Chapter 142: Don't Kill The Messenger

Derek POV

I howl in frustration when I see Lily’s overturned car. We were just behind them, minutes away from helping her. Damn her for being so stubborn. This never would have happened if she stayed with us. I look over at Logan and he has the same frustrated expression on his face. He checks his phone and glances at me with a chagrined look.

“She still has the phone. Which means we know where she is going. Which also means they want us to know,” he tells me.

“Why?” I ask.

“You know why. They want us to come for her. It’s obviously a trap. I’m just not sure who is setting it,” Logan replies.

“So it could be Brian with more men, Antonio or Ivanov?” I ask.

“Yep,” Logan says succinctly. I shake my head and release a sigh.

“You have a plan?” I say, assuming he always has one.

“Nope,” Logan says and my heart sinks.

“I just don’t know what we are walking into,” Logan tells me quietly and then adds, “It will take me some time to gather enough men to go after her. Assuming the worst.”

“The worst?” I question.

“That we are not dealing with patient men. I can’t control what happens to her in the meantime,” Logan replies. I grimace and try to control my rage.

“What are the odds if we go after them with what we have now?” I inquire.

“Slim to none. Like I said, we have no idea how many men they have and what we are up against,” Logan says. Felix is standing by, listening to our conversation.

“I can get men quickly, but I can’t guarantee loyalty. They are the kind of men that will work for the highest bidder,” Felix interjects.

“Do we have a choice?” I ask Logan. He shakes his head in response.

“Then we’ll just have to make sure our bid is the highest,” I reply. Felix leaves to make some calls and I stand with Logan in the fog.

“We are most likely going to be outnumbered,” Logan says.

“I know. But they don’t know what we are,” I tell him.

“They will have fire power,” Logan replies.

“But not silver bullets. We will have to be fast. I think the element of shock will be on our side,” I say. He nods in agreement.

“Like you said, we don’t really have a choice,” Logan states firmly. If I questioned his loyalty before, I certainly don’t now. He looks down at his phone again and then looks up at me.

“The signal stopped. They are about twenty five miles from here. If Felix can get us men, I can get explosives. I think a diversion may be in order,” he tells me.

“Let’s hope it’s enough,” I reply.

As we wait for our ammo and men, I reflect on our current predicament. Felix and Logan come through quicker than expected so we don’t wait long. As we all pile in cars and drive towards the signal, I send up a hopeful prayer to the Moon Goddess. She has helped us so far, why not ask for one more favor?

We stop about five miles from the location of the signal and send scouts ahead to gauge what we are up against. When they come back, their information is not encouraging. We still don’t know exactly how many men are on the inside of this huge abandoned house. Or could be hiding in the woods surrounding it.

“Ready to go?” Felix says and I notice he is a changed man. The same person who would balk at a dangerous mission before is ready to charge into the fray. I give him an admiring look. But I also realize I miss his flippant humor. He may never truly return after suffering the loss of that little girl and the betrayal of his brother.

We go over the plan of attack with our men and work out the details now that we know the battleground a little better. Nothing phases Logan as he barks orders at men that aren’t even his, but somehow listen to him all the same. He exudes a confidence I have trouble feeling myself. I hear a rustling nearby and go on high alert, gesturing to Logan, but he’s already aware.

Suddenly an unknown man comes through the trees with a white cloth waving. A part of me wants to cut him down and send his pieces back to our enemy, but I tamp down my anger in favor of information.

“Please, don’t shoot. I have a message,” the man says loudly. We all lower our guns but only slightly. I keep a tight hold on mine and sniff the air for any sign of more men trying to ambush us.

“What’s the message,” Logan says curtly.

“My bosses would like you to know you’re outnumbered and they are willing to offer a trade. The woman for Logan and Felix,” he replies.

“Bosses? As in more than one? Who?” I ask urgently.

“Mr. Ivanov and Mr. Moretti,” the messenger replies. Oh shit, I think, we are so screwed. They teamed up? My mind races with possibilities. They know we are here, which means they have men scattered around watching. We can’t surprise them with an attack, only with the fact that we aren’t human. Logan has a blank expression on his face. I look over at Felix and his face mirrors Logan’s.

“And what assurance do we have that they won’t harm her?” I ask. The messenger doesn’t reply but I know the answer already. These are ruthless men. They will kill us all, make no mistake. I don’t know what the right answer is at this point. There is no way we are making it out alive.

Just then one of the men Felix called goes up to the messenger and slits his throat. He falls to the ground sputtering and choking. I look on in shock and Logan’s face turns red with anger.

“I didn’t order you to do that!” he exclaims.

“It was a lose lose proposition. I have been around a long time. Men like that don’t honor agreements,” the man replies. I can’t fault his logic. I turn to Logan.

“So what do we do now?”