Delta Salvation (Phantom Force, Book 1) (17 page)

Coyle looked at him. “Let’s roll out.”

“Hold up. I have a few coming in. They’ll be here in five.”

While Rowan kept watch over the video feed, Kai and his guys armored up. They made sure each had on the thin Kevlar inspired long sleeved shirts. Once they were set to head out, Rowan seemed to know his guys were there as well, standing at the same time.

“Let’s go. I’ve got a couple rigs that will make it through just about anything.” Kai followed Rowan out, admiring the large vehicles lining the drive.

“Cap, can we order a couple of these?” Sully ran his hand over the hood of the shiny black four wheel drive in front.

“Hands off, pup.” Kellen climbed out.

Sully flipped Kellen off, showing no fear.

Kai climbed in with Kellen and Rowan, leaving Sully and Coyle to catch a lift with one of the other guys. “These things are definitely not subtle,” Kai murmured from the backseat.

“What we got coming in from the other side will be our ace in the hole.” Kellen turned the wheel, the engine roaring as he accelerated.

Kai hoped like hell they weren’t too late, and prayed Alexa didn’t hate him for not keeping her safe. When he got his hands on her, he planned to make sure she was safe and unhurt, then after he was sure she was indeed okay, he planned to tie her to his side. Of course, tying her to his bed sounded a lot more pleasurable.

“Hey, mind out of the gutter,” Kellen growled from the front, reminding him he wasn’t alone, and the men with him were more than mere men.

Kai grunted and raised both his middle fingers in the air.

Chapter Ten

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A
lexa waited, her head throbbed, blood pooled from the wound. Still she waited for the moment one of the men decided to come to her. The knife safely tucked into her boot. Her only hope lay with them not tag teaming her. Lord, when did she start praying for the lesser of two evils?

“Fine! It’s not as if she has to be clean for her parents to come collect her,” Pascal laughed.

“I want her first.” She recognized Basile’s voice.

The sound of arguing ensued. “How about we do this diplomatically? Pick a number between one and ten. The one closest gets her first.”

She wanted to snort, or shout, but kept quiet. The dickbags were seriously acting as if raping her was an everyday thing they did.

As each man shouted out his number she was unnerved to hear four different voices other than Pascal and Basil. Her chances at coming out of the ordeal alive just went down exponentially, then she reminded herself she was a survivor.

One of the men whooped, like he’d won the lottery. Basile cursed fluently in what she supposed was French, but wasn’t a hundred percent positive. A hand grabbing her roughly came as a surprise, she was focused on the conversations, and didn’t hear him approaching.

“I’ll make sure you’re nice and prepared for the others,” he grated, jerking Alexa to her feet by her hair, fresh blood oozed out of the cut into her eye, making it hard for her to see.

“Here, you may need to wipe off her face or cover it,” Pascal joked.

Alexa wished she were closer to the asshole. She’d take her one shot and stab him in the heart.

A towel was thrown at her face, the rough fabric hurt, but she grabbed it before it hit the floor, using it to wipe away the blood. The man leading her away from the other five was huge, in a short fat man sort of way. She looked over her shoulder, trying to gauge the other five. Pascal and Basile along with the other three were all tall and buff. It figured the largest of the group would get his turn first.

He pushed her toward the full sized bed, slamming the door and turning the lock. Interesting! He didn’t trust his comrades not to come in while he was having his fun.

She wondered if she could actually kill the man.

He pulled his black sweater off, revealing a large stomach, with a few scars showing he’d been in more than one battle.

“Strip, bitch.” His heavily accented voice jarred her from the perusal of his body.

Alexa fell onto the side of the bed, shaking her head. “Please don’t do this,” she begged.

Laughing he took a step toward her. “Oh, we are going to do this. It’s up to you if you are awake or asleep.”

Two more steps and he was in front of her. Alexa nodded. “Fine.” She slipped her top off, watching his eyes widen. “Can I take my shoes off? I can’t get my pants off over them.”

He licked his lips and stepped back.

She bent, reaching into the boot and gripped the knife in her right hand. She felt his breath on her back, his hand trailed along her spine. So close, she knew where she was going to aim, and that he was likely to squeal loud enough to bring the others barreling in.

