Reminiscence {Book Two of the Vengeance Trilogy}

Chapter Eighteen: Asking For Help

Walking down into the caverns in silence was brutal, and it didn't help that Bridget was limping like she was. She could barely walk with her broken ankle, but Tom kept pushing forward and every so often he would shout at her to keep moving. He and I walked side by side and having him so close to me made me want to fight him for the stunt he pulled back in the church. Not only that, but he left Peter alone, knowing that no one would want to help him. Vampires typically were afraid of emotes and wanted to stay as far away from them as possible. Plus, Peter had spoken out against Tom in front of everyone. Nothing good typically followed those who protested against their alpha.

"Alright, so here's the plan—" Tom started to say, but I couldn't stop myself before interrupting him.

"There's a plan?" I asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't there be a plan?" he replied, stopping next to me, staring at me with an arched eyebrow. The two vampires paused with us until Tom gave them a nod and kept leading Bridget down the tunnels.

"Based on what I saw back there, I assumed you were making shit up as you went along," I said, folding my arms across my chest. I tried to keep the sharpness off of my voice, but I knew that if the conversation went on any longer, it would be harder for me to keep my cool.

"Okay, so I went a bit over the top, but I had the whole pack watching me. I did what I had to do, Tom told me and before I could put any thought into my words, I spoke up.

"What you had to do? Are you kidding me? You threatened to kill someone to send a message all because you're impatient. You hurt Peter to the point where he couldn't move. You didn't do what you had to do. What you pulled up there was your choice," I said. Regretting the things I said because I didn't think beforehand was nothing new for me. Still, I would always tell myself that it wouldn't happen again, even though it always managed to happen.

"Unless you want to be the next person I make an example out of, I suggest that you listen rather than try to criticize me," Tom growled, leaning in closer and giving me a light shove in the shoulder. Before my temper had the chance to get the best of me, I took a deep breath. I wanted to believe that his threats were empty, but I had an ugly feeling in my gut that he wouldn't think twice if I kept pushing.

"Right, you were saying about this plan?" I asked as Tom's crimson eyes stared me down with a threatening glare. It reminded me why he had so many people following him. It wasn't exactly his warm, inviting smile, that's for sure.

"Again, I got a bit ahead of myself back there, but what I'm thinking is we try to get her to tell us a thing or two about where Elliot is and what he's planning to do next."

"And then?"

"We'll see how I feel by then," Tom muttered, which was worrying to say the least. The option to kill Bridget was still on the table. I wasn't sure how to do it, but I had to somehow convince Tom that she was more valuable alive rather than dead. That, and Emmet would kill me despite whether he had permission from Elliot or not.

Danny, you can't let him kill me, I heard Bridget's voice echo in my head as we continued to make our way through the caverns.

Really? I thought you were perfectly alright with dying today. Especially since you came snooping around here, I said and I was met with unadulterated silence. I'm not going to let him kill you, I promise.

Okay, so what's your plan? she asked.

I'll have you know that I have a plan that's so great, I can't even tell you about it.

Oh my god, you have nothing. Bridget's tone wasn't so much worried as it was annoyed. I couldn't help but feel the corners of my lips turn upwards, that is, until I remembered what was going on. I had to keep her alive.