Quickly, I flung my head back, smashing into his face as hard as could.
My vision blurred with the stinging pain that pulsed at the base of my neck. A strangled gasp fell from his lips, his body slipping off mine. The knife clattered to the floor with a deafening thud.
Thirty-Seven
KAELEN
The coordinates on the navigation blinked ominously in the quiet of our car. My eyes trailed over the map while Torin drove through the abandoned warehouse complex, with another one of our SUVs following behind us.
According to Massimo, the safe house had minimal security since it had been out of commission for almost a decade. His father had, however, enlisted at least a dozen men to secure the property.
With that, I knew we had to be discreet. Along with Aidan and Torin, I brought another dozen men. While I wanted Liam and Patrick with me, they were otherwise occupied, dealing with the senator and securing Isabelle.
That left fifteen of us—split between two cars—to handle Vittorio and a dozen of his men. While I was confident every one of my men could handle two of his, I would have preferred to stack the odds more in our favor, but needed to avoid drawing attention.
We planned to silently invade the safe house and take outVittorio’s men one by one. And then, I’d make my way to the basement where he kept Willow.
At least that was what Massimo conveyed. I still wasn’t certain if I believed him, but his story about his sister compelled me. I put a lot of stock in my ability to read people, and I knew Massimo wasn’t loyal to his father.
He loved his sister and would do anything to protect her.
For now, that had to be enough.
I had to get Willow before the bastard claimed her.
If I got there too late… I banished the image from my mind, refusing to let it fester. My alpha paced, a beast begging to be unleashed. And I would. I would let the most unhinged parts of me break free and tear Vittorio Rossi to shreds for daring to take what ismine.
He would understand why they called me The Butcher of Boston.
After taking a steadying breath, I closed my eyes. If I gave in to the rage, I might miss a crucial detail. I might get us all killed. And with that, damn Willow to a life bound to an alpha who would treat her no better than his dog.
My nostrils flared. Willow was a fucking queen,myqueen, and nothing would stop me having her in my arms that night.
I scanned the faces of my men, all of them grim but determined. Aidan rested a hand on Torin’s thigh, squeezing lightly. Metal heated under my fingertips as I grazed them across the barrel of my pistol.
The warehouse complex loomed ahead, and I jerked my head at Torin. He nodded silently, turning off the headlights while the car behind us followed. Our vehicles pulled into an abandoned parking lot before we exited, moving like ghosts through the damp alleyways that led to our destination.
Shadows shifted in the darkness, and I raised my hand in quiet command. My men stilled, eyeing the building where Willow supposedly was.
And then, I smelled her.
It wasn’t the comforting scent of sweet summer rain and wildflowers.
No.
It was an explosion of heady, overwhelming honey and mist-soaked flowers. I clutched my chest, almost dropping to my knees with the force of it. I stifled my burning growl, not wanting to give us away. My vision blurred and my cock hardened.
My teeth ground together as I refused to give in to my rut. Into the primal haze to fuck my omega—to breed her and fill her. My omega, who was on the verge of heat. A sweet aroma that should have only ever been for me.
A hand landed on my shoulder—firm and grounding.
“Kaelen. Focus,” Aidan whispered, his tone cutting.
“She’s in heat,” I said, blood thundering in my ears.
“I know. But if you go in there like this, you’ll get yourself killed. He wants you to be reckless. Think, Kaelen. She needs you. Think of her.”
My heart plummeted into my stomach, the reality of his harsh words hitting hard. They broke through the haze of my rut. A tiny pinprick of sanity.