With all her might she lifted the knife, and stabbed him between the legs, his heavy weight fell onto her, knocking them both to the floor. When he didn’t make a sound, she worried, trying to get out from under him.

The handle of the blade was warm and wet. Alexa pushed and rolled until she was able to get free of him. He stared up at her, his mouth moving soundlessly. She grabbed the pillow from the bed and put it over his face, fearing he’d yell out. Grabbing his gun before she pulled the knife out. Looking down she noticed she’d cut into his thigh, missing his groin, but the amount of blood flowing out of him was huge. Wiping the blood from her hands on the bedding, she looked around the room. The window was her only way out, but more men patrolled the perimeter.

“What am I going to do,” she whispered. It would only be minutes before the next guy was knocking on the door, wanting his turn. Sure she could shoot him, but she’d be dead by the time the third guy came through, if not the second.

She went to the corner of the room far away from the unmoving man and slid down the wall with his gun in one hand and the bloody knife in the other, uncaring she only wore her bra and pants. Her plan was to shoot as many men as she could, before turning the gun on herself. The song by an old eighties rock band came to mind, something about a blaze of glory, making her wish she had one more night with Kai.

A sob broke free. She used her shoulder to wipe it off. Blood from her cut dripped into her eye, making it hard for her to focus on the door, but the sound of raised voices had her tensing. Alexa raised her knees and rested her elbows on them, pointing the gun at the door, she waited.

****

T
hey decided to barrel in and say screw it. Kellen’s man had told them there was an urgency in one of the bedrooms with a woman that had Kai all in. The big XV Urban Assault plowed through several men with rifles in hand. Kellen didn’t stop in the yard. Hell no. He rolled right up to the steps, and through the front door.

“Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker,” Kellen yelled.

Rowan tossed open his door, laying down a line of fire. “It’s great having a crazy family.”

Kai shook his head, rolling on the wide porch. Coyle and Sully ran up next to him, their guns at the ready. He appreciated the Iron Wolves more in that moment as they kept the others busy while he and his team entered the cabin. Two men lay on the floor, dead from gunshot wounds to the head.

Using his hand, he motioned for Coyle and Sully to go one way while he went the other. The cabin’s layout was a one bedroom, open floor plan, with a mudroom in the back. He sucked in a breath as he eased toward the closed bedroom door, unsure what he’d find.

The door was locked, which didn’t surprise him. No noise came from inside, but he knew that didn’t mean it was empty. Kai lifted his gun, and shot the lock, then kicked the door open. A bullet came out the door followed by several more. The random shots made him think they weren’t being done by a professional. “Alexa, it’s me, Kai.”

He waited a beat before risking his life by showing his face around the doorjamb. The first thing he saw was a half dressed man lying in a pool of blood with his face covered by a pillow. He winced when he noticed where the blood was coming from. Scanning the room, he finally found the object of his desires hunched in a corner. Her appearance had him covering the distance with more haste than caution even though she had a gun aimed in his direction.

“Baby, what happened,” he murmured.

She sat in silence, unblinking. Kai worried she was in shock. Blood oozed from a wound near her eye, but he didn’t think all the blood on her body was hers. He looked at the dead body, then back at her. Putting two and two together, he came up with the fact she’d killed a man with her bare hands. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her, but they weren’t out of danger.

“Come on, luv. Let’s get you out of here.”

“I kill...I...him” She pointed to the body on the floor.

“I know, baby. You did real good. I’m so proud of you.” He found her shirt on the bed and pulled it over her head. “Come on.” He put his body between her and the dead man. Sully and Coyle stood in the entryway, taking in the scene.

“Looks like a few got away.”

Alexa whimpered. “Which ones?”

Kai looked down at her. “Baby, we don’t know.” Again he was calling her endearments, but couldn’t stop himself.

“Let me see who’s here.” She stepped away from him, staggering a bit.

He pulled her back into his arms. “Wait for me,” he growled. Damn it, she had him acting like a caveman, and that wouldn’t do.

“It’s okay, they’re not too bad.” Sully led the way over to the downed men. Meaning they were clean kills.

