Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Luna
Istare up at my childhood home as Christian drags me toward it. There was no faking the way my body froze when he pulled me out of the car.
I barely heard his apology before he was tugging me toward the home I never thought I’d set foot in ever again.
My heart pounds erratically in my chest, my panicked breath muffled by the gag.
I don’t know if I can do this.
I squeeze my eyes shut, immediately tripping over my own feet and pulling a curse from Christian.
He squats down to help me to my feet, and I can see the agony in his eyes.
He doesn’t want to be doing this anymore than I do.
I jerk my head at the unspoken question in his eyes.
We have to do this, no matter whether we want to or not. There are too many people depending on us.
Christian’s face hardens before he turns away, dragging me up the stairs and inside. I know the route to Fabian’s office well, and I can’t help dragging my feet.
I hate to make this harder on Christian, but it definitely sells the story better.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he murmurs one last time before knocking on Fabian’s door.
“Enter,” comes the reply, and Christian’s hand tightens on my arm.
He swings it open, pushing me to the floor. I trip, barely getting my hands up in time to prevent my face from smashing into the floor.
“Mariana?”
I lift my head to find Matías and JC standing there, mouths agape.
I reach up to yank the gag from my mouth, growling when I can’t get it loose.
“Fabian, what’s going on?” Matías asks, unable to tear his eyes off me as I struggle to my feet.
JC’s face is dark as he glares at our brother. “You said she was dead.”
Fabian waves away his anger as he sneers at me. “I did that to protect you.”
“To protect us from what?” JC roars, and I freeze as my brothers’ scents reach me. The first is familiar and just as vile as I remember—Fabian’s lemon and black licorice scent burning my nose.
The other two are new to me. Bourbon and cedar is the strongest of the two, almost eclipsing the sea salt, sage and driftwood scent.
Based on the fiery edge to the bourbon and cedar scent, I’m guessing the alpha scent belongs to JC. Which leaves Matías with the beta scent.
Fabian’s head snaps toward my brothers, his nostrils flaring. “Watch yourself, little brother. You may be an alpha, but you are not my equal.”
JC grinds his teeth, anger flashing across his face as he bites back his response.
“Fabian, please. Tell us what’s going on,” Matías begs.
“Fine. I lied to you because it would protect your memory of your sister. She’s the one who shot and almost killed Christian.
It’s why I was keeping her locked in her room, but she still managed to escape a few days later.
” His lips turn back up into a smirk. “But what our sister doesn’t know is I’ve known where she was the entire time she’s been gone.
From the moment she stepped off the compound property, I had someone following her every move. ”
My eyes widen as I realize what that means.
“That’s right, Mariana—oh, wait. You go by Luna now, don’t you? But to answer your unasked question, yes, I know exactly who took you and why. In fact, I was the one who tipped off his men to where you were.”
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
I feel Christian tense behind me, and I wish I could remind him not to react. We can’t give ourselves away before we’re ready.
“Christian, why don’t you undo that gag and see what Luna has to say for herself.”
As soon as the gag falls away, I take a step toward Fabian’s desk.
“Uh uh, little sister. Stay right where you are. I don’t trust you anywhere near me.”
“And you shouldn’t, you lying, manipulative bastard.
” Unable to voice my thoughts on just how much I hate him in English, I switch to Spanish.
“Are you so stupid to believe your own lies? Or do you think everyone will just believe anything that falls from your lips? No one in their right mind would think I could shoot Christian. I don’t know why you’ve hated me my entire life when I’ve done nothing except exist. What I do know is that I hate you.
I hate everything you stand for, and Papa would be so disappointed in you. ”
Fabian throws his head back as he laughs, only stopping when an alarm sounds. “What the fuck is that?”
I barely manage to keep myself from smiling, knowing it’s Sinner’s Pride MC attacking the compound from all angles.
When his phone rings, he snatches it up. “What the hell is going on out there?”
He listens for a moment, his eyes flashing with anger. “Seriously? Right now? Fucking handle it!”
“This is you. I don’t know how, but I know you’re involved,” he hisses, launching his phone at me.
I barely manage to duck in time to keep it from smashing into my face.
“What the hell, Fabian?” This time it’s Matías who screams at our older brother.
“Shut your fucking mouth, Matías.” Fabian slams his hands onto his desk as he stands. “You’ve proven that you’re able to shut up and take alpha commands well, meaning you’ve been useful. Don’t fuck that up now by thinking you mean something to me.”
“Don’t talk to my brother like that,” I hiss.
Fabian shakes his head, laughing. “Really? You’re worried about me hurting your little brother’s feelings when you’re about to die? Your priorities are warped, little girl.”
“I’m not a little girl, Fabian, and I haven’t been for a long time. Now stop stalling and tell me why the hell you’ve had it out for me for as long as I can remember.”
He considers me for a moment, sucking on his teeth before nodding.
“Okay. Sure. I’ll humor you. You’re right, I do hate you, and I always have.
I hate you because you shouldn’t exist. If my mother hadn’t been killed in Colombia, you wouldn’t exist. Our father never should’ve moved on from his scent match.
