He blew out air through his nose. “I know, and I’m not sure I can break the news that his son isn’t human anymore. I’m afraid he’ll stroke out. And he’s beside himself from seeing you on TV. He’s asking if Jo is like you. I haven’t answered him. He adores you guys, and I know it’s killing him.”
“Dude, don’t ignore him. You know what happened the last time you did. Your dad has friends in high places. We can’t afford more attention on us.” Not only was Mr. Jackson’s best bud chief of police, he was also friends with other city officials. “I would help you, but the way things are headed—”
“You have enough shit to deal with, man,” Ben said. “I just need to grow some balls and talk to my father. But I won’t until Webb gives me the thumbs-up. I am desperate to flush out my family history, and I need my dad’s help. There’s a reason I’m a hybrid. Your uncle’s serum worked on me, which tells me there’s some otherworldly shit in my DNA. Thank fuck I don’t look like Noah.”
“Amen, bro.” I nodded at Olivia, who was talking to Sergeant Rebekah Whyte, as I scanned the room. “No word on where Tucker Whyte and Ross Gray are?”
“Nope,” he said. “But two nights ago, an Intech guard by the name of Barnes walked into our camp.”
I titled my head at Ben. “He’s Carly’s guard. I remember the name. Carly called him when she, Layla, and I were running out of Intech. He was supposed to show us the way out that night. What did he want?”
Ben toyed with his beard. “He was disoriented and mumbling, ‘They’re all dead.’ We thought he was drunk until he started to convulse and flop around like a fish out of water. Then the dude died right on the spot.”
I reared back. “Seizure? Because Carly was just rushed up to the infirmary from one.”
“Rebekah thinks it was a toxin. Anyway, right before Barnes showed up, the team on duty watching Intech had radioed in that something wasn’t right. The West Virginia facility had gone dark. Next thing, the place was on fire.”
I zeroed in on the toxin theory until Webb strutted in.
“Take your seats, everyone. We have a ton to talk about,” he said and climbed down the stairs from the entrance at the top of the theater-style room.
Ben and I sat at the end of the first row.
Once everyone in the room was seated, Tripp, Sawyer, and Webb huddled below the movie screen.
I quickly searched faces, looking for Dane Gray. I was about to ask Ben where he was when I did a double take.
Petty Officer Kodiak Snow, the blond, green-eyed vampire, nodded my way from his seat beside Olivia in the second row at the opposite end from me.
She stabbed a thumb at our SEAL brother and smiled. Olivia and Kodiak were tight. Anytime we had to split into small groups during a mission, Olivia and Kodiak were a team. He’d joined our ranks before I’d become a SEAL.
Webb cleared his throat, causing me to return my attention to the front.
My brother-in-law stood tall as his blue gaze swept the room. “I want to start by saying thank you to the Army Special Forces Unit for joining us. They’ll be part of our team for the foreseeable future. We’ve also reached out to other military units to join us as we navigate through an unprecedented time in our supernatural history. It will take more than just the soldiers in this room to combat the issues before us.” He rolled back his shoulders, his features stoic. “We’re not about to solve any of our issues today.” He glanced at Sawyer, who in turn tapped on the iPad, and a slide popped up on the movie screen, depicting a scene of a large crowd picketing with signs.
One read Kill Sam Mason. Another read We’re on Your Side, Sam. The list went on with “Free Layla” and “Hunters unite. We need to eradicate these predators.”
My blood boiled as I gritted my teeth. Every vampire on the planet would be hunted. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jack Aberdeen reopened his vampire hunting business.
“The fear is real,” Ben uttered. “Hopefully, I won’t see my dad picketing.”
Voices buzzed until Webb held up his hand to quiet us. “Soldiers, this is the crowd outside our gates, and it’s growing by the hour. The master-at-arms command is maintaining the security around our perimeter, but we need more bodies to patrol the compound. We also have families living on base who are ready to move out.”
The group of picketers had multiplied since I’d last checked the camera feed. Before long, we wouldn’t be able to stop a stampede from coming through the gates.
“Sir,” Rebekah said as she raised her hand. The she-wolf stood to attention as if she was addressing her superior officer. “Before we came in, we got word from our captain that one of our sister units is on their way here. ETA should be 1300 hours.”
“Thanks, Sergeant,” Webb said to her. “We also have the National Guard on their way, and they’ll be escorting the families to safer locations.”
My pulse was banging in my ears as I stared at the image on-screen. If we were overrun, no one would be able to leave. A boulder dropped into the pit of my stomach. Layla needed to leave as soon as possible.
“Commander London.” A woman stood up in the third row. “I’m Sergeant Vivianne Young, weapons officer. If you haven’t already, I suggest you reach out to the Marine Special Forces. They have a small secret tactical squad of witches called the Midnight Raiders. I’m sure they can help barricade this base so no one can get through.”
Ben leaned in. “Viv was telling me about them the other night. They sound badass. They can make this place invisible. The Air Force also has a team of witches who control the weather. Similar to you, man.”
His excitement about the witches did nothing to energize me. My mind was glued to Layla and figuring out how fast I could pack Harley’s truck and the other vehicles and drive her and the babies out of here.
“Thank you, Sergeant Young,” Webb said. “We have contacted them, but they have yet to respond. In the meantime—”
