Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Across the street, my father was talking to Charlie as they walked toward the store. Beau had warned them not to park too close to the front doors. We needed them to be visible for as long as possible before they went inside.
“Inside,” Josiah announced.
“We’re in place,” Danny replied.
“In place,” Beau confirmed.
Then came the worst part. The waiting.
Goodman’s was an old mom and pop that had been around almost as long as we’d lived in Oregon. A larger grocery chain had bought them out about twenty years before, but they’d known that the community was loyal, so they’d left the name and the employees alone while they stocked the shelves with their merchandise. It was one of those rare takeovers that had worked out for everyone.
Tonight, it was working out well for us. Few people knew that the manager of the store’s sister was a Vampire’s mate, and that worked to our advantage. As it grew later and people came outside with their groceries, we watched as the parking lot emptied out but for a few cars.
“Employees are going out the back,” Josiah confirmed.
We still had half an hour before the store closed, and we couldn’t control all the variables, but it was a small town. Most people wouldn’t try to slide in right before closing because they knew that meant the employees would have to stay later. It was a courtesy that worked in our favor and made the gray minivan that parked right out front even more conspicuous.
“Hold,” Danny said as we stared at the van.
It could’ve been a mother with a last-minute need. We waited.
Two men climbed out of the front of the van. Three out of the back.
“We’re a go,” Matthias announced.
“We’ve got another,” Beau warned. “Hold.”
Another car pulled into the lot and parked a few rows away from the van. Three more men climbed out.
All humans. Thank the Gods.
“We’ve got eight,” Chance announced.
Danny scoffed and shot me a look. “Only eight?”
I smiled grimly. If we hadn’t planned for this, eight men would’ve ended up in the county morgue. My father was going to be insulted that they’d only sent that many.
I stared at the front of the store where the men had disappeared. If we were really fucking lucky, they wouldn’t notice that there wasn’t anyone at the check stands and my father and brother-in-law were the only people inside.
“Moving to cameras inside,” Matthias announced. “We have visual.”
Absentmindedly, I rubbed at the back of my neck. It was hot to the touch as my body started to recognize that I’d been away from my mate for too fucking long.
“Engagement,” Josiah announced grimly. “One, no, two down. Erik’s a fucking beast.”
“Where is Charles?” Beau demanded.
“In the meat section,” Matthias answered. “He’s crouched behind the refrigeration section in the middle. Fuck, there are mirrors. Worst possible hiding place.”
“They want him,” Chance replied grimly. “It’s fine if they know where he is—”
“Erik’s been hit,” Josiah interrupted. “Another bogey down.”
“He doesn’t know how many there are,” I said tightly. It was one of the flaws. He wouldn’t know how many they’d sent, but he had to make it look believable when they were able to take Charles. He could kill some of them—but not all. He was playing a guessing game.
“Five left,” Danny replied.
“Erik’s hit again,” Josiah announced.
“They’re converging,” Matthias said quietly.
“Another down.”
“Four,” I murmured to myself.
“Erik is down,” Josiah said.
My stomach jolted like I’d been punched, but I held myself perfectly still. This was the plan.
“Steady,” Matthias ordered sharply through the earpieces.
“Another down,” Josiah announced.
“Tell us what the fuck is happening,” Chance ordered angrily.
“Humans are making their way over. Erik is fully down. He’s saying something to Charlie—no audio. Charlie is shaking his head,” Josiah replied. “Contact! One on Charlie, two on Erik. Motherfuckers. Kicking Erik. Charlie’s up.”
My pulse pounded.
“Knife,” Matthias said grimly.
I braced my hands on the edge of the roof.
“They’re going for Erik. Who’s closest?” Josiah said tightly.
“Wait,” Matthias said. “Charlie just knocked one of them out. The kid can fight. Why did no one tell us the kid could fight?”
“Lost interest in Erik,” Josiah announced. “His two are too busy trying to contain Charles.”
The training. Charles had downplayed how much he’d learned. I felt a smile pull at the corners of my mouth.
“He’s fighting like hell,” Matthias said, his voice filled with respect. “Shit. He’s down.”
“They’re bringing him out,” Josiah announced.
“Dad?” Danny asked.
“Left him,” Matthias replied. “Too busy carrying Charlie and the human he knocked out.”
I hesitated, wanting to get a look at Charlie as they carried him out, but I knew it would be a mistake. We needed every second if we were going to be on the ground in time to follow them. I had to trust Matthias and Josiah’s account of what had happened.
If he still had his head, Charlie would be fine.