As much as Kenley believed Dex was some kind of hero, he couldn’t have known Dex wasn’t who he said he was, and as for feeling something in Dex calling to his Therian half, that was a conundrum for another time. Gently, Dex pulled Kenley away. “What about Dawson?” he asked Kenley. “He doesn’t act like the others.”

  “Dawson hates Hughes,” Kenley replied, his expression grim. “He pretends like he doesn’t, but I heard Ramos talking to Hughes. Dawson tried to kill Hughes last year. Hughes beat him so bad Dawson almost died. I bet Dawson wants to get away from Hughes as bad as everyone else wants to get away from their Humans.”

  What a fucking mess. Who the hell were they supposed to trust? The answer was simple. No one.

  “Kenley, I need you to go back to your room—”

  “I won’t survive. I…” Kenley wrung his hands nervously.

  “What aren’t you telling us?” Dex demanded.

  “When we were in the infirmary, I snuck out of bed. I thought maybe I could escape, but there were guards outside every door. I was going to head back to bed when I overheard two of them talking quietly. They mentioned the auction and how they had to be ready to take those of us Vaughan had chosen. They were going to wait until Vaughan had the cheetah Therian back. I think they plan to somehow knock the Humans out. By the time they realize what’s happened, Vaughan and his people would be gone.”

  Did Vaughan expect these wealthy Humans to simply shrug off a double cross? Dex paced the room as he mentally went through each guest’s profile and their Therians. He turned to Kenley.

  “How does Ramos feel about Vaughan?”

  Kenley cocked his head, confused. “He’s scared of Vaughan. They all are. Even Hughes is scared of Vaughan.”

  “Someone like Vaughan would be prepared for almost anything. None of these Humans are going to lift a finger against him. Losing a Therian is nothing compared to getting on Vaughan’s bad side. The whole point of this retreat is to steal young, healthy Therians. We already know that all those little tests Vaughan set up weren’t so the guests could learn more about Therians, but to help him find the best specimens. More importantly, we now know that all these Therians have been erased.”

  Kenley went pale. “Erased? What do you mean, erased?”

  Dex cursed under his breath. “I’ll explain later.”

  “But why not take them after the fight when he had all the Therians together?” Sloane asked.

  “Besides the money from the auction, it’s about power. The point is, these Humans might be rich, but none of them have the power or connections to go after Vaughan. They’re not going to incur the wrath of someone who can easily bury them. They’ll just get themselves another playmate while Vaughan walks away with thirty perfect specimens for his experiment.”

  “Not Dash Delacruz,” Sloane pointed out. “Vaughan has to know Dash wouldn’t stand for it.”

  Dex paused, his eyes lifting to meet Sloane’s. “Which is why he’s planning on killing me.”

  “Fuck.” Sloane ran a hand over his face. “It makes sense. Then he disappears with Brodie.”

  The guy wasn’t a legend in the shadows for his pleasant personality.

  Okay, first things first. Dex turned to Kenley. “I need you to go back to your room.”

  “What? But—”

  “I need you to trust me. I need you to go back to your room and act like nothing’s happened. If our cover’s blown, no one’s getting out of here, you understand? We’ll come for you. I promise.”

  Kenley looked from Dex to Sloane and back. With a quick nod, he turned to the door.

  “Wait.” Dex went into his suitcase and pulled out what looked like a pen. He handed it to Kenley. “Here. In case you run into trouble. If you press this button here, a blade comes out. It looks plastic, but it’s not. Be very careful.”

  Kenley nodded. He pressed the button once to draw the blade in, then put it in his pocket. “Thanks.” Determination filled his eyes, and then he turned and slipped out the door.

  Okay, time to improvise.

  Dex tapped behind his ear. “You hear all that?”

  “Yes,” Seb grumbled. “What’s the plan?”

  “Get Ro to round up Kenley and the other Therians and take them to the extraction point.” No one else could sneak around the resort without suspicion. Any Therian who picked up her scent would be too confused to know what the hell was going on. Most of the time they didn’t bother to investigate. She could get in and out without anyone knowing she was even there. “Have an extraction team outside the resort ready to get them out of there. Sloane and I will get Cory to the secondary extraction point. As soon as I give the signal, send TIN to arrest the Humans.”

