Hunting Colby

Chapter Fifteen

Odd how time sped when I needed it the most. In less than eight hours I had planned an assault on one of the most powerful overlords in North America.

My army? Three human slayers, Colby, and a baby Nosferatu. Yep, we were dead.

I double-checked the two semi-automatic guns, both concealed under my jacket like Cesio’s guards would expect, but I also carried an inner pants holster. The gun was smaller but still a large caliber weapon and would more than sting. However, it was the wooden stake concealed along my spine under my shirt that I couldn’t afford for them to find. I wouldn’t let any of the slayers carry UV grenades, their strongest weapon against the vampire, because they could accidently fry Mutt. The bugger had grown on me, and I wouldn’t let my charge become toast on his first real mission.

Mutt leaned against the far wall, watching the last-minute equipment checks. Eyelids heavy and muscles lax, he almost appeared bored.

I strutted across to him and swung a fast jab at his stomach.

He caught my hand in a crushing grip. “What the hell?”

“Just making sure you’re ready.” I inspected his shirt and suit then tugged his tie straight.

“Stop that. You’re making me nervous.” He slapped my hands away. “I’m good.” His voice broke and he cleared his throat. “Sort of. I’m a terrible liar, Gwen.”

“Then stick as close to the truth as possible. We just need to get Colby in and distract Cesio. His men don’t know what Colby looks like. They’ll just think he’s a shifter guard.” He would slip away to search for Red as soon as we cleared security.

Mutt blew out a breath. “Truth. I can handle serving Cesio a little of what I really think of him.”

I snorted. “We want distraction, not a war. This is a rescue mission.” Reaching inside his jacket, I checked a hidden pocket in the seam that carried another wooden stake. “Do you think you can reach it quick enough?”

He set his hands on my shoulder. “I’ll be fine. You have my back.”

I should have rethought this plan. Mutt wasn’t ready for this kind of mission. Fighting, maybe, but not head-to-head political confrontation, a battle of words. Cesio could destroy what confidence I’d built in Mutt. “Yeah, I got you.” I turned away before I said anything stupid or sappy. At some point over the last few weeks, I’d started seeing him like a little brother and couldn’t help my protective instinct.

Colby stood across the room, doing a final review of the plan with the three slayers accompanying us. He stared at me over their shoulders. With a nod at his companions, he strode toward me. He moved with the precision of a wolf. I’d always admired that about him. Functional, no waste of energy, and very aware of his surroundings.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Yes.” He glanced at Mutt. “Him?”

“As best as he’ll ever be.”

“You’re nervous. I can smell it.” He ran the back of his finger over my cheek.

“I take my responsibilities seriously.”

“I know.”

“I’m supposed to teach him, not place his life at risk. If anything happens to him, I doubt I’ll be forgiven.” By myself. The others might not care, but I did. I gave Colby a weak smile. “Let’s get this over with.”

We walked out to the team’s nondescript blue van. I sat shotgun, while the others took seats in the back. We’d run this like I did when accompanying Master Tane outside his compounds.

The drive was silent. I didn’t care. My thoughts were loud and distracting enough—get in, distract Cesio, find Red, and then extract as fast as possible. I’d deal with collateral damages once the slayers were safely in their hidden base. Master Tane would need to know if any of these rumors were true, and then the real shit could hit the fan. I placed his personal cell number on speed dial. My suspicions were rarely wrong.

Entering Cesio’s nest shouldn’t be difficult. His curiosity will be stirred enough to see Mutt. Extracting our ass out in one piece was what churned the acids in my stomach. I’d never had people I cared about on this kind of assignment.

Images of Colby being hurt tried to pry its way into the forefront of my mind. I clenched my jaw and forced them away. Fear would damage my focus and I needed it razor sharp.

Taking slow, measured breaths, I pictured bubbles floating in the wind then imagined popping each one with darts. I’d used this mental exercise for years to gather my wits and block out all external distractions.

The van came to a stop.

I glanced through the passenger side window at the guards by the door. Stepping outside the vehicle, I scanned the street and sidewalks like I would have done on any other security detail. Nothing seemed amiss as both guards focused their attention on me.

I strode up to them. “Inform your master that a representative of the Nosferatu clan is here.” The words came out smooth and easy. They should; I’d said them often enough in the past.

They glanced at each other briefly then one touched his ear piece and spoke to an unseen agent inside, informing the person of our arrival. The other leaned to the side to take a better look at the van. “How do I know you’re legit?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Who would have the balls to use the Nosferatu name in vain?”

He swallowed visibly. “I’ve never seen one.”

“You have one who lives in the city.” Mutt kept to himself since I’d arrived in New York, busy with his training. Most of his clan did; ruling from the shadow added fear at the mention of their name. Even at Cesio’s club, the crowds had parted at his presence. I gave the guard a flat smile. “Be respectful and keep your comments to yourself. You’ll survive the experience.” Adding to the fear wasn’t part of my job but a perk.

They should be terrified of the Nosferatu. With a little effort, Master Tane could alter every human’s memory in this city by himself. Not Mutt. He was still learning how to do it to one person without scrambling his brains, but the guards didn’t need to know that.

The other guard gave me the go-ahead signal.

I touched my own ear piece and gave the all-clear to Colby.