Dawn's First Light

Dane grunted and crouched in front of Keene. Yeah, the man was as cool as a cucumber. Not. The minute he released the chains, Keene would rip through them all. Hell, they'd barely managed to contain him the first time. Second chances were for fools. Until someone managed to talk some sense into Keene there was no way Dane was letting him go. They were wasting valuable time. The mission could move forward without Keene. But, it would go a hell of a lot smoother if the man would pull his head out of his ass and get it in the game. "Sure you are. Keene," he gritted, "get your shit together. Lori needs you man!"

"Keene, please listen." Chris sat beside the big warrior and pressed her hand to his forehead. "You're not helping. Lori can sense your emotions. She's alone. Terrified. Your rage won't help her. Your fear for her won't strengthen her. You're making it worse. Please, help her. Help us help her." She sent waves of calm through her body and into him. They had no effect. He was blocking her. Feeding himself from his anger. "Use your link. Send her your love. Help her to find the strength to hold on. You have to give her a reason not to give up."

"I'm trying." Keene ground his fangs and resisted the urge to snap at Dane's mate. Biting the gentle woman crouched beside him would not endear Dane to his cause. And it would probably get him killed. He couldn't help Lori then. And Chris was right. His negativity was only making a terrible situation worse. He struggled against the chains and stretched his reach to rub a lock of Chris's soft brown hair between the pads of his fingers. There was such sincerity in the midnight blue of her eyes. She was scared for him and for Lori. Infused with worry for her man and the brothers. The tips of her fingers were cool against his fevered brow. Her calm soothed the emotions boiling within him. "She's in such a dark place," he whispered.

"I know, Keene. And you are her light," Chris replied. Her gift was working. Keene stilled in his bindings, staring up at her as he rubbed the ends of her hair between his fingers. Unfortunately, her talents had its limits. And she could feel the storm raging with in him. She'd managed to tone it down. But, the fury and energy of the oncoming tidal wave had to be unleashed soon. She'd only succeeded in delaying it. Slowly, she withdrew her hand and unwound the lock of her hair from his grip. "Good luck, Keene."

Dane never ceased to be amazed by his wife. Only she could have managed to grab a tiger by the tail and end up with it in her lap purring like a kitten. He pulled the key to the locks that held the chains fast and moved to open them. Hopefully, her calm held and Keene would save his wrath for the son of a bitch that deserved it. "We good, brother?" he asked Keene as he unwound the chains.

Keene stretched and flexed his limbs. He was tempted to make a run for it. Just go off on his own and save the brothers the trouble of risking their lives for him. One warning glare and the flash of fang in his direction from Dane had him rethinking that move. Bound in chains he could not do Lori or his brothers one damn bit of good. He needed to be on this mission. No one knew the Rogue Master better than he did. And he knew the rules of the game. After all, he'd been playing it for over a century. "Never better." He cracked his knuckles and worked the kinks out of his neck. His primary goal was to rescue Lori. But, he also had a very old score to settle. And once Lori was safe, he intended to settle it, for once and for all.

*****

Kayla wandered through the compound, searching for Keene. The brothers might not buy it. And they'd probably lock her in her room for the rest of her life, if they had an inkling of what she had planned. But, Keene and she knew what they did not. She was the only one that could get close to Roark. The Rogue Master was not a fool. And he would be suspicious of her. Her heart pounded in dread at the thought of being at the hands of her old master again. All she had to do was distract him long enough for the brothers to do what needed to be done. If her luck held out, she might get out of this alive. Roark didn't want to kill her. Not right away. He'd want to make her suffer and beg first. And she'd never begged for anything in her life. Starting now, was not an option.

She might not have super vampire hearing. But, she'd heard the hushed whispers floating around the compound. Roark had a hostage. A girl. And that in itself was motivation enough to get Kayla to volunteer to go where she swore she 'd never go again. She hated being powerless and afraid. It was time to face her biggest fear and expose it to the light. Roark had no power over her but what she gave him. He might take her life. But, he could never have her soul. Death was nothing compared to a lifetime of hiding and terror, constantly looking over her shoulder and wondering when he'd come for her. This had to end.

