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All my alpha instincts rush to the forefront. My hands start to shake as I try to keep myself in control.

Be smart about this.

You have to be smart.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about!”

“Don’t lie to me! Those boyfriends of yours told you everything!”

“I’m not lying. Please, just let me go.”

She starts to sob, and I have to close my eyes to breathe before I break in there myself to shoot him in the head. When I open my eyes again, Forge is gone.

Fuck.

Chapter Thirty

Forge

Part of me understands why Pierce is telling me to take it easy. I want to be home with them too, and murdering Mendes, the way I’m doing in my mind, will put me in prison. But now is not the time to think of repercussions. I’ll deal with whatever comes. If I don’t act now, something worse could happen.

From the corner of my eye, I see Pierce calming himself by taking a breath. It’s the perfect opportunity to make a run for it. See how staying calm isn’t always the best thing to do?

I get up and hurry off, being light on my feet so he doesn’t notice. I get around the side of the house without being caught, but it’s only a matter of time before he realizes I’m gone.

Seconds, really.

The only thing on the other side of this house is another window. So I look around quickly and when I don’t see anyone, I keep going and finally find the front door.

There is a small porch, half of it caved in from a large branch that fell on through it. Meaning it’s not only unstable, but it’s going to be noisy. I could check the last side of the house for another door, but I’m wasting time. There’s not going to be anything there. This is the only way in and out, other than the windows, but those are too high up to reach.

What I need to do is get in there and shoot Mendes in the head. I take a step forward, ready to rush up the stairs and into the cabin when someone grabs my shoulder. I’m whirled around and I meet Pierce’s furious stare. He holds his fingers to his mouth, in the shush motion. Then he points to the house and holds up two fingers, telling me there are two guys in there.

Shit, okay. So I miscalculated that slightly. Though, to be fair, I don’t care if there is a whole army in there. No one, and I mean no one, will stop me from getting to Raewyn.

The door opens and both of us drop, pushing our bodies against the bottom of the porch as best we can to hide. The porch creeks as someone steps onto it, and then a lighter is flicked and I hear someone inhaling.

We wait in silence, holding each other’s gaze and waiting to figure out our next move. The porch creeks as the person walks around. Thankfully, we are by the large hole, so it’s doubtful they will come close enough to see us hiding over here. After what feels like forever, the person moves down the steps. Slowly. One at a time, like he’s enjoying the fuck out of this smoke break.

Twigs and leaves crunch beneath their feet as they move away from us. I peak around the edge of the porch and see a man walking away. It could be Xavier, but I can’t tell because he’s not facing me.

I look back at Pierce, shake my head, and mouth Mendes so he knows it’s not him out here.

He nods his acknowledgment.

I check again, and find he’s gone around the side of the house. I hurry to my feet and dash that way before Pierce can stop me. I move around the porch press my back to the edge of the cabin when I reach it, listening to the footsteps that are still walking away. If he makes his way around the cabin, Pierce will get him first. If he turns back, I’ll kill him. He should probably go the other way.

Pierce pops up, pressing his back to the opposite side of the cabin, preparing himself to attack the guy walking around. I hear him coming back my way though, the footsteps getting louder, so I tighten my grip on my gun. The only thing stopping me from shooting him is knowing it’ll alert Mendes inside the cabin. Who knows what he’ll do then. So when this guy he pops into my view, I hit him as hard as I can on the side of the head with the butt of my gun.

He could be dead. He fucking better be.

He falls with a grunt, and I reach out to catch him to soften the fall so it doesn’t make too much noise.

I look back at Pierce.

Walking up the steps now won’t give as much attention. Whoever is inside knows someone is out here and will be going back inside. And if Pierce is right, then the only people left inside is Mendes and Raewyn.

I crouch and hurry back to the stairs, moving across the small porch and putting my ear to the door. The voices are coming from the right. The door opens up to the left, so when I step in, I can aim immediately.