Briella shudders in Jude’s arms.
The stakes are higher. And we have more to lose than ever.
66
Briella
WE’VE COME TOO FAR. I CAN’T LOSE THEM.
“What’s going on?”
“Protocol X,” Jude says grimly.
The words felt like a scream in my mind, but I only whispered them.
It feels like the ground is still shaking after the distant explosion. My heart won’t stop skipping beats.
What’s happening?
When the fireplace collapses off to my left, shock bolts through me. A secret, small room appears, and my jaw drops to the floor at the sight of countless weapons tacked on shelves. Handguns, automatic weapons with laser assist, compound bows, Kevlar body armor, and even fucking hand grenades!
The first thing Raphael does is toss the tactical vests to each of the other men—two to Jude, who doesn’t even hesitate.
He pulls one over my head and starts fixing the straps at my sides with fast, practiced fingers. It’s heavier than it looks. I can feel the weight of the ceramic plates pressing into my chest and spine.
I can’t move. Questions howl in my mind. All with the same prediction.
The Prophet is coming. He’s coming for me.
“This is Level IV Kevlar, Babydoll,” Jude mutters about the vest. “You could take a round to the ribs and still breathe.”
I just nod, despite my strangled lungs, arms stiff at my sides as he tightens the Velcro at my shoulders. The vest locks into place with a faintcrk-crk, and then he’s buckling the belt across my waist, cinching me in like I’m a soldier about to hit a war zone.
It smells like sweat, oil, and gunpowder.
By the time I blink, he’s already yanking on his own. Raphael’s locking in magazines at his hip, and Rory’s slipping blades into thigh holsters like he’s done it a thousand times.
“Rory, Seth,” Raphael barks to them. “Reconnaissance. See what we’re up against. Vincent, reinforce the cabins and barn.”
They don’t hesitate for a moment.
But just as Rory opens the door, the sharp winter air bursting inside, Raphael calls for him and adds, “Inconspicuous. Stay hidden. I’ll need you and those knives when the time comes for the dirty work.”
Rory nods, his eyes flicking to mine before he, Seth, and Vincent depart, taking chunks of my heart with them. They will come back. They will bring those pieces back to me.
I survived the Initiation. I can’t survive something even worse.
This is worse.
“Raphael.” My voice cracks as I turn to him.
He preys those green orbs on mine. Waiting.
“I’m sorry.” I lower my chin.
He crosses the distance to me in three strides, grips my chin, and practically yanks my face to his. “You bow that chin to no one, do you understand, Briella?” He switches caps, securing the old one on my head while he wears my new one. With his other hand, he takes the arrowhead pin, still stained with my blood, and lowers it, slipping it into my compression sleeve.
“And you kneel to none but us.” He hunts me, still holding my chin. “The damned monsters in your blood and flesh, your heart and soul.”
