Chapter 15 Jo
fifteen
Jo
Brooks watches with mildly amusing horror as Helaena moves from the guard’s collapsing body and makes a quick swipe at the leather strap over Kole’s chest. He roars, his arms flexing as he rips free of the restraints.
“You little—” Brooks makes a move for Helaena, but before he can reach her, Kole’s unbuckled the straps around his legs and has the doctor by the neck as more gunfire sounds somewhere on the floor.
“Helaena,” Kole says cordially, like he doesn’t have an evil doctor choking behind his fist right now, “would you mind removing Jo’s restraints and her IV?”
“You can’t do this,” Brooks sputters and gasps as Helaena undoes my restraints. I haven’t had a proper meal in days, and am feeling a little groggy when I stand. The tile is cold on my bare feet, and the air is chilly on the open back of my hospital gown after laying down for so long.
I eye the clear bag of fluid attached to my IV. “At least it looks like they’ve been keepin’ me hydrated, even if I couldn’t keep the gruel down.”
“They were also giving you enough nutrients so you’d stay strong for the testing,” Helaena explains as she removes the IV from my hand. “You won’t feel one hundred percent, but it’ll be enough that you can do what you need to.”
“Thank you,” I nod, rubbing the slightly sore skin where the port had been.
Kole eyes me as he keeps Brooks restrained. “Are you alright, Lisichka?” he asks me gently. “Aside from the obvious.”
I give a weak smile, feeling exhausted and defeated. “Right as rain, Sugar Bear.”
“You’ve got me—so what?” Brooks spits. “What do you think is going to happen? This facility is crawling with guards. You can’t possibly—”
“Let’s get one thing straight, Doctor Brooks,” I echo his words from earlier, my voice cold.
Kole turns Brooks around to face me, one arm around his neck and the other holding his hands behind his back.
“I can do whatever the fuck I want. I can take your ass to the feet of the Irish Mafia, and they’ll make what you’ve been doin’ to me here seem like child's play. I can carve you up like a damn turkey, and nobody will say anythin’ to me about it.
” Then I get super poetic and give him the same threat he gave me, nearly word for word.
“I can cut your sorry excuse for a dick off and sew it to your forehead, and they will applaud me for discoverin’ a unicorn species with the smallest horn known to man.
” Kole snorts. “So, Doc, get it through your thick head that you’ve already lost. The cavalry is here, and you can try to die with a little bit of dignity, or you can die like the snivelin’, pathetic piece of shit you are. ”
Brooks’ face screws up in rage. “You—” A low growl from Kole cuts him off.
I give a saccharine smile. “Now, now, Sugar Bear. I’d like to hear what Doc has to say for himself.”
The doctor’s face contorts in rage as he stares at me. “You’re nothing but a whore! A simpering, useless fool! You think you can win this? This goes so much higher than your miniscule brain could ever comprehend, Josephine.”
I sigh. There he goes with my full name again. He’s gonna have to pay for that, too.
Kole’s lip lifts in disgust as he stares down at the smaller man’s head. I pat the beta’s cheek. “Did you get all your big boy words out?”
He only snarls, so I hold my hand out behind me. “Helaena? Could you please cut off some of that leather strap that was bein’ used to restrain my alpha?”
I hold Brooks’ eyes as I listen to Helaena saw the blade through the thick leather strap. “What you don’t realize, Doctor Brooks, is that you just sold yourself out. Now that I know how much you know, I get to package you up nice and pretty for my big brother to interrogate.”
“You don’t have any brothers.” Brooks’ tone is accusatory. “I’ve scoured your file for what I could use to break you, and you have no blood siblings.”
“Does the name Cian Gallagher ring a bell, Doc?” I ask as Helaena hands me the leather strap. I pass it to Kole, who immediately starts binding the doctor’s wrists behind his back.
Brooks’ face turns pale. Ah, so he has.
“Turns out, he’s my biological father. And the one who killed him? Declan Gallagher? Well, you pissed him right the fuck off when you put me in the Cathedral.”
Brooks shakes his head, at a loss for words. “But you…”
“I see why you’re confused.” I give him an understanding smile. “My mama, who was Declan’s step-mama for a few years, fled when she was pregnant with me. Changed her name and everythin’. Raised me and another omega together like we were twins. She’s why I’m here, actually.”
“You’re here because you murdered thirteen alphas in cold blood!” For the first time Brooks struggles against Kole. “You’re just a heartless psychopath!”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Brooks.” I reach into the pocket of his doctor’s coat and pull out the necklace he stole from me, complete with Lars Devereaux’s canines and FAFO warning and put it back around my neck.
