Claimed (Blood Ties Book 6)

Beep.

I looked down.

Helene: He’s almost at the warehouse. You need to get here, London, ASAP.

I let out a curse as I lengthened my stride, tucked in my shirt, and tightened my belt. I barely stopped at the study long enough to snatch the keys from my desk before I headed for the weapons room. There was no time for jackets, or pretense now. The Principal knew the kind of monster he was dealing with.

I stopped at the weapons room, slipped my shoulder holster on, and holstered my guns before pushing out the back door and heading for the Audi. Seconds later, the headlights were on and I was backing down the drive. I glanced at my phone, grabbed it, and braced my hand against the wheel as I brought up the cameras around the warehouse and peered into each one.

The place was quiet…so far.

I pushed the Audi harder toward one of Harper’s excavation equipment warehouses at the edge of the city and pulled up along the side street before killing the engine.

I’m here. I typed out a message then closed the door and locked it behind me.

A flash of headlights and doors opened to the familiar dark sedan. Helene was a blur of shadows heading toward me. I met her at the gates, punched in the code, and unlocked the door. She followed silently, slipping in behind me, and headed along the path.

My jaw clenched. I didn’t know if it was because of her presence or what I was about to do. I stopped at the small side door and rapped my knuckles against the steel door, fighting the sound of music playing from inside. The choking stench of dust and grease billowed out as the door cracked open and the hard beat of AC/DC bellowed out.

I met Percy’s stony stare and gave a nod. “It’s time.”

“Finally,” he muttered, glancing at Helene behind me.

There was the hint of a smile. His eyes brightened and his teeth shone. But that didn’t last.

“Can we get this romantic moment over with?” she muttered softly as she pushed past.

I watched her for a second, hovering in the shadows, out of The Priest’s view. We have a Plan B. Her words surfaced. I wondered what Plan B actually looked like. Her gaze never moved from The Priest, strapped to a chair in the middle of the warehouse under blazing overhead lights.

“When Riven gets here, I want it to just be us,” I commanded.

“Took him long enough to find us,” Percy muttered.

“Yeah, well,” I responded, my voice turning cold as I stepped forward. “He’s been busy getting rid of dead Daughters.”

Rage burned inside me as my gaze settled on the betraying bastard. He looked worse today than he had two days ago—I clenched my fists, still feeling the aches of the beating—he should. I’d worked him over hard enough. I licked my lips, still tasting Vivienne as her sister flanked the bright light like a damn vampire.

She never went near him.

Not even close enough for him to hear her voice.

Got you by the Balls pumped through the speakers. The music was her idea. Anything to muffle the sound of her voice. I scowled, narrowing in on the way she watched The Priest. It was almost like she knew him. A chill raced along my spine at the thought.

I took a step forward just as my phone buzzed.

The sound echoed in Percy’s hand.

He looked down. “We’re on,” he murmured, then lifted his head and raised his hand, giving a signal to another of Harper’s men across the space.

I pulled my gun as the music ended abruptly and made my way toward the pathetic piece of shit. “Looks like it’s time for a family reunion.”

He lifted his head, his one good eye fixed on me. “Good,” he croaked. “I can’t wait to watch my brother put a bullet in your head.”

I gave a chuff and lifted the gun. “That, Father, will never happen.”

It wasn’t my head he needed to be worried about. I sniffed, wincing at the stench of blood and sweat. He still wore the same clothes I’d taken him in. Only now they were a little worse for wear.

Crack!

The faint sound of a gunshot echoed in the night. I scanned the shadows, finding Percy and his men gone, until movement stole my focus. Helene lifted her head from her phone, then took a step backward as the far door of the warehouse opened with a bang!

I clenched the Priest’s shirt as Riven Cruz strode in, his shirt and face covered with a splattering of blood. I scanned the doorway behind him, searching for his brother…but he wasn’t there. Just The Principal, striding his way toward me.

“Riven,” I murmured, shifting my hand with the gun.

I met the bastard’s stare, remembering all the fucking things Vivienne had told me about him. My finger eased inside the trigger guard. “That’s far enough.”

He jerked his focus from his brother to me. “You fucking bastard.”

I didn’t move. “Desperate times.”

His lips curled, but he said nothing.

“Where is he?” my demand echoed.

I watched his reaction, searching that stony stare for any hint of panic. But there was none. None because he was a stiff piece of shit, icier even than me, frozen all the way to that rotten core. Because Riven and his fucking brothers were rotten, there was no denying that.

I yanked his brother’s head back and raised the gun. “Where the fuck is Hale?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Riven snarled. “It’s all over the news. Hale’s dead.”

But he wasn’t dead, was he? Because Riven was still fucking here. That nerve twitched in the corner of my eye. “You know I’m not that fucking stupid.”

“I don’t know.” He spat. “Hale seemed to have the upper hand for a long time there. I was thinking you’d given up on finding your son. He is your son, isn’t he? Your son with Ophelia, right?”

Twitch.

He smirked. “That’s right, not your son. But one you wanted, right? Just like you want King’s bitch.”

