Claimed by Shadows (The Shadowmen #2)

Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“CENTURIES” BY FALL OUT BOY

ROWAN

M y pulse is fast, my senses heightened as we saunter into the mansion, Hunter at our side for the first time. The other security have all gone home for the night. Only Roman and I are on official duty, as has been the way for many nights, just like we planned.

We step into the library, the CCTV footage we’ve been studying telling us that is where we will find our rat. He’s there as expected, dark head bent as he stares at a large screen, watching his niece with no clue that the grim reaper has come to collect him.

My jaw clenches to see his attention so unwavering, even if the footage he’s watching is false. Kai Matthews, the Knight’s tech genius, has looped most of the footage since we discovered this pervert was recording Lilly. Kai is as good with tech as I am, perhaps even more, and we’ve spent hours chatting virtually and playing around, stealing all of this fucker’s money and ruining his various business deals, the usual.

The sun is just setting when we hear the strains of “Ride of the Valkyries” by Wagner, and a smile tilts up on the side of my mouth. I’ve got to give it to these Knights, they know how to do things with style.

“What the fuck?” Adrian Ramsey hisses, getting up and spinning, freezing when he spots us in the shadowed doorway.

“You’ve been a very bad boy, Adrian,” Roman tells him, his voice soft and chiding like he’s disciplining a child.

“And it’s time to face the consequences of your actions,” Hunter adds, stepping into the light, and even I want to shiver at the look of pure, unfiltered rage in his green eyes.

I know it’s not just for Lilly that he’s doing this, that any of us are doing this. In part, it’s because we can’t punish the one we truly want. Not yet anyway.

“Who the fuck are you?” Adrian demands, his voice shaking just a little as Roman and I step up beside Hunt.

“We’re just Shadows,” I whisper, my voice low with the pleasure that is thrumming through my veins. The promise of bloodshed always has this effect on me. It makes my blood sing like nothing else. Well, not until I made Iris bleed, then my blood positively roared. “We’re not the ones you should be afraid of tonight.”

“HEATHENS” BY TWENTY-ONE PILOTS

ROMAN

The scent of burning fills the air as Hunt, Rowan, and I watch the mansion Rowan and I have been spending most of our time at blaze, the fire lighting up the night sky around us. Tonight was finally the night where the Knights came to rescue Lilly, and their vengeance was a thing of fucking beauty. We even got to take part a little, which helped the beast within us all, given that we can’t hurt the man we all really want to.

“We best get going before the authorities arrive,” Hunt orders, striding towards our truck, which is parked a little bit down the driveway.

He has droplets of blood trickled across his arms and chest. We all do after that bonding session, giving the man a six-pack. Shots to each ankle, knee, and elbow, just like traitors to the Irish Cause received during the Troubles. Fingers will be so proud when I tell him.

“Come, brother. Tomorrow we can both surprise Iris when we visit,” I tell Rowan, who’s staring into the flames like they hold answers to all the questions in the universe.

“And then we let Nikolai blow up our club in six days’ time,” Rowan responds, his jaw tight as he tears his gaze away from the flames and turns towards the direction our truck is in. I sling an arm over his shoulders.

“Yeah, but it’s for Iris. To help keep her safe,” I say, tugging him down the driveway, our feet crunching on the gravel.

“And helps further his cause of taking over from his father. Don’t forget that,” he grumbles, and I pause in my steps.

“True,” I reply slowly, considering. “But I mean, it won’t hurt to be in bed with the Bratva.” A grin splits my lips at his huff of laughter. I thought my double entendre was rather clever.

“True,” he mimics my earlier agreement. “Though that benefits you and Hunt in other ways.”

“And Iris. Don’t forget she likes to watch, brother, and you can be there to take advantage of her arousal.” His skin flushes, his tongue darting out to lick his lips, and I know that he’s imagining all the ways he can indulge. He’s not bi, not like Hunt and I, although as far as I’m aware, we’ve only been with each other in that way, never another man. Well, until Nik, that is, and I cannot wait to finally get us all together. We will definitely need a bigger bed for that.

“Also true, and I suppose having to put up with the Russians is a small price to pay,” he muses, and I bark a laugh as we approach the truck.

He steps out from under my arm, opening the back door and climbing inside, leaving the front passenger seat for me. How considerate.

Something inside my chest loosens as I climb in, and then we drive off. We can now focus all our energy on Iris and her recovery, which, given what happened earlier, seems to be coming along in leaps and bounds.

Holding her again and feeling her fall apart at the seams was like a dream come true. Better than a dream, because it was real, and she is everything I’ve ever wanted and more. Especially with Hunt there.