Dark Instincts
Page 78
Again, Brunt’s eyes glanced at the faces surrounding him, as if searching for a potential ally. They stopped on Roni. “I saw your vid. Did you trace who uploaded it?” A wide smile spread across his face when she didn’t answer—it made her wolf growl. “You didn’t, did you?”
Roni gave a dismissive shrug. “There are far bigger things going on than who managed to illegally get ahold of logged evidence.”
“I know who it was. I could tell you. Just like I could tell you where the Scorpio Pack is.”
“In exchange for what, exactly?” asked Dante.
Suddenly, Brunt’s expression hardened. “I want them dead. The jackals. I want them all dead.”
Trey frowned. “Why would you want them dead?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does if you expect us to believe you. It makes no sense for you to betray them—they’ve been feeding your sick little kink.”
“They killed Margo.”
Playing dumb, Dante said, “Who’s Margo?”
Brunt’s gaze seemed far away. “She was different. She loved me.”
No, thought Roni, the human had cared for who she thought Brunt was.
“They tortured and murdered her just last night—even sent me a picture.” His upper lip curled back in anger and distaste.
Marcus spoke then. “Why would they go after this Margo person?”
“She talked to the extremists about me, about our relationship. She was safe until she did that. They punished her. I want them dead.”
“You always want someone else to do your dirty work,” muttered Derren.
Ignoring him, Brunt concentrated on Dante. “I’m not stupid, and I’m not delusional. You’re not going to free me. You want me as dead as I want the jackals. But I want this over with quickly and cleanly. Agree to make my death quick, and I’ll tell you where the Scorpio Pack is and who uploaded the video evidence.”
Marcus smiled. Yes, Noah Brunt was indeed smart. He knew he’d have to make his offer damn attractive if he wanted a swift death from a bunch of wolves eager to make him pay for targeting pups and mates.
Dante exchanged a look with Trey and Nick before nodding. “Done.”
Brunt nodded. “They’re two hours away from here, by the old fairground exclusive to shifters—the one a pride of lions destroyed in a war with the owners.”
“And the shifter who uploaded the vid?” prompted Marcus.
It was Roni he looked at when he revealed, “Nolan Richards.”
Nick looked at her. “That’s our old Alpha’s son. The asshole who practically led the campaign to alienate you from our old pack.”
Yep, and Roni was totally and utterly fucking pissed. Hadn’t he caused her and her family enough damn problems? Any other time, she might have ranted and raved. Not now, though. Because while she had a true monster like Noah Brunt before her, it made Nolan seem like a cute, fuzzy kitten that shot golden nuggets out of his ass. She’d save the ranting for when it was all over. Then she’d get even, like she always did.
“So,” said Dante, glancing at the wolves around him. “Who goes first?”
Taryn spoke for the first time. “Before you boys get started, I’d like a few minutes with this piece of shit.”
As the female unleashed her claws and prowled toward him, Brunt struggled against the bonds. “Now wait a minute. You agreed to make this quick.”
Dante puffed out a long breath. “Make it quick . . . that’s such a loose term. I mean, ‘quick’ could mean anything really. Relative to whatever time frame a person has in mind, it could be seconds, minutes, hours, days—even weeks.”
Nick’s smile was dark. “We intend to give you exactly what you deserve.”
“And since we won’t be attacking the jackals until tonight,” began Marcus, “that gives us all day to play with you.”
Brunt moved his gaze to Roni, as if expecting her to speak up on his behalf since he’d revealed Nolan’s name, but she shrugged at him. “You can’t expect mercy from shifters whose pups and mates were endangered. But I’m sure you can understand that. After all, that’s your motto, isn’t it? Show no mercy.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Funny how torturing a sociopath could ease tension, mused Roni.
Both packs had been restless since the car crash a few months ago, desperate to get their hands on those responsible. Dealing with Brunt had taken the edge off everyone’s anger, honing it into a lethal blade.
Having had their fun at the hut, Roni, Marcus, Nick, and Derren had returned to their territory to collect Eli, Zander, and Bracken. The plan was to meet the Phoenix wolves a short distance away from the jackals’ location, leaving Shaya with Jesse, Stone, and Kathy while Kent and Caleb monitored the border of their territory.
As everyone said their good-byes in the kitchen, Roni looked up at the male who’d tucked her into the cradle of his shoulder. “Was it hard?”
Marcus rubbed her lower back. “What?”
“Coming here with me instead of going home to your pack?” His instincts had to have balked at it. Had the situation been reversed, she’d certainly have found it difficult.
Framing her face with his hands, Marcus kissed her softly. “You are home to me.” She was everything to him. A small part of him feared that, feared the power she had over him. “I admit, the enforcer in me feels like I’m abandoning them. But it’s not like there’s a war between our packs. We’re fighting as one.”
“Yeah, I know. But you’re a very loyal person—”
“Yes, and my loyalty lies with you, first and foremost. Always will.”
“Stop hogging my sister-in-law,” griped Shaya, pulling Roni to her and then hugging her tightly. “You make sure you come back,” she sniffled. Behind the Alpha female, both Nick and Eli practically melted at her anxiety. It was impossible not to adore Shaya.
“I will,” Roni promised. “Keep this bunch calm—especially Jesse. It’s galling him that he’s been told to stay behind.”
Releasing her, Shaya nodded. “Don’t forget: jackal shifters are bigger and stronger than full-blooded jackals, so be ready. And they always go for the legs and the throat when fighting. And they’re sly little scrappers—they don’t fight fair, so make sure you don’t fight fair either.” She slapped her hands to her cheeks. “I hate that I can’t come with you.”