I should’ve been his only child. At least JC and Matías are men, so they could turn out to be useful. But you?”
He scoffs. “Not only are you female, but you’re a fucking omega.
All you’re good for is marrying an alpha who will fuck your hole until you're pregnant with his child. Yet, our father doted on you, talking about you being involved in the cartel like that’s a woman’s place.
You were always too high and mighty. Bragging about how fucking smart you were, skipping grades.
Dating his best friend’s son and getting engaged before you even designated.
“Do you know he was talking about having Christian help me run the cartel after he was gone? All because he didn’t want to disappoint his precious daughter. As if I’d let that happen. He lost his way, so he had to be taken care of.”
Silence follows his declaration, and I fight the urge to vomit.
Did he just admit to killing Papa?
“I had your little slut of a mother taken care of at the same time. I would’ve let her live if she would’ve climbed on my knot like a good fucking omega.
But no, she couldn’t betray our father—even after I told her he was dead.
It was easy to take care of her when she was a sobbing mess.
She didn’t even fight me when I dragged her to her car.
Do you know she didn’t even try to save herself when I sent her car careening off the cliff?
She didn’t love any of you enough to stick around for you once she knew he was gone. Pathetic.”
My head spins with the realization that he’s the reason for all the pain in my life.
Everything happens at once.
The sound of a gun going off. Once. Twice. Three times.
Something hits the wall.
Christian pushes me to the floor and covers me with his body.
The growls of my pack as they force their way into the room.
A scream of pain.
A wailing cry of despair.
Oh, wait. That last one came from me.
“Drop the fucking gun,” Mack barks, and I hear the weapon hit the ground.
I have no idea who shot whom, but I know I wasn’t hit.
I can’t seem to stop my wails as I push at Christian.
Please don’t let him be hit.
“I’m okay, Luna. I’m okay. I wasn’t shot. Breath for me.” It takes a moment for Christian’s words to sink in, and I fall silent as he cups my face.
“Then who?” I finally ask.
“Matías shot Fabian.” He presses a kiss to my forehead before helping me to my feet.
My eyes scan the space, taking in everything.
Fabian lies in a pool of his own blood—two shots to the head and one to the chest.
JC fights against Mack as he tries to get to Matías, who Mack has pinned to the floor with his hands behind his back.
“Mack! Stop!” I rush over, throwing myself at my alpha as if I can knock him off my brother.
Mack frowns as I bounce off him and hit the floor. “Are you okay, Luna?”
“Get off my brother!” I slam my hand into his arm as he blinks at me before glancing down at Matías.
“He had a gun in his hand.”
I growl in frustration. “Because he shot Fabian!”
Mack stands swiftly, tucking his gun into the back of his pants. “Uh, sorry, man. All I knew was that there were gunshots in the same room as my mate.”
Matías huffs as he rolls onto his back. “Mate?”
“Mine.” I crawl over to him, grabbing his hand. “Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay?”
“Me?” He snorts. “Are you okay? We thought you were dead.”
I laugh as he sits up, pulling me into his arms. “I got that.”
I let out an oof of surprise when JC tackles both of us to the ground before laughing.
“You’re both so fucking big. Don’t squish me.” I wiggle in their hold, but don’t fight them as they hug me close.
JC is sobbing into my neck, and it doesn’t take long for me to join him. Soon, all three of us are in tears as we cling to one another.
I’m not sure how long we sit like that, but no one interrupts us—a fact I’m eternally grateful for.
As we break apart, we all swipe at the tears on our faces.
“There’s a lot we need to catch up on.” My eyes find my mates, and it’s not hard to tell they’re having a hard time holding themselves back from rushing to me.
JC snorts. “No shit. Mates? Christian, you were in on this? I’m so fucking confused.”
The door swings open, and six guns swing toward it. Only Matías and I are empty-handed.
“Whoa!” Mack’s dad, Griffin, holds his hands up in surrender. “Don’t shoot, boys.”
My guys lower their guns, but JC’s remained fixed on the man in the doorway.
“It’s okay, JC. He’s with us.”
He spares me a glance before lowering his gun. “Someone needs to fill me in on what the hell is going on before I end up shooting the wrong fucking person.”
“Look, kid. I’m just here on orders.” Griffin doesn’t take his eyes off my brother. “Fury wanted me to let you know Stacia is safe, Knight.”
Both my brothers stiffen at the mention of the omega’s name, and I frown, wondering what the hell is up with that.
“Thanks, Pops.” Mack nods toward his dad. “We have some shit to clear up here. Head back to the compound, and we’ll follow when we can.”
“Are you sure?”
I can practically hear Mack roll his eyes from across the room. “Yes, Pops. We’re good.”
Griffin gives his son a two-finger salute before slipping out of the room.
“Now, why don’t I catch you up on the last thirteen years of my life, and you can do the same.” I pat my brothers on the shoulder as I stand. “Then I think you have a bigger mess on your hands than I want to deal with.”
They chuckle as they push to their feet. JC pulls me in for another hug, and I let my eyes fall shut.
Fuck.
I didn’t realize just how much I missed my brothers.