Chapter Twenty
Ezra
Another lion is fucking with my life. He wants to take me away from my mate, and I can’t allow it.
My head has stopped bleeding, but the smell is heavy in the air.
I woke up chained to the ceiling. My captor isn’t in the room.
I shift my eyes to penetrate the dark. The room is small and smells of mold.
The ceiling is lined with bars, hooks hanging on many of them.
There is a sink to the left. It looks like a hunting lodge where they brought their kills.
I refuse to join the herd of animals.
My hands are secured separately, the connecting chain strung over the metal rod.
Asshole forgot to bind my feet, and my toes brush the floor.
The building is out of town. I smell the trees and water.
He didn’t want anyone to hear my screams. Smart.
I would have done the same thing, yet that is the only similarity between us.
Bode is moving around in the other room.
He’s confident. He shouldn’t be. Rylee is coming.
I can’t sense her, but I know she wouldn’t sit at home waiting for me to return.
Shade probably called her. Luckily, he knew where I was, and my friend would track me immediately.
He’s loyal to me, and he knows how I work. Waiting for me to call isn’t his style.
I’m fairly sure I’ve never met Bode before.
His scent wasn’t familiar either. I can only guess what he has against me.
Humiliating him and his loss of employment can’t be the only reasons.
I run through last night's events, focusing on our interaction, trying to remember any clues. It didn’t seem like he was familiar with me, yet here we are.
I can’t imagine he took me randomly. I don’t kill people just because I like it.
I have a reason, a purpose. I didn’t kill Charlie until he gave me no choice but to protect my mate.
I look up. I think I can get free.
Shit. He’s coming. I stare at the door in front of me and smooth my expression. He saunters into the room, confident and smug, and I want to rip his face off.
“I suppose you are wondering who I am?” he asks, stopping in front of me.
“Yeah, Bode, that did cross my mind,” I say dryly, and his eye twitches.
“I like seeing you like this,” he hums, circling me.
“I’m not fond of it. The accommodations could be better.” I don’t move, even though having him behind me makes my skin itch.
“Sorry,” he sighs, returning in front of me. “You won’t have to bear it much longer.”
“Are you going to kill me?” I ask, tilting my head.
“Of course. What did you think would happen?” he sneers.
“I thought we’d have a chat, and you would let me go.” It’s an odd sensation being on the other side of a situation like this. I always have control. Being confined with Rylee is preferred.
“I won’t be letting you go,” he grits out, his smile gone.
“That’s a shame,” I say, and realize I shouldn’t be antagonizing him.
He holds a sword in his hand. That is a weapon I don’t see often.
I like it. It’s shiny and could slice a man in half from a couple of feet away.
It would be harder to conceal. People would get uncomfortable if I walked around with one.
I should get one for Rylee, though. I bet she would love it.
Having it in the house when I’m not there would make me feel better.
“Aren’t you going to ask?” he snarls, and I blink.
“Where did you get the sword?”
The twitching in his eye increases.
“Don’t you care why I kidnapped you?”
“Alright.” I nod lightly. “Why am I here, Bode?” I ask slowly, lowering my voice.
“You killed a man six months ago,” he states.
“Sorry, you’ll have to be more specific.”
He bares his teeth.
“My friend.” He takes a step closer. “You followed him and impaled his head.”
“Still…not helpful.”
His lip curls, and he takes another step.
“He was human. Black hair,” he says, and I lift my shoulder slightly. “Matt was my best friend.”
“Matt,” I mumble, and it clicks. “Okay, I remember his name. I killed him in an alley. He was at a club, and I waited for him. It wasn’t really fair since he was drunk off his ass, but I didn’t feel too bad.
” I don’t try to dodge the fist flying toward my face, and take the hit. At least it wasn’t the sword.
“Why? What the fuck did he do to you?”
I lick the blood from my lip. “Do you want the answers? Truly? Because after I’m done, I have a few questions of my own.”
“Tell me.”
“Matt was a rapist. I had proof from five women. He would go to the bars, pick up a woman, and take them home. Once he had them behind locked doors, he violated them and held them hostage for days. He took pictures. Kept files that he took pride in. He let them go when he was done, which was unusual, and got away with it. The women were terrified by whatever he told them. He probably threatened their loved ones,” I hiss, and lean forward.
