Chapter 27 #2
“It wasn’t my personal war that got your men killed.
” He shakes his head belittlingly. “Your time is over, Damien. These men deserve someone levelheaded—someone who won’t rush them into every personal vendetta or unwinnable war.
” He steps closer to me, enough that I can smell his breath.
“But don’t worry. I’ll take good care of them. ”
Static from the overhead speakers crackles to life, and everyone freezes. Satori’s grin falters, and while everyone around us stirs, I don’t move my gaze.
“We have a bit of a problem in Virginia.” An old, haunting voice booms through the speakers, bringing more than just demons to the surface.
Words that I’ve never heard Hugo speak are making their way throughout the training area, and everyone listens.
“Somehow, they’re proving much more problematic than your larger group ever did. ”
“I can help you get to him. One of my guys has a way in with them.” Satori’s voice comes through next.
I finally break my glare and look around the room, wondering where it could be coming from, when I glance up at the observation window.
My courageous wife is standing behind the glass, Satori’s laptop in hand, sporting a proud grin.
My heart swells with pride. “You want him dead? I can make that happen.”
“Why would we do that?” the dead, Russian voice says. “Just so you can come after us later? We don’t leave enemies alive. Only you are that stupid.”
“We’ll stay out of your way. For good. You can continue whatever the hell it is you’re doing and I get him out of the way.
You’ll have a clear shot through D.C. and Virginia to do whatever the hell you want,” Satori bargains, and I look back over to him, knowing the gold-mine of evidence my wife found.
“Or we could just kill you all,” Hugo argues.
“If it were that easy, you would’ve already killed me.” All of the hope leaves Satori’s eyes as the audio continues to play. I can’t help but replace his smirk with my own. “Our lives for his, and you keep your empire. It sounds like we all win.”
“Do you, Satori?” I ask him with a low voice. “Do you still win?”
Something inside him snaps before I can register it. He knows he’s caught, and that there’s no turning back. He’s a trapped man, and there’s only two things a caged animal will do. They will either accept their fate, or fight to survive it.
Satori Macher is not a man of acceptance.
Pain explodes from the side of my head. Satori’s fist goes flying past my vision, and I hear nothing but ringing and gasps. Silver shines in my eyes before I even have the chance to right myself.
“No!” Alex’s scream fights through the fog just before a gunshot rings out.
Everything moves slowly now, and the world tilts on its axis.
I snap to look back, watching Alex as he falls to the floor.
Satori jumps back and out of sight, covered only now by the sounds of growls and barks.
Before I can blink, chaos erupts around us.
Gunshots fire from all angles and yelling echoes through the space.
I crawl frantically over to Alex and wrap my arm around his torso, battling his screams in pain as I drag him back and away.
Zeke and Carter immediately flank my sides, firing behind me as I pull Alex away.
Fear courses through my veins at a rapid speed, and I cringe every time he whimpers or gasps.
Sound is good, though. That means he’s still alive.
We all duck down behind one of the aiming ledges, and I shove Alex back against the wood to get a good look at him. There’s a gushing bullet hole a few inches above his left hip, and the blood is seeping through his fingers as he holds them there.
“What the fuck were you thinking?!” I hold my hands there as well, shivering the moment his warmth seeps into my palms.
“I can’t let you die, too, asshole,” he says through gritted teeth and harsh breaths.
I glance around the room, watching as the entire floor turns into a battleground.
Our men are throwing fists and shooting at anyone who stood by Satori, and the ones fighting back have clearly made their choice.
I don’t see any signs of the traitorous piece of shit, but I do notice Kade standing a few feet away, on our side, firing towards the opposing brigade.
“Kade!” I scream out, stealing his attention. “Get him out of here!”
“No! I’m not fucking leav—” Alex tries to sit forward, but then yelps and falls back.
I grab my friend’s face with both hands and stare into his eyes, praying to God this isn’t the last time.
Henry’s eyes replace his for a moment. They flash in and out like a strobe light, but I force the image away.
“Yes. The fuck. You are.” I tear off my shirt and shove it into his side, then replace my hands with his. “You are going to go with him and shut the fuck up. I’ll come find you when this is done.”
Kade sprints over and picks him up with one arm laced around his back, wincing as Alex screams again. I look towards the door as I pull out my pistol, but curse under my breath when I see the exit blocked by multiple men.
“Take him through the front and get him to the hospital!” I fire into the middle of the training space, causing a distraction and allowing Kade and Alex to run through the doors. “Carter! Call Ser and tell her she’s going to have a lot of incoming patients!”
“Already did!” he yells back and fires as well, even though I’m sure he didn’t hit a damn thing. The entire space is overtaken by anarchy. Nothing but yells, grunts, and gunshots echo against the walls. We’re used to that, but not to this magnitude—not with this underlying anger.
Barking draws me, followed by a gunshot that’s much too close.
I jerk my head just in time to see Daisy leap off the ground with foaming jowls, only for Darnell to fall where she stood.
He hits the ground with a large thud, taking my breath from me.
His eyes are wide and unmoving, even as red pools beneath him.
As if Daisy is completely aware of what happened, her barking turns ravenous, almost paranormal, as she mauls the man responsible.
That subtle ringing is back, twisting every muscle until I feel pain.
Ice and fire battle within my chest, demanding revenge.
I can hear the voices behind the fog. They’re starting to break through again.
Only this time, it’s not me they’re calling for—I’m not the traitor. I’m not corrupt or dishonorable.
He is.
I burst out from behind the ledge in fury, firing shot after shot and watching my victims drop.
That’s all they are to me in this dark haze.
They’re his men killing mine, and I protect my family.
I stand beside my men. That’s one piece of me that will never change, no matter how insane I may become.
As I search for Satori, anger courses through me.
That piece of shit is hiding somewhere, and I’m going to fucking find him.
He’s a damn coward, using the needs of his men as a front while he shoves them to the front of battle.
The sorry shits are na?ve enough to actually believe the lies he spews.
I gave them a chance. I welcomed them in. Now, their time is at its end.
Andre rushes me from left, and excitement races down my spine.
I’ve had it out for that motherfucker since Popov escaped, and now I can act upon it.
I should’ve known then. That day should’ve been my first clue, but I can’t think like that anymore.
I swore to my wife that we would start looking to our future, and that begins today.
Right after I kill this asshole.
He raises his pistol to eye level, but he doesn’t have a chance to fire it.
I shove his hand away and plant my foot to his chest, knocking him backward and on his ass.
He manages to roll back, over his shoulder and onto his knees, but I don’t let him get any further.
If I wasn’t so determined to get to Satori, I might even stretch this out a little, but he’s not the main objective.
I point my pistol and pull the trigger, feeling a pulse in my veins the moment the sound rings out.
He drops back to the floor in one heavy thump, then remains unmoving.
When I look back up, I finally catch Satori’s dark gaze. The hatred between us connects in an instant, booming as loud as the shots around us. I step forward, preparing to run into battle, when Carter’s voice surprises me.
“Damien!” Carter screams, stopping me in my tracks.