Page 21 of Enforcer’s Little Warrior (Little Paws Haven #3)

Romy

The brightness of the day and heat of the sun didn’t prevent an icy shiver running down Romy’s spine as he kept vigilant while they moved swiftly towards the forest. Branches creaked together, breaking the heavy silence that hung between them all. Romy suspected their thoughts were on what they would find.

The coolness of the breeze coming down the valley increased as they reached the tree line. Leaves rustled above them, like they were chattering to the branches, warning to stay clear.

His breath was a white puff as he exhaled, searching the trees for attackers. Their cars they left a couple of miles back, hidden under brush they had scavenged to conceal them from prying eyes from above.

Romy discovered once they made a decision, things moved swiftly. Less than twelve hours later, a pack slung over his shoulders with things he might need, they were here. Ready or not, Romy now had to face his past. He released another shuddery exhale, entering the trees, glad that Bash wasn’t next to him because he wasn’t sure he’d have been able to resist climbing him like a tree just to feel secure.

Those around him were hand-picked by Bash. Five enforcers, along with Bash, came from the crash lands. Three at the front that led the way with Bash. Three at the rear of the group protecting them. They had four of Bree’s pack enforcers too; they were to the side of them, meaning protection surrounded Romy and the others with him. Not that Romy thought Cosmo, Nomad, Harley, Evander, Evan, or Bree, who’d all come, needed this level of protection.

He considered Bash had a hand in the formation. His dark head was next to Arlo’s and whatever they were discussing didn’t carry on the wind or in Bash’s thoughts.

As if sensing his gaze, Bash glanced back, and he gave Romy a smile that removed a little of the chill coursing through his veins.

When he returned his attention to Arlo, Cosmo stepped closer and rubbed his shoulder against Romy’s. “We got you covered.”

“I know.” He did, just Romy wasn’t so sure how he’d react being back in that place. He wanted to be brave, problem with that, he knew what those assholes were capable of.

When they’d talked about Gabai and Asher coming, Romy selfishly thought it was a great idea. Strength in numbers, that’s how he saw it. Only that was selfish and something Bree had vetoed after a call with Gabai. They did not want to leave Cookietown vulnerable, or the crash lands, so Gabai and his mate were staying to watch over the town, and they had sent some of the club Dom’s to protect the crash.

The different shifters in Cookietown had no issue working together to support each other. This was new for the crash who initially were resistant until Bash pointed out the dangers lurking. Safety of everyone took precedence over everything else, and Romy reminded himself that including his fear.

There were other children like Toofus and Nambi, they all needed Romy to step up and he clung to that like a survivor holding onto a life raft.

How are you doing?

I’m… okay. It was the best he had and seeing Bash glance back once more, Romy’s lips quivered, even as he forced them to lift in a smile.

We can stop—

No, Daddy. We have to do this. His belly might be doing somersaults, and his pulse a two-step, but Romy would not stop now. They relied upon him to guide them and turning back wasn’t an option.

There was a lot of huffing coming through their link, but at least Bash didn’t stop.

The deeper they went into the forest, Romy tugged his jacket closer to him, feeling the icy chill increase inside him. The trees above blocked out the sunlight and Romy had to watch where he was stepping to ensure he, like the others, kept the element of surprise from those who may be watching.

Which way now?

Romy eyed the tracks that split in two different directions, then the markers, that unless someone looked up past eye level, wouldn’t notice unless looking for them. Romy had scratched marks into the wood, so he’d know if he was going in circles. To the left, Daddy.

Are you sure?

Yes. Look up at the tree, the second one on your left. It has a little round pattern in the bark. See it?

Yes.

I made that mark, so I knew I wasn’t doubling back on myself.

Smart move, Little Bumper.

Despite the situation, Romy grinned at Bash’s pride. Bash’s head went back next to Arlo’s and then they took off in that direction. Everyone wordlessly following.

It was the smell that alerted Romy to how close they were after traveling several more miles. Daddy stop.

Bash did as he asked without question, the others following suit, all looking at Romy, who pointed up. There in the trees were large nooks that the owls used to nest in, only these were all empty as they had been the night Romy had escaped. Why, he didn’t know then or now, but they couldn’t let their guard down.

At the side of him, Cosmo shifted, his outfit shrank with him and fitted like a second skin over his tiny, black-footed cat. Romy had seen the suit in Cosmo’s closet when they had searched through his Little outfits to give Romy some ideas about things he might like. The suit, Cosmo explained—one made by the council—allowed Cosmo’s body to be protected in either form, stretching and shrinking with him.

It was neat and the only positive thing Romy could see the council had given Cosmo.

They all watched him climb up the nearest tree until he disappeared in the branches, high up. Romy held his breath, knowing the upper branches weren’t as strong or sturdy.

Nomad and Harley used hand signals, the enforcers all seemed to understand because they continued on.

Feeling a tightening band around his chest, Romy heaved out a breath at the reality he wasn’t breathing. Bree hooked an arm through his, whispering in his ear, “Cosmo knows what he’s doing.”

It was true he did, but that didn’t stop Romy from fretting for his friend. They’d become close and Romy didn’t like that Cosmo could get hurt because of him.

