Page 21

Chapter Nineteen

S triker kicked awake, his wolf agitated and alerting him to danger. He moved off the bed in record time and checked on Edee. She was still asleep. Unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong, he made his way to the window and looked out. It was still dark .

At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Still, he remained. He saw it then, men moving around the house next door, all armed, all headed towards the safe house .

We’ve got company , he pushed out with his mind to his teammates, knowing they’d all hear him .

He went to Edee and bent, touching her shoulder lightly. “ Lass .”

She came awake with a start, fright in her eyes. When she looked up at Striker, she calmed, but looked confused. He put a finger to his lips and she grabbed his hand, hurrying out of the bed .

The door to the room opened and Duke was standing there with extra weapons in his hands. He tossed one to Striker, who caught it with ease with one hand .

Striker looked to his friend. “Get her out of here .”

Edee squeezed his hand tighter. “I can’t go. If Elm is with them, you guys won’t stand a chance .”

“Lass, this is nae up for discussion. Go with Duke. Now,” said Striker, looking around for her shoes and something warmer to put her in. He found a pair of slip-on shoes and bent, letting go of her hand long enough to grab them .

The redheaded she-devil took off and pushed past a stunned-looking Duke .

“Brooke!” she yelled .

Striker cursed and ran after her. She made it to the door of the bedroom Brooke was in just as it opened. Malik was there, holding his daughter and ushering his mate into the hallway .

Brooke and Edee grabbed each other, hugging before they looked at the men. It was Brooke who stepped forward. “Go. Get Bethany to safety. We’ll hold them off .”

The men all shared a look that said what they were thinking .

Like fucking hell !

Gram and Auberi were up the stairs in seconds. Striker had heard Auberi, Duke, Corbin, Garth, and Rurik arrive before he’d drifted off. They had more than enough men to take a stand and protect the women .

“Does she listen to you?” asked Striker, pointing to Gram, but motioning to Edee .

Gram grunted. “Och, she does nae listen to anyone .”

Malik held Bethany to him with one arm and touched Brooke’s cheek. “My sweet, go with Gram and Auberi. They’ll get you all somewhere safe .”

Bethany began to cry and Malik kissed her cheek. “No tears, princess. I won’t let anything bad happen to any of you .”

She clung to Malik, crying harder .

The sight broke Striker’s heart. “Tut, take yer family and the she-devil there with you. The rest of us will — ”

A huge explosion rocked the house .

Bethany practically scaled Malik while Duke and Striker threw themselves over Edee and Brooke. It was instinctive, protect the women at all cost .

Gunfire erupted from below .

Brooke eased out of Duke’s hold, but kept her hand on his arm. “Go! Edee and I will slow them down .”

Auberi twisted and shot at someone coming up the stairs .

Smoke began to filter up the stairs, and Striker knew the house was on fire. It wouldn’t be safe for anyone soon. There wasn’t time to argue with the women. “Och, we’re wasting time. Women, you will listen to me on this !”

Brooke and Edee leveled gazes on him that made his manhood tuck and run. He grabbed Duke by the shoulder and shoved him in front of him. “I mean you two will listen to him .”

Auberi shot someone else. “Whatever we’re doing needs done now .”

Malik locked gazes with Gram. “Princess, will you let Uncle Gram hold you ?”

Bethany shimmed out of Malik’s hold and ran to Gram. He lifted her, holding her close to him, nodding at Malik. “I’ll keep her safe. You’ll get Brooke out ?”

“Yes,” said Malik .

Striker eyed the two men. “Och, can I trade one of you? The redhead is nae safe to be near .”

Gram touched Auberi’s shoulder and Duke pushed in front of them all, taking point. Gram was next with Bethany and Auberi pulled up the rear .

“I’ll lead,” said Duke. “ Auberi ?”

“Right behind you,” said Auberi .

Striker made a move to grab Edee just as something crashed in both of the rooms near him. Instantly, he smelled vampire, mixed with something else. Twisting, he slammed into a vampire and tackled him to the ground as another came at him from above. Just his luck they’d be multiplying .

The one under him bit his arm and Striker punched the man in the face. The other one grabbed his head, attempting to snap his neck. He reached up to knock it away when all of a sudden a lamp hit it. Edee threw herself at the vampire trying to break Striker’s neck .

Much to his shock, she managed to knock the vampire off him .

