Page 36 of Predator (Stope Packs #4)

Emily came to with a sharp intake of breath, the world around her still and cold. She felt solid rock under her, rough and unyielding. Her arms, now bound in front, ached from the strain.

Ducking her chin, she lifted her hands and heard the rattle of a chain. Grunting, she fumbled with her fingers until she managed to yank the rough hood from her head. The smell of garlic clung thickly to her nose and throat, coating her breath with its acrid sting. Her eyes watered, and the dull throb at the back of her skull reminded her they’d hit her in a different spot this time. Fantastic. She bit down a slightly hysterical laugh and forced herself to focus.

Dust swirled in the air, thick and stale, carrying the metallic tang of iron mixed with the earthy scent of damp stone. Beneath the dust and age, she caught the faint whiff of oil—old machinery oil—and something sulfuric.

The place felt unused for years, maybe decades, but the smell of coal, rusty tools, and old wood still clung to the air. She blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.

The room was bare, the walls hewn from jagged rock and patches of decayed timber beams reinforcing the ceiling. Rusted metal brackets jutted from the stone, once used to hold lanterns or equipment. Opposite her, a set of old block windows lined the middle of the wall, the kind divided into squares like industrial glass bricks, dirty with age and grime. Beyond them, she glimpsed a narrow hallway carved from the rock, lit by a single dim bulb that buzzed in the silence.

She pressed her back against the wall, extending her legs and trying to warm them by kicking out. The chill from the stone had seeped deep into her bones, and her teeth chattered.

Metal hurt her wrists. She looked down to see shackles over each one, secured by a chain that attached to the wall above her head. The heavy links rested on her shoulder. At least there was enough slack to rest her hands in her lap.

Tugging, she tested the strength. The chain appeared new. Fucking great.

Movement flickered beyond the window. Her breath hitched. She went utterly still, holding herself motionless as a figure crossed the narrow hallway. The echo of footsteps on gravel and the rustle of fabric carried through the air.

A fluorescent light flickered to life overhead, casting harsh shadows against the stone. Blinking rapidly, Emily willed her vision to clear, heart pounding as she strained to make out the figures through the grimy glass.

Her breath caught. “Nadia,” she whispered.

Her sister’s profile came into view through the block windows, clear even in the dim light.

Betrayal cut so deep and sharp that Emily gasped, her breath hitching in her throat. Oh, God. Was her father okay? Had Nadia hurt him? How had Emily not sensed this? Her illness had been worse than she’d thought if she hadn’t known her sister was dangerous. She had thought what? That because Nadia was shorter, she was somehow adorable? Cute? Loving?

Everything hurt, from Emily’s toes to the top of her head, and the pulse hammering at the back of her skull promised a painful lump. Dried blood itched along her shoulders, but she could still feel fresh droplets trickling down her neck. Through the murky glass, she watched as Nadia walked along the corridor, a male whose head rose above the glass shadowing her. Broad shoulders. Wide frame.

Caidrik. It had to be.

Her breath caught as her pulse stuttered. The bulb above the window barely illuminated the hallway beyond, and the damn garlic still clogged her senses, muddling everything.

The door creaked as Nadia pushed it open, fumbling for the light switch. A fluorescent glare flooded the room, stark against the rock walls, making Emily squint as pain shot through her skull.

“Emily?” Nadia murmured, eyes wide with something Emily couldn’t read.

“What are you doing?” Emily rasped, her throat dry and raw. She shook her head, instantly regretting it as pain crashed from her skull down her neck. Bile surged in her throat, hot and sharp, and she doubled over with a retch, barely managing to hold back the vomit that threatened to choke her.

Footsteps clomped on the hard floor as the male stepped in behind Nadia. Blinking through the haze, Emily tried to focus.

Not Caidrik, but somebody just as large.

“Who the hell are you?” she slurred. Damn it, why was her voice so thick?

