I hated to play that card since my sister had a difficult time coming to terms with having killed her husband’s sister. Webb had understood the stakes. He’d known his sister was the enemy and that she could die by our hands. That fact didn’t make it any easier for anyone involved.
“You might have to do the same to Rianne,” Jo fired back. “Are you prepared for that?”
My nostrils flared. “Really, sis? You know the answer.” I’d been protecting Jo since we were five years old. During our human teenage years, I’d done a few stints in jail because a foster dad or two thought he could have his way with Jo. “But to say it out loud, you bet your ass I’m prepared to rip Rianne’s head off if she touches my family. If we should be worried about anyone who was part of that press conference, it’s her.” I gave Jo a hug. “I have to go.” I left her standing in the hall as I tore out of there.
Several minutes later, I was crossing the courtyard toward the prison. The sweet aroma of morning dew drifted on a light breeze as the sticky, humid air clung to my skin. A sign that we were in for another hot July day when the clouds finally cleared and the sun had a chance to peak at midday.
My boots scuffed the cracked pavement that separated the grassy area on one side with picnic tables on the other.
Approaching the guard, I grinned at Petty Officer Peterson like I did every time I saw the six-foot vampire with a crooked nose. He could very well snap his nose back into place with a flick of his fingers. But he didn’t see the point, since he would only injure it again in one of the many boxing matches he competed in when he wasn’t on duty. Plus, he’d mentioned that women found the look sexy.
He straightened, opening the heavy metal door to the oldest building on the naval base, which had once been home to a textile company. “Sir, Lieutenant Tripp is expecting you.”
“Any upcoming matches?” I asked as I passed him.
“Not lately. But I’ll let you know.”
I gave him the thumbs-up as I entered the building. “Do that.” Tripp, Ben, and I had been to a few of his matches, and I almost considered competing three years ago. But I hardly had any free time since the SEALs were constantly on missions.
I climbed the stairs two at a time to the second floor, where we housed human criminals and detainees. The door leading into the prison cells wasn’t guarded, but it was locked. We didn’t have many humans who broke the law on the naval base, so there wasn’t a need to keep the floor heavily guarded. However, vampire offenders and enemies had the luxury of staying in the cobalt-encased cells two stories below ground and were guarded twenty-four seven. And even though Fred Emery was human, we’d thrown him in the vampire cellblock for extra protection.
When I reached the landing, I glanced up at the camera before a click and a two-second-long buzzing sound resonated, unlocking the door.
I saluted the person on the other side of the camera then strutted in.
Tripp was standing outside the second cell, texting.
Before I had a chance to open my mouth, Jordyn hopped off the cot inside her four-by-four room. “Sam.”
She said my name as though I was her savior, and I was far from it. If she thought Tripp was angry with her, she was in for a rude awakening.
She flipped her brown hair over her shoulder. “You look awful. Did something happen? Does Layla know I’m in here?” She wrapped her fingers around the thick metal bars, trepidation evident in her voice.
From her questions, it was clear Tripp hadn’t filled her in on Layla. But just to be certain, I opened a telepathic connection with him only because I didn’t want to explain what had happened to Layla until Jordyn talked to Fred. I wanted her undivided attention and ample time to drive the seriousness of her behavior home.
Dude, I take it you didn’t tell her Layla had the babies?
Still absorbed on his phone, he responded,Nope. I was saving that announcement for you.
I sharpened my hearing, but I didn’t hear any heartbeats except Tripp’s and Jordyn’s—on this floor anyway.
“Layla does know you’re here,” I said to the youngest Aberdeen sister. I could at least share that with her. “She’s not happy with you either.”
Jordyn lifted her chin. “I’mnot happy with me.”
That comment was a good sign that she was coming to terms with what she’d done.
“Where’s Fred or Carly?” I asked Tripp.
Jordyn gasped. “Carly is here?” She paled. “Is Rianne?”
“Your deranged sister is nowhere near the base.” Tripp tucked his phone away in his cargo pants, flicking his bronze gaze to me. “Carly was taken to an interrogation room. The guards are bringing Fred up from the vampire cellblock.” He rounded his attention on Jordyn, wagging his finger. “Remember what I told you. Another infraction on your part will not be tolerated. Also, under no circumstances can Fred leave here with bruises or any visible sign of duress.” My lieutenant addressed me. “Don’t get any ideas of compelling him or erasing his memories. We don’t need more public scrutiny. Am I clear?”
I held my hands up. The last thing I wanted to do was piss off the elders.
“The only bruise I’m inflicting won’t be visible to anyone,” Jordyn said. “Seriously, thank you, Tripp, for giving me a chance to talk to the asshole.”
She didn’t have to articulate the body part she would be going after. Nevertheless, I was eager to see what she had in store for Fred Emery.
