time to take a trip down memory lane.
Raising a fisted hand, Olivia came to an abrupt stop.
I swallowed down the nerves. I was ready to find a warm beach, soft sand, salt air, and a bar that would serve me whiskey around the clock.
We scanned the area, aiming our crossbows in all directions. I opened my senses—listening, sniffing as though I could scent a vampire, and sharpened my vision.
“Anything?” I whispered. Of course, her senses were a hundred times better than mine.
“No.” She waved her hand forward as we pressed on.
I looked behind me, to my left, and to my right. When I craned my neck upward, snowflakes fell and landed on my face. I righted my head and blinked. When I did, Jordyn flashed before me.
I sucked in cold air.
Olivia spun on her heel, aiming the crossbow at me. “What is it?” Her gaze darted in all directions.
“Jordyn.” I swallowed. “She’s here.”
Olivia didn’t bat an eye or look surprised. “You had a vision. Where?”