  “Copy that. I’ll deal with Reuter, and the team will deal with Vaughan’s guards. Be careful.”

  “You too.”

  Dex took a deep calming breath and met his husband’s gaze. “Let’s do this.”

  They had to get Cory to the secondary extraction point without being seen. Well, it was now or never. At this time of night, it should be relatively easy to avoid most of the Human guests. It was Vaughan’s security they had to be careful of. Dex tapped his earpiece.

  “Keane, we’re ready.”

  “See you on the other side, my friend.”

  “Copy that.” Dex opened the sliding glass door, and everyone stepped outside. A heartbeat later, Keane’s voice came through.

  “Go!”

  “Let’s move,” Dex hissed quietly, running for the end of the balcony, then jumping over it. He landed several feet below in the dirt.

  Cory gaped at him. “How did you do that? You’re Human.”

  “Keep moving,” Sloane growled.

  They hurried through the trees and shrubbery, doing their best to stay away from security. Keane had taken care of the cameras, but it wouldn’t be long before Vaughan’s team realized something was amiss.

  “Where are we going?” Cory asked.

  “Outside the resort. We’ve got a team waiting,” Dex replied as they hurried through the trees, the shadows and darkness of night concealing them. They moved fast, silently. Only a few yards to go.

  The sky exploded as Ro’s shouts came through Dex’s earpiece. “We’ve been made!”

  A helicopter soared overhead, the gusts of air from the propellers whipping at the leaves and branches around them as a spotlight blasted down. Gunfire exploded in the distance, and Dex caught the scent of dozens of Therians.

  “Run!” Dex grabbed Cory’s arm and bolted in the direction they’d come from. They sped through the trees, and Dex released Cory. “Stay with Brodie.” He didn’t wait to see if Cory had listened. He veered off to his right and doubled back, plowing into one of the Therian guards. The guy went flying into a tree and landed hard on the ground. Dex didn’t give him a chance to get up. One punch and the guy was out. He grabbed the guy’s AR15 and stood, stilling when he saw Cory standing there, his eyes wide.

  “What are you?”

  “Pissed off,” Dex snapped. “I told you to stay with Brodie.”

  How the hell had Vaughan made them? They’d been careful. Fuck. No time to wonder about it. Another two Therian guards appeared, and Dex ducked and fired. They hit the ground, and he took their weapons as well. “Move,” he growled at Cory. The kid flinched and took off. Dex caught up with Sloane and handed him one of the rifles, ammunition, and a Glock.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Sloane asked as they ran south past the resort, using the trees for cover.

  “I don’t know.”

  Vaughan’s guards moved in from all directions. “You two get to the villa,” Dex ordered Cory. “We’ll hold them off.” Dex tapped his earpiece. “Seb, I need an extraction team at the villa. Cory’s headed that way.”

  “On it. We’re taking heavy fire. What the fuck happened?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” Dex threw a glance at Sloane and grinned. “Time to go hunting, baby.”

  Sloane returned his grin.

  Above them the helicopter continued to scan the area, the searchlight running through the thick trees. Dex and Sloane made sure to avoid the light as they stalked through the trees. Dex flinched at the pain in his fingers. The darkness wouldn’t do much for him, considering he was up against Therians who could see in the dark, but with the help of the trees, he was just another moving shadow. He and Sloane picked off their enemies one by one. A shot to the leg, a strike to the right pressure point. Killing was always the last resort.

  “Chaos, Atlas, we have a problem,” Keane said, sounding out of breath. He was on the move. “Extraction team was held up by serious firepower. Cory’s been caught. He’s being forced into the villa.”

  Dex cursed under his breath. “Atlas, let’s move.”

  “Copy that,” Sloane replied. “K, we’re on our way.”

  The world around them plunged into a fiery hell as Vaughan’s army moved in. Dex ran to Sloane, and together they sped for the villa, firing at Vaughan’s guards as they emerged from the trees, not giving them the chance to fire back. Tree branches whipped at Dex’s face, but he ignored the sting in favor of moving faster. His skin would heal itself, and no mark would be left by the time he stopped running.

