Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

Maverick

G unner and I give the dogs their commands, but it's clear they're pissed as fuck they aren't coming. It's like they pick up on the tension in the air and know we're leaving them behind for something big.

I give Nova a pep talk to be extra vicious and slather both dogs with some extra love and attention.

They're solid.

They know their roles.

Haze will scout and pace the bottom floor. If he gets even an inkling something is off, he'll go investigate.

Nova will stick with Libby and Brooklyn. She'll also herd them together if Haze alerts that something is wrong. She won't leave their sides unless the danger comes to them. If it does, she can be every bit as dangerous as her partner.

It's tough.

I trust the dogs a fuck of a lot more than most men I've worked with over the years, but leaving Libby and Brooklyn almost has me on the verge of an anxiety attack.

It's unlikely anyone would even come to Bless's townhouse. I'll just feel better when it's done, and we're all reunited.

I don't let Noble put Libby back on the floor. My hands fly out, tickling her sides, and Noble hands her to me.

"You leaving?" she asks, like she just picked up on the weird energy in the air.

"Yep, but I'll be back by the time you wake up," I assure her, hugging her to me.

"Okay!" She squeezes my neck, giving me a kiss on the cheek. It makes my chest all warm and fuzzy.

Avan Barrett is a fucking idiot, and he's going to pay.

How could anyone even consider the shit he had planned?

Gunner comes over, so I hand Liberty off to him and stride over to Brooklyn.

She gives a tight smile, but it doesn't fool me. Her emotions spill right through the bond and into me. Which, now that I think about it, might be why I'm so anxious when I'm always a rock before a mission.

She wraps her arms under mine, and I get my shit together, pulling her in for a hug as she stretches up on her tiptoes.

I meet her in the middle for a kiss that makes my heart pound so hard I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.

My tongue dances around hers, and I pump myself up to do the damn thing. It feels like the kiss goes on forever and my anticipation grows.

I pull back and say, "I love?—"

Her soft fingers land over my mouth. "Come back safely, and then you can tell me."

My eyes widen as I study her face.

She shoves her emotions toward me in the bond, and it's clear that she feels the same. It might not be full-blown love, but she cares about me a fucking lot.

She just needs us all to get back home safely.

And that's exactly what I intend to do.

We make a quick stop at a warehouse that feels very similar to the one we visited to save Noble.

The calm focus I've been waiting for sets in as I strap myself into my harnesses and check my Glocks before shoving them into their thigh holsters.

Remembering how I ran out of ammo the other night has me tossing extra magazines in the pockets on my tactical vest that I usually don't use.

I even slide a sheath into each boot.

Let's hope I don't need those.

If I do, that'll mean shit got real.

It suddenly makes a lot more sense why guys like Bishop, Holt, and Ramirez used to be with us in the field on every dangerous mission, but now they have to be practically coerced into participating.

My life is intrinsically tied to Brooklyn's since we bonded.

It's a sobering realization when I've heckled those guys hardcore. Still, the Barretts are going to pay for what they've done to innocent omegas, and Avan, especially, is going to regret every shitty thing he's done to Brooklyn.

Kostov, Aleks, and several of his higher-ups leave the warehouse at the same time we do. The majority of his men should be in place and waiting for us to arrive.

Bless picked her team from the women she employs, and they're also in position.

Locke drives since he knows the way better than any of us.

It's quiet as fuck in the SUV, but I'm superstitious. I call my family before every mission, and that's not going to change now.

Ranger huffs, shaking his head at the ceiling as soon as he hears me speak, but it lightens the mood when Noble stretches over to tell my mom he loves her.

"Okay, I've gotta run," I say to end the call. "I love you all." My parents chorus their love, and I hang up. "All right, I'm officially ready to slaughter some dicks."

Locke looks at Ranger. "I hope our kids call us one day before every murder."

Soren sighs. "I'm in a car full of idiots. I can't wait to get home to my family."