“He was a piece of shit. Cocky. He didn’t think he could get caught, but I proved him wrong.
I followed him, recused the women he planned to take, and took pleasure in ending his life. ”
“You’re lying,” he says.
“I don’t lie. Definitely not about this.” I inhale deeply. “But you are.” I narrow my eyes. “Did you know? Help him? I didn’t see any evidence of your participation.” I would have remembered him.
“No, he—” He flinches and looks away.
“You knew,” I say slowly. “You either encouraged him or saw what he did.”
“He didn’t hurt anyone,” he growls, glaring at me.
“He did. I saw the women. Five women. They took pictures.”
“No. You couldn’t. He was—”
“Careful?” I lift my eyebrows. “How do you know?” He shuffles his feet, his chest rising. “He showed you,” I guess, and he grinds his teeth. “You liked seeing them.”
“Fuck you. I’ll ask the questions,” he spits.
“Go ahead.”
“Did he…did he say anything about me?”
I frown. “Bode, if I knew your name then, I wouldn’t wonder why I am here now.”
“He was my best friend,” he states.
“I think he was more than that,” I murmur.
“No.” He shakes his head. “He was gone. I couldn’t find him. We talked every day.”
“You missed him, and the pictures he sent you.”
“They wanted it.” He pounds the sword on the floor. “He didn’t do anything they didn’t want.”
“That’s not true,” I say quietly. “And you know it.”
“Shut up,” he roars.
“How did you find me? How did you know I killed him?” Every job is carefully planned out, researched, and executed without a paper trail.
“I had to know,” he mumbles, rubbing his head. “You were paid to do it.”
“Fuck.” One of the women hired me. She didn’t know there were others. “You fucking didn’t,” I growl.
“She didn’t want to tell me.” He smiles slightly. “I convinced her.”
I close my eyes. “You killed her.” If Bode saw the pictures, he knew who they were. “She was hurt enough.”
“He loved them, and they turned him in.” He glides the weapon across my leg. “They betrayed him,” he rumbles, and blood drips down my calf.
“He tortured them,” I hiss, my arms flexing. “They wanted to die, but found the strength to move on. She was getting help. How dare you take her power away?”
“It didn’t take much to make her talk,” he sings, and my stomach rolls. “She told me your name, where you were when you talked, and what you looked like.”
“How did you find Issy?” I think of the pain Issy will feel when she knows.
“I saw you with her,” he smirks. “I followed you. How does it feel to be on the other side?”
“I have to admit,” I sigh. “Not good.”
“I didn’t know what the relationship was between you.
” He twirls the sword. “Until I introduced myself to her. Luckily, I know how to play the guitar. She believed everything I told her. I had to take my time. I couldn’t ask too many questions right away.
Getting paid to get close to you was a bonus.
Slowly, she began to trust me, and it’s natural to ask about someone's life, their family. She went on and on about her amazing brother.”
“Fucking asshole,” I grit out.
“I could have done anything to her.” He tilts his head. “I restrained myself. I wanted you. I needed to get justice for my friend. Still, I couldn’t find you, and Issy wouldn’t slip up and tell me.”
“How?” I’m done with story time. I need to get out of these chains.
“I heard her on the phone. She was talking to her mom, and she mentioned where you were. I was already in town when she called.” He laughs.
“She had no idea the favor she was giving me. I had to listen to her excitement over her dear brother finding his mate, and the honor it was to play for her.” He punches me in the stomach, and I grunt.
“I saw you and wanted to kill you. So happy. Surrounded by people who respected you, but I knew the monster you were. I had to stand in front of you and test you.” He closes his eyes briefly.
“Your sweet mate. The bond isn’t complete.
” He smiles slowly. “Perhaps after I kill you, I’ll visit her.
Take pictures of her. She’ll be grieving, but I’ll make her feel better. ”
I bow my head. “Wrong thing to say, motherfucker.” I shift my face and lift my head. Bode sees the image of the woman he killed. “Everything you have done was bad enough, but to threaten my mate.”
“What the fuck?” he gasps.
“Do you remember killing her?”
“How?” He steps back. “How is this possible?”
“I have gifts.” I grin, but he doesn’t see my lips. The blood he shed drips down her image. “How did it feel? Killing a woman who didn’t deserve it?”
“Stop. Now.” He lifts the sword.