Guided by Bree, while Harley and Nomad continued to signal, they reached an outcrop of rocks, which Romy knew shielded the entrance into the laboratory.

His nose wrinkled, as did the others, at the scent of death and decay. There was no one place it came from. It surrounded them. From the earth underfoot. In the trees that took sustenance from the ground. In the plants. Even the air became touched by death. Romy felt its depravity coat his exposed skin, making him have to resist rubbing to get it off, knowing it was impossible.

The rocky outcrop, Daddy, the entrance is there.

Bash moved closer to the rocks. I can’t see it.

From the front, it looks like two rocks pushed together. Look to the side, there is a gap between them. There was, but only big enough for someone of Romy’s or Cosmo’s size. Something he’d not mentioned because he’d known that Bash wouldn’t have suggested coming at what that meant.

It took but a second for Bash to realize. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Bash

With Cosmo in the trees, the only one small enough to fit through the entrance was Romy. His mate had known it all along and concealed it from him.

Because he’d known you wouldn’t bring him or come yourself since you’d have been too busy protecting him to worry about the greater good.

Yes, he was a selfish rhino, far more so than his inner voice, which chided him for once again forgetting the oath he’d sworn.

Romy wasn’t selfish, though. His mate had come all of this way, knowing there would come a moment when he’d have to face his greatest fears alone, with no way for Bash to reach him. If his mate ever tried to put himself down again or suggest in any way that he was weak or undesirable, Bash was putting him across his knee and spanking that pert little bottom of his.

Anything he said or did to dissuade Romy from entering that cave would come across as a lack of faith in him and rob Romy of his chance to take back some of the sense of self they’d robbed him of. Bash motioned him forward, his heart hammering the whole time, but he refused to let it show and dishonor the strength Romy displayed right now.

Once you are inside, your only task is to find a way to open a passageway for the rest of us.

Bash gave his instructions through the mind link they shared, not wanting to risk any sounds that might trigger a detection device.

Promise me that.

I promise.

And if you are in danger of being spotted, you evade and get the hell out of there. Don’t try to face them on your own.

I won’t.

Okay, go on and keep your mind open to me.

I will. Love you, Daddy.

I love you too, Little Bumper, so you’d better come back to me in one piece.

Saying that was almost ironic, considering the minor incident with his tail. He was just grateful that the moment was far too serious for his mate to point that out to him, or he’d have been feeling rather sheepish indeed.

I will, Daddy, don’t worry, I can do this.

I know you can.

As Romy disappeared through the opening, Bash focused on the surrounding area, looking for any signs of a second entrance. Arlo was doing the same on the other side of it, the two of them fanning out to search for clues. If experience had taught them anything, it was that tunnels had several dead ends, some natural and others deliberately created by those who were utilizing them. In order not to become confused themselves, they mark any they found in notable ways, they just had to find them.

Bree’s enforcers joined the hunt, but it was Cosmo who spotted a shaft in the mountain's top, only visible from the air, which meant that only the eagles and other avians would have been able to use it.

But would they fit?

Bash waited with as much patience as he could muster up, occasionally reaching out to Romy. He had spotted the shaft from the inside and informed him that the descent was a more than fifty-foot drop, which meant they’d need to anchor in and repel onto a narrow ledge that there was no guarantee they’d been able to transverse to the other side.

Not the way in for them, then.

Bash signaled to the others to let them know what he’d learned. We need to keep looking.

They relayed their understanding, while Cosmo moved to another branch and Romy worked from the inside.

Wait, I think I’ve got something. Romy sounded excited.

There’s a lever next to what looks like a wall of rock, but I can feel air flowing through it. If it’s not a door, then it’s got to be another shaft.

Which side of the tunnel?

Northeast.

Don’t pull the lever yet, let me get everyone assembled close to the area.

Okay, Daddy.

It took a series of hand singles passed between him, Nomad, Cosmo and Bree’s enforcers before everyone moved around to the northeast side of the hill, and even then, they remained hidden in the tree line in case what Romy did alerted others to the lever having gotten pulled. It wouldn’t do to give away their numbers or lose the element of surprise that was their only advantage.

Open it, Little Bumper.

A low, rumbling sound, like rock shifting, reached their sensitive ears, complete with vibrations that left them all on edge. Several crows burst from nearby trees, and they all crouched in shadows as they cawed and circled overhead before flying off. Whether they were true animals of nature or enhanced ones seeking anything in motion so they could report back to the hidden council members and their lackies was anyone’s guess. But when the hidden entryway finally opened, the only one waiting on the other side was Romy, who’d tucked himself as far back into a corner as he could get.

Bash could see his eyes blinking in the darkness through and the light scent of his fear until he realized it was them entering the cavern. Bash reached him first and wrapped one arm around him, drawing Romy to his side.

Good job, Little Bumper, now let's dismantle this place.

Gladly.

With one last squeeze, Bash turned him loose again, allowing Romy to take the lead to guide them through the maze of passageways. It wasn’t easy for him when Romy was in the forefront that way, where he’d be ground zero for any tripwire or trap. He just had to trust that Romy knew what to look out for, and through his attempts to escape, he’s learned as much about what not to do as he had about the way out. If not, none of them were leaving this awful place where the stench of death clung to every stone and crevice, and as far as Bash was concerned, that was simply unacceptable.