Jethro
I’D BEEN AWAKE for centuries.
I’d travelled thousands of miles. I’d fought hundreds of battles. I’d lived a million lives in a matter of days.
My brain gasped for rest. My eyes screamed for sleep. But my heart pushed relentlessly toward the end.
“Stop here.”
The taxi driver did as I asked, pulling to a halt beside a grass verge a few metres away from the entrance to Hawksridge. As soon as we’d landed, I’d paid the crew for their fast service and hopped into a taxi.
The flight had gone as planned. Once I’d made phone calls for Tex to gather his enforcements, Flaw to sort out the brothers, and Kill to hide on the grounds and watch from a distance, I’d focused on ensuring my body would continue to obey me and the strength I’d need for the future tasks wouldn’t fail.
I’d eaten and tended to my wounds in the airplane bathroom.
I’d patched up my gunshot wound as best I could and added a Band-Aid to the cut on my forehead.
I asked the flight crew to give me the first-aid kit and took what pills I could to lower my incessant fever and subdue the aches and pains I didn’t have time to deal with.
When we finally traded air for earth, I wasn’t recharged or ready for carnage, but I was better than I’d been a few hours ago.
I had enough energy to finish this...and then...then I would sleep for a fucking eternity and let others worry about the world for a change.
Nila, I’m coming.
Once she was in my arms, I was never letting her go again.
Looking through the taxi windshield, my eyes widened at the countless cars and SUVs decorating the entrance to the Hall. All of them black and threatening—waiting for commands.
I hope to fuck that’s Tex and his men.
“That’s ten pounds twenty.” The driver twisted in his seat, pointing at the metre.
I threw him twenty quid from the bankroll the captain had given me in exchange for another diamond and climbed out. “Keep the change.”
The driver nodded, shifting into gear and pulling away from the verge. As he drove off, I prowled toward the convoy, peering at men I didn’t recognise.
No, that wasn’t true.
I did recognise them. I recognised the ferocity in their gaze. The merciless stare of a hired killer. I felt their quiet thoughts and slipstream of emotional commitment to a job they’d been hired to do.
I wanted to grab them all in a fucking hug and thank them profusely for being on my side after a lifetime of war.
Vaughn spotted me first.
Nila’s brother careened around a 4WD, pointing his finger in my face. “You. What the fuck is going on?” Gel plastered black hair away from his face; his eyes ready to slaughter me.
Not giving me time to reply, he grabbed his right forearm, shoving it beneath my nose. “What did you do to her? Why do I have an ache in my arm?” Grabbing me by the neck, he growled, “Tell me what the fuck you did to my sister!”
His internal thoughts flew haywire, screeching in fear and fluster.
I held up my hands, submitting to his hold. “Your fight is not with me.” I held my ground as he clenched his fists, tightening his grip. “I didn’t touch her. I love her. I’m on your side, Weaver.”
“Let him go, V.” Tex appeared from around another vehicle, dressed all in black like his son. They truly looked alike, whereas Nila looked very much like Emma. A true family. The only thing my family had in common was insanity and golden eyes.
Damn genetics.
Damn contracts and debts and greed.
Vaughn bared his teeth, ignoring his father. “I asked you a question, Hawk. I said what the fuck is going on? I didn’t ask if you’re on our side. That’s debatable, and we’ll make up our own minds without you telling us thank you very fucking much.”
I dropped my hands, my fingers itching for one of the guns holstered to the men slowly surrounding us. Each man held an arsenal on his body, fully equipped for battle and not afraid of firepower or injury.
My back ached from bowing with my neck in a headlock, but I wouldn’t fight. I refused to fight with the Weavers anymore. “Let me go.”
“No. Not until you talk.”
“We’re going to end this.” My voice sounded tired to my ears, but truth rang loud. “That’s what’s going on.”
V shook with anger. “Where’s my sister?”
“At the Hall.”
“Is she safe?” Tex asked, his aging face strained but resolute.
In a different world, I would’ve liked Nila’s father.
His inner thoughts were gentle and quiet—almost like Kes with the ability to switch off overwhelming hate or happiness, living a mediocre life of monitored emotions.
Unlike Kes, who’d learned to hide in order to live a better existence, I doubted Textile did it for fun.
My suspicions were he kept his true feelings locked away, padlocked and buried, so he didn’t have to deal with a daily drowning of sorrow and regret of losing the women of his family.
Surprisingly, there was no guilt. He’d allowed me to take Nila with no fight or fury.
