Chapter 36

Everything inside me shuts down after that. I’m vaguely aware of people shouting and moving around me. I feel someone shaking me, but I can’t find my way out of the paralyzing fear consuming me.

I’m lifted into someone’s arms, and. I have just enough instincts to hold on to a fistful of t-shirts before I black out.

When I come to, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. I groan and try to move, but realize I’m sitting on someone’s lap; with their arms wrapped around me.

I look up, my eyes colliding with Crew’s relieved ones as everything comes rushing back.

Tears run down my face faster than he can wipe them away.

“She’s awake,” he says, echoing in my ears, and I realize I’m wearing a headset in a helicopter. I look around and see Wilder at the controls, flying, but I don’t see anyone else.

“Thank fuck. You scared the shit out of us, Lara,” I hear Wilder say through the headset.

“Apex? The kids?” I choke out.

“The kids are in the panic room. And the guys are holding their own. They’ve been preparing for this since the day Zig and Oz brought tSalem home. There have been a lot of casualties, but none from our side. Right now, they’re at a standoff right now. They can’t get in, but Apex can’t get out either.”

I blow out a shaky breath as Crew leans over and hands me a bottle of Gatorade from the seat next to us.

“Wilder’s right, you scared the fuck out of all of us.”

“I’m sorry. When Delaney…It was my worst nightmare come true. Everything I gave up. Everything I lost and sacrificed was for nothing, and––”

He cuts me off with a soft kiss before unscrewing the bottle cap and motioning for me to drink. “You have nothing to be sorry for, baby,” he murmurs, and I nod.

“Where are the others?” I take a sip from the bottle as he replies, his hand soothingly rubbing my back.

“Greg stayed behind with the prisoners. As much as he wanted to fly back, he knew he couldn’t leave those pregnant women vulnerable. He has allies on the way to help; they’ll be there soon. And he has Rufio with him, so if anyone tries anything, your dog will eat them.”

I nod and frown. “What about Nash?”

Crew shakes his head. “No sign of him, and we couldn’t afford to stick around. Greg will keep an eye out for him.”

I rub my hand over my face. “If I had killed my father when I had the chance, none of this would have happened.”

“No.” Crew insists. “He had this planned. Nothing you did was going to change this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your father’s men must have already been there waiting for the signal,” Wilder says.

I think back to how empty the farm was. It all makes sense now.

“He wanted information from me, but he was attacking with or without my help.”

“Yeah. Nobody at Apex has seen him but if he has a chopper or a plane, he’ll be there before we will.”

“The problem you’ll have is getting close to him. The guys can’t take him out from inside; he’ll be prepared for snipers and things like that. And someone trying to get close to him will be putting themselves in danger.”

“The guys are good at what they do,” he reminds me.

“I know they are. But my father’s a monster. He’ll twist someone’s mind and send them back in. He won’t need to get inside to attack the women and kids if he can turn one of your brothers into a puppet. They’ll do it all for him.”

Crew grips his hair. “Fuck!”

“Exactly. If any of those guys hurt the kids or––” I blow out a ragged breath. “They’d never forgive themselves.”

“You’re right. We need a new plan.”

“It needs to be me. If I take him out, you can all focus on the rest.”

“Lara, please don’t ask me to stand by and watch you walk into danger.”

“Why? You’re expecting me to watch you do it. I don’t want to fight with you, but I can handle my dad. I’m stronger than he ever was. You have to trust me.”

“He’ll be expecting you to turn up.”

“Maybe,” I smirk. “But he doesn’t know I’m an empath and won’t see me coming.”

“All he has to do is check the chip,” he reminds me.

“The chip that I attached to Rufio’s collar?” I look at him innocently.

I pull up my sleeve and show him the bandage wrapped around my arm.

“Holy shit. You cut it out?”

“And it’s all the way back at the farm,” I add with a smile.

He looks at me, shocked, for a moment before his face morphs, and he clenches his jaw.

“Fine, we’ll do this your way, but if you get hurt––”

I cover his mouth with mine and pour all my love into it before pulling back.

“I love you.”

He presses his forehead against mine.

“I love you too.”

“For the record, I hate this fucking idea,” Wilder grumbles as we make our way through the dark orchard.

“I know you do. If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”

“Anything is better than this,” he snaps.

I grab his arm, making him whirl around.