“I have too big of a heart. How else do I end up killin’ thirteen alphas, leaving no evidence behind, only to go back when I was ready and plant clues and evidence leading the FBI straight to me?
” I smile big and hold my hand out to Helaena.
She and I seem to be on the same wavelength today, because she places the scalpel right into my hand.
“Every kill, every facility transfer, every violent moment…was just so I could end up right here. So I can save my sister.”
Brooks’ turns pale before he shakes his head, seemingly unable to believe that he’s been outsmarted by a simpering, foolish omega.
“It’s not possible. Nobody can—”
“I did.” I place the scalpel under his chin and tilt my head. “Now, Doctor Brooks, what did I tell you about callin’ me Josephine?”
We trip over ourselves to reach the hall, an unconscious Brooks tossed over Kole’s shoulder. The doctor is now sporting a stab wound in his arm, and a vial of tranquilizer in his blood.
Helaena leads the charge as she navigates us through the hallways, and then finally, we round the corner, only to see a man with a shock of ginger hair drop a guard by snapping his neck.
Declan.
Emotion rises in my chest at the sight of my big brother coming to rescue me, and I let out a shuddering breath as he rushes over, wrapping me in his arms.
“Shhh, shhh. I got you. It’s okay, Princess.” He runs a hand over my wild hair and presses a kiss to my forehead. “You’re safe now, we’re gonna get you out of here.”
“I’m sorry.” My voice cracks. “I was supposed to keep my head down, and I didn’t.”
“You are so strong,” he pulls back, holding me by my shoulders, “don’t you dare apologize.”
Sniffing, I blink up at the mirror of my own eyes. “My guys? Are they okay? What’s—”
“...Jo?” Hearing Hayden’s voice has me whipping my head around. The sight of my Fire Demon, standing among the dead bodies of the guards, has me choking on a whimper.
“Hayden?” Declan lets me go easily as I run, barefoot, and launch myself into his arms.
He catches me effortlessly, the motion as natural as breathing, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he brings his lips to mine.
I sink into the kiss, only for him to pull away and stifle a sob as he buries his face in my hair.
“I thought you died.” His voice is rough with emotion.
“When I felt the bond go dark…I thought they took you from me.”
“And that’s why he blew up half the guards.” Sam’s voice is the next to surprise me, and I look over Hayden’s shoulder to see Sam, West and Rory.
I…I can’t believe they all came.
“Sammy-boy. Doctor.” I give a watery smile as Sam comes up and grabs one of my hands, pressing a kiss to it. West gives me a sad smile and rubs a hand down my arm. I want to go to them, but they know Hayden needs me right now.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to Hayden. “Brooks…he was tryin’ to test a bond breaker on me, but Helaena gave me the instinct inhibitor instead.”
He freezes. “The instinct inhibitor? So…” he pulls away, blinking, “if I bite you again…?”
“Your venom should burn off the effects of the serum like last time.” Helaena speaks from behind me. “I’m sorry, down here I don’t have access to all the same things I do upstairs, and I grabbed the first thing I could to give you instead…”
Declan steps toward her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You helped. Thank you. It’s good to meet you in person, by the way. I’m Declan. Fuzzy speaks very highly of you.”
I can almost hear the blush in her voice when she answers. “I…um…thank you. Mr. Gallagher.”
“Declan is just fine. Now, Hayden…” My alpha stiffens. “Care to put my sister down so we can get the fuck out of here?”
Reluctantly, Hayden lowers me to the ground, and I turn to Declan, putting a hand on my hip. “We still have to get Mabel.”
“Fuck, I know.” He shakes his head. “There’s no chance of you getting out with your pack and letting Rory and I handle this, is there?”
I grin, feeling a little bit like my old self. “Not a chance.”
Suddenly, a squeaking sound catches my attention.
At first, I think it might be a squeaky wheel on a rolling cart and brace myself, but then I realize…
it’s coming from near the ceiling. My eyes zero in on an air vent.
“Turnip!” I cry, stepping over the remains of the guards and trying to reach the vent.
Frowning, I tilt my head back and eye the metal on the wall. I’m too short.
“Kole. Can you please pass Brooks off to Rory and help me up here?” Kole does as I ask, and in the next moment he’s lifting me above his head as if I weigh nothing and placing me on his shoulders. I try not to think about the fact that I’m probably flashing everyone my ass right now.
Turnip continues to squeak.
“How is this possible?” Hayden mutters. “I left her in the kitchens so she’d be safe.”
Kole clicks his tongue as I try to pry the vent cover off. “We should have figured the little thing would find a way to get to her.”