The male smiled, slow and easy, like someone at peace with the moment. His shoulders filled the doorway, and thick, brown hair framed a square jaw, his eyes a dark shade of brown that nearly blended into the shadows. “I’m just here for the money.”

Emily lifted her head, trying to smell him and pinpoint his pack, but the garlic burned through her sinuses, drowning everything out. All she could smell was blood and spice. “Nadia?” she whispered again, her gaze locking on her sister.

The male shifted his shoulder without warning, a quick, efficient motion.

Nadia gasped, her eyes going wide, her mouth falling open as she staggered forward. Emily stilled, her heart slamming against her ribs as her gaze dropped to the knife sticking out of her sister’s back. “Nadia.”

The metal caught the light as Nadia fell to her knees, shock on her face. She pitched forward onto her stomach, revealing the weapon.

Silver.

Emily’s pulse spiked as adrenaline surged. Her muscles tensed, and her breath hitched. She needed to move. But her body wouldn’t respond, her limbs cold and heavy with exhaustion.

Panic coiled in her chest as she stared at her sister, her mind spinning.

What was happening?

Nadia coughed and sputtered on the floor, her arm stretching toward Emily.

“Take that out,” Emily said urgently. “She’ll die.”

The massive guy shrugged. “Told her if she didn’t shut the hell up on the way here, I’d stab her. Should’ve listened.” He watched Nadia for another moment, his expression blank as she shuddered, tears streaking her cheeks.

“Who hired you?” Emily asked, her voice hoarse. Her muscles felt frozen, her body heavy and slow. What the hell was wrong with her?

“You’ll know soon enough.” He turned, shutting the door with a solid click.

Emily yanked at the restraints, her breath coming in short bursts. The chain holding her to the wall barely shifted. Her hands, manacled in front of her, strained as she tried to reach her sister. Pain pounded at the back of her skull, sharp and unrelenting. “Nadia, come here,” she urged, voice raw.

Nadia gasped and trembled, the knife still lodged in her lower back. Blood bubbled at her lips, dripping onto the floor.

“Nadia!” Emily barked.

“What?” Nadia choked out, eyes wide and wet.

“I know it’s hard, but I’m attached to the fucking wall. Move. Now.”

Her sister shot her a look, half pain, half defiance. She planted her hands against the cold floor, grimacing as she dragged herself forward, each breath a loud groan.

“Good. Good. Do it again,” Emily urged, pulling against the restraints, her heart hammering as she willed Nadia to reach her.

Nadia gulped and winced but did it again, inching closer.

“All right. One more time, and you’ll be here. The room’s not that big. You’re close. Just keep coming.” Emily tried to sound calm.

“Can’t,” Nadia gasped, her body heaving.

“I know you can.” Emily softened her tone. “You’re my sister. Come closer.”

Nadia looked up, the pain in her black eyes so raw that Emily could almost feel it in her own back.

“All right.” Nadia planted one arm against the floor and dragged herself closer.

“Good.” Emily reached out. Her fingers grazed Nadia’s hand, and she clutched it, pulling her sister the rest of the way.

Nadia cried out as Emily panted through her own pain. “Hold still.” Emily scooted forward as far as the chain would allow, the metal biting into her wrists. Her fingers brushed the knife’s hilt. She grunted and pulled with every ounce of strength she had left.

Nadia screamed, and her body bucked from the pain, but the knife came free with a sickening slide. She collapsed onto her side, gasping, “I think that was a kidney.”

“We only need one, right?” Emily gripped the bloody knife. “It’s silver. Don’t shift.” That would propel the poison through Nadia’s bloodstream too fast.

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to.” Nadia curled into a ball, her face wet with tears. “Thanks.”

Emily looked toward the empty doorway. “Who is he?”

“I don’t know.” More tears spilled from Nadia’s eyes. “Caidrik and I headed into town to get something for Dad to eat. There was a tree down. Caidrik got out to move it, and this truck came out of nowhere.” Her eyes glassed over as if reliving the moment. “It hit him hard, and there was this crunch of bone. I’ve never heard anything like it. Then the guy who stabbed me jumped out and grabbed me. I fought. I really did.”