Crew keeps a look out but hisses for us to hurry the fuck up.

“We don’t have time for this, Wilder. I know you want to protect me, but I can do this.”

“I can’t lose you.” He grabs my face.

“I’m not going anywhere, I swear, but this is my fucking home, so you better believe I’ll defend it.”

He growls and kisses me hard. “I fucking love you.”

“I fucking love you, too. Now, let’s go save our family.”

He takes my hand, and we start moving again. Crew flanks my other side, gun out.

Wilder drops my hand and pulls out his gun too.

We all stop and listen to the sound of gunfire in the distance, little flares of light illuminating the night sky. I swallow, my palms sweaty, and my heart racing, each beat a frantic rat-a-tat-tat. We keep moving, careful to use the trees as cover. When we reach the edge of a clearing, Wilder holds up his hand, signaling for us to stop as he scans the area.

“Okay, go.” Wilder orders, gesturing with his hand. Crew and I run as fast as we can as Wilder covers us. And we keep running until, suddenly, Crew stops.

“Here.” He drops to his knees and yanks back what looks like grass. But it’s actually a piece of fake turf. Underneath it is a metal hatch.

He yanks it up, and when I look inside, I gasp when I see Slade waiting for us.

“It’s good to see you, Lara.” He holds his arms up to me as Crew lowers me down.

He gives me a quick hug before the sound of a nearby explosion makes me gasp.

“Fuck. They’ve got eyes everywhere; it’s why we haven’t used this entrance.”

“We’ll take care of them.” Crew looks around as Wilder steps up next to him.

Slade looks at me. “Can you find your way on your own?” That’s when I notice the guns strapped to him.

I nod. “Go, but be careful.”

“Tell Astrid––”

I cut him off with a shake of my head. “You can tell her yourself when this is all over.”

He smiles and winks at me before holding up his hands and letting Wilder and Crew pull him up.

“Be careful,” I call out as they close the hatch.

Taking a deep breath, I turn and start jogging through the man-made tunnel, thankful there don’t seem to be any side passages because I’d get lost in a second.

Eventually, I make it to a locked door that looks like it belongs in a bank vault. I pound on it continuously until it swings open. I find myself wrapped up in Zig’s arms a moment before I’m pulled away and yanked into Oz’s.

“Thank fuck. We’ve been worried sick.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“You’re back now, and that’s all that matters.”

“Where’s Slade?”

I look over at Zig. “He went with Wilder and Crew. They texted you the plan, right?”

He grunts. “Yeah. As much as I fucking hate it, you’re right. You’re the only one who can take him out. Are you sure you’re up for it?”

“To keep you guys and the kids safe? Absolutely.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Oz walks with me tucked under his arm and leads me into what looks like a military operations room I’ve seen in movies. I have to say, I’m impressed. Even with the unlimited funds my father received from the government, he didn’t have anything nearly as impressive as this. There are screens everywhere. There’s a large table with chairs surrounding it, and that’s all I take in before Salem, Astrid, and Avery swarm me.

Another explosion sounds, making us all stop and look up.

“Fucking hell,” Salem curses.

“We can rebuild. It’s just bricks and mortar,” Zig reassures her as she buries her face in his chest.

“I look at the screens and see video feeds and images from the cameras Ev must have set up down here and around the property.

“Speaking of Ev, I spot him in front of one of the screens and walk over to him.

He looks up as I approach and jumps up from his seat to hug me.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” He pulls away and sits back down, pointing at the chair beside him as he continues monitoring the screens.

“Can you see where everyone is?”

“It’s too dark, but I know where they are. Look, there’s Jagger.” He points to a shadow peeking out from behind a tree.

“What about Crew, Wilder, and Slade?”

“Slade’s out there?” he asks, looking around. I wince as I look back at Astrid, but she gives me a wobbly smile.

“I know what kind of man he is,” she says softly.

I nod and turn back to Ev.

“I’ve got Wilder and Crew––no, wait, that’s Slade with him in the left quadrant. Crew is…” He flicks through the screens as the moonlight catches on something. He pauses the screen and laughs. “In the crow’s nest.”

He zooms in and sure enough, there he is. I shake my head.

“Do you know how many of my father’s men are left out there?”

“Not many. Our guys have been taking them out with ease. Unless your father has reinforcements, I’m counting five remaining hostiles. There’s still no sign of your dad, though.”

