A shiver runs down my spine. I don’t know if I like Rory or not. He seems a little crazy, even by my standards.
“Stealth,” Declan reminds us. Well, mostly West and Sam, I think. “We see anyone else, let me or Rory do it.” He scowls at Sam. “No more fucking grenade launcher. Based on what those guards were saying, I’m pretty sure Jo is on this floor. We don’t want them getting spooked by the sound of gunfire and relocating before we can reach her.”
Sam grunts, looking unused to taking orders, and West’s normally calm, collected expression is full of worry. It seems like we’re all on the same page though as Declan turns to assess our surroundings.
Nothing but pure electricity thrums in my veins as I look around floor “T”. We’re so close to finding my Fireball, and then we’ll both be free of this place. Thornfield, the Cathedral…secret, underground labs.
Though…this doesn’t really feel like a secret lab. It almost feels like we could be in any old hospital. There’s a nurses’ station, stark white walls, flickering fluorescent lights…but, there’s something decidedly…unsettling about this whole place. Could be the ten dead bodies on the floor. I’m new to this whole “overthrow the establishment” thing.
A growl rips out of my throat when I see a wall with a whiteboard listing out all of Jo’s and Kole’s vitals and measurements. Their names are written on the top of the board in jagged, angry letters.
Something in me stirs at the sight, and my stomach twists. My omega. My true scent match. Mymate.
I startle when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
West.
“We’re close, Hayden.” His words are meant to be reassuring, but all I can think about is how I failed her. How she’s in this place because I wasn’t a strong enough alpha to protect her.
Closing my eyes, I release a slow breath as the rest of the guys clear the area. Two more muffled shots, and then nothing. What will we find when we get to her? How much of her will be left? Having this plan to focus on has helped me tremendously over the last few days, but now that we’re so close to finding her, I can’t help but think about how unworthy I am.
As if reading my mind, West speaks again. “Theywillpay for anything they’ve done to her.”
A hollow laugh leaves me. “You know she doesn’t need us to get revengeforher.”
He lets out a low hum. “Who said she does? Jo will need us when we get her out of here—emotionally, and at least you and Kole physically. But after? When she’s healed body and soul, and back to her wonderfully unhinged self? Well, she might need a few extra hands to hold her knives. I intend to be there for her when she does.”
I find myself smiling at my psychologist. “Well, damn, Doctor Monroe. If she doesn’t want to ride that beta dick all the way down to Florida after that—ow!” I laugh and rub my shoulder while West shakes his head.
“You, unfiltered and sharing a mate? That’s going to take some getting used to.”
Sam’s voice echoes from down the hall. “You guys coming, or what?”
West and I jog to catch up with the rest of them, noting all the cleared rooms—empty medical examination beds and even some with safety restraint chairs. “Do you think there are usually other omegas here?” I ask West quietly as we continue to work our way down hallways while Declan clears rooms.
“Based on that whiteboard near the entrance, it seems like they might have brought Kole here. If they keep alphas and omegas separate like Kole thought, it would make sense for them to empty out this floor when they moved him."
Suddenly, a door at the end of this hallway opens, right next to a bathroom sign. A guard comes out, his pants half done and his gun nowhere to be seen. There’s a split second where nobody does anything, but the moment the guard turns to run, Rory takes off. He sprints after the unarmed guard, knives out, and for some reason, my feet are following.
I don’t knowwhatI’m going to do, but I’ll be damned if I sit around and wait while everyone else takes care of business.
As I run, it happens.
Jo opens the bond.
My breath catches in my throat as all the love, all the warmth, all the affection my Fireball feels for me floods my heart, and as tears sting my eyes, I send a wave right back.
We’re coming.I will the words to travel across our connection, even though I know it’s impossible.
The bond mutes again, and my breath hitches in my throat. We have to get her. Wehaveto.
She’s still sitting there, this little ball of warmth in my chest. Not as bright and brilliant as when she lets me in, but there nonetheless.
Rory tackles the guard to the ground, and then…I skid to a stop.
She’s gone. Where only seconds ago there was a faint light, but it’s been snuffed out.
Not muted. Not tamped down.
