Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
JEWEL
Here I was again, muzzled and being forced onto the fourth floor of Ascend. This time, though, it felt completely different. Despite the fact I was technically powerless, I felt untouchable.
I had my pack, after all.
I had my Jade.
The muscle behind me gave me a shove through the elevator doors.
“Rude! I was going,” I hissed at him before I straightened my back. I lifted my chin high as I was led across the floor. We had an audience, albeit a small one. Mostly alphas who worked here, but a few omegas as well.
I caught sight of Hugo right away. He was chained in cuffs of alpha-proof vycron steel, bound to a chair in the center of the room. He shifted as he saw me, his eyes swirling pools of fury.
I kept my face neutral and my chin high as I was taken to a chair facing Hugo’s.
Bliss came over, securing my cuffs to the chair so I couldn’t run. Her long, thick hair fell in front of her face as she leaned over. “The fuck, dude? Why did you come back?” she muttered.
“Would you believe that I came back for you guys?”
She gave a small snort. “No.”
“Fine. You got me. I came for revenge.”
“Idiot,” she said, but I was touched to see her eyes shimmering a bit as she turned away.
Aww.
Synth slunk into the room, his eyes meeting mine for a second before dropping to the floor. Okay, maybe I was a bit of a bitch for snapping at him earlier.
I mean, I was pretty sure he knew I wouldn’t actually bite his finger off. Put someone else’s blood germs into my mouth?
Um, no.
He sat in the seat next to Celeste, who was twirling her pigtails anxiously. She gave me a nervous smile that twitched and then faded to sadness. That, too, faded into the blankness that often came over her.
A door opened on the side, and all other thoughts faded away as Jade stepped out.
Someone had managed to get makeup on her, and she’d changed into a pair of tiny shiny red shorts and a white crop top. Her hands were cuffed in front of her, and I saw the telltale glint of her garrotte wire wrapped around her waist.
Tiny.
Sexy.
Deadly.
Our eyes met, and the corner of her mouth tugged up infinitesimally.
I felt like I might be in danger of drowning in the tidal wave of love I felt for this woman.
Hugo’s snarl brought me back to earth.
Prince had touched her. He’d looped his arm through hers and started walking toward us, giving me a smug smile.
Jade schooled her face into a mask of indifference.
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
It was almost midnight.
We only had minutes left, but I knew exactly what needed to happen here. The problem was that Hugo couldn’t read my mind. He wasn’t even looking at me, his gaze zeroed in on Prince’s hand on Jade. I could tell he was on the edge of a rut, but I needed him to stay sane. For now, at least.
Prince stopped in front of the empty chair. He nudged it closer to mine with his foot and made Jade sit down. She was close enough that her leg brushed against mine.
Valentino approached. The dim lights in the room were playing tricks on my eyes, because for a second, I saw my father walking toward me. My hands clenched into fists, and I took a breath to remind myself Thaddeus was dead. Dead, dead, dead.
As he neared, his features sharpened into his own. Leaner than my father, with a longer nose and less hair. Still, the expression of contempt on his face was exactly like his brother’s.
He stopped in front of me and gave me a nasty smile. “Well, you’ve certainly been a thorn in my side. Haven’t you, Julius?”
“Sorry, who are you again?” I asked.
His eyes narrowed and he hesitated for a moment as he decided if I was joking or not. Then he gave me a thin smile. “I guess it doesn’t matter, does it?”
He turned to Hugo. “Thank you for delivering him here. You are going to let Prince join your pack.”
“No,” Hugo growled.
“You are.” He leaned forward. “It’s just a matter of time. We’ve all placed bets on how long you’ll hold out for.”
“What are the odds for two minutes?” Jade said.
“Shut. Up,” Prince gritted out. “God, you’re like a female Jewel.”
I snorted. “She wishes.”
“Goddammit! Quiet!” Prince hissed and yanked my arms up.
Valentino shushed him and turned back to Hugo. “Here’s your chance, Omen. If you don’t let him, trust me, we’re going to have a lot of fun making these two suffer.”
“Can’t be worse than your company,” I muttered.
Jade broke into a fit of giggles.
I winced as Prince sank his teeth into my arm, a lot harder than he needed to.
I didn’t know what was worse—knowing his filthy mouth was on me or feeling his filthier soul brush against mine.
There was a standoff as Prince tried to impose his will against ours.
Hugo rejected him.
Prince straightened, eyes blazing.
Valentino folded his arms. “Right. Let’s start with the beta, shall we?”
Prince yanked Jade to her feet. Jade immediately howled in pain, causing Prince to let go of her in surprise. She’d doubled over, panting frantically.
