Taken By Desire (7 page)

He wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He couldn’t protect Sasha effectively from the katafygio, and he couldn’t leave his leap. Sure, he could step down from his position, but it hadn’t been done in over a hundred years. Not only that, he was one of Pietr’s kaurteto. He couldn’t be far from the man for safety reasons, even if he wanted to. But instead of explaining it that way to his strong-minded mate, he’d simply ordered. He knew that had been his first mistake. The second was letting his ego get in the way when she refused.
He
could refuse her for safety’s sake, but she was always supposed to choose him. No matter what, a mate was designed to stick behind the one meant for them. He’d expected some resistance, but then capitulation, especially after their time in bed.

He should have known better.

He shook his head, dragging himself from his thoughts. He would have to think about that all later. He had to keep Sasha safe for now. After that he could deal with the rest. For now, he was going to test his men and get their blood pumping. Then, perhaps, by the time he was done it would be daylight, and he’d be too tired to be bullheaded with his mate. He lifted his hand to trigger the false alarm on his watch when it blared to life.

“Oh God, please tell me, boss, that you are not fucking with us in the middle of the night,” Reynolds said over the earpiece in Cirro’s ear.

“Afraid not. This is not a drill. Move your men into position. I want snipers on deck. Ice has come faster than we thought,” Cirro hissed. He rushed to point even as he dug his cellphone from his pocket. He dialed quickly and waited, impatiently, for Pietr to answer.

“This had better be good, Cirro,” Pietr growled.

“We have incoming. Move the women to my area for safety. It would take an army to blow into that space. I have already talked to Lucy, Mei, Tristine, and Rachel. They are to be Sasha’s kaurteto. Get them with her.”

Cirro heard Pietr speaking on the line, and was thankful his friend didn’t wonder why he was giving his human mate a kaurteto. As Sasha was human they wouldn’t be able to heal her, but he would at least know that she had four leopards at the ready to protect his mate.

“How the hell did you pull two of my brother’s mate’s sisters to be in Sasha’s kaurteto?” Pietr asked then.

“She offered. What the hell was I supposed to say?”

“Yes, and then be gracious, or Laius would have kicked your ass.”

“Exactly. Just make sure they are moving to her now. The alarm in the house will shoot off in minutes. The blips on my screen are showing a coordinated attack by a group. They are closing in fast. They are about three miles out.”

“Traps set?”

“Always, my friend. Snipers are ready to pick them off, and I’m going hunting. Tell my mate—”

“I will. Go.”

Pietr disconnected before Cirro could say anything else. Cirro felt the familiar draw of adrenaline coursing through his system. His mate’s would-be assassin was out there, and he was going to die, tonight. He’d come much faster, and much better coordinated than they thought, but it didn’t matter. Sasha needed him to keep her safe, and Cirro was not about to let her down. He drew his guns and paced through the woods, his team behind him.

“Cirro, alpha point here. There are fifteen bogies coming in from side. Bravo has called in fifteen too, and charlie is stating ten. Ice came with enough people to make a stand. Kill go for snipers?”

“It’s a go, Vargas. Leave no stone unturned, but leave Ice to me. Hispanic male, will most likely be not far from the front, dark hair slicked back, and dark eyes. Not much to go on, but I’m sure he’ll stand out because he’ll be searching for Sasha.”

“Roger. How the hell did he find us so quickly?”

“This man has paid off some powerful judges, politicians, and other persons of interest. If he wanted to know where our home was, and he had the right connection, they may not have been able to tell him exactly where but they would have been able to point him in the right direction. Either way we will be going back to the city council to ensure we are more off grid after this,” Cirro promised.

“Cirro, snipers have begun taking shots. Count is eight down, four to alpha and bravo point. Charlie point is holding. Pietr passes that the women have been moved to safety, guards placed on them. Collin is coming out with Pietr. He asks that none of us pussies shoot him,” Vargas said.

“Shoot him just ’cause then,” Cirro replied.

“I heard that. I’m wounded. Really I am,” Collin said over the waves.

“Then come and get me, mutt,” Cirro said affectionately. He slid the safety off his guns and sprinted to alpha point. He went through the motions in his mind—breath, aim, release, and fire. Each time a body fell. But more rose to take over. Ice had brought more than what was originally counted. That stood to prove he’d been more prepared for this attack than originally thought.

