Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2) (10 page)

“We’ll have to leave the weak ones behind. They’ll slow us down. Endanger us.” His eyes bored into Deuce’s. “Rowan and Tiffany can come with us. The other two are on their own.”

Deuce shook his head. “I can’t … I promised I’d protect them. I was the one who formed the group when everyone scattered. Can’t just leave them behind. Paulie’s smart. And Jenna’s a decent fighter.”

“Quit talking with your dick. I know damn well why you want to keep Jenna around, and it isn’t for her
fighting
skills.” Damn, Draven almost sounded like Wade.

Deuce stood from the snow until he towered over Draven. “They come. Or I don’t come.”

Deuce would prove to be a powerful force in taking down other Alexi soldiers and forcing them to come along. Even if Draven would have to brainwash him, somehow. Draven nodded. “We’ll be going after the other Alexi. You
know
what can happen if the lycans get their hands on that antibody.”

Deuce nodded.

Draven pushed up beside him. “Shit’s not going to be pretty. We may have to kill our brothers and sisters if they refuse to turn it over. The more we get on our side, the better our chances of survival. So, you in?”

Brow furrowed, Deuce nodded, lips tightened. “Yeah. I’m in.”

“We’ll try to convince the stronger ones to come with us. They’ll prove useful.”

“Useful for what?”

“Killing demons. What else?”

“Man, I don’t know. Shit’s bad enough just trying to survive out here. Those fuckers are vicious. They can take down a dozen of us in one sweep.”

“We grow our numbers. Knock them off one by one. For our fallen Alexi.”

Deuce huffed and gave a sharp nod. “For the fallen.”

CHAPTER 9

Praise the gods, Logan had finally regained some strength in his legs.

He limped down the staircase on his one good leg, grappling along the handrail as he went. Zeke, Gavin and Calix stood gathered in the library. When he entered, he glanced to the right, where Ayden stood beside a blonde twin wearing the same black leather pants and jacket.

Calla.

He growled inwardly at the sight of her—mostly because his body tingled at her slick killer appearance. Like his psycho was having silent conversation with hers.

Her eyes shied away from his.

Logan hobbled right up to Gavin, who welcomed him with a tight embrace.

“Good to see you walking again, Brother.”

Calix patted his back from behind. “Scared the shit outta us, bro.”

Eyes fixated on Gavin, Logan cast his
no-bullshit
stare. “I’m coming with you.”

Gavin stood back and crossed his arms over his chest, his
no-bullshit
stance. “You can barely walk.”

“I’m not staying in that goddamn bed with that fucking cat another minute.”

“Cat?” Gavin frowned. “What cat?”

Logan looked over his shoulder at Calla. “She must’ve brought it with her.”

Calla’s eyes widened before her brow furrowed. “I didn’t bring any cat. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re the only one, besides Zayne and Anna, who’s been in my room.”

Gavin scratched his jaw. “When did you first see it?”

“It crawled out from under my bed this morning.” Logan waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t give a shit about the cat. I want to find that little prick.”

“Draven is my kill,” Calla said from behind.

Logan swung around, lip curled. “Did he stab your heart with a knife?”

“My brother is dead because of him.”

Shaking his head to blow her off, he turned back to Gavin. “I’m locked and loaded. Ready to go.”

“Sorry, Logan. I can’t. You’ll be a liability in your current state. And let’s not forget, you’ve still got a bounty hunter on your ass.”

“You’ll let
her
go?” Logan pointed back at Calla. “She can’t hunt worth shit. You’ll be carrying her ass home.” Another look over his shoulder showed Calla staring down at the floor
.

“Hey, back the hell up, bro,” Zeke said.

“She’s an Alexi.” Gavin’s voice was flat as his stare. “Her ties will help us track down this Draven kid. And where we find him, we find the antibody. She’s stronger than you give her credit for. Stronger than you are in your current state.” He flinched.

A brother groaned from behind.

Red glowed in Logan’s periphery.