“Please! Mercy! No more,” she cried, lifting her hands to shield herself.
I saw Prince’s confused expression reflected around the room.
He reached down to pull her up again, and she gave another howl of pain. It was very realistic, and if I couldn’t feel her delight through the bond, I might have been fooled too.
“Hugo! Please! Make it stop,” Jade begged, turning to our alpha.
Were those tears shining in her eyes? Impressive.
Hugo seemed confused, and I silently urged him to get our message.
“Stop!” I said, holding up my arms.
Prince yanked Jade to her feet and came over to me. Jade straightened herself and caught my eye. I saw her hands shift, the unlocked cuffs almost off. She’d settled back on her haunches, watching Prince intently.
Staring at Hugo, Prince grabbed my arm and yanked it up again. His teeth sank into my skin. Hugo’s eyes darted to me and then Jade.
He let Prince into the pack.
Prince straightened, elation on his face as he released the bite. “Jewel—”
But that was all he got out, because Jade delivered a swift jab to his throat. There was a nasty crunch, and Prince blinked in shock before she smashed Prince’s face right down into her knee. He let out a screech of pain as blood splattered across the floor.
“Buh-bye.” Jade shoved him away, and he collapsed onto the floor.
Valentino was frozen, his expression a comical mask of shock.
There was a beep-beep as Hugo’s watch marked midnight.
The doors lining the lounge burst open, and people flooded into the room with guns raised. “Everybody! On the ground, hands where we can see them!”
Around us, a flurry of panic erupted. I saw Synth shove Celeste onto the floor and cover her protectively.
An alpha tried to use Bliss as a shield, but she kneed him in the groin and ducked for cover as well.
Lars tried to run and I was immensely satisfied to see him taken out. Everyone else decided to stay put.
The chaos settled, and silence descended. It was broken by the sound of heels clacking against the floor as someone new entered the room.
Laurel carried herself like a queen, as always. She was in a navy-blue pantsuit, her golden hair cascading down her back. On her other side was my grandfather Octavious, steadying himself with his black cane, and flanking them at the rear were Finch and Ocean, guns out and ready.
Kaos popped up beside me with a grin. He’d already freed Hugo and now released my cuffs as well.
I stood up, rubbing my wrists to get the blood flowing again.
Laurel and Octavious stopped when they’d reached me.
“Grandfather,” I said, leaning down to press an air kiss to his cheek.
“Jewel.” He looked a bit bemused as he took in my skimpy revenge outfit.
Laurel grabbed my arm, frowning at the bite mark. “Honestly, why did I let you talk me into waiting until midnight? Look at this mess.”
“Come on, this was a honeymoon present. It would have been no fun if you’d come in right away.”
Finch blinked at me. “Wait, I thought you guys going in ahead of us was a tactical decision. Wasn’t it?”
Jade laughed and I scoffed. “What? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been dreaming of getting revenge here for years. Where’s the satisfaction of storming in with an entire army?”
Finch opened his mouth to say something else, but at that moment Casey hurried into the room. His shoulders slumped in relief as he saw us.
“Casey!” Jade cried, hurrying over to him. I was right behind her.
Jade and I reached him at the same time, and he pulled us both into a massive hug. “Oh, you’re all okay! I was so sure I’d messed everything up,” he said.
“You had us scared for a little while there,” Hugo said, coming over and tugging Casey to his side.
Someone whistled from behind us, and I turned to see Kaos waving at us. He had Valentino on his knees, a gun to his back. “Hey guys? What are we doing with this one?”
Octavious sighed. “Let’s get this over with,” he said grimly.
I looped my arm through Laurel’s as we walked over to my disgraced not-uncle.
He was pale, and his eyes darted between the three of us. I saw his throat bob as he swallowed. “Uncle—” he started.
“Silence.” Octavious rapped his cane on the floor, and the little remaining blood drained from Valentino’s face.
“You have behaved disgracefully and are an embarrassment to this family. I understand you were disappointed when Laurel stepped up, but I gave her my blessing. Everyone else has worked with her cordially, and she has proved herself to be an excellent leader. Better than Thaddeus, dare I say.”
He gave her a smile, and she inclined her head gracefully.
Octavious turned back to Valentino. “You’ll remain closely guarded until the family decides what to do with you. I wouldn’t expect much mercy, though.”
?
JEWEL
Ascend had shut its doors for the night, and we’d cleared out most of the patrons.
“It’s over?” Celeste said for the tenth time. She was wearing an oversized hoodie that swamped her small frame, and one of her pigtails was askew. She’d been clinging to Bliss’s arm, eyes wide and still slightly frightened.