“I know you did.” Emily gripped the knife tighter as she examined her shackles. There had to be a way to wedge the blade into the lock.

Carefully, she pressed the blade against the shackle’s hinge and winced as the edge sliced into her palm. The silver burned through her skin, its poison flowing into her bloodstream with a searing sting.

Grunting, Nadia pushed herself upright, blood soaking through her white sweater.

“I think you should stay still until that heals,” Emily said through clenched teeth.

“I think I should help you get out of those so we can get out of here,” Nadia shot back, her voice hoarse but determined.

Emily met her gaze. “I’m with you.”

“Raya?” A male voice echoed from outside.

Emily and Nadia both stilled. Emily’s breath hitched. “That was Victor.”

“I think so, too,” Nadia gasped.

Victor’s heavy footsteps echoed outside the block windows. Moments later, the door swung open, and he stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over them. His expression went blank.

“You fucking asshole,” Emily yelled, yanking furiously at the knife, trying to wedge it against the chain.

Victor shook his head. “What the hell is going on?”

“You had him stab her,” Emily barked, pulling harder against the bindings.

Victor stepped forward, his jaw going slack. “Nadia, are you bleeding?”

“Yeah,” Nadia muttered, her voice rough with pain.

He looked at her, eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?”

“Wait a minute.” Emily glanced at Nadia. “Did he yell ‘Raya?’”

A shadow crossed the doorway. Then Raya stepped inside.

Shock cascaded through Emily.

“Hello, ladies.” Raya smiled.

Emily shook her head. “Raya?”

Victor looked from Emily to Raya. “Honey, what the hell have you done?”

Honey ? Seriously? Emily tried to focus.

Raya moved beside Victor, standing close. She wore all black—jeans, boots, a sweatshirt—and had her dark hair pulled into a ponytail. “I’m doing what needed to be done, Victor.”

He looked from her to Emily and back again. “Honey, we have a plan, remember? I’m going to take over the pack.”

“I want both packs,” Raya said flatly. “Jackson doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. He’s inviting outsiders in. We don’t do that.”

“You can join my pack,” Victor said, his gaze locking on Emily. “I’ve been asking you to mate with me?—”

Emily’s thoughts spun. “Raya, what about Thane?”

Raya waved a hand in the air. “Thane will be dead in a few hours. He was a means to an end. I just had to get close enough to Jackson to learn all the pack’s weaknesses, and well, get to the mines.”

Heat coated Emily’s throat. “You sabotaged the mines?”

“Sure.” Raya shrugged. “It wasn’t hard, although I would’ve expected more casualties. Not bad for my first couple of tries, though. The next time will be spectacular.” She glanced at her watch. “After I kill him, you can take over both packs, Victor.”

Victor blanched. “I don’t know that I have enough soldiers to go to war.”

“You do,” she said. “I’ve sent most of their good fighters away on different educational trips.” Her gaze flicked to her watch again. “There’s going to be a phenomenal explosion in the mine, right between the morning and afternoon shifts. They’ll lose most of their best fighters, including Thane, and then the entire territory will be ours. We can base headquarters here.”

Emily’s breath caught as realization dawned. “This is the Embervault Mine.”

“Sure is,” Raya said smoothly. “It’s the new headquarters of the Granite-Slate Pack, which Victor will rule.”

Victor stepped away from her. “Wait a minute. What do you plan to do with my cousins?”

“Do you really care?” Raya snarled. “You’re the one who had Emily kidnapped the first time.”

Victor blanched, his gaze sliding to Emily and then down. “That was just to show Philip how vulnerable she is and that she can’t be the Alpha. I told them not to hurt you, Emily. Even if you hadn’t escaped, they would’ve let you go.” He glared at Raya. “I can’t believe you told her. That was a secret.”

Fury focused Emily. “You told Raya about the garlic?”

