Page 112 of Heroes & Hitmen
My gaze slides over to Jordan, who’s keeping her head down, shoulders shaking with silent emotion. Then to Elias, who’s grinning smugly, absolutely loving this.
How do the two of them fit into this trainwreck?
“This betrayal cannot go unpunished,” Gage intones, drawing every syllable out. “Not when it threatens everything we stand for. Normally, this would be an internal matter, but since the traitors involved have made a public spectacle of themselves, it’s only fitting that the consequences be made just as public.”
He lets the words hang for a beat, then gives a sharp nod which results in me being dropped to my knees by a brutal kick to the backs of my legs. I grunt at the force of my knees hitting the pavement, the enforcers stepping back just enough to give the crowd a better view. I jerk my gaze toward Miley and our eyes lock, everything fading from sight buther.
Her dark blonde hair is disheveled, bow askew, mascara smudged beneath her eyes. Even so, she’s still bravely standing tall and holding her own.
I swear she’s never looked more beautiful.
I’ve never loved her more.
Gage strides in my direction, cutting off my view of his daughter as his shadow falls over me. “Ares Raines, you’ve heard the charges. How do you plead?”
I glare up at him, jaw clenching with rage. “Not guilty,” I snarl.
He smiles, dead-eyed. “Is that so?” he mocks, as if he was hoping that’d be my answer.
“Miley’s my mate,” I grit out. “We didn’t–”
I don’t get to finish that sentence. Gage gives a signal and I’m cut off by a harsh kick to the ribs from one of his henchmen, my body folding in on itself with a strangled cough.
Miley shouts my name, struggling against Ross’ hold on her, and I lift my head, shaking it slightly when our gazes meet.
Stay still, sweetheart. Stay safe.
She heeds my signal, Ross’ grip slackening as she gives up the struggle. Meanwhile, Gage turns away from me to address the onlookers again like he’s starring in a damn stage play.
“Ares Raines will be confined to the Reaper block while he awaits his sentencing,” he declares.
Murmurs rise– shock, awe, approval.
“And as for Miles…” He cuts a glare her way, his lip curling. “I expected better from you, but I suppose some lessons must be learned the hard way,” he grumbles, pivoting back toward his supporters to address them again. “You came here for a ceremony, so we’ll proceed with Miles’ pairing to Elias Burke, as originally intended. Doctor?”
Miley pales as Dr. Aspen steps forward, and I feel the color drain from my own face at the sight of the man who performed my procedure this morning. I swear the creep smiled while I was writhing in pain beneath his electrodes. The moonlight glints off the metal case clasped in his hands and he opens it with a flourish, revealing four glass syringes filled with mating serum.
Four.
My heart trips over its valves as realization dawns. More than one pairing must’ve been planned for tonight– me and Miley…Elias and Jordan?
Is that how this whole thing went sideways?
“No!” Miley shrieks, launching herself at Dr. Aspen.
Ross tries to pull her back, but not before she manages to knock the case out of the doctor’s grip. The syringes shatter against the pavement, the crowd gasping in horror. Dr. Aspen makes a choked sound and drops to his knees, frantically shifting through the destroyed shards as if he can somehow salvage them. Ross regains control of Miley by backhanding her, sending her crumpling to the ground with a whimper, and I. Fucking.Snap.
A roar of rage tears from my throat as I surge to my feet, skin rippling with the urge to shift. I’m half a second from letting my beast take control when Gage’s voice cuts through the air like a blade.
“Don’t shift, son, or I’ll make things worse for her,” he warns, stopping me cold.
Miley sits up, rubbing her reddened cheek, and I barely manage to force my wolf back down, choking on my fury. My hands tremble, my vision tunnels until everything except her face swims in static.
She doesn’t cry. Doesn’t scream. Just gets up, slow and steady, like she refuses to let him win.
There she is. My brave, beautiful girl.
“I issue a mate challenge,” I growl.