She had much to atone for. How many girls had she lured to their deaths over the last five years? Kayla could blame it on Roark. But, it wasn't fully the truth. She'd sacrificed them to save her own life. And the guilt rested solely on her shoulders. She'd done things for him willingly. Sold her self for a taste of the golden apple. And the fruit soured on the tip of her tongue. It was time for her to face her worst enemy. And it wasn't Roark. Today, the old Kayla would be laid to rest. After one last performance at the master's feet.

Kayla clutched Mr. Smiles to her chest. Rubbing her cheek across the bear's soft, fuzzy pink fur, she inhaled his fresh, clean scent. They had one last job to do. It was a long shot. But, she'd been hiding things in the bear for years. She didn't relish the thought of being watched. But, Keene had stood in the corner of Roark's bedroom bearing silent witness for years. In that was their biggest secret. The things he'd seen her do. The things she'd willingly allowed Roark to do to her.

She was sure the brothers had the technology. And Mr. Smiles wouldn't mind having a camera tucked into his tummy. She never went anywhere without the bear. If she went to Roark empty handed, he would be even more suspicious of her. He expected the old Kayla. He didn't know how much a matter of a few days could change a person. With Mr. Smiles in tow, her disguise would be complete. Watching them together through a remote link, the brothers would know the minute she had Roark's full attention and they could slip in, save the girl, and end him for once and for all.

The thing she hated worse than what she was about to do was that Bryce would never look at her the way he did now ever again. Once he saw her on her knees debasing herself at Roark's feet, he'd know just how damaged she was. He'd never understand it. And he probably wouldn't try to. Not that she could blame him for that. Men far too often compartmentalized women into two categories, whores to be used and the innocent, good girls suitable to take home to mother. At one time, she might have been worthy of redemption in his eyes. But, after tonight, she'd fall far from any grace he might have spared her.

Yes, she was still angry with Bryce for hiding the truth from her. His lie stung. And it might cost her life. Angel was far more dangerous an enemy than Roark. Angel knew the game Kayla had played for years. In fact, Kayla was the one that taught her how to play it. There would be no deceiving Angel. She would see right through her. And if anyone wanted her blood worse than Roark, it was Angel. She just had to hope that Roark wouldn't let Angel exact her revenge first. Otherwise, and Kayla knew this going into it, she was as good as dead.

******

Prepared for battle, their expressions stern and focused, the brothers walked through the hall. Geared up in black leather and enough weaponry to take out a small army, Keene moved with measured steps. Their group was small. A concentrated force of five men to face the dozens of minions Roark commanded. The one thing Keene counted on was the wavering loyalty of Roark's men. When confronted with their deaths at the brotherhood's hands or fleeing the fight, most of the minions would concede to opt out and scurry for cover. And there were a few he could count on that wanted revenge against the Rogue Master as badly as he did. That was the thing about forced allegiance. One never truly knew who was a friend and who was an enemy.

Bryce felt like someone had sucker punched him in the gut. He dragged his hand through his hair and cursed under his breath. Kayla appeared just as the warriors and he rounded the corner. Dressed in the same clothes she had been on the day he found her. With that damnable stuffed, pink bear, clutched in her arms. She wore her hair in ringlets. Styled to cup her overly rouged cheeks. Kayla, the woman, was gone, and in her place, pouting at the warriors with a bubble gum pink, stained frown, was Kayla, Roark's plaything.

"No! No, no, no, no!" Bryce repeated over and over in a mantra of defeat. Seeing Roark in the flesh had been too much for Kayla and she'd reverted to her old self. He had barely managed to drag her away from the Rogue Master's clutches. Dressed like this, it only meant one thing. She was going back. He wouldn't let her. He hadn't watched her blossom and grow only to hand her over to Roark now. He lunged to move around Keene only to be blocked by the warrior's massive frame.

"Kayla, you should go back to your room and rest," Keene said in a soft, commanding voice. Bryce shuffled behind him, trying to force his way around. Man handling Kayla would only serve to frighten her. And she'd had enough fear in her short life. No one understood the power Roark had over her better than he. Keene knocked Bryce back with an insistent shove and slowly hedged Kayla to the side. Every protective instinct within him screamed to lock her away someplace safe where Roark could never get his hands on her. But, it wasn't possible. If they failed and Roark got through them, this was the first place he'd come. There was no place safe enough until the Rogue Master drew his last breath.

