9. Chance #3
“As you all know, our son Zeke was killed on a mission with Vampire Command. What most of you don’t know is that he was specifically targeted, tortured, and murdered.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Rena wrapped her arms around my waist. Elgin’s head swung in my direction. I kept my eyes on my father.
“Through investigation, most of which Ezekiel had compiled before his death, my sons discovered that a human organization was targeting newly mated Vampires and their mates.”
The murmuring got louder, and my father raised his hand for quiet.
“They also discovered that three Vampire generals—Morren, Keihley, and Adamson—were being paid to provide information to the humans.”
The murmuring became a roar.
“We took care of them,” Dalton called out dryly, calming most of the noise. A few Vampires stared at him in shock.
“Zeke was targeted because he was newly mated to my son-in-law, Charles,” my father continued, looking over at Charlie. “And because he noticed something was very wrong and acted on it. His mate was hunted all the way from Europe. My son Beau and his mate, Reese, were also targeted.”
The crowd had become completely silent.
“Last month, our home was attacked by a highly coordinated group of humans after they’d used a teammate of Zeke’s, a Vampire by the name of Billy Finau, to lure my sons and me out of the house.
Weeks after, that same group attacked Dalton Cavendish’s home while his mate and young sons were home alone. ”
“My youngest nearly died,” Dalton announced grimly.
“We’ve severed their connection with Vampire Command, but the humans are still active. Their leader is called Hermann. A few days ago, my son Chance identified a facility owned by the organization, and my son Danny and his mate went to the facility to investigate.”
My father nodded to Danny and Rosemary. They climbed the stairs and stood on the porch, facing us.
“They’re holding warehouses full of Vampires and their mates in cages.
One of the warehouses is filled with medical equipment that they’re using to perform experiments on those they’re holding captive.
” Danny’s voice faltered. “There were Vampires and humans strapped to beds and tables…” His words trailed off.
“The mates are held in separate cages,” Rosemary added, her voice hoarse. “They can barely reach each other through the bars. Most of them are nearly comatose from what we saw, staring at the walls as if all hope is gone.”
“There are hundreds of humans guarding the facility,” my father added. “In order to release those they’re holding captive, we need every one of you to help.”
“If there are hundreds of humans guarding this facility, how were Danny and his mate able to gain access?” someone called from the crowd.
“We’re good at what we do,” Danny replied flatly. “Any other questions?”
“Come on, Danny,” the same person replied. “It’s a valid question.”
Danny opened his mouth to say something back, but stopped when Rosemary squeezed his arm.
“You’re asking about me, right?” she asked the person in the crowd. “How was I able to gain access?” She didn’t wait for his reply. “I’ve been an operating member of Dalton Cavendish’s Strike organization for five years.”
“She’s also my daughter,” Gary called out.
I hadn’t noticed him when he’d arrived, but now it was impossible to miss him in his wheelchair with a group of older human men with rigid military bearing.
“Fuck me,” I breathed in surprise.
“I worked alongside many of you,” Gary said, looking through the crowd. “Saved your asses and put mine on the line more times than I can remember. My daughter says she saw all this? She saw it.”
“Who are they?” Rena asked me. The humans stood out like a sore thumb among the Vampire males because each of them had aged past what most Vampires ever did.
“They’re humans who worked alongside Vampire Command,” I replied quietly. “The best of the best.”
“Fuck yeah,” Rena said with a grin.
“We didn’t know Gary was calling them in.”
“We plan to liberate the captives tonight,” my father said, looking through the crowd.
“When we do, we’ll need every Vampire and mate who is willing and able to help us.
Decide now. If, for some reason, you believe that this is not your fight…
no need to make excuses why. Just leave.
” He paused. “And I think it goes without saying, but I’ll say it.
If we find out that a single one of you has spoken of this to anyone outside those gathered here, if there is even a hint that you have put these Vampires and their brand new mates in further danger because you couldn’t hold your own council, there is not an inch of safety left for you on earth.
We will hunt you down like dogs and be far less merciful when we find you. ”
As soon as my father walked back into the house, we followed him, weaving through the crowd.
The Vampires were in an uproar, talking over each other as they tried to make sense of the information they’d been given.
We’d known it would happen and decided beforehand that we’d let them do it without any interference.
We weren’t interested in fighting alongside anyone who had to be convinced.
I was surprised when we came to a stop in the living room to find Elgin and his sons had followed us inside.
“I gave you my word,” he said in grim explanation. “We’ll fight with you.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
“We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you,” Jean said softly. “It was never in question.”
“They’re kidnapping mates?” André asked, his expression stark. “For what purpose?”
“Our lifespan,” Elgin told his son. He looked at me. “Correct?”
“Yes.”
The next couple of hours were a frenzy of preparation and being pulled aside by Vampires who wanted answers to dozens of questions.
How had we discovered the organization? How were they paying for it?
How many Vampires did we think they’d murdered?
Did I have any information about this friend or that relative who had disappeared?
Were we sure that the three generals were the only Vampires feeding the humans information?
Where could they find an armory? Did we have any rifles to spare? Any body armor? Any face paint?
Rena and I didn’t have a moment to ourselves until dinner time, and that was because I’d deliberately carved it out. Grabbing plates from the kitchen, I carried them up to our rooms. When Rena shut and locked the door behind us, I let out a relieved breath at the quiet.
“Do you think we’ll be successful?” she asked as we sat down at my tiny kitchen table. “How many went home?”
“Less than I thought would,” I replied, pushing her plate toward her.
“We should have enough. In a confrontation, trained Vampires are the equivalent of about five trained human men. There are exceptions, of course, but that was the ratio we used when planning missions with Command. It’s a rough calculation. ”
“Are all the Vampires trained?”
“Yes. Every one of them has either worked for Command at some point or fought in wars before Command was established in 1776.”
“Jesus,” she mumbled. “Old fuckers.”
“It’s going to be chaotic,” I warned her. “Keep your eyes and your ears open at all times.”
The closer our departure time loomed, the worse my anxiety became.
I was confident in my abilities, and I felt a hell of a lot better now that the teams had arrived, but operations never went smoothly, and if they did, it was because you were missing something.
There was always a fly in the ointment, and most of the time you didn’t find it until you were halfway through it.
“I’ll be with the second wave,” Rena replied. “We won’t come in until everything is over.”
“It won’t be over until we’ve left Arizona,” I corrected. “Keep your guard up.”
“I will.”
“If you’re in a tight spot, find someone in our family,” I ordered. “No one else.”
“I will.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise. I’ll find a Boucher if I get in trouble.”
Rising, I reached for her. We spent the next hour in bed making each other come.
I memorized the taste of her skin, the feel of her hands under my palms, the sounds she made as I teased her, the sounds she made as she brought me to the edge.
My mouth watered as I kissed her neck, her pulse pounding beneath my lips.
When my alarm went off, we rose, and I quietly helped her dress in dark clothing, though she could’ve done it herself.
Rena watched from the bed as I pulled on the uniform I’d worn for most of my life, in every corner of the earth.
I stuffed bear spray into one pocket of her trousers and a taser into the other.
She kissed me slowly and deeply in thanks.
Then it was time to join the others.