Worried for her safety, Striker let claws emerge from his fingertips and then slashed open the neck of the vampire below him. It gurgled and twitched. Pushing off the vampire, Striker ran at Edee and lifted her off the vampire as she kicked and hit it. He set her aside and the damn woman spun around and kicked him in the shin .

“Och! I’m on yer side,” he said, stiff-arming the remaining vampire, never taking his gaze off Edee .

She gave him a hard look. “I know .”

“But you kicked me anyways?” he asked, hitting the vampire again .

Edee nodded. “Yes. Be warned, I want to do it again .”

The vampire came at him again and Striker let his claws out again. He slashed and took the vampire’s head off with one swipe .

Edee did a double take and then put two thumbs up, smiling wide. “Badass, Scot, totally badass .”

“Yer nae right in the head, are you?” he asked as another vampire came through the window. “I’m getting really tired of this .”

Garth was suddenly there, helping as yet another vampire used the window as a point of entrance. Garth let his hand partially shift and rammed it into the vampire’s chest, killing it at once .

Striker went to grab Edee to get her to safety when he saw her staring wide-eyed at Garth, before paling and dropping to the floor. She huddled there, shaking and crying. When he realized it was because she no doubt thought Garth was the man who’d tortured her, his chest tightened. He wanted to find Grid and kill the bastard himself .

Garth put his hands up as they returned to human form. He met Striker’s gaze and connected on their mental path. I don’t want to move and scare her .

Aye , said Striker .

He moved to the redhead quickly and then tentatively touched her shoulder .

She lowered her arm slightly, peeking out at him, red rimming her eyes. When she saw Striker, she launched herself at him, hugging him around the neck, clinging to him .

“Lass, yer safe. That’s nae the same man who hurt you. Garth has a twin brother with a scar by his eye. He’s nae a guid man. Garth is. He’s worried that he’s goin’ to scare you more, so he’s nae moving a muscle right now .”

He eased Edee to her feet .

She stared up at him, her gaze searching his face. “ Really ?”

“Aye,” returned Striker .

She sank against him and put her face to his chest, relief going through her. She stepped out of his grasp, but didn’t go far. Wiping her cheeks, she looked at Garth .

Garth eased closer, keeping his hands up. “Edee, I’m so sorry for what Grid did to you. Know that when I find him, I will kill him, brother or not .”

She took a deep, calming breath, her fear lessening enough that Striker could sense it. She offered a soft smile to Garth. “I’m sorry about the freak-out. It’s just, well, he…he more than just hurt me. He and another man spent eight months terrorizing me .”

Smoke built around them in the room. Striker knew they had to get out of the house, but he also knew Edee needed this moment. So he resisted the urge to make her go .

Garth eased a little closer. “Can I hug you ?”

She sighed and looked down. “I understand now that you’re not him, but, Garth, I don’t know if I can let you touch me in any way yet .”

Garth nodded. “I understand .”

“It’s not you,” Edee said quickly. “It’s just, you look exactly like him…and I spent too many nights pinned under him .”

Striker’s wolf tried its hardest to surface. It wanted to save Garth the time and kill his brother— slowly .

Garth drew in a sharp breath. “Edee, I’m so very sorry. Please know that .”

She looked up at him, and inched towards him. She touched his arm lightly—then gasped, moving closer to him. “I understand now! Garth, you need to go— now . You have to get to your wife. He’d laugh when he was hurting me, telling me that he planned to do what he did to me to your mate. He said his brother was a do-gooder, and he couldn’t wait for you to walk in and find your mate with him right before he kills her. I didn’t know he had a twin .”

Garth’s brow crinkled and he slowly put his hand on Edee’s shoulder. “Edee, I’m not mated. I’ve no wife .”

“Wait, do you have another brother?” she asked .

He shook his head .

She cupped her mouth. “Then, yes, you do. He told me he’s been watching her for years. Since she was a child even. Watching her grow into a beauty that you didn’t deserve. You do have a mate—and he’s got her in his sights .”

Garth stiffened. “W-what? I have a mate ?”

She nodded and surprised Striker as she patted Garth’s chest. “ Yes .”

The smoke thickened. “We’ve got to go, now .”

Garth looked to Striker. “I don’t want to scare her more. You take point. Edee, stay close to him. I’ll be right behind you .”

Edee blinked at them both. “I’m not leaving. If Elm comes here for Brooke I have to help her .”

Striker rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m going to regret this .”

He went at her fast, throwing her over his shoulder .