Chapter 26

Luna

I can't control the sobs that are racking my body. In a panic, I jump to my feet and run toward the door, but I'm stopped short when I run into a solid chest. For the one hundredth time today, my heart sinks when I recognize the chest. He's shirtless, as always, with cuts, scrapes, and bruises all across his torso.

"I caught this one trying to sneak in, Mathias." He growls. It's only then that I realize he's dragging someone behind him. "The others probably aren't far behind him. We should move now."

"Nonsense." Mathias scoffs, arrogant as ever. "Take him to Dominic, let him deal with it."

"You got it." Rune nods, dragging Alaric into a room toward the back.

Mathias grabs my arm, pulling me back toward the center of the room. "Should I have his body brought out, so you can say goodbye?"

Red. That's the only thing I see as I start throwing punches. I land a clean right hook straight to his cheek, but after that, it's a messy combination of lefts and rights.

"Enough!" He shouts, pushing me away from him. My ass hits the concrete, sending a sharp pain from my tailbone all the way up to my neck. He pulls his phone out again, making another call. "Bring the body to me." He tosses his phone down on the desk, smirking at me.

Tears stream down my face even harder when a door opens and Dominic steps out, carrying my son's bloody body. I try to get away again, but Mathias steps on my hand before I'm able to stand up. "Please, no." I beg him, trying to pull my hand from under his stupid fucking dress shoes.

"Put the boy in her arms and leave us. The others are on their way, you need to make sure they don't find us."

I squeeze my eyes shut as tight as they'll go. The moment his body touches mine, I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. Silent sobs rip through my body as I pull him tight against my chest, rocking back and forth. His warm blood covers my arms as I push his hair back from his face to rest my cheek against him. "I'm so sorry, baby." I whisper, still rocking him with my eyes closed.

"Everything is okay, sweet boy." His arm twitches, and hope shoots through my chest as I peel my eyes open, looking at him for the first time since he was laid in my lap. Mathias' sick smile reaches my eyes before I notice he's the one moving Leo's arm.

"Don't you fucking touch my baby." I kick at him the best I can, only managing to hit his shin with minimal fucking force.

"By this time tomorrow, both my sons will have suffered the same fate." He smirks, running Leo's fingertips across my cheek before dropping his arm back down. "You really are a terrible mother, Evaluna." He stands, wiping blood onto his suit pants. "It all could have been avoided, you know."

"You won't make me feel any worse about this than I already do." I wipe the tears from my eyes, sick of looking weak in front of this fucking twank. "Did you know I wouldn't even hold him when he was born?"

Looking into Mathias' eyes, I squeeze my son tighter, hoping that he knew how much I loved him, and what I sacrificed for him. "I was afraid it would make it too real when I couldn't take him home with me." I close my eyes again, resigned to dying on this fucking floor, holding my baby, like I should have been doing for the past seven years.

"Rune, take the boy upstairs, I'll have him dealt with later." Mathias orders.

I feel his presence, but I still can't bring myself to open my eyes. When his hand touches mine to grab my son, he whispers so low that I barely hear him, "They're here." He lifts Leo from my arms, and I finally pry my eyes open.

They're so blurry, it's hard to make out the faces in front of me. The two I know for sure are Dominic and Mathias, but who the fuck is the guy in the back?

Tattooed hands wrap around Dominic's face, twisting it sideways, snapping his neck. When he hits the floor, Mathias spins around, reaching in his back pocket for his knife. It's already too late. Rune comes back into the room, holding a syringe. "Did you really think I would betray my brothers for you?"

"Stupid boy, I never trusted you!" Mathias shouts, swinging wildly with the knife. "My security is crawling all over this place."

"Not anymore." Alaric taunts, moving closer to him.

One of the bay doors creaks open, grabbing my attention. When Nyx and Karrion walk through the door covered in blood, Mathias tries to move for the door, but Karrion steps in his path.

He slices across Karrions chest, earning nothing more than a glare from the mountain of a man. "What the fuck?" He reaches out, grabbing Mathias' knife and throwing it across the room. "What is with people trying to kill me this week?"

Rune plunges the syringe into Mathias' neck, not even trying to catch him when he falls. "You tend to have that effect on people."

A few minutes go by before Mateo and Lorenzo enter the warehouse. The second they spot me, Lorenzo falls to his knees, tears building in his eyes. Mateo sprints across the room, scooping me up in his arms.

"I'm so fucking sorry, Luna. We tried to get here as soon as possible. Mathias had the whole area surrounded." Enzo joins us after a few moments, pressing his forehead against mine.

"Dominic killed him." I choke out, grabbing Enzo's shirt. "He killed my baby!" I scream.

"Take her to the car, Teo. We need to get Mathias back to the sawmill before he wakes up." Enzo kisses my forehead before walking away. "The clean up crew is coming to take care of everything." He says to Alaric. He's still speaking and pointing, but we're too far away to hear him now.

Mateo carries me to the car, sliding me in the back seat next to Silas. He looks like he's seen better days. He gives me a sad smile before pulling me against him. "I got stabbed today, I need a hug."

Both front doors swing open, Mateo jumps in the driver's seat and Karrion climbs in the passenger seat. Silas leans against the door, but his grip on me doesn't loosen until Alaric opens the door, climbing in next to me, squishing me between the two of them.

"Doc is on his way to your place, Mateo." Alaric says, slamming the door. "We're good to go."