She looked at the two men on the ground then buried her face in Kai’s chest. “Neither of them are Basile or Pascal. Pascal was in charge, and Basile I think is his right hand man. There was one other man in here with them.” Alexa shivered in his arms, her head once again buried against his chest.

Holy shit. The woman was surely going to be the death of him. The woman defied all odds in getting herself kidnapped, not once, but twice by madmen, and lived to tell about the experience. His body vibrated with the need to claim her, he wanted, needed, Alexa to understand she was important to him. He sighed and held her closer. Rowan was right about one thing, life did not promise you tomorrow, only the here and now. For as long as he could remember he’d never wanted to promise a woman he’d be there when they woke. His mouth opened, and then closed, unable to utter the words.

“Alright party people. Let’s roll out in case there’s some sort of device left here as a welcoming that I don’t want. You feel me,” Kellen stood near the busted up entrance, hands on his hips surveying the scene like he saw dead men every day.

Kai was glad for the interruption. “Here, let me carry you. You’re swaying on your feet.” The gash on her head was still seeping blood, and her color looked a little too pale.

“I don’t feel too well.” Alexa’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“Shit, we need to get her to the hospital now.”

Kellen shook his head. “Laikyn is at the club and we have resources there that are much faster.”

“Do you trust her?”

Nodding, Kellen jumped into his vehicle and waited for the others to get in. “With my life along with my pack.”

That was good enough for Kai. He massaged Alexa’s back. Although she was out cold, her breathing was steady. Applying pressure to the wound he kept her from losing any more blood. He let his other hand do a quick exploration of her body, checking for injuries. Other than a few bruises and a knot on the back of her head, he didn’t see anything. Damn it. He wished he’d been there sooner, wished he could have protected her from all of this.

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up, man. Crazy men do crazy shit.” Kellen spoke from the front with one hand draped over the wheel.

Kai wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her into him so their chests were pressed against one another’s. He could feel her heart beating, the steady thrum reassuring. Fuck. He had it so bad. Was this what love was? If so he wasn’t sure he was ready for it. Surely there was a rewind, or pause button. His life wasn’t made for the hearts and flowers sort that she deserved. No. Not just no, but hell no it wasn’t.
Keep telling yourself that Swift
.

They pulled up to the Iron Wolves club, several big men stood outside watching as they passed through. Only Kellen’s rig and the one carrying Coyle and Sully kept driving to the back. Kai looked out the rear window, then forward, a question in his gaze as he met Kellen’s eyes in the mirror.

“My guys are gonna hit the bar, drink, and get laid. We’re going to the clinic in the back. I’ve let Laikyn know we are coming. She should be ready when we get there.”

Rowan hopped out and opened the door for Kai, his offer to take Alexa went unnoticed. The big man shook his head, then they followed Kellen to the steel door marked Clinic. A tall red haired woman stood in the doorway. Her beauty was astounding, yet when she looked at Kellen sadness clouded her features.

“Is this my patient?” She walked up to Kai, taking Alexa’s vitals while he held her.

“Yeah.” He walked into the surprisingly well equipped triage like space.

“Lay her down. Anyone who isn’t going to assist, get out,” she said pointing at the door.

Kellen growled.

“In here, I’m the boss, Mr. Styles.” One red brow raised.

The alpha growled again, but stomped to the door. “Treat her with respect, and make sure no harm comes to her, or I’ll kill all you.”

After securing his woman to the indicated place, Kai stepped back. “From what I can tell she’s got this nasty gash and a bump on her head.” He stayed near the bed.

Laikyn looked at the other men in the room. “Do you want them to see her naked?”

With those words, everyone filed out, leaving Kai alone with the two women.

“I’m going to cut these clothes off of her, assuming most of this blood isn’t hers.” Laikyn grabbed a pair of scissors.

Kai helped her remove Alexa’s boots and socks, then the pants. Relief hit him at the sight of the briefs she’d had on before she’d left Rowan’s cabin still on. Surely if they’d had them off her, they wouldn’t have been in one piece. The top was ruined, so he silently agreed to allow the doctor to cut it off, along with the bra. More bruises mottled her side, and Kai wished he could find all the men who’d been in the cabin and inflict pain on each of them. He made a mental note of the things he planned to do to the ones who’d escaped when he found them.