“Born ready.” I nod and move past all three of them to lead us to the SUVs.
We each get into our own separate vehicles with an empty SUV spacing between each of us. Taking out the small earpiece we use to communicate with everyone during missions such as this, I make sure it’s on and place it in my ear.
“Testing.” Kieran’s voice rings in my ear.
“Got ya.” Rowan answers.
“I’m here.” Mac responds.
“Let’s do this.” I reply.
“Okay, I’ve got all of you too. Let’s keep the line quiet for the rest of the trip unless we need something. Get your heads straight, fellas, it’s going to be a crazy few hours.” I can practically hear the wide grin in Kieran’s voice.
He’s right, we all need to focus. We have a bit of a ride, so I lean my head back and shut my eyes. My thoughts drift to Rhett, Maeve, Lorcan, and Hannah. I never knew I could love tiny people who aren’t mine before they came along, but damn, they have my heart in their little grasps. I’ll do anything they ask of me. Paint my nails? Sure. Have a tea party? You bet. Jump on the trampoline even though you exceed the weight limit by twenty pounds? No problem. Kill this person because I was minorly inconvenienced by them? Say less. They have me wrapped.
Speaking of me being wrapped, that brings my thoughts over to my sister-in-law’s. Even the unofficial ones. Their hearts are huge, and their love for my brothers will move oceans by sheer will. My brothers live and breathe for them, even the ones who haven’t made their moves yet. They will all go home to their spouses unharmed today, because I’ll make it so.
Which brings me to… Jakob Fischer…. I would have never believed you a few months ago if you would have told me we’d be here right now. I’m so glad his own brand of chaos ripped back through my life like an EF5 tornado. I love him so much that it physically aches knowing that this morning may have been the last time my lips pressed against his. He’s going to be so mad at me if I don’t make it out of today, but he’ll use that anger to push forward. My brain is screaming at me to let self preservation kick in once we get in there, but there’s no way I won’t make sure my brothers go home to their wives today.
The SUV comes to a stop two doors down from the driveway to the Dutch compound. We thought about being stealthy, but fuck that. We’re taking every last one of thesebastards out. I’m out of the vehicle first and starting towards the guard shack without a word. My brother’s protests yell through my earpiece, but I ignore them. They’re hurrying to catch up with me, and a third of our men are trailing behind us on high alert when I catch sight of the first asshole. Without a single hesitation I pull the gun off of my side and fire a single shot without stopping. If him going down wasn’t enough to convince me he’s dead, the smoking hole between his eyes sure does.
My brothers catch up to me right before I turn towards the guard shack and the four of us take them out before they can even register what’s happening. Adrenaline courses through my bloodstream and a full smile splits my face.
Oh, Natasha. Come out, come out, wherever you are.
* * *
Carnage. Absolute carnage is the only way to describe what’s laid out before my eyes. There’s dead bodies everywhere. Not a single Dutch or Russian traitor was spared. Only a dozen or so of our men suffered injuries, and only four of those have died. The injured were brought to the warehouse we set up with triage for a couple of the docs we keep on staff. The rest of us are left standing here wondering where she is.
Owen walks out from what I can only assume is a large dining room. “Boss. You may want to see this.” His face looks slightly ashen. I’ve never known this man to rattle, so I follow him without a second thought.
The dining room table is covered in burnt orange rose petals with a small white envelope sitting in the center of the table. I don’t have to turn to know my brothers are standing behindme. I can just feel them.
“How very…Cornelius Snowof her.” Mac comments without masking his disgust.
“Yeah, this is fucking creepy.” Kieran comments after him.
I don’t answer them, even though they’re right. Instead I take the pure white envelope off the table and open it, pulling out a note card. Flipping it over, I scan the card.
You didn’t guard your most precious things so now they’re mine to dispose of.
Hope you can live with your choices, Dec.
-Tash
Without a word I hand it over to Rowan. The twins were right. They fucking told us, and we ignored them. Now all I can do is pray that they were able to protect everyone, including themselves. I turn to run back to the SUVs just as my phone rings in time with everyone else’s. You ever heard two hundred phones ping all at once?
Shit’s eerie.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I look at the message from the unknown number. It’s a picture of our guard shack. The men inside dead with two words written in blood on the window.
Truce, Over.
43
Chapter Forty-Three
Jakob
