Page 4 of Blood and Embers (The Rose Vampire Coven #7)

Pike knew Scott was a smart man, but hadn’t figured he would get it right on the first try.

It was indeed territorial that Bagwell wanted to expand his boundaries and was doing so by pushing into others' territories.

The escalation was also correct in that he started with the weaker groups, the smaller packs, and then took a stab at the major player, who was Master Rose.

He was testing his strength and would most likely strike again soon.

“I think they will hit you again just to see what you do about it.” He spoke Pike’s thoughts.

“That’s what we think too.”

“That’s why there’s a guard at the Blood Rose?" He asked, and Pike nodded.

"That's all I'm going to get, isn't it?" He smiled again.

“For now.” Pike winked.

Hugh was making another circuit of the club, ensuring the caution tape was still in place and that no one was loitering.

Just as he was coming around the side and heading for the front, he saw a shadow dart inside the burned-out doorway.

He made chase and was inundated by a horde of shifters carrying more gasoline and lighting fires.

He attacked, grabbed the first one he could reach, and broke his neck. The explosion rousted the others from the main house, and soon there was a full-on battle taking place in the remains of the Blood Rose.

Pike got the call just as they were leaving the restaurant. He had offered Scott a ride home and planned to suggest that they retire to his apartment for drinks since their attraction was obvious. Besides, he wanted to get Scott familiar with the Coven House.

He figured his chances of getting an agreement were very good. Scott looked at him the way Pike had looked at his steak when it arrived. He was very interested, but now all that was on the back burner because of those fucking Bagwell boys.

"What is it?" Scott had sensed his intensity in reading the text. He thought about downplaying it and pretending it was no big deal, but then figured, what the hell, he called it, he might as well know.

"There's been another attack at the Blood Rose. More gasoline and more fire, but this time they haven't gotten away." Pike started running for his car, and Scott was on his heels.

"I'm coming with you." He demanded, and Pike didn't stop him. Soon, they were in Pike's vehicle and racing to the scene.

"Prepare yourself," Pike warned. "There's a battle taking place.

Hugh caught the guys setting the fires, and there were more than two this time.

The Rose soldiers are clashing with the Bagwell freaks, and it promises to be a bloody battle.

Just go with it for now, and I'll explain everything later.

" Scott looked over at him oddly, but then nodded.

Trust was building, and it was a lovely thing.

“I’ll alert the station of the fire.” Scott opened his phone, but Pike stopped him.

“It’s handled, don’t worry. We can’t have anyone else involved at this point.” Pike explained as best he could.

“Is this some sort of gang war?”

“Some sort," Pike stated as he floored it through town. Scott sat back and stayed silent.

The chaos was apparent as they pulled up and parked in the alley between the Club and the Coven House. Pike could see that Scott was fighting the urge to call this in, as a few flames licked the walls outside through one of the broken windows that had been damaged during the last fire.

Pike jumped from the vehicle and shouted to Scott to stay close, "These things are killers, don't engage.

" He said, and Scott, being the man that he was, instantly began dealing with the fire that was being brought under control by a few men with fire extinguishers.

He took over, and they let him, as they recognized him as the Lieutenant from the previous night.

They followed his orders and directions without question.

Pike kept one eye on Scott and the other on the bastards that were trying to fuck up the place. He saw Hugh off to the side and joined him, taking out three jackals. He caught one that someone had thrown across the room, and Pike snapped his neck before tearing out his throat for good measure.

The shifters, wolves, jackals, and cougars had shifted for the fight, but it did not save them. Thankfully, Scott had his entire attention on the fire, but Pike knew that the violence would not escape him. Pike would have a lot of explaining to do once this was over.

The Rose guards made short work of their attackers, although several wolves managed to run away. It didn't matter that they would be found and dealt with like their brothers.

The fire was extinguished, and Scott headed over to where Pike stood with Hugh, and then there was a gasp.

Suddenly, a shocked sound rang out, so sharp that everyone turned to look.

Standing in the back doorway was a young man with eyes wide and his mouth hanging open in fright.

He screamed at the sight before him, but before he could turn and run, Pike was on him.

It wasn’t something he wanted to do in front of Scott, but he was the closest, and the man could not be allowed to leave with the knowledge of what he'd seen.

Pike held him and placed the palm of his right hand on the man's forehead.

Within a few minutes, the look on his face turned from terror to confusion.

Pike released him and guided him out to the alley. He noticed that a disturbed-looking Scott followed them. The man looked around and then took a step back. "I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't mean to intrude."

“You’re fine," Pike assured him, and the man nodded cordially and continued on his way down the alley, no longer afraid or concerned by what he’d seen.

“What did you do to him?” Scott came up to stand beside Pike. The heightened upheaval of his thoughts and emotions was raging toward Pike. He had to take care of this now, or he might lose this man.

“I wiped his mind clear of the memory of what he saw," Pike stated truthfully.

“Are you going to wipe my mind too?” That came out with an edge that could cut glass.

He turned and looked at Scott directly and held his fierce gaze.

“If I didn’t want you to know who we are, I wouldn't have brought you here.

" That caught him off guard, and the anger slipped, and that soft expression was there for a moment.

Hugh came up behind Pike, obviously having witnessed the situation.

"We can handle it from here, Pike." He said. "Why don't you take your beloved inside?" Pike reached out his hand to Scott, who at first looked at it with painful suspicion and then, to Pike’s surprise, took it and held it firm.

"You're going to explain everything, including those wild beasts you were battling, and just who is this Bagwell?" He stated, and the heaviness in the air lightened slightly.

“I’ll explain everything.”