Page 65 of Bear Hunt

“Do you think you’re immune to bullets, big guy? Ha.” I can hear the quiver in Master’s voice, but I can also see the twitch of his finger against the trigger of his weapon.No.

I don’t think, I scream, yanking my wrist free from his grip, dropping the ribbon from my fist and curling my fingers around the mirror shard before I jump onto Master’s back. Without second guessing myself, I stab into his neck, over and over again until his struggling becomes weak and he drops to his knees. I fall to the floor with him and keep stabbing, my makeshift dagger becoming slippery with every thrust.

“Now who’s a fucking useless cunt!” My throat scratches as I scream out, and there’s something satisfying about using those kinds of words on the man who has a leading role in my nightmares. It gives me a sense of power over him in this moment.

I chance looking up at Bear and a flicker of amusement and something I can’t quite decipher crosses his features before he lunges forward and stabs into the top of Master’s head with a dagger. All movement beneath me stops completely, no more struggling, and I fall backward as the now-dead body crumples to the floor.

In less time than I have to take a breath, Bear is wrapping his big arms around me, enveloping me in his warm safety. I sob into his chest, relief flooding my veins as I squeeze him back, never wanting to let go of him ever again.

“I’ve got you, Baby Girl.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Bear

She’s in my arms. Finally fucking safe where she needs to be.

The flight attendant urged me to put Athena in her own seat, all buckled-up, but one look from me and she decided she did not want to die on that hill.

With my nose buried in her hair, I inhale the scent of whatever shampoo Ophelia keeps in her on-board bathroom where Athena took a shower right after takeoff. I would have showered with her but there was no way for both of us to fit in there. It is nice, though, and jetting around in a Gulf Stream has its perks, like going directly from Amarillo to Rockford Beach in less than four hours all the while my girl washes off the physical stench of those motherfuckers.

I wish I could kill those bastards all over again.

That being said, watching Athena transform into a blood-thirsty killer first worried me. I was afraid that once the adrenaline rush settled she’d be revolted by her actions. So far, though, she’s assured me that it was more liberating thananything else. Sure, it’s only been a few hours since she stabbed her captor with a shard from a mirror, over and over again until his carotid was completely shredded beyond recognition, but I’ll keep an eye on her, and when everything has settled, we’ll have a long and thorough conversation about what happened. All in due time.

Right now, though, I just need her in my arms, curled up exactly the way she is now with her arms around my neck, her legs folded and tucked against my chest, and her head resting on my shoulder. I’m a human pillow and I’m okay with that because her soft snores have become my favorite song.

Sitting on one end of the deep-brown leather couch, we face Ophelia and Jarrett, who are sipping on what I’m guessing is expensive-as-fuck whiskey, if the color is any indication. Tyler’s jet was nice but it was functional, work-related. This one is for people who practically live in this flying tin can. Grinder and Kincaid are each on their own large, reclining chairs, far enough away that they could get some shut eye if they wanted but close enough that they can participate in the conversation.

“So what’re your plans for the bitch back there?” My gaze meets Ophelia’s as Psycho asks point blank what Pamela Grouse’s future looks like in their hands. I don’t even care that he called her a bitch. I hope she suffers long and hard.

“That woman’s a cunt and deserves way worse than any of us could imagine.” Jarrett is right about that.

Coming back from the bathroom, Sledge plops down next to Psycho and sighs. “The bog is proper fancy, innit, mate?”

“Fit for a fuckin’ king.” Now I just think they’re doing it on purpose, talking weird so we can’t understand them. Until, that is, Ophelia gets us back to business.

“Anyway… we thrive on information. The only way for us to dismantle this sex trafficking ring is to cut off all the heads, one by one. Thanks to you guys, we were able to get a big one. PamelaGrouse will spill her guts because we will make sure she does. Don’t tell him I said this, but Jarrett here is really good at…” Ophelia looks over at Jarrett and lets the corners of her mouth tick up like they’re having their own private conversation and it is not appropriate for public consumption. “Getting people to talk.”

“Basically, you’re our Psycho, then?” With my arms wrapped tightly around Athena, I give my best friend the side-eye and let a smirk loose.

“The fuck’s he on about? I ain’t no psycho, mate. Just really good at my job.” Jarrett leans back, almost offended, but I’m sure he can tell something’s off.

“Me, too, man. Me too.” Psycho sits forward with his elbows on his knees as he takes his cut with one hand and pushes his tag forward. “Name’s Psycho, I’m the enforcer.”

“Right, then.” Jarrett clears his throat then looks at Ophelia like he’s about to jump into the Antarctic Sea in the dead of winter and is begging her to save him. “There’s one important issue we wanted to chat with you about.”

I sit a little straighter and my arms tighten around Athena on instinct.

“We’ve been searching the web, including the dark web, and found some dodgy shit.” Jarrett is all business now, not a hint of joking around in sight. “Athena was moved by the Grouses before the raid started. Like, they already knew they were being chased down. Patrick Grouse moved Athena from The Hamptons before you even landed in Montana.”

“The fuck you sayin’, mate?” Sledge is suddenly on the defensive because whatever Jarrett is getting at feels like a direct affront.

“I’m sayin’…” He pauses, lacing his fingers and looking Sledge straight in the eyes. “Did every member in your club know you were going on a rescue mission?”

“Of course they fuckin’ did. We’re one unit, we work as a team… as a family. ” As Sledge defends the club and its members, I’m putting the puzzle pieces together.

“What if they put two and two together? They took Athena from my bed, they had to know we’d go after her.” Compared to the Brits, my tone is smooth and calm but every word of this conversation is making me want to go back in time and kill everyone all over again.

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