“He’s here somewhere,” I murmur. He has to be.

“Hey, is that––” Oz starts, but Salem finishes.

“Nash.” Oh God.

He looks up at the camera near the front door. His whole face is visible, so there is no mistaking who it is.

“Ev, disengage the locks. Oz and I will go grab him and bring him back here,” Zig yells as they run through the tunnel toward the main house.

I stay behind with Ev and the rest of the women, my eyes on the camera.

“Why isn’t he coming inside?” Astrid asks.

“He might be injured,” Ev mutters as he brings up another camera.

“Two SUVs are pulling in,” he yells.

“How?” Salem asks, terrified.

“The last round of explosions must have broken through the perimeter defenses,” Ev curses, his fingers flying over the keys.

“I’ll warn Zig and Oz,” Avery yells, running after the guys.

I stare at Nash’s face and notice his eyes are unfocused.

The hairs on my arms stand on end.

“Fuck!” Your father’s is on his way up the hill,” he tells me, but my eyes are still on Nash.

“No. I think he’s already here. Oh God, it’s a trap. Warn Crew, Wilder, and the others. My father’s in the house.”

I run, Salem and Astrid hot on my heels.

I grab Astrid’s arm.

“Go to the kids.”

She hesitates before changing directions and heading to the panic room. Salem and I continue through the tunnel and upstairs to the main house.

We spill out into the basement.

I hear voices but can’t make out what they’re saying.

I look at Salem. “I have to go up, but you should stay here.”

“My men are up there, Lara. I’m coming.”

I grit my teeth, but I don’t argue. I’d do the same if the roles were reversed.

We don’t bother with stealth. Instead, I run up the stairs with Salem right behind me and fling the door open.

I head right for the front door but change direction when I hear the voices coming from the kitchen.

I freeze, Salem crashing into the back of me and almost knocking me off my feet when I take in the scene.

My father’s standing behind Avery, with his hand around her throat and a gun pressed to her head.

“What are you doing here?” He asks me with a frown.

I look at Oz and Zig, who both have their guns pointed at him.

“I live here.”

His eyes take me in and then over my shoulder to Salem. His expression softens a fraction before they return to me.

“My girls,” he whispers almost reverently.

Salem steps up beside me and takes my hand.

“Get back, Salem,” Oz roars at her, but she ignores him.

“Long time no see, Penn. Or should I call you Dad?” She confronts him.

He smiles, and I can’t help but feel a little jealous that he’s never looked at me that way.

“I couldn’t tell you, but I was never far, and you were always in my heart.”

I fight the urge to gag.

“Why don’t you let Avery go?” she says gently as we both walk slowly toward him.

“She’s gifted,” he says, like that’s the answer to everything.

I stare at Avery’s tear-stained face and swallow hard as her hand presses against her stomach. Against her baby.

“But she’s not yours. I am. Salem is. Let Avery go, and I’ll come with you. I won’t run, I won’t fight, and I’ll do everything you ask of me.”

He considers my words, his gun rubbing Astrid’s temple.

Tears run silently down her face, but she doesn’t make a sound.

My fingers twitch with the urge to use my gift on him, but one wrong move, and it’s game over for Avery.

We take another step closer.

“I don’t believe you.”

“You should. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep my family safe. It’s why I ran, to begin with, and it’s the reason I’ll give myself up.”

He thinks it over before he speaks. “I want both of you,” he says, waving between me and Salem.

Salem readily agrees as Zig curses.

Gunfire sounds from outside. Shouting and cursing assault my ears, but my father doesn’t blink, unconcerned with anyone other than himself.

“We’re going to walk out to my car. You’ll drive.” He points at Salem.

“You’ll get in the back with me.”

I nod. “Let me swap places with Avery first.”

“No. I won’t let her go until we reach the car. I don’t trust anyone not to shoot you to get to me, but they won’t shoot her.”

I raise my eyebrows at that, but then he knows nothing about me or the people I love.

“Ev, can you get the guys to stop firing if you can hear me? We’re coming out the front door and don’t want to be hit by stray bullets.” I say loudly, letting him know exactly what route we’re taking so he can let the guys outside know.

When the gunfire stops, I know he’s told the guys.

“Alright, we can go now. Just be careful, okay? We don’t want you to trip.”

He walks backward, taking Avery with him.

We all follow. When we reach the door, he orders me to go first.