He'd caught glimpses of the woman beneath the faux innocence and ditzy bubble gum smiles. Her expression was carved in granite. She clutched the bear, not as an emotional crutch to comfort her, but with conviction and raw, hard determination. "What are you doing?"

Kayla leveled her chin and stared up at Keene. Her fierce protector was still there beneath the layers of weaponry and black leather. His expression softened slightly from the hardened, grim, determined expression of a warrior to give her a brief glimpse of the friend he'd always been to her. They'd gone through so much together, suffered Roark's worst side by side. She held his secrets close to her heart as he guarded hers close to his. Of their pasts neither one of them would breathe a word. It belonged to them and nobody else. "I'm giving Roark what he wants," she answered in the sing-songy voice of a teenager.

Keene reached out to cup her cheek in his palm. "No. You don't have to do this. He'll kill you. And if he doesn't, Angel will."

Kayla closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek against Keene's palm. His skin was calloused and rough, so warm on her face. "Roark has never seen me as anything other than this. He expects you to come for the girl..."

"Lori," Keene said in an anguished tone.

"Lori." Kayla nodded. "I'm the only one that can get close enough to him to give you the diversion you need. You know this. To him, I'm nothing, just another bright and shiny toy for his amusement. He won't hand me over to Angel. Not until he's finished with me. It'll buy you time."

Keene stroked Kayla's cheek with his thumb. Her skin was hot against the palm of his hand. He couldn't ask this of Kayla, not even if it did mean Lori's life. He could never knowingly place Kayla in Roark's clutches again. "You know what he'll do to you," he said.

Kayla nodded and blinked back a tear. "I know." She closed her eyes and tipped her chin to press her lips to the pulse point in Keene's wrist. Blinking her eyes open, she leveled her gaze at Keene. "Tell me something. Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Keene, I haven't done a lot of good in this world. Actually, I haven't done anything worth a damn in my whole life. I've taken and never given back. It's my turn to sacrifice. Because you love her, I'm willing to take her place. I have it in me to do this one more time, for you and for Lori. I trust you, Keene. And I trust the brothers. You'll get me out before Roark kills me.

"Keene, I can't hide down here forever. Save your girl and kill the bastard. Then we'll all be free. I'll hold Roark off and keep him distracted for as long as I can. He can't harm me, Keene. Oh, he'll hurt me. I have no doubt about that. But, he lost any power he had over me when I saw him for what he truly is. He's weak without us, Keene. And he knows it. We played the game over and over, and it's time for once, that we won."

Keene crushed Kayla to his chest and held her in a tight embrace. He didn't know when along the way his eternal teenager had grown up into the woman he knew she could become. But, she had. Brave and strong, a warrior in her own right, Kayla had come full circle. Without her suffering, she might never have gotten there. Pain made her strong. Fear made her brave.

Kayla eased out of Keene's embrace. He was squishing the life out of Mr. Smiles and out of her. She had one last request to make. And it might be the stupidest thing she'd ever asked for. But, the guilt tugging on her insides forced the request from her lips. "What happened to Angel was her fault. But, we both share our part of the blame. Keene, we should have gone back for her. We were here where it was safe. We left her behind. Alone. And for that, we are responsible. Promise me something, Keene. If you can, please try to save her."

Keene considered Kayla's request. Letting Angel live would be tactically dangerous. And it might be the one thing both Kayla and he came to regret. Angel was a wild card, volatile and filled with thirst for revenge. The best thing to do would be to kill her and end the threat. Pulling her out of the life Roark had introduced her to would be difficult, if it could be done at all. But, Kayla was right. They had abandoned her. Left her behind to suffer the brunt of Roark's fury. The brothers might override him and put her down. It was the sanest, kindest thing they could do for her. Dane might demand her life as retribution for the lives she'd taken. And there'd be nothing Keene could do or say to stop him. As he considered, he nodded solemnly. "I'll do what I can."

"Thank you, Keene." Kayla reached out and took his hand. Six, counting her, wasn't much against Roark. Bravely, she held her head high and fell in step beside the brothers. She expected to have to trot to stay in step with them. But, they slowed their footfalls to mach her shorter stride. Nobody got left behind in this band of brothers. And although she was the only female in the group, she'd never felt more like she belonged anywhere in her whole life.

