Chapter 179

“I can’t find him!” Alex was dangerously close to whining to his father as anguish squeezed his heart. “He’s never out where I can get a shot at him.”

He had been in San Francisco for a week and could not get a clear shot of Tyler. He couldn’t even find him for the first few days. Seth had finally figured out that he’d been in the Manor the entire time. When he finally emerged, he stayed in his car until the garage of his apartment building sheltered him. The curtains in his apartment remained drawn over the windows. At work, he’d moved into an office without a window. “I’m half-tempted to get a handgun and approach him on foot.”

“Alex, you can’t do that.”

Alex sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “I know.”

“Devin must be trying to keep Tyler out of the assassin’s scope.”

“The man’s not stupid. I’m sure he’s figured out the pattern.”

“Don’t snap at me, Alex. I know you’re upset. If nothing else, when I go get Anna, we can relax a bit.”

“I can’t let her endure three weeks of torture, Vati! Every day is killing me. Seth says she isn’t even in her room at the Manor. He’s keeping her in the dungeon.” What made the whole thing worse was that Anna had no reason to hope for things to get better until his father picked her up. Vati had wiped her memories of Alex. She still believed him dead.

“Tyler’s an arrogant man. He will expose himself soon. Don’t get upset, or you’ll miss your chance.”

“Mr. Andersen?”

Devin pressed the intercom button on his office phone. “Yes, Maddy?”

“The Chief of Police is here to see you.”

Devin’s heart skipped a beat at his secretary’s words. It’s nothing . Just a friendly visit. He hoped.

It was his first day back in the office in two weeks. Val had finally told him if he killed Anna again, he wouldn’t be able to revive her. She no longer responded to anything he did. He supposed a day of rest wouldn’t hurt. Besides, he had work to catch up on. He would let her sleep today and return tonight when she had healed enough to know what was going on around her again.

Every joint in her body had been dislocated. He’d beaten her limbs with a metal pole and shattered at least one leg. Her pussy was so swollen from electricity and beatings, he couldn’t get his cock inside her anymore. Same with her ass. Her breasts were black with bruises, as well as most of the rest of her body. Devin took as much of her essence as he could, which severely limited her healing abilities. Wilhelm would have a helluva time getting her back in shape.

When he’d left her last night, she was manacled in the dungeon, lying in a pool of her own blood. The manacles were in case she started to rage, but Devin doubted she had the energy to do so.

He took a deep breath. “Send him in.”

Devin stared at the door, praying that his old friend was just here for advice or a casual conversation. He’d been keeping Tyler sheltered in case he was the next target. He would not let anything happen to his son.

The look on the police chief’s face sent chills through Devin’s body as he realized his greatest fear had just come to pass. He gripped the edge of his desk and his voice cracked when he tried to speak. “Tyler?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Andersen...” The police chief continued speaking, but Devin’s ears rang so loudly he couldn’t hear anything the man said.

Flashes of Tyler growing up flitted across his mind. The toddler literally trying to walk in his father’s shoes. Winning football games. Prom king with the best-looking girl in school. Graduating college with his degree. Demonstrating that his father’s strength had passed to him. Accepting the mantle of Elder-Son and all the responsibilities it entailed.

Devin recalled the first day Tyler came to work in the office next to his. His son. His pride and the beneficiary of everything he’d worked for. His only son—his one weakness—was gone.

His legacy, ended.

He looked up at the Chief. “How?” Maybe it had just been a car accident. After all, today was Thursday. The other Sons had been shot on Mondays...

“I told you, sir. Two shots. One to the groin and the other straight through his head.”

“ Two shots?” Devin asked, yanked out of his dreamlike state. “Two?” The others had only been single shots, straight through the head.

“Yes sir, a pretty... impressive shot, if you think about it.”

That made it sound personal. The Assassin wouldn’t do that on his own; the Elder who was doing this was making it personal. Wilhelm. But why would Wilhelm take out the other Elders? No, that didn’t make sense. Who the hell was behind all this?

“Sir? I need you to come down to the morgue to identify the body.”

Devin stared at his desk, his teeth clenched together to stop them from chattering.

He was next. Mortality was staring him in the face. He thought he’d done enough to prevent this—he’d been so careful, made Tyler be so careful—but it hadn’t made a damn bit of difference.

For the first time, he had to acknowledge that he was afraid.

Alex watched with satisfaction through binoculars from the rooftop across the street. Devin’s face drained of blood as the police chief stepped inside his office. He grasped the desk and shook his head as the older man spoke. Sweat beaded on his brow. His hands trembled.

