Page 25 of Spark (Damselverse #2)

Chapter twenty-five

Nolan

Z ara and I pull up outside of Xavier’s second art gallery, the one hidden deep in the woods and far away from civilization.

He’s certainly kept this one a secret from his pack, but that doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that he did as he promised and captured one of our Omega's enemies.

The fucker actually pulled it off, and I will apologize to him later. I just hope everything works out.

I get out of the car, running around to open the door for my Omega. She takes my hand gratefully, muttering a small thanks.

Now she stares at the ominous shed in silence, knowing full well that one of her greatest foes is just sitting on the other side of its door.

George is in there, and dread sluices through my veins when I think about all the horrors the little Pig is enduring at the twisted hand of my pack brother.

He may be the good twin, but there is still a lot of darkness that resides in Xavier.

If that's the case, then I don’t want Zara to see what is on the other side of that door. So, I push her back.

“No, you stay here, pussycat.”

Her hazel eyes grow wide. “Why?”

I run my hand through my hair. “Because it won’t be pretty. Trust me… I know Xavier.”

Her face pales, and then she swallows a few times. But then she puts her foot down, determination swimming inside her big eyes. “And I know the Wolf’s Pigs. They will do anything to get their brother back. Just as I would do anything to get my grandmother back.”

I see her point, but I am doing this for Xavier’s sake. She already escaped one monster. She doesn’t need another one in her life.

Zara won’t look at him the same ever again after this. I care too much about my brother to allow that to happen.

Now I purr for the Omega, pressing my palm against her back.

Dacre should be on his way. He can sit out here with her while Xavier and I deal with George. But when I meet the resolve in her eyes, though, I concede, leading the way to the door of the shed.

A wet punching sound reaches our ears, and we both halt. Zara closes her eyes, taking several deep breaths. When she meets my eyes again, giving a slight nod, I step inside.

Xavier hovers over a mess of a man. A man who’s tied up to a chair, and from this angle… he actually resembles a real pig.

His nose is smashed as blood trickles from his nostrils, and his eyes are swollen. My insides recoil, and immediately, I jerk my head at Zara.

She’s pale, but she regards the scene before her with practiced indifference. I have to remember that this poor Omega has most likely seen much worse at the hands of The Wolf.

Xavier turns around and almost looks shocked when he sees us. Then a wide grin spreads across his face, one that borders on mania.

Blood speckles his face. “Nolan! So good of you to join us!”

I sigh, shutting the shed door behind us.

Dacre just sent a text as my phone dings in my pocket. He has Dane waiting on standby with the police if this all goes pear-shaped. Which it most likely will.

But by that point, we will already have Zara’s grandmother.

I step toward Xavier, yanking him back. “That’s enough, X. Remember, we need to keep him in good condition. Otherwise, our plan goes out the window.”

Xavier chuckles as he runs a hand through his bloodied hair. “I never promised that I wouldn’t scratch him up just a little.”

“Still, think of Zara’s grandmother.”

The Alpha finally comes to his senses, eyes drifting over to our stoic Omega.

Zara barely hears us as she won’t stop staring at George.

Xavier sighs. “Her grandma is fine. I just spoke with Napoleon on the phone. He accepted the trade. They will be here in half an hour.”

My heart pounds, and again, my gaze flickers to Zara. “Are you so sure about that?”

The Alpha sniggers, pulling out a cigarette from his leather jacket’s pocket. He lights up the end with his lighter. “Well, if you can think of another old lady who would call me a cunt or a bastard, then I’m all ears, N…”

I rub my temples. This is all so fucked up. I just hope we live to see another day.

“So, you spoke with her grandmother...” I state matter-of-factly.

Xavier takes a long drag of his cigarette. Then he blows out the smoke, staring at our Omega. “I did. She’s a tough old bird… tougher than this dipshit here, that’s for sure. But the woman's in danger. We need to get her back.”

That we do.

Movement catches my attention from the corner of my eye, and I turn to find Zara stalking toward George.

“Z—” I begin, but Xavier holds me back, shaking his head.

“She needs this, N. It’s like therapy …”

I roll my eyes. If he says so.

Now we both watch as our Omega hovers over the bloodied Beta. George is coughing and wheezing in his chair, head bent low so that it causes a trickle of blood to ooze from his nose.

“Hello, George,” she says, her sweet voice flat and devoid of life.

Just then, I get a glimpse of the girl she was when in The Wolf’s custody. One who had to mask her pain in fear of breaking apart.

My Alpha is desperate to rush over and protect her, but as Xavier said, this is a form of cheap therapy. Something I never thought I'd say…

George lifts his head, staring at the Omega with unfocused eyes. When he finally recognizes her, a wheezing sound rattles in his throat.

It's a laugh. A mocking one at that.

My Alpha’s hackles rise.

“Why, if it isn’t the little bitch…”

Zara goes ramrod straight at the insult. But she clenches her fists, staring daggers at the pitiful creature below her.

“I thought you would’ve been burnt to a crisp by now after that fire. I thought it would've finished you off for good.”

Zara doesn’t blink once as she continues to glare at the Beta. Then, a shiver skates down my spine when she whispers, “Why?”

George sneers with blood-stained teeth. Then he spits, closing his eyes. “Because he wanted you dead. I had no choice.”

Zara’s face finally cracks, and she shuts her eyes, peering away from the Beta.

“Are you really that surprised? He hated you. Couldn’t stand being shackled to a worthless, breakable doll. Personally, I think he was deluded, babe. I’d have gladly taken you from him…and then I could have had all your little piggies to myself…”

His eyes find her feet as he licks his lips, and screw this.

He's dead .

Again, Xavier’s hand finds my shoulder, and when he shakes his head, I acquiesce.

“Trust me, I made him pay, N. There’s nothing more we can do now but wait.”

A sigh leaves me as I glare at the Beta. He’s still looking at her feet, so I step toward him, pushing his head away from her.

“That’s enough. You’re forbidden from looking at her.”

George titters, looking up at me with his swollen eyes. “Did I hit a nerve?”

Before I blow my fuse, the door opens, and Dacre steps inside. His gaze finds mine, and when he nods, I relax my shoulders.

But just about. I am still tense.

Dane is on standby with the cops. We have the backup we need.

We just need to make the trade.

Xavier’s phone dings, and he puts out his cigarette against one of his old canvas paintings, sneering down at the screen. “They’re here.”

Damn. So this is happening…

I'd best get into position.

Now I face the door, crossing my arms just as our guests arrive. Bile rises at the back of my throat when I cast my gaze on those two Betas.

One is tall, slim, and pale, and the other is short and round.

And they’re here to collect their brother, George. But not before they give us what we want first.

Finally, my eyes find the feisty older lady behind them, and her gaze alone could burn me to ash.

Xavier was right about her. She is one tough bird.

I just hope she is tough enough for what is about to transpire next.