Waging War (The Hounds of Zeus MC, #1) Read online

  God, she was so screwed. The stranger was tall, well-built, and he could easily subdue her even if she wasn’t hurt. The man smiled at her as she cracked her window. “Car trouble?”

  “Yeah.” She didn’t want to admit she had no phone, but what else was she going to do? “I forgot my phone, so if I could borrow yours, that’d be great.” Kerrigan could hear the shakiness in her words, and the man didn’t miss it.

  “You’re hurt. Are you running from someone?”

  “I fell down the steps when I got home from work. I was just headed to the walk-in clinic.”

  “Young lady, the walk-in clinic is closed. Why don’t you let me drive you to my brother’s? He’s a doctor. I’ll call for a tow, and while you wait for the auto shop to open, we’ll get you taken care of. I know you don’t know me, but I wouldn’t want my daughter out here with no one to help her if she were in your position.”

  The man seemed sincere, but Kerrigan’s intuition told her not to trust him. What choice did she have? If she didn’t go willingly, he could break the window and force her out. He seemed to notice her hesitation, because he pulled out his phone, tapped a few times at the screen before putting it to his ear.

  “Yes, hello. My name is Stanley Carson. I’m on Johnson Road off Route 67, and my car is broken down. I’d like to request a tow. I have someone to take me home, so I’ll leave the keys in the ignition. Great, thank you.”

  The man – Stanley – pocketed his phone. He hadn’t mentioned her to the guy on the phone. “I didn’t tell him your name because I didn’t know it. Maybe we can rectify that?”

  “Kerrigan. But you don’t have to take me anywhere. I’ll just wait on the tow truck and ride with them. You’ve been more than helpful.”

  “Nonsense. I can tell you’re in great pain. Please let me take you to my brother.”

  It was getting harder for Kerrigan to breathe through the pain. She’d never passed out before, but she felt like she was close to doing so. If that happened, she was at his mercy anyway. At least if she went willingly, she might have a fighting chance if he tried something. Ignoring her backpack, Kerrigan grabbed her purse and unlocked the door, letting him help her out of the car. He got her seated in the sedan he was driving. While he was climbing into the driver’s side, she hissed through the pain of reaching back over her shoulder for the seatbelt. Stanley gave her a cursory glance before pulling onto the road. Kerrigan fought to keep her eyes open. Just as her eyelids fluttered, she had a sinking feeling she’d made the wrong choice.

  Again.

  Chapter Three

  War

  WARRYCK tossed another piece of wood on the fire. Being a shifter, he didn’t get cold, but there was something soothing about the flames as they danced in the dark. He returned to his spot on the ground and leaned back against the base of a large tree, stretching his long legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankle. The night was quiet save the crackle from the fire. Warryck was the only animal awake, and it didn’t suit him the way it used to. It had been too long since he’d spent any amount of downtime with another person. The closer he got to retiring, the less he appreciated the solitude. Twisting the cap off a bottle of whiskey, he took a long pull as he thought of all the people in his life who would probably love to take away the loneliness.

  Maveryck was never far from his mind. War loved his whole family, but he missed the closeness he once shared with his twin. All the plans they made when they were younger were invading his thoughts often, begging for consideration instead of letting them remain as nothing but childhood dreams. Every time they spoke on the phone, Mav reminded him how much he still wanted them to ride side by side, even if War didn’t patch into the club. Warryck knew it wasn’t that simple. If he went back home, his brothers wouldn’t stop hounding him until he took his rightful place at the table.

  Having no plans after retirement other than hitting the open road, War found himself considering joining the family’s mission in taking down every faction of the Ministry they could find. That mission was a noble one. More noble than teaching. More ambitious than riding cross-country alone. He was looking forward to traveling, but how long would that keep him satisfied? How long until the loneliness kicked in? War could always call Mav and ask him to accompany him, and he knew his twin would jump at the chance. The last time they rode together had been after he graduated college and they went after the ones responsible for Harlow’s death. Their family had no problem taking out the trash.

