yanked it out, stepped back and swung at his neck, almost taking his head clean off his shoulders. He didn’t have time to scream between strikes, his eyes rolling in their sockets before his head lolled to the side, blood bathing the ground at his feet.
The clank of the metal weapon saturated the silence around us. My mind went blank and my body started to shake, and before I realized what was happening, I was tearing through the barn and destroying everything in my path. My knuckles were bloody, every muscle in my body screaming from the burst of exertion.
Only when my body gave out, and I sank to my knees did I allow the full impact of what that bastard said filter in.
Zoe was pregnant.
She was carrying my child when they raped her repeatedly, and I wasn’t there to protect her.
With glassy eyes, I looked up at Marek, and the look he gave me told me he understood my suffering. He’d gone through his own ordeal with Sully years back, and from his expression, I could tell those demons still haunted him.
Movement to our left pulled my focus and I was on my feet. Ford appeared first, then Stone was two steps behind him, dragging a battered and restrained Griller. Snatching the gun from my waistband, I raised my arm as I moved closer, firing three shots, two to his chest and one that tore through his throat.
Stone jumped back, shouting that I could’ve warned him first.
So much for saving Griller for Linc. I hoped he wasn’t too upset. If so, I’d have to blame it on a snap with reality, to which I wouldn’t be lying.
47
“We should probably get rid of as much evidence as possible,” Ford offered, walking away from the rest of us and searching the barn. For what, I didn’t know, and I didn’t have the mental energy to care. My only thought was of getting back to the cabin as quickly as possible.
I needed to see Zoe even though I doubted she wanted to see me.
I needed to tell her she’d never have to worry about any of those bastards ever again.
And… I needed to know if what Dutch said was true.
“Got some.” Ford carried a large red container toward us, plopping it on the ground, then craning his neck. “Fuck, it’s been a long night.” The guy seemed as casual as could be, and I quickly wondered what he’d done during his time in the service that stuff like this didn’t seem to faze him much.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to burn it down? Won’t that call attention to this place?” Stone raked his hands over his face, tugging on the end of his beard, a habit he had when he was stressed.
“It’s better for the fire to wipe away as much evidence we were here, rather than let the bodies decompose.” He looked to Stone. “Help me get those two from the woods, so we can get this over with.” I half expected our VP to utter some nonsense about not taking orders, but he just sighed, following in step as they disappeared from the barn.
I walked in circles, not knowing what to do with myself, the need for revenge still prevalent in my blood. But there were no more Reapers for us to annihilate, not here, at least.
“Yeah.” My head swiveled toward Marek, his phone pressed to his ear. “Slow down. Slow… what? … When? … Fuck!” he groaned, slumping his shoulders. “Is he the only one? What about everyone else?” Prez was silent for several long seconds. “Does he know?” I was in front of Marek before ever realizing I’d moved. “We don’t have a choice. If he’s that bad, it’s gonna take too long to get to the cabin for Addy to look at him.” Another silent pause. “Okay. Then get to the cabin after.” He hung up and locked eyes with me. “Fuck.”
“Who?” One word was sufficient.
“Hawke.”
“Hurt or…” I didn’t want to give life to the other word. Hawke wasn’t my favorite guy, but I didn’t dislike him either. The man was loyal and fierce, and Tripp’s younger brother.
“Hangin’ on, but barely. He got hit three times, the nastiest one was to the gut.”
The barn door swung open right then, Ford and Stone dragging two dead Reapers toward the pile of their buddies. Stone’s focus was a bit hazy when he approached afterward.
“You okay, man?” I’d let Prez break the news about the nomad.
“I’m a touch