“He knows too much,” Pietr said, almost reading Cirro’s mind.

“Someone has been talking. But who?” Cirro asked.

“I have no idea, but we’ll find out. For now let’s kill these bastards.”

“Agreed.” Pietr swept out of the darkness like an avenger, Collin not far behind. They shot their way through the humans. None of them would use their animal forms until the attack was more contained and there would be no chance of survivors telling what they had seen. Working together, the three men cleared. When one needed to reload the other two covered his flanks. Each step dropped a body, until Cirro was breathing hard from exertion, but he didn’t stop. Ice hadn’t shown his face, and he was terrified the man would slip through in the chaos.

The idea ran his blood cold.

“Where is Ice?” Cirro hollered over the volley of gunfire. One merc took a shot to the head, his body crumpling, dead before he hit the ground. Cirro took aim with no mercy at the man at his side, but another shot rang out, whizzing past his ear. Only his enhanced reflexes saved his ear. He moved faster, now tracing back toward the house.

“He should be here,” Collin called.

“That bastard, from what information you were able to get to us, likes to be in front. He should be here,” Pietr agreed, and unease swept through Cirro. Something wasn’t right but he couldn’t see it. It was right there in front of him, but he just couldn’t grasp it.

“Riley, do you see anything?” Cirro asked.

“Only mercenaries. Unless he’s hidden among them, I don’t see him.”

“Welsh?”

“Nothing. The mercenaries are pulling back.”

“Take them out. No one escapes,” Cirro ordered.

“Pull back, Cirro, something isn’t right,” Pietr ordered.

“Where the fuck is he?” Fire spread through Cirro’s thigh as a bullet dug into his flesh but he ignored the pain. When he shifted he’d heal.

“Inside,” a smug, heavily accented voice blasted over the airwave and Cirro froze.

“Cirro!” he head Sasha scream and ran, flat out into the house. Pietr and Collin were at his side. Laius moved from the bottom floor to the second floor in one leap, pushing his mate into the waiting arms of her kaurteto. The women took the vasilassa out of the room.

“I’ve had just about enough of this bastard,” Laius growled, his normally deep gray eyes golden. Larger than any of them at nearly seven feet tall, not many wanted to tangle with the leap’s leader. Only Pietr and Collin, leaders in their own right, would have the strength to challenge him, and none of them were interested in going down that road.

“He’s in the house, somewhere.”

“Listen. That’s Beth,” Pietr suddenly hissed and Cirro ran. He didn’t care if the others kept up with him. If Beth was fighting, then Ice had made it farther inside than any of them had thought. Selene and Maddy had been placed with Sasha in Cirro’s quarters. Ice was with his mate.

Cirro heard a volley of shots and the scream of cats even as he leaped down the stairs leading to his area. Blood and body parts were everywhere. Eight leopards were fighting against armed assassins, Ice wading through the center toward the three huddled women in one corner. Cirro felt his heart stop as Selene stepped in front of Maddy and Sasha. As the only one not human of the three she could take more fire, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be cut down.

No, not when I’ve just found her. Please, God, no. Let me have her. Let me keep her,
Cirro prayed as he lifted his gun. Pietr roared and streaked past him, he leopard ripping and tearing his way to his mate. Collin was no better. His wolf had taken over, the animal ripping through the mercenaries like so much meat. Cirro stayed in human form, afraid he wouldn’t be able to move his mate if the time came. He blasted at mercenaries as he moved.

“I’ll kill you, bitch, and everything you hold dear,” Ice threatened, lifting his rifle. Collin and Pietr slammed into him, even as Cirro shot him in the head, twice, in rapid succession. The leopards guarding the women tore through the remaining guards.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” another voice said and Cirro spun around to face Sasha. She was gripped in Detective Matherson’s arm and the muzzle of his .357 was pressed to her temple.

“I was sure that Ice would have taken care of her. Too bad,” he hissed, and pulled Sasha back with him toward a hole that only now Cirro saw in the back of his bedroom.

“Cirro,” Sasha cried, and Cirro leaped.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Matherson said and lowered his gun. He pulled the trigger before Cirro could reach him and Sasha screamed, blood pouring from her thigh. Everyone froze.