And Alex grinned.

Devin’s world was crumbling, and Alex wouldn’t miss a moment.

Anna heard the sound of the door opening and forced her swollen eyes open. She lay on the floor in the cold dungeon. Everything in her body hurt and she couldn’t move, even if she wanted to.

Devin walked over and stared down at her. She winced, preparing for another blow from whatever instrument he’d brought with him, but he didn’t move.

He was pale. No, his face was gray, his eyes wide with... terror? Anna had never seen him afraid, much less terrified, but she couldn’t ask him about it. Her jaw wouldn’t move.

He fell to his knees. “Tyler is dead.”

A flash of joy shot through Anna’s body, but thankfully she couldn’t move enough for Devin to know.

The other Elders had been killed a few days after their Sons. Did that mean Devin would be dead soon?

Devin narrowed his eyes. “You’re hoping I’m next, aren’t you?”

Yes! Yes, I hope you’re next! She almost wished he could hear. He couldn’t do more to her than he’d already done.

“I won’t let that happen,” he said in a low voice, as though her unspoken defiance gave him the strength he’d been looking for. “I will not let my family line die. My family brought The Brotherhood to this country and I will not let the line die with me. You will give me a son.”

Anna’s eyes widened. The thought of having Devin’s son was revolting.

“I will regain my powers and you will help me.” He stood and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Devin watched with satisfaction as Val healed Anna’s body and then raped her. Val wasn’t as powerful as Kaveh, but with Kaveh missing, Val had decided Anna was pleasing enough to do as Devin asked. Anna screamed as Val plundered her pussy, drilling deep so he could plant his essence in her for Devin to partake of.

He could almost taste her sweet nectar. Tomorrow morning was his son’s funeral. He had to have enough of his powers back to dodge the bullet, both literally and figuratively.

Tyler . Devin could imagine many reasons someone would want to kill Devin, but why his son? What had Tyler done? What had any of the Sons done to warrant an assassination?

Despair threatened to overwhelm him, and he pushed it aside and shook it off. He couldn’t lose it. He had to maintain control or he would be shot tomorrow. Get through the funeral. Get through the Gathering, and then impregnate Anna before she left to go with Wilhelm.

Wouldn’t that just kill Wilhelm? He laughed, imagining the look on Wilhelm’s face when he found out. And the German, being the honorable man he was, wouldn’t do anything about it.

Wilhelm sucked in a deep breath when he saw Anna outside the cathedral. Kurt took a step forward and Wilhelm grabbed his arm to keep him from going to her. He understood Kurt’s desire, however. Anna looked terrible.

She was very pale. Her dark hair was dull and pulled back into a low ponytail. She wore the same black suit as she’d worn at Oscar’s funeral, but it hung loose on her thin shoulders. Had she eaten at all since he’d seen her last? Even more disturbing were the bruises on her cheeks. Devin wasn’t hiding what he’d been doing to her. She limped along behind him, her head hanging down.

Devin had obviously been partaking of Anna. He radiated power once more, though, thankfully, not the same way he had before. Wilhelm smiled at the fear in his eyes as they darted around, waiting for the impending bullet to the head. Devin wasn’t the only one expecting to hear a shot ring out at any second. More than one Elder occasionally lifted their gaze upward toward the surrounding tall buildings. Only a handful of people in the area knew there was no bullet forthcoming.

Devin greeted people somberly and elbowed Anna when she didn’t do likewise. Her green eyes were dull and lifeless, and it hurt to look at them.

Wilhelm could only imagine what was going through Alex’s mind as he watched from his perch across the street. He could almost feel his son’s anger. Or maybe it was just his own anger Wilhelm was feeling. The evening could not come soon enough.

Shaw Wilson watched Devin and Anna with wide eyes. Wilhelm walked over to him. “Do you regret your decision now, Shaw?” he asked quietly. “He probably had that Immortal of his heal her enough to make her presentable.”

Shaw looked at him, horror evident on his face. “How can he treat her like that?”

“I told you he would ignore you.”

Anna looked up at that moment and met Wilhelm’s eyes. They were begging for help and Wilhelm found himself walking to her, even though he knew he could do nothing.

Devin glared at him as he approached. “Come to steal her away?”

Wilhelm shook his head in bewilderment. “How can you do this to her, Devin? Have you no heart?”

Devin rolled his eyes and pulled Anna closer when Wilhelm reached out for her. “I still have her for a few more days, Wilhelm. You will not touch her until then.” He dragged Anna away. She didn’t look back.