Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Ronan
The wreckage was still smoking as lights and sirens approached, but I was alone. If I let them reach the van and my stash of weapons or Luca’s computer, I’d be fucked. I quickly grabbed one of the bags we’d stowed in the back and loaded up all the hidden guns as methodically as I’d put them in.
They were louder now, spurring me on. I shoved Luca’s electronics in the bag and did one final sweep before rushing into the nearby woods.
Let them find whatever the assholes who hit us left behind, but now I had no doubts it was the same group that’d come after us before.
I managed to run until I couldn’t hear them before stopping. Being on foot wasn’t ideal, but if they’d left their vehicle behind, surely they weren’t far.
Loading up a few guns and weapons I tucked them into my clothes wherever they would fit. I had no idea how many men I'd be facing but I knew they’d all cease breathing when I found out.
They had my pack and my omega. Their life was over.
Ahead there was a fallen tree that was the perfect cover for my things. I tucked the bags and Luca’s things inside, just keeping my phone and weapons.
I quickly pulled up the trackers on my phone. Like I expected, Luca and Nik were now in the same place.
And that place was only on the other side of this small copse of trees.
Despite the pain, I took off at a sprint, dodging around roots and limbs that had fallen. They were so close and I had to see for myself they were safe.
I glanced down at the GPS, checking every few minutes as I moved through the woods, eventually slowing down to catch my breath.
A cabin loomed ahead. It stood alone among the trees, but it was the shed I locked eyes on. Two guards stood outside of it, a male omega and an alpha.
I pulled out the silencer from my pocket and screwed it on the end of my handgun before taking aim.
I let out a breath and took my shot, the alpha crumpling to the ground.
The omega’s mouth opened in horror and I shot him, too, before he could scream.
I didn’t make it my goal to take out omegas, but when they wore the enemies’ armor and made themselves at home there, stealing my pack away, they could join their group in death.
More than that, they weren’t Crows. He’d hired mercenaries. Likely because he’d find no true loyalty within our ranks. Our father and the Crows would see right through his flimsy excuses and petty revenge.
Blood pooled around the fallen forms, seeping into the dry earth around them.
I dug through their pockets until I found a set of old keys and a phone, snatching both.
I pushed open the door with one hand, my finger on the trigger as I kept it raised. We’d done enough missions that I was well-practiced at moving silently.
A snarl and scream echoed out from below me, then the sound of a female bellowing out a war cry.
If my girl was fighting back I wasn’t about to miss it.
I kicked the fallen guards aside and shoved the doors open.
The shed was littered with old farm equipment and tools but a hatch in the floor had clearly been opened recently.
It was the only spot free of debris. Now it was just a single door between me and my pack below.
It looked old and I took care raising it, trying not to freak out at the angry fighting below.
When it was finally eased open, I padded down the stairs, gun still poised. I paused long enough for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting.
Closest to the stairs two figures were chained to the wall but slumped over. Next to them was blood splatter and remnants of broken chains.
I quickly moved into the shadows, turning the other way in time to see my omega launch herself at my brother’s back. I’d recognise that greasy hair anywhere.
She had something in her hands, the glint of metal hitting the low lights as she dropped, using her body as leverage.
In case it failed, my gun was aimed at his head, but I wanted to see where this was going.
Fuck, she was hot covered in my brother’s blood and slowly making the life drain out of him. Our omega was protective and feral, her snarls and heavy breathing bordering on menacing.
My cock twitched and I didn’t bother to talk it down. This was hot as hell.
Nik eyed me, because, of course, he noticed me while he was tipped over and chained to a chair.
A fact I would absolutely hang over his head later. I snagged my phone from my pocket and snapped a photo for my collection. Nik’s glare promised pain but I promptly ignored him.
Now wasn’t the time for arguing.
When they were all safe and had trackers lodged under their skin, he could plan some revenge.
And if Aries or Leon thought they weren’t going to let me put the trackers in, I’d do it in their sleep.
I kept my pack safe no matter the cost. Ethics be damned.
“Drop, you sick fuck!” she screamed, pulling tighter. He was still fighting, though his movements were jerky. He was quickly losing momentum.
He started to drop and she finally let him go. I moved then ducking around her to slam the hilt of my gun into his temple, making sure he stayed down.
“Ronan!”
“Hey, killer,” I grinned, then my smile fell as I realized that blood was hers. Her gorgeous face was bruised and already swelling.
