He yanked his door open and froze. Amos was sitting in the passenger’s seat, holding onto the oh-shit bar and looking out the window somberly.
“What are you doing?”
“I always thought I was meant for something big,” Amos said. “Lately things have become clearer.” He cast a slight smile to Nuke. “I’m supposed to be your bodyguard.”
“I don’t need a fucking bodyguard,” Nuke growled as he slid in behind the wheel.
“Oh, it ain’t for you,” Amos murmured as Nuke started the truck. “I’m going to save the rest of us from you.”
Us?
He twisted in his seat, and sure enough, Krome and Ren were in the back seat.
“I don’t need you getting involved,” Nuke barked.
“That isn’t how any of this works,” Krome said.
And with those words, another layer of stone shed from Nuke’s hardened heart. He’d come here with a purpose to protect Krome and his mission to give the Bane brothers a safe territory. He wasn’t supposed to make friends. He was here for a purpose, for a job so he could keep his monster steady. Nothing more, nothing less. But somewhere along the way, everything had gotten muddied, and the meaning of the Crew had changed.
Now it was bigger than he’d thought.
So okay.
Nuke hit the gas.
Hold on, Trina and Tory.
Me and the Crew are coming.
Chapter Fifteen
Trina’s skin crawled as she slid her key into Manning’s front door.
She hated this house and everyone in it.
From the number of cars out front, the entire Murder was here, including the new members. Terror should’ve seized her as she’d driven here, but it hadn’t. A gas station sandwich stop had been the only break she’d taken from the trip. Last meal was a turkey club on whole wheat. There had been no flavor, no satisfaction, just that numb feeling of creeping closer to the end.
She was okay with it.
Trina had always kept the picture in the visor of her car, but now it sat in her pocket, a reminder of what she needed to do and why. In the picture, she and Tory were wearing matching cotton shorts and pink t-shirts, hugging each other tightly with grins on their faces.
Tory had been the only good in her life before Nuke had come along. Nuke. Nuke, Nuke, Nuke.
She pushed the door open and made her way down the dark hallway to where she knew the Murder would be waiting. Everything was moving so slowly. She rounded the sprawling doorway and laid her eyes on the Murder, sitting around the huge meeting table, filling every bit of space in the room. There were more new members than when she’d left here. So many Crow Blooded. Manning stood at the head of them, his chin lifted high, his hands clasped behind his back, his black eyes boring into her.
She didn’t hesitate, just wove her way between the bodies as she walked to her chair beside him. “Where’s my sister?” she asked.
“She’s fine.”
“Great, I want to see her.”
Manning gave an empty laugh and locked his arms on his chair. “We’re waiting, my pet. Tell us what you found out.”
“When I see Tory is safe.”
“You’ve turned into such a whiny little bitch, haven’t you?” He nodded his chin at Ray, his third in the Murder.
Ray stood and disappeared into the hallway, and Trina stared at the woodgrain of the table as heavy silence descended onto the murder.
“Tommy said you and Nuke were close.”
He’d meant to shock her. That’s what Manning did, but Trina had turned off all her emotions. This was her death day. Who cared? She blinked slowly and lifted her gaze to Manning. “He’s more powerful than every Murder combined. You’ll all burn to ashes, and who will miss you?” She gritted out, “I’ll be cheering him on from Hell.”
The backhand came so fast, she didn’t have time to flinch away. She took the brunt of his knuckles right on her cheekbone, and it snapped her head back. The sting brought water to her eyes as she pressed her cold palm to it to ease the heat.
“You bastard!” Tory screamed. She scrambled against Ray’s grip on her arms, but they were tied behind her back and Ray was a mature male Crow Blooded.
Tory’s face was bruised. Gah, it looked like she’d been hurt. Rage swam in her eyes as she scrabbled toward Manning. Ray grabbed her hair and shoved her down on her knees.
“I love you forever and a day,” Trina said.
Tory’s attention dashed to Trina. Understanding flitted across her face. It’s what their Mom had said to them at night, before everything fell apart.
Trina nodded as someone grabbed her arms from behind. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Trina?” Tory asked, tears in her eyes and fear in her tone.
“Fly. Away,” she whispered.
Trina closed her eyes and let the animal take her skin. It was the first time she had ever trusted the creature to come when she called. The submissive parts of her human side had died, and all that remained was rage and acceptance.
Pain popped through her with every snapping bone and reshaping muscle. Her wings shot out of her shoulders and she pushed them against the hands that were holding her. She kicked and landed her hooves into someone’s chest. The snapping of their ribs reverberated through her, but there was no time to think about the deeds she was doing. Ray was dragging Tory toward the hallway.
The Murder was changing into their crows, but she was so fast, she could get to Tory at least. She pushed her body and slammed her hooves on the wood floors, bunched her muscles and jumped right over Tory, colliding with Ray. Tory screamed as she was jerked backward.
Claws sank into her haunches, but Ray was the threat to her sister, so Trina didn’t have time to stop what was happening behind her. She stomped Ray into nothing and turned to bite the bindings on Tory’s wrists. She’d been laying on her stomach but rushed to get up and in one smooth motion swung up onto Trina’s back.
Fuck, okay! They were escaping together then.
Pain, pain, pain. The crows were relentless, bleeding her, but Trina tucked her wings and bolted for the front door. It was still open. She tensed on the porch and the second she was clear of the railing, she leapt and spread her wings, beating them against the air currents and lifting them higher.
Tory was slowing her down, but her sister did good. She changed into her crow and flew as fast as she could next to Trina. They were out. They were out! Fly, Tory!
She could see her sister trying. She was flying as fast as she could. Go! God, please go.
They were doing this. They were escaping. They were doing it together. All they had to do was outfly the Murder. She could see the relief in Tory’s dark crow eyes. They’d done it.
Boom!
Feathers exploded against Trina’s face, and Tory dropped from the sky. No!
Manning stood on the ground behind them, a rifle in his hands.
No, no, no. Tory! Trina tucked her wings and dove for her sister. She was in a death spiral, not trying to stop herself. Tory, fly! The ground was coming up too fast.
Trina tucked her wings and legs close to her body and torpedoed straight down. Moments before Tory hit the ground, she spread her wings and cut in, cushioned Tory on her back. She couldn’t pull up fast enough though, and she crashed hard. Tory lurched off her back and rolled in the dirt.