Chapter 18

Bodies filed out of the trees in a long line, moving silently toward the building.

I was leading the women, our guards flanking us. Arius and Quinton would be right behind us, but I focused on where I was going.

I knew the lower door held only one guard, so we were going in that way. Bethany was close to my side, we were short enough, it enabled us to stay low and out of sight. I paused as we reached the door and stood to one side. I knew there would be a guard on the other side. Turning, I glanced to Arius, he gave an abrupt nod and pulled a sword off his back.

“Contact in three.” Quinton said softly into the mics.

“Confirmed.” Leone replied.

“Ready to engage.” Troy answered.

We were all a second from our presence being known.

I put my hand on the handle of the door. Beth nodded and raised her hands, the colorful arc moving between them. Turning the handle, I pushed the door and stepped back.

Arius went through the door. That first clang of metal against metal had me cringing.

Daxx went through, box in one hand and thin sword in the other.

I rushed in behind her, my hands raised. Huddled in the corner were four of the women I’d left behind.

“You’re alive.” One said, her eyes huge with surprise and fear.

I nodded and turned to see the guard vanish as Daxx used her zapper box.

“We’re here to get you out.” I said softly going toward them. Their eyes moved to where our guards came in the door. “They’re with me.” I nodded. “Four women on the lower level.” I reported for the others.

Alona motioned with her hand, so the women would come out of the corner.

“Two on the second floor.” Troy said.

“Three, one is our informant.” Victor added.

I glanced to Arius. “We need to get to the room we slept in.”

“Go.” Daxx said. “We’ve got this.” She motioned to the first woman to step outside with Tim.

Emil came through the door. He had blood across his neck and shoulder.

Arius gave him a once over.

“Not mine.” Emil said quickly.

“Lead the way.” Arius told me.

Felix moved to walk beside me, Arius right behind. Alona and Sith came with us.

I moved down the hall, pausing to glance into the bathroom. It was empty. I pointed to the corner. The bedroom was right after it. Felix nodded and moved quietly toward it, with Arius right behind him.

As I reached the corner I heard the clash of swords and paused. I looked to see Alona beside me and Emil watching behind us. I went around the corner to see Arius and Felix fighting with the huge guard I used to avoid being near. He was the largest man I’d ever seen, and always stood closest to the larger groups of women here.

Felix stumbled back, and Arius stepped in to take the brunt of the next swing. He blocked it, then kicked the giant in the chest barely making him move, but it unblocked the door.

“Go.” Alona hissed beside me.

I crouched down and headed for the door, the guard saw me and turned. Raising my hands, I caught his sword as it aimed for my head. It stopped. The guard howled in rage as he tried to move it. Alona touched my side to help me step closer to the door and out of the range of the swing, so I could keep my eyes on it and hold it still.

“I’ve got it.” Arius growled and stepped between us, in the way of my line of sight to the guard.

As we went into the room I heard the sound of a sword clattering to the floor.

“Dad.” The woman I knew to be Emil’s daughter came flying across the floor and into his arms.

“I’ve got you.” He said holding her.

Alona motioned to Sith, “take them to the apartment.”

Emil frowned, “I should…”

“Go, brother. Take your child to safety.” Victor’s tone came over the earpiece.

Emil nodded. Hugging his daughter with one hand he reached for Sith. “We’ll go to the beach and get my sons.” The three of them vanished.

I turned and made a quick count of the frightened faces of the women. “Eight more women in the bedroom.” I did the math quickly, that was fifteen in total.

“Can we get a—porter—here?” Arius grunted.

I glanced back out the door to see Arius down to one sword, still fighting the large guard. Felix was now fighting someone else. I looked at Alona, she stood ready with her num-chuks in hands.

“Trying,” Michael grunted, “bastards are like ants coming out of everywhere.”

“I can…”

“Daxx stay—with the women.” Troy growled.

“I can’t get there, Arius.” Leone sounded out of breath, “Keep him busy.”

