Page 47 of Nick
She would find Nick.
And together, she promised herself, they would make sure Vincent and his henchmen could never torture anyone again.
Chapter 20
AS NICK AND RYKERapproached the abandoned mine on the outskirts of town, Ryker dropped to a crouch behind a cluster of boulders and shifted back into his human form.Following suit, Nick caught sight of several vehicles parked outside the decaying shaft entrance.
“Down,” Ryker hissed, slicing his hand through the air.
One by one, Malcolm, Anders, Larissa, Conall, and Quinton dropped and shifted as well.
Bronx, who had taken up the rear of the group, frowned at the cars.“Looks like we’ve got company.”
“Too many,” Ryker said, his voice barely above a growl.
Nick’s nostrils flared as he breathed in the scents carried by the hot breeze, searching for clues amid the dust and diesel.His mind raced—every second they spent hiding was a second Sarah remained in danger.
“Any idea who we’re dealing with?”Bronx asked, breaking the momentary silence.
“Vincent’s lackeys, most likely,” Larissa said, her gaze never leaving the mine entrance.
“Gregory and Percy, for sure.Maybe others,” Malcolm added.
“Could be a trap,” Conall said.
“Then we’ll spring it on them,” Quinton said.
“Quiet,” Nick ordered, his impatience simmering just below the surface.He couldn’t afford any mistakes—not with Sarah’s life hanging in the balance.
“Waiting plays into their hands,” Conall said.“Every second—”
“Is a second for us to be smart,” Nick cut in.He gestured at the cars.“They’re here.She won’t stand a chance if we barge in without a plan.”
They settled into an uneasy surveillance.Nick’s anger and impatience churned within him.But his protective instincts held him back, forcing him to be strategic.Sarah needed him to be smart, not reckless.
The rustle of gravel under heavy boots pricked his ears, and he tightened his grip on the jagged rock that offered them cover.Through a narrow crevice, he watched two figures emerge from the shadows of the mine.
Vincent Foley and his enforcer Gregory Torrance.
“Time to go.”Vincent’s voice carried faintly on the wind.
The alpha’s hands were darkened, and even from this distance, Nick could see him swiping a bloodstained cloth across his palms, cleaning off the evidence of savagery.A primitive growl threatened to rumble in Nick’s chest.
“Look at him,” Anders hissed.“Preening like the devil himself.”
“Patience,” Ryker said.
But Nick was hardly listening, a low growl emanating from deep within his throat, resonating with the simmering anger that vibrated through the group.His fur would’ve bristled if not for his human form, and his eyes held a dangerous glint.
“We should take them down now, while we have the element of surprise,” Malcolm said.
Nick’s gaze never wavered from the two men who had taken Sarah from them.He felt the pull of Malcolm’s words.But the image of Sarah—broken, bleeding—held his fury at bay.
“Easy,” Ryker murmured, placing a hand on Nick’s tense shoulder.“Our moment will come.But first, we find Sarah.”
“Stay focused,” Ryker whispered, more to himself than to the others.
Nick nodded, the muscles in his jaw working as he swallowed back his impatience.His gaze sharpened, focusing on the yawning darkness of the mine’s entrance.
