Authors: Dixie Lynn Dwyer
Tags: #Romance
Just then the lights flashed and the red sensors on the walls indicated that the outer perimeter of the house had been infiltrated.
William jumped from his chair and called to his brothers through their link.
“Where is Ava?”
William asked as he headed toward the front of the house.
He heard Kyle and Sean leave through the back doors. They shifted.
Mick and William were about to join them.
“
Head to the SUV. Get Ava out of there now, Pat!”
William yelled through their link.
* * * *
“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Ava asked as Pat helped her get dressed.
“We got company, sweetheart. We need to move.”
“Fenly?” she asked in a panic, taking a few steps away from Pat as she clutched her sweater to her chest.
“Don’t know. The others are taking care of it. Let’s move. Willy wants us downstairs in the SUV in case we need to take off,” Pat told her then grabbed her hand.
Ava kept her feet planted on the rug.
“Ava, come on!” he yelled.
“He’s here. He wants me and he’ll never give up. I told you that. I warned you but you insisted…” She lowered her eyes and swallowed the sob of emotion she felt.
Pat grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“This is real, Ava. We are mates and we will protect you. Don’t be afraid. We never go back on our word.”
Pat kissed her softly then swiftly grabbed her arm and pulled her along with him.
They ran down the back staircase and into a long hallway.
Ava remained close to Pat as they headed down the hallway. She could see an entry door shortly ahead of them and could have sworn that she heard fighting and gunshots.
“Oh my God, they’re shooting.”
Pat reached back and pressed the palm of his hand against her hip and thigh. Ava held on to his waist.
She felt Pat move his other arm then turn to the right to make sure no one was in the first doorway they passed. That was when she noticed the gun. In her state of concern she never saw him grab a gun or even notice that Pat had one but he did.
He froze in place as if he were listening to something when suddenly the glass on the exit door shattered before them.
“Get down!” he yelled at her as he shot twice with his gun.
Ava looked through the gap between his legs just as a soldier dressed in dark-green fatigues fell to the tile floor.
“Let’s move!” Pat yelled as he grabbed her hand and yanked her up off the floor.
They ran quickly toward the doorway on the left and entered the garage.
Just as they headed toward the SUV, three men in fatigues came out from behind the vehicle and attacked.
Two jumped toward Pat, and they began to fist fight while the other grabbed for Ava.
* * * *
Pat was fighting off the two men, but his focus was still on Ava and the guy who went after her.
“Where are you guys? They’re going to get Ava. I can’t fight them on my own,”
Pat stated to his brothers through their link.
“
We eliminated the other attackers and are on our way
,” Mick stated.
“
We have members of Fagan pack with us. They just arrived
,” Kyle added, sounding as frantic as Pat felt. He didn’t have time to think about why Fagan pack was here.
Pat grabbed the one guy, twisted his neck, and snapped. It left an opportunity for the second guy to take a few shots at his head, but he was a wolf and these men were human. To the right, he watched as Ava fought off her own attacker. His guy reached for the gun on the ground and aimed to fire.
Two shots rang out just as his brothers broke through the side door and entered the garage.
Ava stood there with a gun in her hand pointed toward where they stood. She shot the two guys and saved Pat from getting killed.
* * * *
“Okay, Ava, you did a good job, honey. Give me the gun,” William requested in a calm voice, and Ava just stared at them. Through the doorway, five men slowly entered, all dressed in black fatigues and looking just as intimidating and wolf as her mates did. Her mates? Was she seriously losing her mind? She took a deep breath and lowered the gun with shaky hands. It had been the first time she ever killed someone with a gun. She was so fearful for Pat’s life, she had no choice.
Ava locked gazes with Willy as he ran his hands down her arms and softly removed the gun from her hand.
“You’re okay, Ava.”
“I know,” she replied as Pat instantly appeared in front of them and swept her into his arms. He was crushing her and taking deep breaths against her neck. Her lip throbbed from being hit there as she softly moaned but held him just as tight, feeling relieved that Pat was okay.
