Standing in the entrance to Rafferty’s nest, I watch as the sprayers built into the ceiling burst alive, streaming and saturating every inch of Raff’s nest with the powerful pearlescent foam.
It was Rafferty’s one insistence when we had the emergency system installed; the color of the foam, that is. But if we’re ruining his space, interrupting his vulnerable time of need, then he gets anything that might make the intrusion more bearable.
Ronin roars, exactly like a threatened wild animal would. Having all his senses ripped from him would be excruciating but also triggering his most primal drives—his need to protect his mate.
Keegan turns and hisses at the threat he can feel but not yet see, the foam rendering them blind. Temporarily.
The fast-acting drug is designed to snap a heat nearly instantly. Supposedly, it’s akin to being dunked in icy-cold water. Where you’re blind and unable to move. It’s designed to shock the person from one state and into another.
I close my eyes, unable to watch my brother’s suffering. If I could safely enter his nest, I’d be there in a second, but both his Alphas would kill, even without knowing, at the moment.
Leaving the door wide open, I let the drugs do their thing and wait in the kitchen for them.
Already knowing we won’t be standing around long and talking, I set out piles of clothing for each of them.
Ronin is out first, still wet from the shower. “What’s happened?”
“Tally’s missing.”
He’s naked, grabbing clothes as he nears. His face is lined with his exhaustion, his eyes dancing with energy and adrenaline. Before I can open my mouth to apologize, he’s pulled me to him. His need to protect what’s his is riding his arse. He knows, too, that I wouldn't have acted if I didn’t have to.
“You did good, Tynan. Tell me what you know.”
I go to argue we should wait, but he stares me down until the words are spilling out.
“Her tracker hasn’t moved. She was at O’Malley’s, working, but then ended up miles away. Now, she’s not at her place though she was, and her tracker hasn’t moved. I had to break Raff’s heat.”
He claps me on the shoulder again before stepping aside to pull on the clothes I’ve set up on the island, his mobile already in front of him, Paddy’s number on the screen. Ronin’s scent stirs through the room—all Alpha, ready to destroy anything in our way.
Keegan is out next. I give him the same rundown but hand him my phone, so he can see the tracker’s pattern himself. His phone has the same app, but I’m saving time, hoping to appease his Alpha, who is super pissy. Not at me, but I still give him a wide berth, going to search for my brother instead.
Rafferty is sitting on the closed toilet seat, wrapped in a towel, his hair wet and droplets of water on his shoulders. I pass over a protein shake and grab another towel and start drying him down.
“Should you have come sooner?”
I disagree before he even finishes asking. It’s his guilt that has him asking. I understand completely, though, since the second I woke up, I was blinded by the doubts and plummetinganxiety trying to pull me under until I remembered nothing had changed—I’d stop the world, burn it to the fucking ground for her.
“I felt something, Raff. I know you’ll understand this—Tally’s in danger. I unlocked the door and got you. I didn’t delay for the sake of your heat, because we agreed if there was any problem, I’d let you know. Like always, Raff.”
Rafferty closes his eyes and guzzles the shake down. “I’ll be wicked pissed at ya if you did wait more than a minute. She’s more of a priority than me.”
“Don’t say that. You share the position of the heart of this pack. Come on, let me help you kit up. We’ve got some interrogating that needs doing.”
“Her guards?” he says, passing back the empty drink shaker, drying off quickly before dropping all the used towels in the linen basket for later.
“No answer. So, they’re dead because they did their job or about to be dead for not doing it.”
We might have an emergency, but my brother has also just been yanked out of his heat. I’m not about to bitch him out for his nesting urges or putting himself back together. He brushes his hair out, tying it back in a low bun, exposing the bites of his Alphas. I know better than to touch them, but seeing them is a reminder part of our pack is missing.
“We need to go,” I say.
“Aye. We also need to be killing any prick that’s done her wrong.”
“That we do, Raff. I’m not even going to ask you to stay behind. We’re done playing nice. My thoughts are, we rescue our Omega…” I trail behind him, talking.
Keegan’s fitting on his shoulder holster over his dark knitted tactical jumper. “We’re walking out of this with our wife beside us, even if we leave blood running like a river in the streets.”
Ronin joins us, a thunderous warning dancing over his eyes. He's all Alpha, hardly any man. Just as the situation requires. “Seems like things are happening. Arthur Kelly got the cut of death last night. Someone sliced him ear to ear. Paddy wants us home, but I’ve told Da to shove his invite up his arse. We’re finding our Omega first and foremost.”