  They made it to the villa, and it was suspiciously empty. The small army that had been chasing them was also gone. Dex tapped his earpiece. “Where the fuck is the extraction team?”

  “Busy,” Seb growled, the sound of gunfire going off. “They’re with Ro, getting the young Therians to safety.”

  Sloane readied his AR15 while Dex gripped his Glock. They carefully and silently made their way toward the villa entrance. “I don’t like this,” Dex murmured. Vaughan was up to something, Dex felt it in his gut. But what choice did they have?

  “Security feed inside the facility is down,” Keane said. “You’re on your own.”

  Great. They were supposed to go into an underground facility filled with who knew how many armed Therians with no visual. “Anyone have eyes on Vaughan?”

  “Negative,” Seb replied, his voice quiet.

  “Copy that. We’re going in.” Dex nodded at Sloane. Old habits die hard, and Dex fell into formation behind Sloane. For years at the THIRDS, he’d followed his partner and team leader, covering Sloane’s back as they moved from room to room. Now they moved as one, their actions and breathing in sync because of their bond. They swept the area swiftly and efficiently. No words had to be spoken between them.

  The villa appeared empty, but they knew better. Somehow Vaughan had been ready to move against them. He was down here somewhere. They took position to each side of the door that led down to the fight ring and ultimately the underground facility. With a nod from Sloane, Dex went in first, Glock at the ready as he descended the stairs, listening for the slightest hint of movement.

  Nothing.

  The arena was empty, the door to the facility open. Exchanging glances, they moved quickly toward the door. Dex sneaked a peek.

  “Clear,” he whispered.

  They hurried through, making their way down the corridor. Unlike previously, all the doors along the corridor were open, the rooms inside empty. A chill swept up Dex’s spine as they continued to move through the emptiness, no guards, not a soul. They reached the heavy door to the part of the facility where the medical bay and lab were. Readying themselves, they opened the door. The wide white hall was empty but for one figure standing alone facing away from them. Dex’s blood turned to ice.

  “Cory?”

  “Mr. Dash?” Cory’s voice was barely a whisper as he turned.

  “Cory? What are you—” The blood on Cory’s hands brought Dex up short. Oh God. Dex bolted over to Cory, catching him as he crumpled to the floor. “We need to find the source of the blood.”

  “The medical bay,” Sloane said. “Let’s get him inside.”

  Carefully Dex lifted Cory into his arms, and he hurried after Sloane into the medical bay, where he laid Cory on one of the exam tables.

  “Apply pressure to the wound,” Sloane said. “I’ll be right back.” He hurried off to gather supplies.

  “You’re going to be okay,” Dex promised Cory, trying to ignore the way the young man trembled.

  Sloane quickly returned and got to work cutting through Cory’s shirt. He met Dex’s gaze. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

  Cory was going to be okay. He had to be.

  “He’s lost a lot of blood,” Sloane said. His gaze went to Dex. “He might not—”

  “He’s going to make it,” Dex growled.

  Sloane nodded. “I’ll patch him up and get him out of here.”

  Dex opened his mouth to reply, but movement outside the door caught his attention.

  Sloane lifted his head. “Dex?”

  “Keep working on Cory. I’ll be right back.” Dex ran out of the room into the hallway and stilled. He stared at the young wolf Therian with the bloodied knife in his hand. Dex’s knife. The one used to stab Cory.

  “Kenley?” Dex shook his head, not wanting to believe it. “Why?”

  “I’m so sorry,” Kenley said through a sob. “I had to. It was the only way to get away from them.”

  “What are you talking about? We were going to get you out.”

  “Liar!” Kenley shook his head vigorously. “You were going to leave me behind, leave me with them. I thought you were different, but you’re just like the rest of them. You don’t care about what happens to us. No one cares. They erased us. You said it yourself.”

  “That’s not true,” Dex said roughly. “We’re the good guys.”

  “Good guys?” Kenley laughed as he wiped at his face. “Right.”

  “Dex?” Sloane stepped out into the hall, his gloved hands bloodied.

  “I’m fine,” Dex told Sloane. “Get Cory out of here.”