Bryce finally managed to elbow his way through the brothers to fall in step beside Kayla. He couldn't believe his ears. Dane said not a word during the exchange between Keene and Kayla. He said nothing now. The man marched forward with grim determination, focused on nothing besides getting the job done. Apparently, he was sold with the idea of using Kayla as bait. Pretty bait, no doubt. But, bait was still bait.

Bryce could argue till his fangs rattled out of his head. This was wrong. The brothers couldn't allow Kayla to put her life in Roark's hands with nothing more to go on than her gut instinct that he wouldn't kill her. The man was a maniac. And Angel...talk about a psycho bitch from Hell. Dane had to have lost his fucking mind. And apparently, he was right there with his stoic leader. Instead of putting up a fight and demanding that just the slightest bit of logic be applied to this impossible situation. He grabbed Kayla's free hand and held it fast. United was better than divided. And it would take every last ounce of courage they possessed to get Lori out, take that son of a bitch down, and bring all of them home in one piece.

A smile curled Kayla's lips as Bryce reached out and snatched up her hand. For the moment, she was clean and untainted. That would change soon enough. And she wanted to relish the feeling of his skin pressed to hers while she could. She didn't know if she had the right to call herself brave or just plain stupid, maybe, suicidal even. One last time, didn't sound so bad when put in that context. But, her insides quivered with fear at what she knew would come.

She laced her fingers through Bryce's and squeezed them hard, stealing what strength she could from his firm yet gentle grip. He'd hate her soon enough when the truth of her was revealed. When Roark humiliated her, bound her and made her suffer, she'd have this memory to cling to. And maybe, when Roark tried his best to break her, the memory of Bryce, of a man who once saw her as somebody good, would be enough to keep her from shattering.

Keene held Kayla's hand. Her palm was clammy and damp with sweat. She tried to hide her fear from the brothers and from him. And that only served to add to his determination. Tonight, he'd play the final round of the game. This time, the stakes were higher than they'd ever been. It was not just his life that he gambled with. And he would play with everything he had to win.

Chapter 50

Lori dried her tears on the hem of her sundress. Pressed into the corner, she curled up into a ball with her knees tucked tightly into her chest. The walls closed in around her. And the room or closet or whatever it was, seemed to get smaller and smaller. She never knew terror had a color till now. But, it did. And it was pitch black.

Panic surged through her mind and dragged along with it the most terrifying thoughts her overactive imagination could concoct. She couldn't breathe for her fear. She couldn't stand without hitting her head on something. She couldn't stretch her legs out in front of her without striking the walls. The door was solid as steel. And she didn't hear the slightest whisper of noise from the other side. She'd been buried alive. This wasn't a room. It was her coffin and Roark had buried her alive.

Out of sheer frustration, Lori weakly pounded her fists on the cool panels of the door and ineffectually cried out for help. Contemplating all the ways she was about to die, she gave up and rested her chin on her knees. Today was her birthday. She was twenty. And she'd never live to see twenty-one.

There were so many things she hadn't gotten to do in her short life. Regret for all the things she'd miss slammed home hard. She'd never been in a bar. Last New Year's Eve, she got a little tipsy on her mom's spiked eggnog. But, she'd never been officially drunk. All the things she'd never gotten to do aside, actually, her life had been pretty good, until now. And now, what little was left of it just sucked.

Yeah, her mind was such a cheerful place right now and her thoughts a plethora of rainbows and sunshine. Not really, the inside of her head was as dark as the space Roark had stuffed her into. It would take almost a week to dehydrate to the point where things got fuzzy. And probably, a few days after that for her kidneys to fail and her body to completely shut down. If they refused to feed her, but gave her water. In a month or so, she'd starve to death, not that she'd live that long. All that was assuming her blood didn't clot from immobility and an embolus didn't travel to her brain to finish her off first.

Who was she kidding? No natural cause was going to be what did her in. It'd be a waste of a good meal. And although she didn't know much about her captor, she'd bet he wasn't one to waste. Not that the thought was any comfort to her. Dead was well...pretty much dead no matter how it happened. Quick was probably better than slow though. No consolation there. The painful part was pretty much a given.