“Ass there. Do not move. I want you watching behind us. Sit your butt low enough so your head doesn’t poke out the top, and for the love of fuck knows what, you do not pop your gorgeous head up and give them a shot to take you out. Got it?”
“Got it,” she answers, her voice strangely detached as she prepares herself for another run in, which is not fair. This woman has gone through, and survived, enough.
“Unless I tell you, you do not get out of the car, Lennon. We’ve done this shit before, and you fucking shined bright like a diamond. Shoot to kill. We’re done playing nicely.”
“Sit lower, Len,” Gabe says softly as he twists around to reverse down the road, against the damn traffic this time.
Lincoln’s still on the phone. And the Alliance confirms they’re already enroute, catching the bullshit on the police scanner. They stay on the line so Lincoln can feed them updates.
Lennon holds her mobile and thumbs out a text with one hand, the other she holds her gun aimed perfectly through the back window. Valak passes extra ammunition over to me before he takes a fortifying breath, his eyes on her, and only her. She knows too because she reaches out and sets her hand on his thigh.
“If you think for a second I won’t fight, you’re crazier than a box of budgies. These people already took Ares from me, they will not take anything else. I’m taking as much of their blood and pain as I can.” Her words are soft, her jasmine scent impossible to ignore. In her own way, she’s not rolling over and dying, she’s telling the world she’s an omega. Since the four of us reach over and rub her, scenting her up, she’s also telling the world she’s ours.
There’s a calming, bonding moment of quiet just for a few seconds, and then in the next moment it’s like an explosion of noise, lights, action as they surround us.
And then chaos rains down.
The chaos that comes at them is a pint sized, lilac colour haired sprite, that I still can’t believe I get to call my own.
40
LENNON
Instead of goading us like they did last time or even giving us the chance to surrender, the first thing they do is blow out our tires. The five of us rock from side to side as the SUV takes hit after hit. My head whacks against Valak’s shoulder, which pisses him off more than them shooting at us.
I squeeze his thigh again, and he touches my hand briefly before muttering about payback to people who keep hurting me. And I’ve got no problem with that. In fact, it matches my intentions.
The five of us maintain a calmness, a focus, as we try to figure out which direction they’re going to come at us. Outside the car, it’s like a gathering of storm clouds as the cops section off into groups, while a few of them start coordinating with waving arms and shouted commands. It’s loud, fast and a blur of activity intentionally done to confuse us, and it’s only with sheer luck that a flash of something in my periphery pulls my attention. My hand reaches out, nabbing Noah by his shirt, and I yank him forward as his window blows out, the shot barely missing him. I was pretty wound up before, but channelling the cold focus of Jack Black, I fire off the most beautiful shot, hitting the person responsible. I’m not sure where my shot hits, but the shooter drops to the ground, screaming in pain.
“Stupid fuckers!” I hiss, watching the other people near the guy duck for cover.
“Lennon!” Valak snaps, shutting my shit down in one word.
It’s the only reminder I need. Lincoln and Valak use the distraction of the injured guy to leap into action, clearing their side of the SUV with a series of shots while they climb out the car. As soon as Valak’s feet hit the ground, he reaches in, physically dragging me out. His eyes are everywhere, his body is locked up hard as he pushes me up against the closed passenger door.
His bergamot scent is bitter in warning to the world, but it kind of gets me off a bit.
My guys are about to go feral on these twats, and I can’t fucking wait.
With little finesse he shoves my feet on the sidebar of the vehicle before he and Lincoln act like shields, covering Noah and Gabe as they crawl through the car to join us. The regular ping of bullets against our car, so goddamn loud they keep making me flinch.
“Anyone hit?” Val asks, his usual gruff voice more robotic than I’ve ever heard him. I know he’s focused and is doing what he was trained to do, but I still don’t like it.
“I’m fine,” I answer without looking at any of them. I’m not sure what I’d do if I saw any of them hurt. Pushed against the car, I refocus on shutting down all the excess and unnecessary emotions. In all honesty, I started shutting everything down when Gabe started reversing before. I’m over this, so goddamn over it.
Checking on what I have on me, a knife in my boot, a couple magazines of ammunition in the vest, my favourite type of gun, and a whole lot of anger, I start looking for a viable way out of this mess. I hate doing it, but I start shutting out the things that hold me back. As much as it guts me, it has to include them. I can use my pack as my motivator, but I have to go into this with the insight they can look after themselves too.
Behind us, you can hear the crooked police yelling for help or backup, others yelling to keep cover.
“Alliance is bringing more back up, but they’re about six minutes out,” Gabe says, risking a look back at me. I avert my eyes, not sure I want him to see this side of me, especially my lack of guilt about not worrying about them.
He growls but leaves me staring down at the ground, while the four of them take a step closer. I shove against their wall, but all they do is press up against me more. I get it, I really fucking do, but we’re not getting out of here with four people not thinking strategically.
“Pet, stop!” Lincoln barks; his worry and impatience burst from him. And for a brief moment I surrender submissively, until I barge past his influence.
“Fox, you can tie me up and edge me for days, but you will give me space to fight. I’m more than capable, and you know it. Don’t. Hold. Me. Back,” I spit back furiously, finally raising my head and staring at each of them. Pulling off the vest Val stuck over me, I shove it against his chest. “It’s too big, and you know it. Put it on, Valak, and cover me.”
“Dove, please,” Lincoln softens his command as he checks his gun and shoves another cartridge in his pocket.
