"Good." Finn smiled. "Such an obedient mother."
"What do you want?" I fought to stay calm, but my mind was unraveling. "My life? I'll die, just let Kai go."
"Your life?" Finn's smile widened. "Layla, you overestimate yourself. Your life is worthless."
"I want Kayden to suffer! Watch him lose everything, just like I did!"
His hatred froze me solid, chilled me to the bone.
Finn finished venting. Suddenly drained of emotion. He looked at me like I was already a corpse.
"Watch your son go to hell."
His grip on Kai's throat tightened viciously. Kai's face turned purple-red instantly. Eyes rolled back. His little hands went limp.
"Kai!" My scream tore the air.
Bang!
A gunshot from behind me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Layla
The gunshot exploded through the mine, shaking dust from the stone walls. Finn's figure blurred instantly—vampire speed, nothing but a smear of motion.
He released his grip on Kai's throat, dodging aside. The bullet grazed his shoulder, blasting a crater in the wall.
Kai gasped for air, head thrown back, coughing violently as tears streamed down his small face.
I tried to rush forward, but Finn only shifted a few steps, still positioned over Kai. That pale hand hung suspended above Kai's head, ready to strike again at any moment.
He still had control.
I couldn't make a move.
"Dear brother." Finn's voice drifted from the edge of shadow, dripping with slow, deliberate pleasure. He raised his hands, clapping with exaggerated slowness.
"You finally made it." His face twisted into a sickly smile. "I thought you might choose the border instead. Abandon these two."
"After all..."
He tilted his head, those red-glowing eyes finding something behind me.
"You're the Alpha of Silver Moon Pack, aren't you? Pack interests above all else?"
I turned. Kayden stood at the entrance, face expressionless, still in firing stance. He lowered his weapon, ignoring the taunt, and strode to my side. His hand settled on my shoulder. The touch brought warmth, steadying my trembling body.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, scanning my injuries.
Like a puppet stripped of its soul, I nodded mechanically, eyes still locked on Kai's crumpled form.
"Kai almost—"
"I know." Kayden's grip tightened, lending me strength. "But I'm here now."
He turned to look at Kai, pain flashing through those golden eyes. The bruises circling Kai's neck stood out, vivid and horrifying.
