Chapter Twelve
M ax inhaled and closed his eyes, then exhaled. When he opened his eyes, he stood in the hallway outside Maxim’s office. Someone pushed past him, and he followed them into the office. Standing in his customary place, he waited for Maxim to begin the meeting. He moved around, trying to get everyone on camera.
“Anyone made contact with Fletcher?”
“Last I heard he was hunting humans.”
“And Chuck?”
“Following up on some information security gave him.”
Maxim snarled. “Stupid fucks. Make sure they know how unhappy I am when they return.” Unhappy meant they would be punished, but considering they were dead, that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. Maxim sat. “We have the layout of their hospital and the houses of all their council members. Security has worked hard to gain this information. We’ll target the hospital, and while they are dealing with that, we’ll hit the council members and take them out. We know who all the members are, including their mates. We’ll need everyone involved. We need several bombs placed in public areas. Once they activate and security is in attendance, we’ll target the council members. They will have decreased security due to the situation at the hospital. We take them out at the same time, including their security teams.”
“We have the twelve members here, plus the twenty, who we will use as well. That gives us thirty-two. Callie and Lainley can do the hospital. They’re less likely to be suspected. The females target the hospital, we hit the council. Then security. Who will lead the teams?” Maxim’s pen tapped on his desk as he snapped at them. “Fletcher will lead the team targeting the council. Dennis will hit security when they respond. We know Callie and Lainley will hit the hospital. Fourteen for the council who will act as back up to the twelve lying in wait for security. We’ll have the others scattered around to monitor in case anything unexpected arises.”
Max watched, listened, making sure to turn so the camera picked up everyone gathered in the room. Not long now and Minho and the others would come in and take everyone out. He needed to be strong, patient, and soon he would be with Rex again.
He could do this. He could.
“What happened to your face?”
“Humans.”
Maxim sorted. “And they did that to you? Pathetic.”
“The metal bar did this. They won’t be doing it again.” Max grinned and licked his lips causing a few chuckles to echo around the room. Inside he felt like his stomach trying to crawl out of his mouth.
“I hope they suffered.”
“They’re humans. They begged for their lives as I fed from them. We all know that’s all they’re good for.”
Maxim nodded. “You’re right.” Maxim’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll want to hear all about it later.” There was nothing Maxim liked more than humans suffering at the hands of vampires. And hearing about it in all its gruesome details. It was the only time Max could recall seeing him truly happy.
“How long to put the plan in action?”
“We have everything we need now. We could do this tomorrow night.” Bale bowed his head. “Just give the word and I’ll put everything in motion. We have all the equipment we need and more than enough guns and ammo. We’ve been preparing for years.”
“And the time is now.” Maxim watched Bale, then nodded. “Send me the plan. If I’m happy, it’s a go for tomorrow night. Any contact with Fletcher? He should be here.”
“Nothing. Goes to voicemail every time.”
“That isn’t like him. He always answers. Where was he last seen?”
“The woods south of Callowall.” Bale worked on his tablet. “His phone puts him there.”
“If his phone is active, why isn’t he responding?”
“He may be having some fun with the humans. I’ll keep trying to contact him.”
“No. Go to him now. I want him in front of me in less than a minute.”
Bale disappeared and Max blew out his breath. If Bale found Fletcher, they would know something had happened. His scent would be detected, if it hadn’t rained. He had to stay the course. Had to see this through. For Rex and their future together.
Eighteen. He was eighteen, and this life was the only one he’d known until he’d met Rex. The moment he’d seen him, scented him, had changed him, but he’d had to act a part, and he was tired of it. He wanted it to be over and done with so he could make a home with his mate. Maybe get an education, go to college. He didn’t want to be able to strip guns, know how to use every weapon there was, how to make bombs. He just wanted a family and his mate.
Bale reappeared. “Fletcher is dead. I scouted the area, scented a human. Found Reef dead as well. There’s plenty of human blood, so the man is injured. We need to check hospitals in the local area to see if one has been admitted.”
“Fuck. Fletcher and Reef? Who is this human?”
“I scented vampire as well.”
Maxim growled, his eyes glowing bright. “One of theirs.”
“The scent was familiar.”
Max held his breath. It was only a matter of time—
“Hello Maxim. Remember me?”
Minho calmly walked up to the desk and sat on the edge like he owned the place. Max stared, eyes wide, his mouth gaping open thinking Minho had to have the biggest set of balls of any vampire.
“Minho. So nice to see you again.”
“I’m sure you missed me as much as I missed you. How’s Yvonne?”
“Dead. She served her purpose.”
“Yvonne?” Max couldn’t help but repeat the name.
“Ah, you must be Max. Yvonne would be your mother. I’m sure you spent plenty of time with her.”
“Maxim?” Max whispered his name. Yvonne? Minho knew his mother? That was her name?