My breath caught.

He glanced at his brother for a second, then at me. “You think I don’t know about that? You think I don’t know about both those fucking little sluts?”

My pulse was booming as my mind raced with all the implications of Riven and his brothers knowing about Vivienne and Ryth.

“I don’t care about them,” Riven declared, glancing at his brother once more. “You can fuck as many of King’s little whores as you want. All I want is my brother.” He took a step closer. “Give him to me and I’ll go away. You never have to look at me again. You can leave this place. Hell, with your money and connections, you can make a life anywhere. Why stay? Take your little bitch and your sons and just go.”

Fuck, it sounded tempting.

There was no Ophelia now.

No real reason I had to remain here. My gaze drifted to the shadows where Helene King had stood. The Daughters and the Sons…the entire fucking Order wasn’t my problem, was it? Not really…not anymore.

I had what I wanted.

I shook my head. That desperation collided with reality. I was trapped between what was right in front of me and what all my years of wading in the filth of Haelstrom Hale had taught me.

This wasn’t over.

I ran now and not only would I be running forever, but I’d lose all the ground I’d fought for. This would’ve all been for nothing.

“No,” I answered, meeting that killing stare. “You will tell me where Hale is.”

“Fuck you,” The Priest grunted, wrenching against his cuffs. “Fuck you to Hell.”

I inhaled hard, that savage part of my nature rising to the surface. “Now, is that anyway for a priest to talk?”

He unleashed a roar, throwing himself forward, until I grabbed hold of his hair and yanked him back. “YOU WILL TELL ME WHERE HALE IS!”

I jerked my gaze up to his brother, lifted the gun, took aim, and squeezed the trigger.

Crack!

Screams erupted. Piercing screams that echoed in the space. Blood bloomed in his thigh in the exact place I wanted it. Maximum pain. Minimum damage. All nerves and flesh. Still, it had the impact I wanted.

Riven’s eyes widened. There was a flicker of fear as I pressed the gun to his brother’s temple. Don’t fucking test me.

Riven shook his head. The panic was all too real now as he bellowed. “I don’t fucking know!”

“Lie.”

He stared at the muzzle pressed against his brother’s temple as The Priest’s howls died to low, guttural moans. “It’s the truth,” he spat. “I don’t fucking know! All I heard was what was on the goddamn news. No one has contacted me. No one has told me a goddamn thing!”

Bullshit.

He was lying. He had to be. There was no fucking way Hale was lying on that stainless steel table in the city morgue. He couldn’t be. Because this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

“And how do I know you’re telling me the truth?”

Riven reached up, raking his fingers through his hair as he wrenched his gaze to where Helene King stood. The Priest’s moans quietened to brutal gasps for air as he tried to ride the waves of pain. But Riven’s focus was fixed on that spot in the darkness. He couldn’t see her, nor could he sense her. Still, his brow furrowed like he felt something.

“Because I’m just as fucking desperate as you are,” he finally answered, swiveling that chilling stare back to me. “You think you’re the only one who has blood at stake here?”

He shifted his focus to his brother.

The Priest shook his head. “No, Riven. Don’t…”

“You think you’re the only one who has everything on the fucking line?”

I’d never seen Riven desperate, not as The Principal, or as Hale’s fucking lapdog.

“Then we both want the same.” I yanked the Priest’s head back and drove the hot muzzle against his temple. “And now you understand the implications if you betray me.”

There was a flinch before that stony stare met mine.

“I want Hale,” I urged, lowering my gun. One brutal shove and The Priest stumbled forward. “And I want him now.”

Riven never moved when his brother hit the filthy floor at his feet. Just held my stare. “The moment I find out something, you’ll be the first to know.”

“I’d better be,” I answered, finding the hateful glare of The Priest as he swung his gaze to me. “Because the next time I come for you…I won’t be seeking a negotiation. Just revenge. Always revenge.”

The corner of my lips twitched, curling as Riven bent down, grabbed his brother by the arm, and dragged him upwards. He glanced to that darkened spot where the third King daughter lingered before he heaved The Priest with him as he headed for the door.

I waited until they were gone, and Percy and his men moved in, closing the door.

“Any casualties?”

“One,” Percy answered. “Took him out before we even saw the bastard. He’s dangerous, London. He’s real fucking dangerous.”

“Aren’t we all?” I answered, swinging my gaze toward the movement as Helene King stepped from the shadows. “Want to tell me what the hell is going on?”

She just gave a shrug as she glanced at the door. “Let’s just say I’ve been preemptive.”

“What the fuck?” I whispered as the pieces fell into place. “You know him?”

She shook her head. “Not Riven, no. Not yet, at least. But I will…” Her hard stare swung back to me. Christ, it was hard to look at her and not see Vivienne. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure my sisters are safe and bring The Order to the ground.”

That renewed sense of determination hit me.

She met my stare, her true feelings raw and bleeding in front of me.

Helene King loved.

She loved so much.

Like me, she just didn’t show it.

