Rafe knew his cousin was right. He shouldn’t have been able to move all the rubble Kaya was lying beneath so quickly. Thank the gods Dane was in charge. Speaking of the chief, Dane’s face was pale as he took in the scene.
“Kaya,” Dane whispered. Rafael often forgot that Kaya and Dane worked together for years before he met them. “Is she…?”
“She’s alive. Dane…” Rafael couldn’t explain what happened there to the police or the news crew he had no doubt was already parked outside the gate.
“Don’t worry, Rafael. I’ll handle it.”
The three of them stood silently as the EMTs worked diligently to get Kaya safely loaded on a board, which was difficult working on and around the rubble. Rafael followed the responders until they got to the ambulance. While they loaded Kaya, he searched for his son. Priscilla was still holding Sebastian, but the woman looked like she was seconds from falling apart. When he looked back at his home, he took in the destruction. The wing housing Priscilla’s room was still standing, as was his and Kaya’s room. It was the middle part that had been targeted. Rafael was torn. He needed to go with Kaya, but he needed to see to Sebastian too.
“Sir, if you’re riding with us, we need to go.”
“Go, Brother. I’ll take care of Sebastian,” Frey said. “I’ll bring him to the hospital as soon as I get everyone situated here.”
Rafael inclined his head. “Thank you.” Rafe climbed into the ambulance and reached for Kaya’s hand, but at the last second, he didn’t take it. He didn’t know the extent of her injuries and didn’t want to cause her any undue pain. So, he sat next to her and inventoried ever scrape, cut, bruise. He would inflict the same on Drago Costas before taking his head.
Drago was less excited than he should be as he watched the news report. Hagen was grinning as the woman on the screen reported about the explosion at Rafael Stone’s home. Drago thought he would be elated, but for some reason, he felt numb. Kidnapping a mate or child was one thing, but outright killing them? When had he lost his nerve? Lost his lust for doing whatever it took to ensure the throne was his? Taking a throne was ruthless business, and if he couldn’t feel elated about Rafael’s home being destroyed, about his mate and child – the child who would one day have become King – being taken out of the equation—
“Our plan… I mean your plan is working. You have them all running scared.” Hagen turned from the TV back to his computer. The young man had managed to breach the security at the Clan members’ gates. Drago never realized how tenacious the human was, but Hagen had worked almost around-the-clock until he figured out how to bypass Julian Stone’s design. “The bad news is, it looks like they’re moving the other mates and kids.”
“Moving them where?” Drago had planned to use the families as distractions. He needed the males focused on those they loved so he could move in more easily when they went up against the Clan. Drago thought starting with Rafael had been the wisest move. Sure, it made the King vulnerable as he grieved his family, but it also made him that much more dangerous. Drago remembered his own rage when Audrey had been taken from him, and they had yet to complete the bond. They also didn’t have a new baby. Now, Rafael would stop at nothing until he had Drago’s head.
“At first, it looked like they were putting them together so they aren’t as spread out, but…” Hagen’s fingers flew across the keyboard. Drago’s dining room had morphed from a place where they enjoyed their meals together into a command center. Multiple screens lined up in front of his human. Hagen continued to impress Drago with the way he learned something new every day. Drago didn’t ask where Hagen was learning his new skills. All he knew was the guy had taken it upon himself to do whatever it took for Drago to succeed.
“Shit. What the…?”
“Problem?” Drago asked, turning his attention from the news report.
“I’m not sure. Damnit. Julian is trying to hack my system.”
“Can you keep him out?”
“Yes…” Hagen didn’t sound sure though.
“Maybe Julian should have been the first one I targeted,” Drago said more to himself than Hagen.
“I’m not so sure this is Julian. The moves seem different. Like…” Hagen paused, staring intently at the screen. “I think he has help.”
“Can you pinpoint his location?” Drago had other groups of Unholy lined up to strike. It had been Hagen’s idea to bomb Rafael’s home. Drago hadn’t asked where the kid got his hands on so much fire power or how quickly.
“No. Not his computers, but…” Hagen leaned back, staring at the ceiling. After a few seconds, he returned to his keyboard, determination clear on his handsome face. Drago remained silent, not wanting to disturb the young man’s concentration. “Yes!” Hagen pumped a fist in the air. “Got you, you bastard.” When Hagen smiled up at Drago, it was all Drago could do not to grab the young man and kiss him. “Ready for phase two?”
Drago returned Hagen’s smile, and with it, his enthusiasm for their plan returned.
“Julian, if you were going to take out a Clan, how would you do it?” Lachlan asked.
“What?” Julian stopped typing and looked at the other male. “I don’t know. Why are you asking?”
“Working for Alistair taught me to think like him. And if I learned from him, I’m betting Drago did too. Alistair didn’t come after your Clan with an army all at once. He bided his time, whittling away at each of you individually.”