Roni gave a dismissive shrug. “There are far bigger things going on than who managed to illegally get ahold of logged evidence.”
“I know who it was. I could tell you. Just like I could tell you where the Scorpio Pack is.”
“In exchange for what, exactly?” asked Dante.
Suddenly, Brunt’s expression hardened. “I want them dead. The jackals. I want them all dead.”
Trey frowned. “Why would you want them dead?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does if you expect us to believe you. It makes no sense for you to betray them—they’ve been feeding your sick little kink.”
“They killed Margo.”
Playing dumb, Dante said, “Who’s Margo?”
Brunt’s gaze seemed far away. “She was different. She loved me.”
No, thought Roni, the human had cared for who she thought Brunt was.
“They tortured and murdered her just last night—even sent me a picture.” His upper lip curled back in anger and distaste.
Marcus spoke then. “Why would they go after this Margo person?”
“She talked to the extremists about me, about our relationship. She was safe until she did that. They punished her. I want them dead.”
“You always want someone else to do your dirty work,” muttered Derren.
Ignoring him, Brunt concentrated on Dante. “I’m not stupid, and I’m not delusional. You’re not going to free me. You want me as dead as I want the jackals. But I want this over with quickly and cleanly. Agree to make my death quick, and I’ll tell you where the Scorpio Pack is and who uploaded the video evidence.”
Marcus smiled. Yes, Noah Brunt was indeed smart. He knew he’d have to make his offer damn attractive if he wanted a swift death from a bunch of wolves eager to make him pay for targeting pups and mates.
Dante exchanged a look with Trey and Nick before nodding. “Done.”
Brunt nodded. “They’re two hours away from here, by the old fairground exclusive to shifters—the one a pride of lions destroyed in a war with the owners.”
“And the shifter who uploaded the vid?” prompted Marcus.
It was Roni he looked at when he revealed, “Nolan Richards.”
Nick looked at her. “That’s our old Alpha’s son. The asshole who practically led the campaign to alienate you from our old pack.”
Yep, and Roni was totally and utterly fucking pissed. Hadn’t he caused her and her family enough damn problems? Any other time, she might have ranted and raved. Not now, though. Because while she had a true monster like Noah Brunt before her, it made Nolan seem like a cute, fuzzy kitten that shot golden nuggets out of his ass. She’d save the ranting for when it was all over. Then she’d get even, like she always did.
“So,” said Dante, glancing at the wolves around him. “Who goes first?”
Taryn spoke for the first time. “Before you boys get started, I’d like a few minutes with this piece of shit.”
As the female unleashed her claws and prowled toward him, Brunt struggled against the bonds. “Now wait a minute. You agreed to make this quick.”
Dante puffed out a long breath. “Make it quick . . . that’s such a loose term. I mean, ‘quick’ could mean anything really. Relative to whatever time frame a person has in mind, it could be seconds, minutes, hours, days—even weeks.”
Nick’s smile was dark. “We intend to give you exactly what you deserve.”
“And since we won’t be attacking the jackals until tonight,” began Marcus, “that gives us all day to play with you.”
Brunt moved his gaze to Roni, as if expecting her to speak up on his behalf since he’d revealed Nolan’s name, but she shrugged at him. “You can’t expect mercy from shifters whose pups and mates were endangered. But I’m sure you can understand that. After all, that’s your motto, isn’t it? Show no mercy.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Funny how torturing a sociopath could ease tension, mused Roni.
Both packs had been restless since the car crash a few months ago, desperate to get their hands on those responsible. Dealing with Brunt had taken the edge off everyone’s anger, honing it into a lethal blade.
Having had their fun at the hut, Roni, Marcus, Nick, and Derren had returned to their territory to collect Eli, Zander, and Bracken. The plan was to meet the Phoenix wolves a short distance away from the jackals’ location, leaving Shaya with Jesse, Stone, and Kathy while Kent and Caleb monitored the border of their territory.
As everyone said their good-byes in the kitchen, Roni looked up at the male who’d tucked her into the cradle of his shoulder. “Was it hard?”
Marcus rubbed her lower back. “What?”
“Coming here with me instead of going home to your pack?” His instincts had to have balked at it. Had the situation been reversed, she’d certainly have found it difficult.
Framing her face with his hands, Marcus kissed her softly. “You are home to me.” She was everything to him. A small part of him feared that, feared the power she had over him. “I admit, the enforcer in me feels like I’m abandoning them. But it’s not like there’s a war between our packs. We’re fighting as one.”
“Yeah, I know. But you’re a very loyal person—”
“Yes, and my loyalty lies with you, first and foremost. Always will.”
“Stop hogging my sister-in-law,” griped Shaya, pulling Roni to her and then hugging her tightly. “You make sure you come back,” she sniffled. Behind the Alpha female, both Nick and Eli practically melted at her anxiety. It was impossible not to adore Shaya.
“I will,” Roni promised. “Keep this bunch calm—especially Jesse. It’s galling him that he’s been told to stay behind.”
Releasing her, Shaya nodded. “Don’t forget: jackal shifters are bigger and stronger than full-blooded jackals, so be ready. And they always go for the legs and the throat when fighting. And they’re sly little scrappers—they don’t fight fair, so make sure you don’t fight fair either.” She slapped her hands to her cheeks. “I hate that I can’t come with you.”
