The radio crackled. “Go,” the dude on duty returned.
“We have a situation in the men’s barracks,” Cole said.
I released Junior and rounded on Cole. “You have some fucking gonads.” I stood toe-to-toe with him, breathing fire.
He didn’t back down as he stuck out his chest. “I do. Do you want to see them?” His fangs lowered.
I laughed, albeit not nicely. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with someone like me. “Your job is to stand guard, not tell me what to do. Get the fuck out.” My voice boomed.
He stood his ground. “I’m not going anywhere. I need to protect the human.” He glanced briefly at Junior, who was rubbing his throat.
I hardened my jaw. “You want to protect a vampire hunter?”
Cole flinched.
Junior sat down on the bed, the color in his face slowly returning to normal.
“That’s right,” I said. “This man will carve you into pieces in your sleep, then string you up over a firepit and watch you burn, all the while enjoying a beer and laughing.”
“True.” Junior found some courage to admit it. “But I’m not stupid enough to fuck with the enemy on his turf.”
Footsteps clamored, sounding like a herd of bulls, before Webb burst in. His blue eyes morphed to vampire black. “What the fuck?” Lines creased his forehead.
Cole snapped to attention, eyeing his commanding officer, who was also my brother-in-law.
I silently scratched my head. I’d thought the entire SEAL team was at the hospital.
“Petty Officer Dawson, return to your post,” Webb demanded, keeping his focus on me.
Cole nodded once. “Yes, sir.” He hurried out like his ass was on fire.
Webb swung his gaze from Junior to me. “What’s going on?”
I glared at Junior. “This human set us up.”
Webb—cool, calm, and collected—regarded Junior. “Is that true?” My commander was as stoic as ever.
As for me, I wanted to sink my fangs into Junior.
Junior raised his hands. “How could I have done that while sitting in this room with no phone? Remember, Tripp took it.”
Well, fuck. I’d forgotten about that.
“Are you saying my grandmother kidnapped Layla? Jordyn too?” Worry seemed to be erasing the fear Junior exhibited a minute ago.
I paced close to the wall between the small kitchen nook and the twin bed. “Roman nabbed Layla.”
“Not good,” Junior murmured.
I snarled at him. “Ya think?” I fisted a hand, itching to punch him. “It’s your fault.”
“The fuck it is,” Junior returned.
I wanted to blame him, but the only thing I could hang over his red crop of hair was his Aberdeen name.
Webb took one step closer to me. “Both of you, calm down. Tripp radioed in. They found Jordyn behind a clothes dryer in the laundry area. She had a broken nose, a lump on her forehead, and a gash over one of her eyes. She’ll be fine.”
“That’s supposed to help me?” I shouted, even though I was happy Jordyn was okay. “Layla’s gone, man.” I punched my fist through the Sheetrock and growled like an animal in the wild. The lights flickered above us, and everything in the room shook. If no one knew of my elemental abilities, they would think we were in the middle of an earthquake.