Arius lunged for the guard, his expression cold and lethal.

“I’m going—” there was a loud crash, “to need a moment.” Victor said into the mic.

I turned to Alona, then motioned to the women. “Stay close together.”

Alona went out the door. “Heading to you Daxx.” I informed them then I stood watching the commotion, my hands raised. Checking quickly out of the corner of my eye, I saw the last one going around the corner.

As I turned to follow I caught the glint of something out of the corner of my eye. Then Arius was there his blade blocking the swing intended for my head.

“Get clear,” he barked, then kicked the guard back. “Like stopping a fucking—” he hit the sword, knocking it from the guard’s hand. It clanged to the floor. “bulldozer,” he growled to his brothers.

I went to the corner and watched down the hall as Daxx ushered the women outside.

“Anthony and Liza are on the way with a big boat.” Crissy reported. “Can I…”

“No. Keep watch.” Victor said, his tone leaving no room for questions.

Turning back, I saw the guard running out the side door with Arius following. I motioned for Daxx to go, then turned to follow them.

Outside, I paused to see which way they went. Rafael ran past, chasing down two guards heading around the corner. Leone, right behind him. I saw the flash of a long braid flying out behind someone disappearing into the trees.

I went racing after them. I held my hand over my ear, so I wouldn’t lose the piece. “Arius, you’re running toward the cliff.” I warned and ran faster.

“Bastard isn’t getting away,” he huffed as he ran, “swung at you twice.”

I cleared the shrubs and slid to a stop.

Arius had no weapon, neither did the guard. They were hitting each other with their fists. I looked to see that the ground dropped off five feet from where they were fighting. I didn’t dare warn or interrupt him right now.

He kicked the man in the chest, he stumbled back and fell to his knees. Wiping the blood off his mouth, Arius stepped toward him, vengeance pouring off him.

The guard stood up and swung a large broken branch at Arius’ head. The sound of the hit echoed through the earpiece. Arius was knocked back a few feet but regained his balance.

Victor ran past me, kicked the guard’s feet out from under him then zapped him with the box.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

Arius stood there, trying to catch his breath. He wiped at the blood running down his face, then stumbled back a few steps.

It happened so fast, but was in slow motion at the same time. He fell backwards over the edge.

“Arius.” I screamed and ran to the edge and fell on my stomach. Holding my hands out I stopped his fall as soon as I was able to see him.

“Paisley.” Victor was beside me grabbing my waist to stop me from falling over the edge.

“I can’t look away, Victor, is he over water?” I swallowed, trying to focus on Arius alone.

I felt Victor move to look, his hold keeping me in place. “No.” he said in a hoarse voice. “Hold him there.”

“Okay.” I whispered. “What do we do? I can’t look away from him or he’ll fall.” My heart was beating so fast.

“We’re on our way.” Beth’s voice shouted in my ear.

“Rafael.” Victor barked, “Get to a boat and to the north side. Now.”

“On it.” Raf answered.

“Go.” Daxx said. “We’ve got this.”

“Coming with you.” Troy said quickly.

“Kinsley,” Victor said moving slightly.

“Can you hold a man’s weight?” Michael asked.

I heard footsteps. “I don’t know. Let me try.” A woman said.

I felt someone on the other side of me. “I can’t, he’s too far for me.”

“Cristy, we need your belt for Bethany.” Victor said in a brusque way.

“I’m here.” She answered.

“Leone, climb down with Beth and keep her steady.” Michael said from the other side of me.

I focused on Arius, my breathing frantic. I would not blink or look away from him.

“Hold on, Paize, we’re almost level with him.” Beth said.

“Hurry. I can’t hold him too long. I don’t know what it will do to his body.” I was trying not to cry. Tears in my eyes would break the connection.

“Almost there.” Rafael said loudly over a motor.

“Okay, Paize, I’m there. On three. One. Two. Three.”

