Fuck. What have we got ourselves into?
***
Vengeance for my Sophie consumes me when I get into the Humvee. I want her free of the abuse, the pain, the crippling fear, and today, it will all end. I stare out the window and pray for the patience I’ll need not to kill the son of a bitch out right.
The compound, ironically named Safe Harbor, comes into view off in the distance. We don’t bother sneaking up on it, there’s no point. If her father was watching us, then he’ll expect us to come. Sophie and Elyse told us the layout of the entire place and everything else we needed to know. We already know they won’t stand a chance against us. The secluded compound is surrounded by wire fencing, but we barely notice it as we crash through it with Xander’s Humvee.
The inside of the compound is set up more like a small town. For an outsider who doesn’t know what kind of shit is going on in here, this might actually look like a nice place. There are a bunch of single family homes, most of them with actual white picket fences around them. I even see a swing set in one of the backyards and children’s bikes in another front yard.
The picture perfect scenery is quickly disturbed by two men storming out of a house, holding shotguns in their hands. A smile pulls at my lips. I’ve got to give it to them, they have some balls, heading toward us. Two men with two guns versus four armored Humvees with five armed men and guards.
Either these two are really fucking brave or really fucking stupid. I’m guessing it’s the latter. My suspicion of their lack of intelligence is quickly confirmed as they both take shots at the first Humvee. Four shots are fired, with two double barrel shotguns, which means these idiots just shot all their ammo at an armored car.
Stupid fucks.
The Humvees come to a direct stop, and I’m sure we will have run-ins with more idiots. I take my gun into my hand as we pile out of the car and head toward the stupid fucks. One runs away while the other tries to reload his gun with shaking hands. All color drains from his face the moment he realizes we’re going to get to him before he can put the new round in the chamber.
“Look, I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, but this is a peaceful settlement,” the guy tries to explain, dropping the gun and holding up his hands in a surrender. He knows how this is going to go, and most likely doesn’t want to die. Well…too little too late.
“Peaceful, my ass,” I spit out, grabbing him by the shirt. My fist lands in his face a second later and he almost passes out, from the hit alone, but I shake him so he stays awake.
“Where is Joseph Tanner?” I scream into his face. He shakes his head a little, his eyes wide in fear. I raise my fist to punch him again and that’s all it takes for him to crack.
“Okay, I’ll tell you,” he begs, throwing up his hands in defeat. Pussy.
“They’re having a meeting down in that building…” He points to a building off in the distance, his hand shaking. “That one right next to the church. He’ll be in there.”
“Who all is having a meeting?” Xander asks coolly, saddling up beside me.
“The council, they decide everything around here. I don’t know what today’s meeting is about but I know Joseph is one of them, he’ll be in there…” I shove him to the ground, about to kick the shit out of him, but Xander is quicker.
He pulls out a knife, kneels on the guys chest and slits his throat, ear to ear, before the fucker can even scream. Then he gets up and wipes his knife on his shirt like nothing ever happened. I’ve seen death, a lot of it, mostly at my own hands, but I’ve never seen anything as crazy as that. Xander gives me a grin before he starts to head toward the building we were told to go too.
I shake my head, grinning back at him. Sick bastard…
Adrenaline courses through my veins. I want this fucker dead already.
We all follow his lead. Ivan, Hero, Damon, and myself go with Xander through the front door, while the rest of the men surround the outside of the building. We walk through a set of double doors into an open conference looking room.
In that room sits seven men. Seven sadistic fucks. Seven men who most likely had everything to do with Sophie and Elyse being hurt. Seven men who will pay with their lives today.
Every head in the room snaps toward the door when we walk in.