Her eyes meet mine, steady and strong. The familiar stubbornness shines through but also something else that makes me pause. Normally, her reaction would be a straight “fuck you” and maybe a punch if I’m lucky. I can tell she’s trying to be reasonable, though the notion is still ridiculous. A smile crosses her lips and she knows she has me.
“I’ll be careful, and we’ll get out of the way as soon as the fighting starts. Promise. Besides, you know as well as I do that you couldn’t make me stay behind if you wanted to.”
I watch her a moment longer before sighing.
Fucking woman is going to be the death of me.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ana
My stomach twists even as I watch Sammi greet Tahar and his men, inviting them into the house. Emilio agreed to stay long enough for us to do this but is leaving the moment we finish with Tahar. I know Ax calls him a coward, and while I kind of agree, I don’t totally blame him. Taking on an unnecessary fight is probably the last thing any of us should do right now, but somehow, I managed to find the one man in the world whose violence can match my sense of vengeance.
I resist the urge to place a hand on my belly when I approach the door where Tahar and his men stand, instead dropping to a curtsy.
"Thank you for coming, my lord," I say. "Can we get you a refreshment?"
The pleasantries are like ash in my mouth. Only the thought of watching him bleed out later gives me the strength to keep on.
"No, we're here because I understand you have information," he replies formally, not stepping further into the house. Sammi catches my eye. Our goal to start is a simple one, but one we're already failing at. We need to get him inside, and we need to keep him here as long as possible.
Sammi takes a step forward, reaching down to take his hand and give him a brilliant smile.
"Absolutely, my lord. It was very trying for Penny here. Please come in, she can explain what she saw."
Tahar eyes Sammi's hand suspiciously but nods his men forward, I count ten. Once they are all in the large foyer and Sammi closes the door behind I breathe a sigh of relief and hope to fuck that Ax is watching.
"Please take a seat," I say, gesturing to the living room, "and I'll not only tell you what I saw, but I can even show you."
Chapter Thirty-Three
Axle
Iwatch as Sammi welcomes them into the house and grin, moving away silently. I’m cloaked in darkness as I sneak through the streets of Tekir toward the local jail. It’s not late but the night is quiet, the people all huddled in their homes recovering from another day under the thumb of The Watch. As I pass, I notice hints of the wreckage of their searches. Broken windows and overturned crates are everywhere I look and the aura of fear hovers over the city.
It reminds me too much of being a child, right before I was taken.
I flex my hands as I move, the excitement of the coming bloodshed amping me like nothing else. Pleasant fiery tingles course under my skin, a constant hum and reminder of the pleasure to come.
Turning the last corner, I peek around and could almost laugh when I see there are only two Watch guards at the front of the small jail. Easy.
Moving around the building, I enter the shadows and pull the small but deadly knife from my belt. I step forward with a grin.
∞∞∞
Some men to my left whisper loudly but all it takes is a sharp glance to shut them up. My body feels tense and strange. I’m surrounded by men I don’t know, and it makes me antsy. Common enemy yes, but other than Brutus, every man here is basically gutter-scum from Tekir. I’m just as much scum as them, but still, I wish Ethan were here, but with his leg all fucked up we can't risk it. I can't risk him.
He argued, of course. It wasn't until I explained if something happened to me, he was all Ana and the baby would have. Shut him up right fast.
He pauses at that, objections lost.
"So, you really gonna be a dad?" Ethan asks, rubbing his hand to the back of his neck. With clenched teeth I nod. "Appears so."
Ethan whistles as he blows out a breath.
"Fuck."
"Tell me about it."