What-the fuck-ever
. Like he needed permission. He’d just leave, anyway.
On my own.
Logan turned to leave. “Yeah, well, I’ll see you assholes later, then.”

“I’ve already taken care of that, too,” Gavin said from behind. “Ben’s been instructed not to let you out of this house.”

“Fuck Ben.” Logan left the office and stalked toward the Wreck Room.

He needed to punch something. Hard.

* * *

Much as Calla didn’t want to admit it, Logan’s words stung, left her itching to find a dark corner and punch the living hell out of something.

“Let’s go,” Gavin said, slipping his gun into its holster.

Kane entered the library and all focus fell on him. He wore a black T-shirt, dark jeans and packed some pretty intimidating weaponry across his broad chest.

Damn.

The lycan tiger, in his human form, sported twice the muscle mass as the night before.

Ayden left Calla’s side and sidled up next to him, looking smaller than before, as if he could crush her bones just by hugging too hard.

“My man!” Zeke punched Kane’s shoulder. “Good to see you alive. Ready to kick some lycan ass?”

Kane smirked and his gaze fell on Ayden.

She gave a nod.

“Where’s Zayne?” Calix straightened his collar and smoothed a hand over his jaw.

Zeke’s shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “Fell to the Abyzz. Passed out in his room with the goddamn needle on his lap again.”

Groans filled the air.

“Shit’s gotta stop. I know he misses Shey, but damn, Brother is messed up,” Zeke said. “He won’t listen to me. Just keeps shootin’ up the bullshit.”

Calla leaned into Gavin. “Abyzz?”

“It’s a drug in the demon realm. Made of some pretty divine elements. Has the same effects as heroin, but would kill a human.” Gavin sighed and shook his head. “You wouldn’t believe how many junkies die off the shit.” Side-stepping Calla, he headed toward the door, but halted beside Kane and held out his hand. “Good to have you on the team, Brother.”

Kane returned the handshake. “Thanks. Brother.” Even his voice sounded deeper, huskier than before.

“Let’s roll.” Gavin slipped into a long leather trench and exited to the foyer with the rest of them trailing behind.

Winter air beat against Calla’s skin as she stepped outside, seeping to the bone. She squinted her eyes, stamping out the visual of Jake’s body freezing beneath the dirt, and instead focused on the excitement of an impending ass kicking in his honor.

They piled into two vehicles—a sleek Bentley and a Land Rover. Calla headed for the bigger vehicle with Zeke, Ayden and Kane, while Calix and Gavin took the Bentley.

Zeke opened the door, allowing Calla to hop into the passenger seat. “Damn, baby, might I say you are looking fine this evening.” She could just imagine him eyeing her ass as she climbed inside. “If you’re not sitting baby Brother tonight, maybe we can meet up later for a night cap?”

“Zeke, leave her alone,” Ayden said, saving Calla from having to respond. “She’s had a rough couple of days.” Ayden slid in the back beside Kane and stretched her arms across the seat’s rear.

“That’s cool. I’m thinking of ditching the vengeance biz and starting my own brand of therapy. Ride your worries away.” He winked at Calla. “A shot of vitamin Z and you’ll be feeling hella good. You’re not under contract, right?”

Ayden snorted. “You’re such a man-whore.”

Zeke grinned and slammed the passenger door, making his way around to the driver’s side. Once in, he fired up the SUV, revved the engine and led the way toward the gate with J. Cole droning a rhythmic beat from the speakers. Rap—Zeke seemed to be the only brother who listened to it.

“Why do you have to be such a cock-block all the time, Ayden?” Zeke peered at the rear view mirror. “When have I ever gotten between you and your men?”

“Zeke—” Ayden started to say, but an outcry cut off her words.

Calla twisted in her seat to see Kane’s head slam back against the seat.

“Shit!” The arch of Kane’s back brought a grimace to Calla’s face. So distorted and pained, he writhed on the seat, as Ayden slid to the floor, leaving him more room.

“What’s going on?” Calla whispered to Zeke.

