CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

B rayden strode into the Dufort Hotel restaurant and spotted his warriors immediately.

"Why is Ben everywhere?" Craig groaned, but Brayden saw the curve of his lips.

"You hired him."

"I was manipulated," Craig grunted.

As they walked up to the males, Kurt stood and greeted them both with a warrior's handshake.

Marcus followed and Ben lowered his head as expected if he were greeting his prince.

However, Brayden asked his warriors to treat him as the captain on a day-to-day basis. There was no time for royal bullshit in war. Today, though, he suspected his warriors were emotional seeing him after he'd gone rogue. The glisten in all their eyes told him he was right.

Brayden's chest filled with pride and a huge dose of gratitude for these males. Their loyalty and friendship was everything.

He glanced around as Logan joined them.

"My prince." The warrior dipped his head also, but Brayden didn't miss the stress around his eyes.

A concern for another day.

Or perhaps his uncle, given the assassin worked for Ari. Those lines were getting blurred in this new world of theirs.

Regardless, Logan was a Moretti vampire. Both he and Vincent cared deeply for all the members of their race. It was in their DNA.

"Logan," Brayden replied, and sat down in one of the deep armchairs. "Good to see you."

"As it is you." The warrior smiled and sat.

"Boys," Craig said, sitting nearby.

"Told ya before, big guy. I'm all man," Ben chimed.

"Not today, Ben." Kurt grunted, rolling his eyes. "So what's the plan?"

Brayden rocked his neck. "Ari has updated me on your strategy. It's a good one. Slight change. We're joining you."

"Good," Marcus said, lifting his ankle to his knee.

"So, the human? Brooklyn." Brayden rubbed his head and glanced at Logan as he cleared his throat. "She works at BioZen."

"Did." Logan grunted and Kurt nodded when Brayden slid his eyes back to the senior SLC.

"She'll enter the premises tomorrow during daylight, then let us in after hours," Ben said, popping some corn chips into his mouth and crunching.

"Mouth closed dude." Craig shook his head.

Ben, of course, did the opposite.

Normally, the banter was light and fun. Tonight, as his knee bounced anxiously, Brayden needed to get away from it.

"Continue," he told his males.

The urge to go on a massive killing spree was making his fingers twitch. Sure, he would regret it, but if he had Willow and Isabella in his arms, he wouldn't give that much of a fuck.

Kurt licked his lips, watching him carefully—they all knew he was on the edge and how fucking powerful he was—and then glanced at Craig.

They also knew his best friend and commander was right by his side, keeping him sane (ish) and everyone safe.

Even his warriors, if he was being honest.

No one would stop him if he snapped, and Brayden was trying really fucking hard not to.

Again, they knew.

"Sage shared the location of the classified lab with Brooklyn, so once we're in she will lead us there to eliminate any down time." Marcus trailed off.

So Nikolay couldn't issue an instruction to kill his girls before they got to them.

That's what he wasn't saying.

"Then, we're winging it," Logan said. "We don't know how many mafia guards are inside, but we expect they'll have serum guns."

That went without saying now.

It was their kryptonite.

"Nor how we will get into the tungsten cell." Kurt rubbed his jaw.

"Well, find a way," Craig growled.

"Like I said. It's a solid plan. Good work," Brayden praised.

It certainly had more legs than his plan.

Go in. Shoot every fucker. Get Willow and Isabella. Then blow the place up.

The latter was still part of the plan.

"Nikolay is mine. You find him, you can do what you want, but his last breath is mine," Brayden said darkly.

A round of yes sirs sounded out.

He stood. "Eat. Rest. Tomorrow will be a big day."

Craig stood beside him, and Brayden turned. He lay a hand on his shoulder. "Stay with your warriors. I need a few hours alone."

"Bray—" Craig narrowed his eyes, but Brayden stayed the commander's argument with one look.

Then, with one last nod at the males, he strode out of the room.

"Jesus." He heard behind him.

Fuck, Jesus.

If there was a God or savior, then where the hell were they right now? Happy letting his mate and baby-sit in a cell having who knows what being done to them? Well, fuck that and fuck them and fuck everyone.

Brayden went back to his room where Elizabeth was asleep in one of the beds. She was compelled not to leave and wouldn't.

He changed into a pair of black sweats and running shoes, then headed downstairs and out into the streets.

Several circuits of downtown Seattle should relieve some of his built-up rage.

Or maybe twenty.

Whatever it took.

He was only keeping his head, as his males had come up with a sound plan that would get him into the lab.

Mind you, if some stupid fucker tried to mug him, he wouldn't be unhappy. Tonight Brayden was the most dangerous predator in the city, and he would draw blood if the opportunity landed in his lap.

This time tomorrow he would have his mate back in his arms or this town was going to fucking burn.

Willow. I love you.