My own growl echoed out as I lifted my brother and tossed him against the wall. He didn’t wake, but I didn’t care, my fists pounding into him for daring to touch what was mine.
Every bruise. Every cut. Every ounce of pain was paid in flesh as I beat him until we were both coated in his blood and all that echoed out of him was a wet gurgle.
“Stop!” Nikolai barked. That was the only thing pulling me out of the rage. His dominance was close to mine. “Victor will be a bitch to deal with if you kill him.”
“He better know nothing about this bullshit,” I shot back, standing up and wiping my hands on my pants before going to her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “As I can be. Are they?”
“Maybe someone could get me out of this bullshit?” Nik deadpanned.
“I have keys,” I said, walking around him until I found the lock, fumbling through the array of keys until it finally let go. I left our omega to free him as I moved to the others’ side.
Luca was starting to stir, letting out a low groan as his eyes blinked open.
“You’re late to the party, brother,” I snorted as I found the key that opened his shackle.
He pulled his hands free, rubbing his wrists, and trying to catch up.
“It was Alessio,” I supplied before he could think too hard. “I’m assuming all of it is tied together."
“Did you kill him?”
“Nik stopped me. But it was our omega who dropped him. You should have seen her.”
“She broke her chains. She was glorious,” Nik agreed, his deep voice echoing in the small space.
Leon’s shackles gave way and I rolled him over, wincing. He had a huge knot on his head and probably needed to see a doctor.
“How is he?” Aries asked, dropping to her knees by his head.
“Leon, buddy. Wake up,” I urged, tapping his cheek. He started to stir, his eyes unfocused. That only worried me more.
“Call for backup, Ro,” Nikolai said. “We’ll get him upstairs.”
I nodded, stepping back and letting them help the others while I got my team in motion.
But first, I was calling my father.
His other son was currently bleeding out on the floor where he intended to eliminate everyone I loved.
I stepped out into the night and called my dad. The phone rang twice before his barking voice echoed out.
“Son. Update.”
“We found the mole. The last ambush was a failure thanks to the intel, but it went a lot deeper,” I explained.
“Who the fuck was it?” My father wasn’t a patient man.
“Alessio,” I answered with a sigh. “He’s currently bleeding out in the basement of this shed where he had my entire pack tied up.”
I gave him all the details I knew until Nik arrived. He and my father weren’t friends, but he filled in the blanks.
The fact he planted spies in Widow’s Peak to find us was insane. There were no limits to my brother’s delusions of grandeur.
“Don’t kill him. I want him sent home so I can do that myself. Even blood doesn’t cross me,” Victor Crow growled.
“I’m calling in cleanup and transport as soon as we hang up,” I said. “But right now, my omega is in shock, her heat was hitting before Alessio intervened, and I need to get our beta to a hospital.”
“So, you’re doing this whole pack thing?” The distaste in his voice had me letting out a chuckle.
“Yes. I’m already all in with her. She got herself out of her chains and took down Alessio while the others were tied up and I had to track them. She was glorious,” I said.
He grunted. “Fine. But you’re still a Crow. Don’t forget that.”
“I won't, but we are relocating. My pack belongs here in the mountains. I’ll still take jobs and expand the Crow’s reach, but for now, I’ll be focusing on my pack.”
“Sometimes I wish I would have taken the time to do that,” my dad admitted. I was so stunned by the comment I nearly dropped my phone. It was the first human moment I think I’d ever witnessed. He wouldn't say he was proud of me, but this was close to it. “I’ll be in touch.”
He hung up and I quickly handled calling in backup. We’d be stuck here for a while, but then we were free.
I’d closed up loose ends and there was no way I was walking away from Aries. She had a life here and we needed to figure out how our lives would look now that we had a real pack.
Nik and Luca managed to get Leon and Aries up the stairs and onto the lawn.
“A fresh ride is on the way,” I promised. She was stressed and exhausted, and I tugged her into my arms.
“You found us,” she managed, her head nuzzling into my shoulder. Her scent was stronger again, and slightly sweet. The stress didn’t help the heat stave off at all.
“Always. And when that tracker is in place, it’ll be even easier,” I promised.
At the end of the day, I was a Crow. Loving me meant I had contacts that would send most omegas running.
It also meant I’d have to make sure she stayed safe.
But for this omega? I’d burn the world down to make sure she never had to be afraid again.