Page 92 of Cruel Revenge
Her scream was a short one. Blood curdling, terrified, and ear piercing, but short.
Jacky was on her in seconds, a chest rumbling snarl ripping from her as she landed on Courtney.
It was brutal and efficient. Heath knew it was also painful. Courtney didn’t die until after her arm was ripped off, the gun and arm being sent across the room.
Once the violence stopped, Heath took a step closer toward Carey’s cage. Jacky looked up and snarled, taking her own step forward, leaving Courtney’s body behind her.
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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The last known threat was dead. But there were unknown threats.
Or were there? One of them had said Carey. One of them knew her.
That one stepped forward, and I couldn’t stop the snarl and warning step.
Mine.
But then I sniffed.
There was so much wolf in the room. So much of it. No witches. All gone. I inhaled again and could smell Carey. She was right there, and she smelled a little different than she once had, but she was still Carey. Just different now. But her scent was mingling now with others. So close to her. Them.
They complemented each other, those smells.
Then it snapped into place.
Father. Brother. Family.
Heath. Landon.
The realization rocked me. My expression must have changed enough for Heath to feel he could move again. Landonwas faster, not coming toward me, but back toward the far door. He grabbed something and threw it. Heath caught it easily.
“Dirk, we’ve got her. We’ve got all of them,” Landon was saying, a finger to one of his ears. “Yeah, you can start sending everyone. We'll need medical, any healers we can get to check on people.”
Then metal creaked, and a door swung open on the cage.
Carey was free.
“DAD!” she cried out, the sob in her voice nearly breaking me. It was done. She was back with Heath.
She dove into her father’s arms, nearly knocking them both to the ground. He picked her up and swung her around.
I did it. She’s going to go home. Back to the place she belongs. Safe.
I was shaking. Landon got closer once again and squeezed his sister’s shoulder as she cried onto her father’s shoulder. She looked at him and removed an arm from Heath to wrap around Landon.
With that, Heath looked over her head at me.
I had no idea what I looked like. I did know it was bad. The blood was beginning to feel sticky. My hands hurt. So did my injuries.
Heath looked down at Carey and smiled.
“Carey, I think Jacky… I think your mother would like a hug, too,” he said softly.
My heart tightened and tears flooded my eyes as Carey turned around, letting them go. She didn’t see me as I stood there. She just knew it was me. She jumped, and I, unable to fail her in any way, opened my arms and caught her.
“Jacky!” she cried out.
