Page 89 of Blood Red Rage

Her eyebrows climbed. “Excuse me?” I stepped closer.

“Bryn.”

“Don't Bryn me.” Kosta suddenly became extremely interested in the trees. I lowered my voice. “Ceasar shot you once.”

Her anger disappeared. “You won’t give him another opportunity.” I touched her stomach.

“And he sure as fuck doesn't get near either of you.” She stared at me for a long moment. Then she nodded.

“Fine.” Relief loosened something inside me. I kissed her forehead.

“Go with Kosta.”

Her fingers caught my shirt before I could move. “Come back to me.”

My chest tightened. I covered her hand with mine. “Always.” I watched until Kosta had her halfway toward the mansion, only then did I turn and the man who had been walking beneath the moonlight with his mate disappeared. The hunter took his place. By the time I reached the house, the mansion was alive. Men moved through the entrance hall with deadly purpose. Weapons were being distributed and checked. Radios crackled. Vehicle engines started outside.

Draugr stood over the table in Roman's study, Volken was beside him, Lucien was strapping a long knife against his thigh and Roman stood at the head of the table. “He's here?” I ask.

Volken nodded. “My men haven't lost visual.”

“How many with him?”

“Fourteen confirmed,” Draugr said. “Could be twice that inside.” Lucien looked up, his smile was vicious.

“Good.”

Roman's eyes snapped toward him. “Don't get excited.”

“I've waited years for this.”

“So have we.” That silenced the room because Roman was right. We all had reasons to want Ceasar dead, old reasons, personal reasons, blood reasons. But mine had changed the moment he'd brought Bryn into it. Before her, Ceasar was unfinished family business, but now he was the man who had tried to take my mate away from me, and there was nothing in heaven, hell or anything between that could save him from me.

Roman spread the photographs across the table. “Shipping depot here. Two main entrances. Vehicle access from the south. Water behind the property.”

“He'll run for the water,” Draugr states.

“He always runs,” Volken muttered.

“Not tonight,” I said. Everyone looked at me. I picked up my knife, long, heavy, familiar. The leather-wrapped handle settled into my palm like an old friend. Lucien also checked his weapon. Volken reached for his. Around us, our men prepared with the quiet efficiency of people who knew exactly what was coming. Machine guns were checked, magazines loaded. Long knives disappeared into sheaths, body armour tightened.

Changelings moved among vampires, already receiving assignments. There was an electric energy in the room now. Dark, electric, hungry.

We'd hunted this bastard across countries. Lost him in London. Tracked false leads into France. Followed whispers, bodies and betrayals. Every time we'd closed our hands around him, he'd slipped through our fingers but not tonight.

Roman looked at each of us. “You know what Ceasar does.” Nobody answered. “He provokes; he divides. He makes you angry enough to stop thinking.” His eyes landed on me. “He will use Bryn against you.”

My fangs dropped. “Let him say her name.”

“That's exactly my point.”

Draugr's hand landed heavily on my shoulder. “Kill him after we have what we need.”

I looked at my brother, he knew me too fucking well. “No promises.” Lucien laughed but Roman didn't. “Viking.”

I met our eldest brother's stare. “Fine.” Roman nodded. Then he moved around the table. He clasped Volken's forearm first, then Lucien's, Draugr's and finally mine. His grip tightened. “Come home.” Two words, but I heard everything underneath them. Brothers didn't need speeches. We had centuries between us, battles, losses, victories, blood. Roman wasn't coming because someone needed to remain at the mansion. Someone powerful enough to protect our women if Ceasar had anticipated this.

But every part of him wanted to, his explosive energy was palpable. I clasped his forearm harder. “We'll bring you his head.” Roman's mouth twitched.