“My man’s ready to hunt.” Zeke glanced over his shoulder. “Hope he doesn’t bust out of his fucking clothes while we’re driving.”

“This is normal?”

“Still a newbie lycan. Hasn’t learned how to control his change yet. When night falls, his body’s ready.”

“Is he
dangerous
? I mean, the tiger?”

Zeke shot her a smile, and swung his attention back toward the road. “No worse than staying overnight in Logan’s room. You’re a brave woman.”

Calla diverted her attention to her fidgeting hands. “I don’t feel so brave around him.”

“Did he take a swing at you? Fucker has night terrors, or something. Fights in his sleep.” Zeke leaned to the side, propped his thumb beneath his chin, and gave Calla a onceover. “I’ll kick his ass if he tried to hit you.”

“No …” She hesitated. “No punches.”
Called my name twice in his sleep, though.

“Must’ve been an off-night for him.” Zeke chuckled. “Ben’s had to patch the walls a few times in his bedroom.”

“What’s his deal? Why’s he so …
mean
? I mean, what makes him this way?”

Zeke sucked in a deep breath. “No one except Gavin knows that. He’s been through some tough shit, from what I’ve gathered, though.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, exactly. Rough time as a kid. Did some time in Obsidius.”

Zeke glanced up toward the rearview mirror at another cry from Kane.

“What’s that?” Calla asked.

“What’s what?”

“Obsidius.”

“It’s like a prison in what you call hell. Never been there, but I hear there’s some pretty messed up stuff that goes down there.” Zeke shook his head. “Gav once told me that Logan was tortured in ways that would make a stronger supe piss himself.”

“Like … what?”

“Look at you, asking twenty questions.” That signature grin with the deep dimples stretched across Zeke’s face. “You like my brother, or something?”

Calla scowled. “Absolutely not.”

He stroked his chin. “Isn’t as pretty as I am, is he?” Zeke winked at her.

In truth, all the brothers were gorgeous. As gods. Flawless skin that’d make a beauty queen slit her wrists, and bodies that looked like a master sculptor had taken a chisel to them. Logan had a virility about him, though, like the Spartan warriors she’d read about. Ruthless and fierce. All male.

Were they assholes to women, too?

Calla snorted and stared out the window.

The SUV pulled curbside along a stretch of boarded-up storefronts. The eight-mile strip used to be bustling in its heyday, reduced to nothing more than abandoned businesses, shady-looking pawnshops and strip clubs galore, which stood out amidst all the wreckage. Hookers trolled the streets like deer in the rut.

“We’ll stay back,” Ayden said from behind. “The packs will be looking for Kane now. We’ll case the neighborhood. Make sure the bastards don’t have anything up their sleeves.”

Zeke twisted in his seat, resting his hand on the back of Calla’s. “You guys aren’t going to do any kinky shit on my seats, are you?”

Ayden rolled her eyes. “You’ve probably got this thing wired with cameras from every angle, Zeke.”

“Just the back seat,”—Zeke’s smile widened—“where you’re sitting.”

A smile accompanied the shake of her head, and Ayden turned her attention toward Calla. “Keep these guys out of trouble.”

“We’re about to enter a sausage fest. I think it’ll be the other way around.” Zeke chuckled. “Watch out for swinging dicks,”—he pointed to Calla—“and try not to look anybody in the eye. That’s a ticket to mate for some supes.”

Calla’s lip curled at that. “Got it,” she said, opening the passenger door.

“This ought to be a fucktastic good time,” Calix grumbled, strolling up the sidewalk toward where Calla joined Zeke, with a swagger that seemed to come natural to the male.

The bar they were visiting happened to be owned by Ryke, the brother of Calix’s most prized obsessions, Ava. From what Calla had learned, the
shady
nephilim, according to the brothers, had sicced a bounty hunter on Logan after the two kicked his ass—payback time for an ambush Ryke had played a part in. Ryke also had some ties to Draven and was the reason he’d been able to break into the demon mansion the night before.