“You were amazing,” he told her then slowly pulled back to look at her.
He crunched his eyebrows together then reached toward her lip.
“You’re bleeding.”
She reached up to touch where he had and saw the blood on her fingertips.
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
She glanced to the side of Pat and noticed the others staring at her as if they were shocked or perhaps ready to arrest her for killing two men.
“I had no choice. I was afraid that he was going to kill Pat.”
Mick stomped toward her, his eyes looking almost as dark as his hair. He appeared determined or about to dish out some sort of punishment when Pat released her and she took a step back. She couldn’t retreat fast enough as Mick grabbed her by her sweater, pulled her against him, and kissed her deeply on the lips. Despite the pain she felt from her bloody lip, she returned his kiss. Obviously the adrenaline rush was still steadily running through her veins.
Ava was lost in a pool of emotions. Her body shook from the aftereffects of the attack or maybe the intensity of Mick’s kiss. Her pussy throbbed, and instinctively she coiled herself around Mick as he lifted her into the air.
“Damn, that is one hell of a mate you Declans got yourselves,” someone stated, and she pulled a little away from Mick, but he kept kissing her a few seconds before releasing her lips.
“Let’s get this mess cleaned up then meet inside. We need to make a plan,” William stated as some movement took place around them. Ava shivered at the intensity of William’s tone.
Mick finally released her lips and held her gaze.
“You were incredible, Ava. So strong and protective of your mate. You belong with us. We’re going to protect you and take care of you,” Mick declared. His sincerity was so apparent in his eyes and in his embrace that she felt tears reach her eyes. Instead of crying, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Mick held her effortlessly and carried her back into the house.
After her men checked her over thoroughly for injuries and kissed her breathless, she was finally able to focus on the conversation going on in the living room between William and the five strangers they referred to as the Fagan pack. Definitely wolves and definitely exceptionally handsome warriors just like her own men. She felt giddy inside thinking such possessive thoughts, but in all honesty she was growing fond of the Declan brothers.
* * * *
“So did Samantha send you? I told her we were doing okay and making some plans to relocate,” William asked Van Fagan, the lead Alpha of his pack.
Van and his brothers were just as large and tall as the Declan pack. They, however, possessed some magical powers. That was why they were part of the Secret Brothers of Were. William knew this, and his investigative mind was beginning to go into overdrive.
“We were notified through the Order that the missing daughter of Patrick O’Brian was located. Some of our associates have been searching far and wide for her. When we caught wind of IRA soldiers moving in to locate her in the city we headed here immediately, knowing that this was your safe house. We thought we would have time to give you the heads-up.”
William eyed Van, wondering why their mate was so sought after. Perhaps they just wanted to use her as bait to capture Fenly.
“What’s your interest in Fenly O’Leary?” William asked, and he immediately sensed his mate’s uneasiness in mentioning Fenly’s name. He asked his brothers to comfort her through their mind link as he held Van’s gaze.
Van smiled then leaned back into the sofa, crossing his leg over his thigh.
“Do you even know who Fenly is or his role in the destruction of the Order, never mind the Circle?” Van asked.
William explained about their investigation and about his and his brothers’ belief that Fenly was the mastermind behind the large amount of drugs and guns getting into the US from cargo ships.
Van chuckled. “This goes way beyond some drugs and illegal guns, my friend. Those are human issues. Fenly O’Leary killed his own father to gain his land and business operations. He killed Patrick O’Brian so he could take over the heritage and company plus all its assets, including O’Brian’s daughter. If he catches Ava and mates with her, he will be so powerful of a wolf, the Circle won’t be able to touch him. There’s no concrete evidence right now on exactly what elders Fenly has under his command. They have initiated that silent voting on certain rulings.”
“Ava is our mate. Fenly won’t get his paws on her,” Sean stated firmly.
Van exhaled.