“Matt would have been proud, but he’s dead.” Maybe it’s the wrong move, but I sense Rylee and her family are close. I replace the image of the abused with Matt’s. “He didn’t see me coming. My knife slid easily into his skull, his eyes wide, in shock.”
“Matt?” he says faintly. “No. He’s gone.” He raises the sword.
“Yes, he is.” I cancel my magic and lurch forward.
“I killed him. He deserved it.” I hiss as the sword plunges into my side.
I stare at him, his face close to mine, and smile.
“My mate is going to kill you,” I hum, and raise my legs.
I press my feet against his stomach and push.
My teeth descend as the weapon's tip comes out of my body, just as the door is thrown open.
“Ezra,” Rylee says roughly.
“Hey, Foxy. I missed you.” I smile softly at my beautiful mate. “I like the mask. It looks good.”
“Fuck, mate.” She takes a step, and I see Heath behind her.
“No.” Bode stumbles back, dropping the weapon in surprise, and I drop my legs.
Bode begins to turn, but Rylee moves before he can face her. She shoves him to the ground, pressing his face to the floor, pressing the metal against the back of his head.
“You hurt him,” Rylee says, gripping my knife. “I smell his blood.”
“Ezra, I’ll get you down,” Heath says, moving to my side.
“That would be good,” I say, but stare at my mate.
“You don’t get to touch him,” she growls, kneeling on his back. “He’s mine.” She shoves the knife into his head, leaning over him, using all her weight to aid her.
Hunter and Bane grip my sides as Heath uses his cane to break the chain. They catch me and ease me to the floor. I attempt to stand, but I slip on my blood.
“Stay down,” Heath says.
“No.” Rylee lets go of the handle, looking at me. “Ezra, he stabbed you.” She scrambles away from Bode, dropping to her knees by my side.
“This is nothing.” I press my hand to my side. “My fierce mate.” I trail my bloody fingers over her mask. “That was badass.” I attempt to smile.
“Brother,” Issy sobs.
“Don’t worry. I’ll heal,” I assure them.
“This can’t be happening,” Rylee whispers, holding her hand over mine.
“It is quite a lot of blood,” I chuckle.
“Son,” Mom says softly.
“Carry him,” Rylee growls, looking at Heath. “Get him to the car.”
I bite my cheek as they lift me. My vision blurs, and I can’t focus on anything except keeping the cries of pain from emerging.
I smell several shifters in the family, but can’t focus on their faces.
I’m touched that they came to rescue me.
My fox is releasing my healing magic. It will take some time, but I’ll heal fully.
“We’ll get rid of the body,” Bash says.
“My friend,” I mumble.
“Yeah,” he replies.
“Put him in the SUV,” Rylee orders.
I’m placed in the back, and she lets go of me and climbs beside me. She wraps her arm tight around the wound. The door shuts, and the next second we are moving.
“This isn’t the day I had in mind.” I stare at her mask-covered face hovering above me.
“The next one will be better.” Her eyes fill with tears, and I shake my head.
“Don’t, baby. Give me an hour…two tops. I’ll be ready to dance with you again.” I want to lift my arm to embrace her, but it won’t obey my commands.
“At a time like this,” she kisses my cheek, “you try to make me feel better.”
“There is never a wrong time to console you.”
“Ezra.” She presses her forehead against mine. “I feel your pain. You aren’t alright.”
“Yes, it’s painful.” I hiss as we hit a pothole. “My magic will ease it. Can you feel it working?”
“No.”
“I do. My fox won’t let me die.”
“Don’t even say it,” she says.
“Sorry, baby.” I close my eyes and breathe in her scent.
“Why did you goad him?”
“I heard you coming. He would have swung the sword at you.” Bode was moments away from noticing the crew coming through the door, and I knew Rylee would be first in line. I open my eyes.
“Fuck.” She pulls back and stares at me. “Always protecting me.”
“I won’t ever stop,” I rumble.
“I know.”
“My gorgeous mate went warrior on him. You found the mask.”
“I love it. I knew you would enjoy seeing it on me,” she says, and removes it.
“There she is,” I breathe. “My lovely warrior.”
I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
“Ezra, stay with me. Mate,” she cries.
My lips won’t move. I want to reassure her, yet my body needs rest. She has nothing to fear.
I would never leave her.