He should feel some patina of shame for handing over his daughter, even if he’d been trained to do exactly that.
There was more to his defeat than he let on.
Something lurked on the outskirts of his thoughts.
..wrapped up in flickering pride and solemn dignity at something he’d done where Nila was concerned.
What did he do?
Vaughn suddenly released me, pushing me away from him and rubbing his forearm. “She’s hurt. I feel her—always did.”
My eyes shot to his, appreciating the twin-link he and Nila shared more than he knew. He might feel her physically, but I felt her emotionally. And he was right, she was hurt.
Tex sucked in a heavy breath, his large shoulders rolling beneath stress. I made a note to ask him what he’d done when this was all over. I wanted to know his secrets. I had a feeling he held the answers to a lot of loose ends.
But now is not the time.
Nila.
We’d stalled enough.
Is she safe? Are you safe, Nila? Please, be fucking safe.
I shook my head. “We need to go. You’re right, she’s hurt. My father broke her arm, and I have no doubt he means to do more than that. That’s why we have to move fast.”
“What!?” V’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You’ll pay, Hawk. I’ll make you pay for every injury Threads has endured because of your fucking family.”
My heart pattered irregularly—my rhythm always struggled when faced with such overwhelming emotion. “I’ll pay whatever you want, Weaver. But for now, we have to work together.” Eyeing up the cars, I counted eight in total. At least two men to a car, so sixteen men.
Sixteen men to kill Cut and whatever brothers remained patriotic to him. I didn’t relish the thought of killing club members who’d served beneath me for years, but maybe I wouldn’t have to if Flaw managed to separate the loyal from the traitors.
I cocked my chin at the silent mercenaries. “They work for you?”
Tex nodded. “I told you I’d hired help. I found them before you came to take Nila.”
My nostrils flared. “Before?”
If he had them before, why not use them to protect Nila from ever falling into my hands?
Tex swallowed, looking away. “I meant after you took Nila. I gathered an army. I won’t let you take another of my loved ones, Hawk. I won’t.”
His slip-up and sudden lie to switch timelines didn’t make sense. There was no one else to take. Nila was the firstborn girl. We never went after Weaver sons.
So what is he hiding?
Pushing aside my curiosity, I nodded. “I know. And you won’t have to.” Searching for the ringleader, discarding ex-Army and Marines by the way they held their shoulders and weapons, I ordered, “Who’s in charge here?”
Vaughn stomped closer, poking his annoying finger in my chest. “We are, motherfucker.”
I gritted my teeth. “Fine, if that’s how you want to play it. How about you give them orders on how best to infiltrate. If you know where Cut will have Nila and how to get inside the estate undetected, be my fucking guest.”
Tex growled under his breath. “Watch it. We’re tolerating you right now. Doesn’t mean we’ve agreed to be your taskforce when you’ve already taken so much. We’re here for Nila and that’s it. You hear me?”
I swiped a hand over my face. “If you’re here for Nila, prove it.
She’s in trouble. The longer we stand here comparing dick sizes, the worse she’ll need help.
” Spreading my arms, I snarled, “You decide. You want my insider knowledge so this goes well or would you rather do things your way and risk Nila dying and yourself in the crossfire?”
Tension smouldered between us, itching for a naked flame to incinerate.
Tex looked at Vaughn. They shared a silent conversation until finally Tex exhaled heavily. “Fine. We agree to cooperate.”
“Good.” I crossed my arms. “I’m in control from here on out. I’m the only one who knows where to go, how to get in, and what we need to do.”
“Like fuck you are. I’ve stayed in your house of horrors. I know enough to guess—”
Tex placed his hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Enough, V. Let him. I just want my daughter back, and if he says he can do that, then...let him get her back.” Twisting to face an elderly man with a black beanie on his head, Tex motioned him to come forward.
“Change of plans, Dec. Follow Hawk’s orders. Let’s move out.”
* * * * *
The silent journey through the estate twisted me with fear.
The driveway went on for a fucking eternity, revealing our black line of cars clearly. I just hoped Cut was busy elsewhere and didn’t look out the south-facing windows onto the sweeping vista as we crept over Hawksridge.
Rolling hills and soft dirt hindered but didn’t slow; we chewed up distance, bringing me closer to Nila and my dreaded birthright.
I rode with the ringleader, Declan. He’d given me his resume in a few short bullet points.
Retired military.
Awarded service.
Highly trained and skilled with the best men loyalty and money could buy.