Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
KAELEN
The glass tumbler shattered against the stone fireplace with a deafening crack, shards exploding outwards like shrapnel. A pained sound tore from me, shaking the pictures on the wall.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, fishing the burner phone from my pocket before shooting off a text to Liam while I waited for Aidan and Torin to arrive. Part of me wanted to recall Liam, but instead, I did something borderline stupid, sending him a two word message.
Do it.
Based on everything he’d seen, Isabelle had recovered, meaning we could take Sterling. I ground my teeth, my nose twitching at the pain shooting along my jaw. A few days ago, Aidan worked with Doctor Sweeney to concoct records showing William Sterling died of a massive coronary.
For all I knew, that might end up being true by the time I was done with him. A muscle pulsed in my neck, remembering the burn marks on my beautiful omega’s skin. I ran a hand through my hair, the strands mussed and loose.
The only marks that should be on my wife are mine. My bite.
After I got Willow back, I planned to take my time with the senator, drawing out his pain until he begged for death. Until he pissed himself and his heart gave out.
If he hadn’t ever tried to sell his only daughter like cattle, Vittorio Rossi wouldn’t have come looking for her. I knew it was him. It had to be. He was the only one stupid enough to take my wife—my omega—in broad daylight.
My alpha roared again.
I spied another text from Liam, confirming that by the time the sun set, a shackled William Sterling would be in my basement and Isabelle secured in the guest house on our property.
Something dark ignited within me. Something cruel and twisted that made my mouth lift in a barely there smirk.
An icy chill slithered up my spine, quickly dousing the small reprieve from worrying about Willow. I spun the Claddagh ring on my finger, running through every conjured scenario of where she was and how to get her back.
Every second mattered.
First, I had to figure out if Vittorio Rossi had taken her, and where he was keeping her. This wasn’t a case of him wanting something from me and using my wife as ransom. What Rossi wanted was my omega. I foolishly believed that, being a Catholic, he’d respect a marriage bond.
But no, the only thing that protected my girl now was my bite, my alpha bonding us together for an eternity.
Shame settled in the pit of my stomach. I failed my omega. It was my duty and honor to keep her safe. To protect her.
And I failed. If she had my mark, none of this would have happened. She would be adorable in her nest, mewling contented sounds as I held her.
During her first heat, she had been here only a day. I wasn’t sick enough to force-bond an omega. But Rossi was. I needed to find Willow before her heat arrived. My skin prickled, and the heavy oak door to my study groaned open.
Aidan strode in, his face stoic as he tucked his phone into his pocket, silently dipping his chin in my direction. Behind him, Torin moved inside, closing the door to my office with a click.
Something primal seized my senses, my instincts overtaking me. Before I could stop it, I lunged, wrapping my hand around Torin’s throat and smashing him into the wall beside the fireplace with a loud thud.
The plaster cracked as the air pushed out of Torin’s lungs with a wheezing gasp. Those blue eyes widened as I retreated further until my alpha took full control. I trusted him with my wife. My heart. And he fucked up.
How could I forgive him?
A terrifying, unfamiliar growl rose from Aidan as his calm demeanor shattered. Gold flecks glinted in his predatory eyes. Aidan’s nostrils flared as he battled with his instincts to protect his mate and his loyalty to me.
“Kaelen,” he snapped. “Release him. Now!”
Of the three of us, Aidan had always been the collected strategist, rarely letting emotions get in the way of his decisions. It made him good at his job. It made him lethal in a way Liam or I never mastered. He found people’s weaknesses and exploited them.
But right now, Aidan wasn’t my brother. A bloodthirsty, possessive alpha roared in my direction. Ready to fight me to protect his mate.
I blinked. Torin’s bright eyes watched me as he stayed markedly quiet, his eyes flicking from mine to Aidan’s, trying to soothe his alpha.
Slowly, I unfurled my fingers, releasing Torin and taking two steps back.
Heavy breaths heaved in my chest and I ran both hands through my hair, tugging at the roots. Torin coughed, rubbing at the bruises I'd left. A thick purr rumbled in Aidan’s chest. He pulled Torin into his arms, rubbing his fingers over the purple marks, scenting him.
It didn’t matter that Torin was a beta. Aidan loved him, and his alpha claimed him as much as he would any omega.
A stilted silence lingered. I pulled my hair into a bun at the back of my head, leaning into the edge of my desk. This was the man who almost died for me. The man I considered family.
“Torin, I’m…”
He held up a hand, shaking his head. “Don’t. It’s my fault. You trusted me to protect her and I failed.”
Another threatening growl fell from Aidan.
“No one could have expected her to be taken from inside a bathroom. You didn’t fail. Ever since Sterling promised Willow to Rossi, he wanted her. Craved her. It was only a matter of time until he did something reckless.”
“You’re sure?” Aidan asked, his voice raw.
“Almost positive. Vittorio Rossi plans to bond my wife.”
The thought lingered like a piece of poisonous fruit, rotting from the inside out. I felt unleashed and lost, not knowing what to do or where to start. I looked at Aidan, hoping that big brain of his had a plan.
Even if I had attacked his mate.
Keeping one hand notched on Torin’s hip, Aidan flicked through his phone furiously, his brow pinched.
“What is it?” I snapped, ignoring the glower Aidan shot my way.
“Someone is at the gate requesting entrance.”
“Who?”
“Massimo Rossi.”