“Strange. Why do you call him by his name and not father?”
“Get him,” Maxim screamed. Minho grinned, waved, and disappeared. Max stood still, watching Maxim as the other men all jumped into action, but Minho was long gone. “Find him!”
Max went to his apartment and grabbed the only items he wanted and dropped them at the cabin, before going back to the compound under attack. He saw Bale fighting Kelvin and ran over, stabbing him in the back of the neck. Kelvin shot him in the head. “How many left?”
“Unknown.” Max spotted a vampire running up behind Kelvin. “Behind you!”
Kelvin spun, dropping to one knee, taking him out as an explosion hit both vampires, throwing them to the right. Max grunted as he landed and lay dazed by the rush of pain. His body had suffered far too much in the last twenty-four hours, and now he was forcing it to fight on.
Kelvin hauled him back to his feet. “I know you’re hurting right now but you carry on until this is over.”
Max stumbled forward then ran past Kelvin, going inside their lab area. “This is the labs. Be careful what you touch and shoot.”
“What were you doing in here?’
“Bioweapons. Targeting humans and vampires. We need their documents in case any one of the people who work in here gets away. They can start again if they have that information.”
“Fuck, Max. Why?”
“Because Maxim hates you all.” Max ran down the corridor until he found their data storage room. Shoving the door open, he ducked inside. “We need to grab the laptops then destroy everything else.”
“In the labs. Yes. On it.” Max watched as Kelvin’s hand dropped from his neck. “We’re to destroy this place.”
“I wasn’t leaving with this place still standing.”
A large explosion rocked the building and Kelvin grinned. “Isaiah has a thing for explosives.”
“He can blow it up after we have all the information.” Max searched the room, grabbed two laptops then spun around, checking again.
“Isaiah. Hit the building we’re in. The labs need to be destroyed.” Kelvin grinned as he tapped his earpiece. “I knew you would.”
Seeing Kelvin’s hand drop from his neck, Max asked, “He’s on it?”
“Yep. That everything?” Max nodded. “Let’s go. Hugo’s being overrun. He’s by some building with a circle on it.”
“Target practice.” Max grabbed Kelvin’s arm and teleported them there. As soon as they appeared, Kelvin took a second to familiarize himself, then ran inside. Max followed, seeing a vampire under attack. Kelvin hollered then jumped in, and Max skidded to a halt as Kelvin decimated the vampires.
“He’s something else in action but nothing compared to me.”
Max glanced at Minho. “I’ve never seen…”
“Where is Maxim?”
“I left him in the office. He’ll stay there, assuming he’s safe, because we’ll fight and die to protect him.”
“He was always a cocky bastard. Let’s ruin his day, then.”
If Max had thought Kelvin was a good fighter, that was nothing compared to Minho. Minho eviscerated them. Max stood in awe as the two vampires tore apart some of the best men Maxim had. Maxim was going to be pissed.
“Let’s go.” Minho jogged past him with Kelvin behind and Max took in the bodies littering the floor. All dead. Two men had taken out at least eight of Maxim’s vampires.
“Yvonne? Was she my mother?”
Minho slowed. “This isn’t the time or place.”
“Was she?” Max insisted. “Yes or no.”
“Yes. She was Maxim’s mate.” Minho sighed heavily. “She loved him. Thought she could change him. I’ll answer all your questions when we’ve done what we came here to do.”
He wanted to ask more, but knew Minho was right. “There aren’t many left. You’ve taken all of his key players out and we’ve destroyed the labs.”
“Drop those with Gray, then come back.”
Max nodded and focused on the meeting room, appearing there seconds later. The door opened and Gray came in, holding his hands out. “Thanks.” He took the laptops and disappeared back through the door. Max went back to where he’d left Minho, but he and Kelvin had gone. He heard gunfire coming from the main building and ran over toward it, hissing at the pain in his body. He ached all over.
Rex.
There was nothing and he wasn’t really expecting there to be. He would still be in surgery, still fighting to stay alive. The thought of Rex spurred him on, and he ran into the main building, grabbing a gun from Tave, a vampire he’d trained with. Now dead.
He followed the trail of dead bodies, realizing no vampire was being left alive. Minho and his team meant business. The closer he got to Maxim’s office, the slower he walked until he stopped. Was he really going to kill his father? Did he have a choice?
He would never be free with him in his life. He’d always be in the background, planning and plotting. Maxim would never let them live in peace. He would always dog their steps, watch them, search for any weakness he could exploit.
Moving again, Max headed to Maxim’s office. He rounded the corner and paused at the head of the corridor. Minho stood outside the room, waiting for him. The sounds of fighting, gunshots, and explosions could still be heard, and as Max approached, Minho pushed away from the wall he had been leaning against.
“Remember. You’re not alone.”
Max nodded and stood outside the door. Looking once more at Minho, he opened the door and walked inside.