  Sloane hesitated for a split second. He removed a glove, then tapped his earpiece. “Seb, I need an evac outside the main facility now! I’ve got Cory, and he’s injured.” As Sloane disappeared back into the medical bay to grab Cory, Dex returned his focus to Kenley. When Sloane hurried out with Cory, Kenley looked pained.

  “I swear, we were going to help you,” Dex said. “We can still help you.”

  “The way TIN helped me when I was kidnapped? I was fifteen!” Kenley’s eyes filled with tears again, but he swiftly blinked them away, fury taking their place. “Where was TIN when I was taken and sold to these monsters? Where were they when I was being raped over and over? Did they even bother to look for me? For any of us?” Kenley charged Dex, swinging the knife at him but without any real strength behind the blows. He was angry, so very angry and hurt, but he didn’t want to kill Dex.

  “I didn’t know,” Dex said, smacking Kenley’s fist away, knocking the knife out of his hand and sending it skidding across the floor. He could feel the pain radiating off Kenley, the desperation. Dex’s heart bled for him and what had happened to him. How could he possibly have known? How hard had TIN looked for him? “I’m so sorry, Kenley.”

  “Not good enough,” Kenley cried.

  As fast as the young wolf was, Dex was faster, blocking each blow Kenley attempted to land, which only frustrated Kenley, making him sloppy.

  “Why did you stab Cory? He’s like you. An innocent victim.”

  “I told you. I had to. It was the only way. He promised me he’d get me away from them if I killed Cory. I didn’t want to, but I had to make it stop.”

  “He? You mean Vaughan?” Dex was stunned. His heart broke for Kenley. The poor kid was so desperate to get out of the nightmare he was living that he chose to trust a man like Vaughan. “Think about what you’re saying, Kenley.” Dex grabbed Kenley’s wrist, spinning him and bringing his other arm up behind his back. “Vaughan is experimenting and killing Therians. What do you think will happen to you when you stop being of use to him? Please, stop fighting me. You can come with us. You can finally go home.”

  Kenley’s whole body shook. “I want to go home.”

  Shots were fired in quick succession, and Kenley jolted in Dex’s arms.

  Vaughan stood several feet away, the barrel of his gun aimed at them. He lowered the gun, his hard gaze on Dex.

  “He should have listened to you.” Vaughan smiled. “I could kill you, but I’ll let you live with your failure.” He turned and walked away.

  A choking cough had Dex carefully turning Kenley. His head lolled to one side, eyes barely open. “No. No, no, no. Kenley, look at me.”

  Kenley lifted his gaze to meet Dex’s, tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt Cory. I… I just wanted to go home.”

  Dex shook his head, his lips pressed together as he blinked away the wetness on his lashes. He looked Kenley over, lowering them both to the floor. There was so much blood.

  “Tell my brother I love him.”

  “I’m getting you out of here,” Dex said. This wasn’t supposed to happen. They weren’t supposed to lose. They never lost. The good guys won. That’s how it worked. That’s how it was supposed to work. Fuck. Fuck!

  Kenley’s eyelids fluttered, and Dex shook him gently.

  “No. Kenley, look at me. You can do this. We can make it out of here.” He inspected Kenley’s wounds and cursed under his breath. “You’re going to live through this. You hear me?” Dex choked on a sob.

  He’d failed.

  Failed his mission. Failed TIN. Failed Kenley.

  “I’m sorry,” Kenley whispered, tears rolling down his flushed cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I… I should have… believed…” He placed a bloodied hand to Dex’s chest. “It’s not your fault.”

  Dex barely registered the blood soaking into his white shirt. He shook his head and brought Kenley’s head to his, offering what comfort he could to Kenley in his last moments.

  “Vaughan,” Kenley whispered.

  Anguish and failure slammed into Dex’s chest, gripping his heart in an agonizing hold.

  “I’ll stop him,” Dex whispered, his face pressed into Kenley’s hair as he cradled Kenley’s head in his hand. “I won’t let him hurt anyone else. I’m so sorry,” Dex repeated the words over and over. He rocked Kenley, his vision blurred. And then Kenley went limp in his arms.