Raya snorted. “He did, so I made sure my guys employed the same props. But you weren’t supposed to walk away the second time. Damn Jackson Tryne for finding you. I guess third time is the fucking charm.” She straightened to her full and rather unimpressive height. “Now Victor, I have everything in place. All right?”

He looked from Emily to Nadia before turning back to Raya. “Sweetheart, I love you with my whole heart, and I’ll give you everything you want in this life…but I don’t want you to kill my cousins.”

Raya planted both hands on her hips, her brown eyes sparking. “Vic, you’ve beaten the heck out of more than one female lover in your past. You told me all about them.”

“I told you I was drinking and that I felt horrible about it whenever I sobered up,” Victor snapped. “I have a bad temper. I’m trying to work on that. But that doesn’t mean I want you to kill my cousins.”

Raya’s lips pressed into a thin line. She slowly backed away, eyes glinting dangerously. “Are you messing with me right now? I’ve given you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

“I don’t want this,” he said, his voice rough with conviction.

Nadia groaned from the floor, drawing their attention.

Emily worked harder on the cuffs, but she couldn’t find a way to loosen them with the knife. Every time she slipped, she nicked herself, exposing her skin to more silver. Pain pulsed through her wrists, sharp and relentless. “Victor, you have to get us out of here. Nadia needs a doctor,” she said, her voice urgent.

Victor hesitated, looking between them and Raya. His shoulders tensed. “Yeah, I know. You’re right.” He took a step toward them.

“No!” Raya shrieked.

Victor muttered something, but before he could move, a gunshot echoed through the room. Emily jumped. Victor slowly turned.

Raya lowered a gun after shooting at the ceiling, her gaze hard. Pieces of plaster and dirt drifted down around her. “I can’t believe you’re not more appreciative,” she shouted, her voice wild and cracking. “I brought them here as an offering to you. A promise of our future.”

Victor shook his head slowly. “Raya, this isn’t the way. I’ll go to war with the other pack if that’s what you want. We’ll take them over and just move both territories to one spot, whether the packs like it or not. But you can’t kill two defenseless females.”

“You don’t love me.” Raya’s tears streaked down her cheeks.

“I do,” Victor said, stepping closer. “But I’m not going to let you do this.”

Her eyes gleamed with madness, and she pointed the weapon at him. “You can’t stop me. If you’re not going to be the Alpha, I know who will.”

“Who? Your hired muscle?” Victor spat. “The one who stabbed a defenseless female in the back? That’s who you want to align yourself with?”

“Yes,” Raya hissed and fired four shots center mass.

The bullets hit Victor with brutal force. His body jerked with each impact, eyes widening in shock. He dropped to his knees, gasping as silver veins crawled up his neck and across his face. His skin paled to an ashy gray as agony twisted his features.

“Oh, God,” Emily whispered. “They’re silver.”

Victor pitched forward, landing face-first on the floor. Blood spread from beneath him, dark and thick against the stone floor. The sharp metallic scent mingled with the cold air.

Emily’s heart pounded as she lifted her gaze to Raya. “You’re insane.”

“No,” Raya snapped, her voice eerily calm. “I just know what’s best for the packs. We can’t keep letting outsiders in. We have to keep our bloodlines pure.”

“Keeping it pure ends up with us getting sick from inbreeding,” Emily spat, throwing a worried glance at Nadia, who had stopped moving.

Raya shook her head as if swatting away the words. “I don’t care. I will take over. And yes, Bulwark is the one who stabbed your sister. He’s with the Ghostwind Pack and has some Slate Pack in him. I’m sure you could tell he had Alpha blood and looks like he’s about to be the Alpha of the other two packs. After the mining accident, nothing will stop us.”

“Jackson’s going to kill you.” Emily had to get free somehow.

Raya rolled her eyes, lifting the gun and checking the chamber. “Actually, as soon as the mine blows, I’m going to make sure Jackson dies. He won’t see me coming.”