“It’s screwed on.” A feeling of helplessness fills me as I stare at the four screws.
“Here, Trouble.” Sam reaches up to hand me a tactical knife. Oh, that’s real nice to hold.
“Thanks, Sammy.” I turn back to the vent, and before long have all four screws undone.
Sam takes the cover and knife from me when I remove it, and I find myself tearing up when I see my little friend chittering at me.
“Hey, girl.” I scoop her up and hold her soft body to my cheek, letting her rub her face against mine. “I’m sorry I disappeared.”
My stomach dips at the sudden sensation of falling backwards, but then I realize I’m being removed from Kole’s shoulders by Sam. He shifts me so he’s carrying me bridal style while Turnip huddles into my neck.
“Uh…Sam?” I ask, looking around in confusion. West is on one side of me, Hayden is on the other. When I peek behind Sam, Kole is leading up the rear, with Declan, Rory, and Helaena in the very back.
“Yes?” he answers, unbothered.
“I can walk, you know.” Though it does feel rather nice, being cradled against his chest. Like something precious.
“I know you can,” he says easily, turning the corner and walking down another empty hall. “I’m carrying you for purely selfish reasons.”
“Such as?”
“Well, for one, I’ve been itching out of my skin ever since they sent you to the Cathedral. Holding you makes me feel better.”
Oh. “I…suppose I can understand that.” We pass a reception desk and are almost to the elevator. “I’ve been pretty miserable too…and it’s nice bein’ held by you. I don’t know if I’ve had a proper meal the whole time I’ve been gone.”
All my men, even West, growl at my words.
Nuh-uh. We can not have that. Not when we’re about to enter the line of fire again and I have some personal business to take care of. I make my voice extra sweet. “Sammy-boy, will you set me down, pretty please?”
Something in my tone must alert him to my annoyance, because he sighs as he puts me down, and crosses his arms.
My back to the elevator, I place Turnip on my shoulder and prop my hands on my hips, surveying my men. Kole, dark and broody. Sam, hard and reserved. West, open but cautious, and Hayden. My sweet, tortured boy who looks like he might lose it if I ask him to take a step back.
But I have to.
“Listen.”
I scowl at Declan and Rory as they mutter, “Oh, here we go,” and lean against the wall.
“I went through some shit. I will give you every name of every asshole who did me wrong. But right now, what I need from all y’all is to take your growly alpha and beta mojo and shove it deep, deep down.
I promise, as soon as we get out of here I will let you pamper and coddle me.
I’ll let you rub my feet and hand-feed me grapes if that’ll make you happy.
” I meet all their eyes, one by one, and let it sink in before I say my next part.
“But what I cannot have you do is put my mission in jeopardy because you’re tryin’ to protect me.
Or worse, get yourselves killed ‘cause you’re too worried about keepin’ me safe.
If we fail to get Mabel, everythin’ I went through will be for nothin’.
I can handle myself, remember? Declan hasn’t spent the last five years teachin’ me how to do circus tricks. ”
“Well, not just circus tricks,” Declan pipes up, and I shoot him a middle finger.
“Regardless,” I continue, rolling my eyes, “I need you guys to promise me you’ll let me handle myself, okay?” A draft from the air conditioning picks up, and I shiver, rubbing my arms.
“Here you go, sweetie, you must be cold.” I look over to see Helaena holding an oversized cardigan out to me. “It was draped over the chair behind the reception desk.”
Giving her a grateful smile, I pull it on, and let out a mental sigh of relief when it reaches mid-thigh on me. At least my ass is covered now. I move Turnip from my shoulder to the pocket of the cardigan, which thankfully, buttons shut.
Sam sighs, running a hand over his buzzed head. “I get it. Here.” He reaches for one of the knives strapped to his thigh and holds it out to me. “I’d feel better if you had this.”
Oops. Yeah, having a weapon might be good.
I take it from him with a sheepish smile before turning back to the three remaining members of my pack. “Are we clear?” I ask West, Hayden, and Kole. “Because if any of you are thinkin’ that I can’t handle this, I need you to not come with us.”
“Try to stop me, Lisichka,” Kole rumbles, stalking over and pressing a kiss to my lips. “I know you can handle yourself.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Hayden’s voice is more determined than I’ve ever heard. “You may be able to handle yourself, but you don’t have to be by yourself.”
“You’re the most terrifying woman I’ve ever met,” West murmurs, cupping my cheek. “I would pray for their souls…but they don’t deserve it.”
I let out a heavy sigh, and lean into his touch, closing my eyes briefly.
“Okay.” My eyes snap open, and I nod. “Let’s fuck some shit up.”