“Move again and I’ll kill her,” Matherson warned.

“Why?” Cirro questioned.

“Because I was tired of trying to get that bastard put into jail. Tired of political bullshit that got in my way. If you can’t beat them, join them. The cartel pays better than the government.”

“How did you know to come with so many?” Pietr questioned, shifting back to human form, moving subtly toward Selene. Matherson stumbled back, but didn’t release Sasha.

“You’re fucking animals,” he cried.

“You have no idea,” Laius growled. “Tell us what we want to know.”

“Ice found out from his contacts in city council. Knew this was supposed to be some animal refuge, but didn’t know you trained them to hunt. No matter. The cartel wants this land. I give them that, and I’m home free. Rich for the rest of my life, and I never have to worry about the bullshit in the country again.”

“They’ll kill you first,” Collin said, shifting back into human form.

“I just want to get out of here. Once I reach my transport, I’ll let Sasha go.”

“Don’t believe you. If the cartel wants this land, then they won’t let you off that easy.”

“I’ll hide,” Matherson argued.

“Not well enough that I won’t find you and kill you,” Cirro promised. He felt Sasha’s gaze but didn’t dare look away from the gun at her temple. He was fast, but he didn’t know if he’d make it in time to reach his mate. Selene moved slowly, inching her way toward Sasha. Pietr huffed, but Selene ignored him. She was going to take a chance to save her friend, Cirro knew it. But what could he do? If he didn’t act fast, his mate was going to die. Matherson would never let her go.

“Give her up, Matherson. She doesn’t need to die,” Cirro pleaded, lowering his weapons. He didn’t need them. He was a born weapon. He just needed an opening. The firefight was still raging outside. He wouldn’t be able to get his men inside right now to back him up.

“Let her attack,” Pietr whispered over the communication device, taking a chance. They’d known Ice had been on the air waves, but Matherson didn’t seem to be wearing one.

“She may die,” Cirro argued.

“Attack your mate, change her. That’s the only way she’ll survive if this goes wrong. Collin and I will back you. Selene is the only one close enough to get there in time.”

Could he harm his mate? Give her a mortal wound to risk conversion? Could he chance losing her? But with the gun so close to her temple if he didn’t try he might lose her anyway. For the first time he looked away from the gun and into her terrified eyes. Her gaze held his, tears swimming in the dark pools, but she didn’t censure him, or condemn him.  He saw such emotion there, her strength in the face of the situation, her trust in him to save her. He saw
her
. Being human didn’t make her weak. She was everything he could have ever wanted. Everything that was meant for him. He’d fought it, but fate had known better, and given him exactly what he needed. Pride and joy swept through him, even with the fear. He would try. For her, he would do anything.

“I love you,” he whispered, but he was sure he heard her when she sagged slightly in Matherson’s arms.

“I love you too,” she whispered back, barely discernible and but for his preternatural hearing he would not have heard it.

But he did, and that changed everything. As if in slow motion Selene exploded into action, and Cirro shifted into his partial form. He kept his eyes on Sasha, fighting to save her life. His claws raked deep furrows across her chest even as the gun blasted. Thrown off his aim the bullet grazed her skull and she slumped, unconscious. Cirro gripped his mate in his arms as she fell into them, Pietr backing up his mate and crushing Matherson’s head in his massive jaws. Selene tore at his neck, and Collin scooped Maddy up and away. But none of that mattered. Cirro struggled with tears as he felt Sasha’s heart stutter, and then stop. Then he couldn’t stop the torrent from flowing.

Chapter Ten

It was hot. So very hot. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She struggled against the weight pressing in around her, trying to get cool air, oxygen. A grunt met her ears when she kneed the weight away from her, but she didn’t care. She needed to breathe, to reach Cirro. He’d looked heartbroken when he’d attacked. Sasha had known, somehow, what he was going to do. She’d known he’d been too far away to save her, but she had trusted that he would deliver his wound first before Matherson could take her life. Had trusted the man she loved to keep her safe, like he promised. She hadn’t expected Selene to attack, but she should have guessed. Selene was the momma hen of them all, if truth be told. She would be the one to fight first and ask questions later. Sasha knew that it would have been much worst had Selene not done that, but she would never forget the look on Cirro’s face when his claws had ripped through her.