The Heirs: Fated Heirs

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Josh

I'm admittedly lost in the Ariana Donnelly haze. I want to stay here forever. I don't want to deal with Gabe Rossi or anything else. I just want to enjoy my time with her and pretend nothing in the real world exists.

But that's just not my reality.

Apparently, Aleks, Imogen, and Leo talked with Wes and Jemma last week. We've been waiting for their signal ever since. The Knights mansion is under heavy guard right now, but there is a lull in time where the guard shift changes right before dawn. It's at this point Imogen will cut the camera system, just as Owen learned how to do months ago, allowing us the ability to get onto the property undetected. Wes and Jemma will leave one of the side entrances open for us. We'll slide inside and grab Gabe.

Tonight, we avenge what he did to Rory Farrell – what he's been trying to do to us – framing Aleks, all of it.

No one said war was easy.

I've been in some sticky situations in the last several years of my life, but nothing like this. I know my father trained me and my brother well. We're ready for this. We can handle this. With Aleks in the lead, I have full confidence we'll get the job done.

The core group of the Wolves are prepping to leave in the underground garage. I make sure my gun is fully loaded, that I have my knives on me, and my Kevlar vest is tightened.

Ari watches every single movement, her eyes trained on me, a serious and dark cloud over her features. I never break eye contact as I walk over to her, pulling her into me. I brace her face between my hands.

"Hey, I'll be okay," I whisper, assuring her.

"Please...please come back to me," she whispers back.

I kiss her and pull away, giving her a reassuring smile. "I will."

Eli and Chase are staying behind, along with the girls' guards and several Wolves to manage things from here. Tate is joining us in the raid. Imogen is fussing over her.

I hear her tell Tate, "...and if you need to get out, you get out. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mom," Tate smirks, popping a bubble of gum.

Zane runs a hand through his hair, not looking pleased. I can tell he doesn't want Tate in more harm's way than necessary, but he's also the first to tell you that Tate Yenin could kick any man's ass at any time.

"Be careful, brother," Eli says, clapping a hand over my shoulder. I smirk at him before pulling him in for a hug, ruffling his hair.

"You need a fucking haircut," I tell him.

"Fuck off," Eli pushes me away jokingly. "Love you, bro."

"Love you more."

"Let's get moving," Aleks says before putting on his helmet. Leo manages to extricate himself from Sophie's clutches before putting on his own helmet. I give Ari one last look before putting on mine.

Owen climbs on his bike and howls into the night. Zane follows his lead. Yegor closes the door of the Sprinter van before climbing into the driver's seat.

We wait for Aleks' go, then we're off.

*****************************