I lowered my gaze to the scar on her arm, remembering the mass of ruined flesh on her stomach. A remnant of just how deep that love was. It was a pity Vivienne didn’t see it. Maybe she didn’t want to. Maybe this was her way of protecting her heart. God knows, we’d bled enough in this chaos.

Helene turned around and headed for the door.

“Wait,” I called, stopping her.

She glanced over her shoulder.

“I need to ask a favor…for your sister.”

Her brow rose. “Vivienne?”

I shook my head. “Ryth.”

There was a flicker of sadness before she answered. “Anything.”

“She wants to arrange a meeting with Vivienne. Somewhere safe, somewhere we can protect them.”

Pain cut across her face. “Consider it done.”

“You’ll be there?”

A soft chuff followed. “I think Vivienne has made it perfectly clear she wants nothing to do with me.”

“I don’t care.” I took a step closer. It didn’t matter what she said, they were family, for fuck’s sake. “I want you there.”

A sad smile moved in. “You’re going to keep pushing us together, aren’t you? Even if she hates me.”

“Even if she hates you,” I answered. “The woman doesn’t know what’s good for her. But I’ll teach her. I’ll teach her just how deeply she can love…even if it’s the last thing I do.”

Helene just smiled. Fuck if that wasn’t her saddest expression of all. “I’ll be in touch,” she answered. “And London?”

I waited.

“Thank you.”

One slow nod and she was gone, yanking open the side door and slipping into the shadows where she seemed to belong.

Thank you.

Those words didn’t seem to belong here, not amongst the stench of blood and rage. But there they were, ringing in my ears as I murmured, “Keep on him, Percy. I want to know the moment Riven and his brothers make a move.”

“Of course,” he answered. “You’ll be the first to know.”

I gave him a nod and left, making my way back to the Audi. My hand stilled on the handle. I wouldn’t put a bomb past the bastard as an act of retaliation. My senses sharpened before I yanked the handle and climbed in.

A bomb wouldn’t be Riven’s style.

He was the sort of bastard to look you in the eyes right before he killed you.

But I had to be more careful now. Maybe more than ever.

I started the engine and pulled out of the side street. Headlights flared behind me as I pulled onto the on-ramp and headed for home. I kept watch, speeding up to let them fall away. But there was a nagging feeling at the nape of my neck, a whisper of a warning.

I was on alert the entire way home, making sure I took back streets before I pulled into the driveway and parked. Thank you. Those words lingered as I climbed out, hit the lock button, and went to the house.

My footsteps echoed along the hall. I didn’t even stop to remove my holster, just headed for our bedrooms as an overwhelming sense of desperation hit me. I needed to see her, to make sure she was safe…to make sure she was here. My damn hand trembled as I grabbed her door handle, turned it, and pushed.

But her bed was empty.

I swung back and headed for Carven’s room. He moaned, swearing at me as I stepped in and scanned the darkness.

“What is it?” he mumbled.

“Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

He shoved his head under the pillow, grunting as I left. But Colt’s room felt empty as I neared, leaving my gaze to shift to the last bedroom. Mine. I neared, opened the door, and stepped inside before I stopped.

They were both there. Colt was curled against her on his side, and Vivienne lay naked, with her arms outstretched over her head. I took a step closer, watching her in the faint light. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically. My gaze shifted to the sheets pulled high, but it was her belly that held me transfixed. I lowered myself to the bed, still fully clothed.

“London,” she murmured, her voice full of sleep.

“I’m here.”

One eye cracked open as she reached for me. “Good, come back to bed.”

I lay down, leaned backwards, and she burrowed under my arm in an instant, snuggling against me. Jesus…I sucked in a hard breath, my chest tightening. Only she made me feel like this, terrified and dangerous all at the same time.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too, pet.” I curled my arm around her and allowed my eyes to close. “I love you more than anything.”

I didn’t want to rest.

I couldn’t rest.

I had too much at stake here and there were too many wolves at our doo—

HALE.

Hale was here.

His face morphed from the shadows, that hateful fucking glare pinching as he smirked.

I’m coming for you, London, he whispered. I’m going to rip apart everything you’ve ever loved. Are you ready? Are you ready for me? BOO!

I jerked awake, and my hand flew to my chest. Cold steel met my palm as a low, savage rumble came from beside me. But I was aiming for the darkness in front of me, the darkness where Haelstrom Hale stood.

Boom.

Boom.

BOOM.

My pulse was deafening. I sucked in hard breaths, scanning the emptiness. But he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there. I glanced at Vivienne, fast asleep beside me on the bed, then at Colt as he stared at me, then at the doorway, that same threatening snarl rumbling in the back of his throat.

“He’s out there,” I whispered. “He’s out there…and he’s coming for us.”

I waited like that, my gun pointed into the darkness. My senses were on alert, until that sickening fear pushed all hope of sleep aside.

“Stay here,” I urged Colt. “Stay with her. Protect her with your life.”

I slipped from the bed, the grogginess from lack of sleep burning my eyes as I left them behind.

There was no time to sleep.

Only to protect.

And if I had to…to kill.