I squeeze my hands into fists. I shouldn’t be surprised by his willingness to risk me rather than himself, but at least this way, Avery is safer.

I walk out and swallow down a cry when I have to step over Nash, lying face down outside the door.

I walk down the steps and wait as he walks out, easing both him and Avery around Nash.

Salem brings up the rear, her eyes red when she takes in Nash.

“Close the door,” he orders Salem.

“Lock it.”

The keypad beside it activates the locks once Salem types in the code.

She walks down the steps toward me just as my father turns and shoots the keypad.

It makes a high-pitched noise as smoke starts pouring from it.

“That will buy us some time.”

“Let Avery go now. You have what you wanted.” I tell him.

He looks over his shoulder at me.

“I could let her go. But I’ll need a bigger distraction than a locked door. Such a waste.”

Before I can absorb his words, he throws Avery, who falls onto the steps with a scream of pain.

Salem runs to her as my father whirls on me, clearly disappointed his favorite daughter just picked her side, and it isn’t my father’s.

“Sometimes I wish I drowned you at birth.”

Once upon a time, those words would have hurt. That was before I found those women being turned into human incubators. Before he hurt Avery.

“Sometimes I wish you had too,” I agree.

“Salem was always a stubborn one. But you, you were supposed to be my successor,” he spits.

“No. I’m supposed to be your downfall.”

His eye twitches and a faint tingle at the back of my head tells me he’s trying to use his gift on me. I smirk as a line of blood runs out of his ear.

“Oh, stop. That tickles.” I laugh before smashing through his shields with a wave of my power.

“What? How?” He drops to his knees, his expression a mix of shock and awe.

“Surprise.”

The sound of a gun firing, followed by screaming, has me looking over to see that Avery’s been shot in the chest by one of my father’s men, and Salem is pressing her hands over the wound.

I hear a roar of anguish and what sounds like a stampede of people heading our way.

At the sound of a click, I look back at my father to find a gun pointed at my head. I don’t have time to feel shocked or disappointed in myself for taking my eyes off him. He gives me a sad smile before he pulls the trigger.

When the impact comes, it’s not from a bullet but from a body as Nash tackles me to the ground, knocking all the air out of my lungs.

I sense my father step closer, the gun still in his hand, as he aims and fires two shots. I’m ready this time, though. The bullets stop midair, holding still for what feels like an eternity as my father’s expression morphs into one of fear.

“I was never weak,” I choke out as I change the trajectory of the bullets and watch as they both hit my father in the center of his forehead.

A wave of sadness crashes over me, but I ignore it as I roll Nash off me and lean over him.

“Nash?” I whisper. He opens his eyes and coughs, blood flicking from his mouth, covering his teeth.

I look down and see a bullet hole in the upper left side of his chest, right where his heart is.

“Nash! Oh God, no, please don’t you do this to me.”

“It’s okay,” he whispers with a smile. “I saved the pretty lady.”

I sob as I press my hands to his chest to stop the bleeding, but it’s pumping out of him too fast.

I look up and see Salem doing the same to Avery, but a faint glow around her hands tells me she’s healing her or trying to.

Bodies swarm from every direction, blocking my view as some move to help Salem and others come to help me, but I ignore them, looking back down at the man who saved my life.

“Please don’t go,” I choke out as two bodies drop down next to me.

I sob louder when I realize it’s Crew and Wilder, but still, I don’t take my eyes or my hands off Nash.

“You guys are lucky,” he tells them, his breathing taking on an odd whistling sound.

“I know, Nash. We are so blessed. And because of you, we’ll be blessed for many days to come. Thank you,” Wilder tells him softly, his own tears running down his face.

Crew bends down and presses his forehead against Nash’s. “I’ve never been so proud to call you my brother. I love you.”

“Love you too, weirdo,” Nash gasps before his eyes fall on mine one last time. “You didn’t think I’d let Hendrix go off without me, did you?”

His smile stays permanently etched onto his face as his eyes glaze over and his chest stops moving.

“No,” I whisper.

I look over at Salem, but she’s lying unconscious next to Avery.

She can’t save him. The thought hits me like a Mac truck.

“No!” I scream, crying harder, my insides feeling raw, my heart breaking into pieces. I find myself wrapped in the arms of the men I love, who do the only thing they can.

They hold me together while I fall apart.