“He is not to be underestimated. Fenly is here now in the States. He is searching for your mate and knows that she is in New York. If the Irish Republican Army found your home, then so can Fenly and his pack. They are a mean group of fighters and Fenly has gained so much power in Ireland and here in the States. Once he took over the O’Brian business affairs he pissed off a lot of people,” Van stated.
“Is that why the IRA came here searching for Ava? Do they want to use her as ransom or something?” Kyle asked and placed his hands on Ava’s shoulders in a protective manner. William heard his brothers’ thoughts. They were all concerned for Ava.
When Van looked to his brothers then to Ava and back to William, William got an uneasy feeling.
“I don’t want to speak too freely here, William. Fenly has enemies that are searching for ways to get to him and gain some control back. Perhaps we should talk in the other room?” Van asked, glancing toward Ava as he rose from the couch.
William stood up and nodded in agreement.
“It’s me who is the outsider here. You don’t want to speak in front of me. Yet, I am the reason for all this craziness. I’ll leave and you all stay,” Ava stated, taking a step forward.
Pat grabbed her hand, and Kyle kept his hands on her shoulders.
“Stay, Ava. They can go in the other room and talk. Pat and I will remain here with you,” Kyle told them, and William eyed Ava before he left the room.
* * * *
Ava saw the intensity in William’s eyes but also some sort of wall. He was all business right now, and there wasn’t that deep affection he showed while he made love to her. No, he looked upset with her or perhaps as if he didn’t trust her. She closed her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her.
“Ava, are you okay?” Pat asked, turning her toward him. She opened her eyes and locked gazes with his hazel ones. The man was perfection with lightly tanned skin, strong, firm lips, and superior facial structure. He looked like some sculptured fine art, and so did his four brothers. Each one of the Declan brothers had their own exquisite beauty and personality. What did she have to offer them but a predestined fate decided by some higher power she knew nothing about? Or perhaps danger and death as they tried to keep her from Fenly’s grasp? This wasn’t their battle. William was more than likely upset about the baggage she came with.
Kyle squeezed her shoulders. “Answer him,” he stated firmly. The feel of his large, hard hands holding her shoulders warned her to be cautious but also turned her on sexually. Was she some sort of glutton for punishment?
“I have nothing to say,” she retorted, looking away from Pat’s inquisitive eyes.
Pat placed his thumb and pointer under her chin, indicating for her to look at him.
“So many thoughts are going through your head right now, mate. Share them with us so we may put your mind at ease.”
“I have nothing to say. I would just like to be alone.”
Kyle pulled her back against his chest. She instantly felt his erection despite the clothing they both wore.
“You will never be alone again,” Kyle whispered atop her head.
Ava felt the wave of emotion hit her deeply. Could it be true? Did they see her more than just a responsibility because she was their mate?
Before she could respond Pat cupped her cheeks between his hands and covered her mouth in a deep kiss. He licked and explored her mouth, initiating a series of moans escaping her throat. Behind her Kyle rubbed his body up and down her body, wedging his long, hard cock between her ass cheeks. Despite the jeans she wore, Ava felt every sensation.
Pat placed one hand against her throat, gently rubbing a thumb back and forth against her pulse and the small dip between her throat and her chest. Her body hummed with need for them. She wanted them to make love to her, to fill her pussy with their cocks, and she wanted to feel as close as humanly possible that she could to them. She had been alone for far too long, and now she was desperately needy.
Pat released her lips just as he cupped her breast under her sweater before trailing more kisses and nibbles along her neck.
Ava held on to him while leaning back against Kyle, thrusting her ass against his cock.
“We want you now,” Kyle demanded, and in a series of quick moves, Ava was stripped of her clothing then carried down the hallway toward another room.
She feared that the Fagan men might see her, and as if Kyle read her mind, he assured her that she was safe.
“You belong to Declan, mate. No other man will ever see this sexy body.”
* * * *
Pat undressed swiftly as Kyle carried Ava to the long, armless green ottoman. Pat quickly lay down on the ottoman. Kyle kissed Ava deeply before he turned her around to face his brother.