I dropped my hands and watched Arius fall a short bit, then Bethany hit him, and he flew out over the water and splashed into it.

Victor pulled me back from the edge. I didn’t take my eyes off the water. “Where is he?” I kicked off my shoes and stepped back and threw myself over the edge.

I felt something hit me in the air and knew Beth was making sure I hit the water too. I looked as I fell, trying to see him.

I dropped into the water and kicked to the surface. “Arius.” I screamed as soon as the air hit my face.

I turned and saw something in the water. Diving under, I grabbed for it and felt leather in my hand. I kicked as hard as I could to pull him high enough. My head broke the surface again.

“Paisley.” It was Troy.

I heard a splash, then Arius was pulled above the surface.

“Arius.” I coughed.

“Paisley, take my hand.” I turned to see Rafael hanging over the edge of the boat. I reached, and he grabbed my wrist and lifted me into the boat.

I clung to the side and watched as Troy held Arius and Raf pulled him out of the water. Going over I grabbed the strap across his back and lifted as much as I could.

Troy pulled himself in and dragged the rest of Arius into the boat. They lay him down on his back and started pressing on his chest.

“Paisley,” Troy said between compressions, “talk to him. Bring him back—you can do that through the bond.”

I dropped down beside Arius’ head. “Arius. You need to wake up.” I said next to his ear. “I jumped off a cliff for you.” I told him. I touched his face, then leaned over and rested my forehead against his. I couldn’t lose him. “Arius, let me see those eyes.” I whispered.

His body jerked, and he coughed. Rolling onto his side he coughed again, spitting out water.

“Oh. Fuck. Scared the hell out of me.” Raf said and slid to the floor of the boat. “We got him.” He informed the rest.

I lay down with Arius and wrapped my arm around him. He pulled me closer, his breathing still ragged.

Rafael got up slowly. “We’re coming back to the dock. Is everyone all right?”

I lifted my head to see him give Troy an odd look. I didn’t know what it meant.

Troy rested his hand on Arius’ shoulder and leaned back closing his eyes for a moment.

“No sign of Willis or any of his men.” Raf reported.

Arius was shaking, the shock finally hitting him. “Did you really jump off the cliff after me?”

“Yes. And for the record it’s not safe to swim in that much leather.”

He grinned.

Troy opened his eyes. “She’s not kidding. I almost sank to the bottom when I jumped in.”

Arius turned his head to look at his brother. “Did you jump off the cliff too?”

Troy shook his head. “Hell no. I took a boat.” Getting to his knees, he sat up on the seat. “You need to feed, brother, we almost didn’t get you back.”

Arius nodded slowly. “I feel it.”

I propped up on my elbow and leaned closer, placing my throat by his mouth.

“You’re sure? Right here?” He asked.

I nodded. “Yes, because I can’t lift you out of this boat, so you need your strength.”

I heard Troy chuckle.

Arius kissed my cheek, then grasped the back of my head. His mouth was cold and his bite harder than normal, making me realized how close I had come to losing him. I reached and stroked my hand over his head after he healed his bite.

The boat stopped.

Troy stood over us. “Let’s get you up, so we can check out that missing chunk of your head.”

He helped him sit up.

“Always said you had a hard head.” Rafael joked as he helped pull him to his feet. “He’ll need blood to replace the river of red pouring out of him.”

Arius swayed. “Just not Raf’s blood, okay? Any kind of bond with him creeps me out—all those urges and women.”

Rafael grabbed his arm when he swayed again. “Asshole. Next time I’m rowing there and not using the motor.”

I gave him a hard look, releasing his arm so the men could help him. “There will be no next time. Period.”

Chase stepped into the boat and helped get Arius off it. “Sarg is giving orders again.”

I rolled my eyes at him.

Arius stopped and held his head, wincing. Squinting at me, he checked I was all right. “We always end up swimming together.”

I rubbed my hands over my arms trying to warm up. “Can we make it in hot water next time?”

He grinned slightly. “Deal.”