Jax stands there staring at the wall behind me, a series of emotions rolling over his face. “You’re right, you can’t warn them.” Jax gives me a look I can’t quite decipher. “But I can.”
I pause in my pacing and look deep into those violet eyes. “You’d do that? Even if it means risking your chance of finding Sterling?”
“You told me I’m more than just a demon, and that made me realize I’m also more than my revenge. You also made me realize I can’t sit back any longer and allow this all to happen. So yes, I’ll help Ryker and you.”
“And when the time comes, I’ll help you find Sterling.” I act without thinking and pull Jax into a hug. He immediately stiffens up and jerks back a little. But to my surprise, a moment later, he relaxes and hugs me back. I mean it when I tell him I’ll help him find Sterling. I make a promise to myself that if one day, Jax shows up asking for help, I’ll drop everything and go—no questions asked.
“Just promise me one thing, Blondie,” I hear him whisper.
“Anything.”
“Kill him. Kill Nicolai.” I hear the change in Jax’s voice. It’s thick with anger. “Promise me you won’t let him get away with this.”
“I promise.”
41
Ryker
“Pull over,” I order when we’re a couple miles away from the facility. From what we’ve been able to find online, the building Nicolai has Pru in is part of an abandoned industrial park he bought. The official papers say it’s used as a distribution center for Volkov Industries, but we know now what it’s really used for. “We need to come up with a plan.”
Dad pulls the car over, and we all climb out and gather around the hood of the car to look at the pictures and map. Before we left William’s condo, Remington had printed out satellite images of the facility, so we have a good idea of the layout.
“My main concern is there is only one road in and out of the facility,” I tell them as I pick up a picture to get a better look at one of the main buildings.
“That’s if we can even get out,” Ransom says under his breath.
“That’s another thing,” I sigh and look away from my family. “I think I should be the only one to go in. I don’t want any of you getting hurt, and we all know how Pru feels about putting you guys in danger,” I add, thinking about how protective my little mate is of her family and pack.
When no one says anything in response, I lift my gaze and find them all staring at me, each of them looking equally annoyed.
“Ryker Alexander Weylyn, you’re fucking delusional if you think I’m going to allow you to go in there by yourself,” Dad snaps at me. I don’t have to question how serious he is since he cursed and used my middle name. He always reserves those for serious moments. Like this.
“We don’t really know what we’re walking into. Nicolai has proven time and time again that he’s smart but also ruthless. I’m okay with me getting hurt or worse, but not you guys.” I shake my head. “What if I go in alone, and while they’re distracted with me, you guys find Pru? I only care that she gets out safe, and all of you leave here alive.”
“Ryker—” Remi starts to speak, but the sound of someone clapping from next to the driver’s side door of the SUV has us all spinning around. I smell something burning for a moment, but the odor floats away in the wind.
A tall, lanky man with dark hair leans against the silver vehicle. He continues his clapping for several more seconds before crossing his arms and smirking at us. “Wow, that was so moving. I’m very impressed with the whole—martyr thing. I mean, Pruitt sure as hell won’t be happy to hear about you being the sacrificial lamb. She’s already pretty pissed you’re here, so we probably shouldn’t add any fuel to that fire.”
“Who the hell are you?” Ranger asks the man.
“Or right, sorry. Hello. I’m Jax,” the man—Jax—says, grinning at us. “I was the one tasked with torturing Blondie, but I think we’re friends now—no wait.” He holds up a hand and tilts his head to the side like he’s thinking about something. “Yes, I can confidently say we are friends now.”
“You have a lot of balls showing up here and admitting to torturing my mate,” I growl at the man. My wolf bristles at the thought of Pruitt being tortured and my claws lengthen on their own. After the past few days, my wolf is ready to sink his teeth into something, and he’s more than happy to start with Jax.
“You must be Ryker.” He nods in my direction as he pushes off the car and stands straight. “I wasn’t sure which one of you was. Also, Blondie, I mean, Pru, isn’t mad at me about the whole torture thing. You shouldn’t be either.”
Images of Pruitt being tortured and in pain fill my head, and my legs push off the dirt road shooting me forward toward Jax. Fueled by rage, I bring my fist back, fully intending to smash this guy’s face in, but in the blink of an eye, he disappears, and the smell of smoke fills the air. I look around and don’t see him anywhere. My family does the same thing, their gazes glancing frantically around the car and the nearby treeline for him, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“What the hell?” Remi drawls.
“Only part hell, sweet cheeks.” Jax suddenly appears at Remi’s side. “Try to kill anyone recently? I think the guard you almost took down while you were being held by good Ol’ Nico had to go to therapy.”
“How do you know me?” Remi takes a step back from him and
