LOGINThe thick morning fog clings to the rusted chain-link fences surrounding the old Miller Pharmaceutical plant.The massive brick buildings hide in a hazy gray shadow, looking more like ancient ruins than a functioning chemical laboratory.I check the seal on my heavy respirator one last time and pull the thick rubber straps tight against my jawline."Are the Southside teams in position around the back exits?" I ask into the radio microphone clipped to my shoulder."Vance's second-in-command has the loading docks locked down, Boss," a crackling voice replies over the secure channel."Nobody leaves this building alive," I order, and I chamber a round into my heavy rifle with a sharp, metallic clack.Seth hops out of the truck before it even comes to a full stop.He carries a thick canvas bag full of C4 explosives slung over his broad shoulder, and his dark eyes scan the perimeter for any signs of movement.I follow right behind him, keeping my weapon raised as I sweep the dark, broken wi
He watches Rhett, Seth, and Dean load the last of the heavy explosives into the second assault vehicle."We are going to handle Vincent Rossi, and this nightmare will be over by tomorrow morning," I swear to him.I step forward and wrap my arms very carefully around his waist, making sure I avoid putting any pressure on his injured right side.I pull him into a gentle hug, resting my chin against his uninjured shoulder.He rests his chin on the top of my head and squeezes my back with his good hand."Keep yourself safe, Beau, because I am not fixing your computer if you get shot today," he murmurs into my messy hair."I will be fine, so just get in the damn car before Seth comes over here and throws you into the backseat," I laugh weakly, stepping away from the embrace.I turn my attention away from Daniel for a moment and look at the lead guard standing by the driver's side."Vance, I need you to listen to me very carefully," I say, calling the older Southside lieutenant by his name.
The transition from the freezing underground server room to the cold morning air of the courtyard feels like walking through a terrible dream.Just an hour ago, I was wrapped in a soft velvet nest on the floor of our bedroom, floating on a cloud of euphoric submissive bliss.I thought the brutal violence of the civil war was finally behind us, and I truly believed we earned a few quiet days to heal our fresh wounds.Vincent Rossi shattered that beautiful illusion the second he unleashed that yellow poison on those trapped men.Now, I am walking across the damp gravel of our driveway in my bare feet, preparing to send my pack back into a deadly crossfire.The newly forged pack bond thrums deep in my chest, feeding me the sharp focus of my mates as they prepare for the coming battle.Dean walks slightly ahead of us, his face a mask of pure concentration while he mentally calculates the driving distance to the abandoned pharmaceutical plant.Seth is carrying two heavy duffel bags packed
My blood is boiling hot with a furious need to tear Vincent Rossi apart with my bare hands.The horrifying image of those three men vomiting bright red blood inside a sealed glass box is burned deeply into my mind.I punch the heavy security code into the glowing keypad beside the reinforced steel door, and the massive locks disengage with a loud metallic clank.Beau follows closely behind me, his bare feet padding softly across the cold floor while he holds his silk robe tight against his chest.Rhett and Dean step into the brightly lit armory and immediately head for the tall storage lockers lining the back wall.We do not have time to sit around and debate our strategy, because that toxic yellow gas is already churning inside the old pharmaceutical plant.I grab my heavy ceramic plate carrier from the top shelf and slide the thick nylon straps over my head.Beau steps right up to my chest and reaches out to fasten the heavy side buckles for me without saying a single word.His smal
I trace the digital breadcrumbs across a digital map of the city, watching the glowing yellow line travel far away from the bustling downtown districts.The GPS trail ends in a desolate industrial sector located on the far northern outskirts of the city limits."They drove the chemicals to the old Miller Pharmaceutical plant," I announce, pulling up the satellite imagery of the massive complex."That factory shut down ten years ago, and the city scheduled the whole property for demolition next month," Seth points out, frowning at the rusted metal roofs displayed on the screen."It is the perfect cover for a secret laboratory, because the building already has the heavy ventilation stacks and the reinforced chemical vats Rossi needs," I explain, zooming in on the main loading dock.I tap another key to access the local municipal power grid, checking the electrical usage for that specific block."The plant is supposed to be abandoned, but it is currently drawing enough electricity to pow
Seth stares at the blank computer monitors with his mouth hanging slightly open, and he forgets to lower the heavy assault rifle he is still holding in his hands.Beau presses his back flush against Rhett's chest, wrapping his arms tightly around his own waist to keep the silk robe closed against the biting chill of the basement.I can feel the exact moment my logical foundation cracks, because the newly forged pack bond floods my chest with a massive wave of shared panic.I take a deep, shuddering breath and force my racing mind to compartmentalize the terror, knowing my family needs my intellect right now more than anything else."How is a gas attack even possible, Dean?" Seth asks, breaking the heavy silence with a rough and wavering tone."Poisons usually take hours to shut down a dominant system, but those men died in less than thirty seconds," my brother points out, stepping closer to the dark screens."Rossi did not invent a brand new poison from scratch, because cartel chemist
I force myself to nod once in silent agreement before walking toward the double doors. Seth immediately moves to walk directly behind me, and Dean steps to my right side while Rhett leads the way out of the conference room. We walk down the quiet, carpeted hallway in complete silence, and the absen
The words echo in the large room, and the sheer audacity of Rhett's demand creates a heavy silence across the mahogany table. I rapidly calculate the absolute danger of his ultimatum, yet my body is far more concerned with the sharp, agonizing cramp that suddenly twists through my lower abdomen. I
The silence inside the large conference room becomes completely oppressive after Seth speaks his accusation, and my lead enforcer Daniel immediately shifts his weight defensively beside me. I feel the sudden urge to step backward toward the wooden doors, but I force my leather shoes to remain firml
The sharp cramp in my lower abdomen forces my eyes open before my morning alarm even has a chance to ring on the nightstand. I groan and press the heel of my right hand directly against my stomach, and I wait for the dull ache to subside, but the pain only radiates further down my thighs. This is t







