Sergio reached over and took Keagan’s hand in his before speaking. “This is who I am, sweetheart. I am a Coven Guard, a soldier, I protect the Coven and the interests of the Coven. But more than that, I am protecting you, my beloved, and I would gladly go straight into hell if need be to defend you.” He raised Keagan’s hand to his lips and kissed it softly before placing it back on the table.
“You are my life and my love.” He finished, and there were tears in Keagan’s eyes as he studied Sergio for a moment.
“You are my life and my love,” Keagan repeated it back to him. “I can’t lose you.” He added with emphasis.
“You won’t, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER NINE
Sergio normally would be part of Killian’s team, but since he had a personal interest in the outcome of tonight’s campaign against Ramsey, he was made part of Master Hadden’s team, which was leading the charge.
Four teams were taking the warehouse where Ramsey was located, and four other teams were spread out across the city, taking out his other interests. Ramsey would have no backup, no support. When the night ended, Ramsey, his business and his influence in this town would be destroyed.
Kingston and his partner Diego took out the snipers positioned around the warehouse where Ramsey was located and did so silently. No one inside was aware that their first line was eliminated, and they were left open to an attack.
Sergio moved inside with Kash as they followed Master Hadden and Josef. They were followed by Killian’s team and Lando’s with Kristof and the wolf pack bringing up the rear ready to do clean up.
They took out the first floor effortlessly, and Sergio rushed to the second with Master Hadden leading. It was an impressive exhibit of strength and skill as he watched Master Hadden cut through the men guarding the entrance to a room at the back end of the second floor.
This location was considered by the locals to be an abandoned warehouse, and the outside looked the part, but the inside was all high polish and muscle. Ramsey used it for business and other darker practices. It was a location that would be razed once the occupants were eliminated. The juju in the structure was dark and thick and malevolent.
Master Hadden moved through the throngs of guards like they weren’t there as the rest of his team began to take them out. Sergio and Kash moved to take down a jackal shifter but were caught up short when the man turned on them with an assault weapon and opened fire.
Many on Ramsey’s payroll were shifters, and they often used weapons they knew would slow down or disable other paranormals. The weapon wouldn’t stop them unless it was a headshot, but it would definitely slow them down. An automatic weapon could discharge a rapid number of projectiles forcing a paranormal to have to heal too many wounds at once and weakening him in the process.
The jackal dove into an adjacent room as he continued to discharge his weapon in their direction. Sergio and Kash dodged and hit the floor scrambling to get out of range, but to no avail as Sergio felt several molten hot pieces of metal pierce his upper arm and his side. Sergio rolled to the wall and kept his eyes on the room with the jackal.
…
Keagan sat in the living room of Sergio’s apartment, waiting. He turned down the offer to have someone sit with him as he waited for Sergio to return. He wanted the freedom to be nervous and walk the floor and worry without the pressure of someone telling him that everything was going to be okay. Keagan handled stress best on his own without an audience.
Sergio had insisted at first but then recognized Keagan’s need to take care of himself in this respect. The only comfort he needed was Sergio coming home to him safe and well. He knew this was Sergio’s life, and he was trained for this work, but this seemed different than just having a job to do. It was different because there were emotions involved, he was fighting for Keagan, for his safety, and for his life.
He remembered seeing Sergio take out the attacker at the rental house and recalled the sheer brutality and effortlessness of it. Sergio was a professional, and he had to keep that uppermost in his mind. Just as he was convincing himself of that fact, he felt it. A burning in his side that increased as he focused on his beloved.
He knew in his heart in the depths of his awareness that Sergio was hurt. The radiating pain shot through his side and shot down his arm. His beloved was shot; he could feel the trauma of the wound. He jumped to his feet, wanting, needing to go to him but not having the slightest clue where he was. He paced the apartment until he felt a calming sensation like a warm, soothing blanket being placed over his cold fear, and he sat down. His mind cleared, and a confidence took over. Sergio was okay, he knew he was okay.
…
Sergio sensed his beloved reaching out to him and tried to shield him, but the pain of his injuries touched Keagan, and his panic began to spike. His wounds were minor just through and throughs that quickly sealed and began