  The Ministry, a cult of religious fanatics, had caused the near-apocalypse some thirty years before. When the first child had successfully been cloned, they took it upon themselves to rid the world of the scientist who they claimed was playing God, all while doing the same by raining judgment on the man’s clinic as well as the world. The bombs weren’t only directed at the clinic where the doctor saw patients, but major cities all across the globe. According to the Ministry, they were doing God’s bidding. Like with Sodom and Gomorrah, the great flood, and the plagues, they were purging the world of the sinners. Setting off a cataclysmic “storm” of epic proportions, the Ministry single-handedly brought the world to its knees. It took a while, but eventually, cities began to rebuild, with most adding “New” to the city’s name, letting the world know they were doing their best to rise from the ashes.

  Before the Ministry happened, the Hounds had spent their time protecting humans from the other dregs of society. Having charters across the world allowed the Gryphons to gather their kind under the guise of the club. Not all Gryphons were Hounds, but all Hounds were Gryphons. Each one who wore the kutte and swore the oath vowed to protect humans as well as other shifters. As with all motorcycle clubs, they made their own rules, policed their own, and lived by a code. It was a lifestyle Warryck had grown up in and one he wholeheartedly agreed with. That is until Harlow convinced him otherwise. Now, twenty-four years later, he found himself thinking more about doing his part.

  Originally, the Hounds weren’t mercenaries for hire. When the Ministry caused the chaos which ended life as the world knew it, military factions were stilted from lack of funding, and the Hounds stepped in, attempting to restore some facsimile of order to the world. When word got out there was a small group willing and able to rid the world of the scum the government failed to track and take down, the Hounds began taking on paid jobs.

  If Warryck didn’t join his family, he had no idea what he would do with his time once the school year was over, but one thing was certain – he no longer cared about being a psychologist, teacher or otherwise. Sitting there, staring into the flames, War decided he would definitely reach out to his twin and ask him to come along. Having one-on-one time with Mav would allow him to figure out his next steps as well as find out more about his daughter. Lucy was now entrenched deeply within the family, and for that he was thankful. They had welcomed her with open arms, just as they would have if he had let them raise her.

  In getting pulled into the family, Lucy had been caught by the government hacking into computers. The GIA – Global Intelligence Agency – had given Lucy two options. One, come to work for them, or two, do jail time. Lucy chose to become a government agent, and now his baby girl traveled the world putting her computer skills to work for her country. Being a Gryphon, he shouldn’t worry about her. She had the animal strength to protect herself, and now she had training in hand-to-hand combat as well as weaponry. He did worry, though.

  War dug his cell phone out of his pocket and thumbed open the photo app, pulling up the last picture Mav had sent of his daughter. Seeing Lucy’s smile didn’t hurt as much as it had in the beginning. She’d grown into a beautiful young woman, and he could now look at her without seeing her mother. That pain had eased over the years, but the guilt at letting Lucius and Vera raise his daughter was still there.

  Maybe his family was right, and it was time to put the past where it belonged – in the past. Lucy being a government agent didn’t leave much time for her to visit, but War needed to m
ake an effort to get to know her better. Not the agent who traveled the world. Not the Gryphon who could take care of herself. But the daughter who looked up to Ryker as a father figure. Surprisingly, it had been his oldest brother who latched on to Lucy the most. The others loved her and doted on her, but it was the stoic man who had loss and pain of his own who always made sure Lucy’s needs came first, even though she had to remind him of his past. If Ryker could overlook what happened all those years ago and let Lucy into his heart, Warryck should be able to do the same, especially considering she was his child.

  He had no idea where Lucy was at the moment, but sending a text wouldn’t disturb her if she was sleeping.

  Warryck: Hey, Lucy. I just wanted to reach out and ask how things are going. I didn’t want to call in case you were asleep.

  Taking another long pull from the bottle, Warryck gripped his phone tightly in his other hand. It wasn’t Lucy’s fault she’d been born. Wasn’t her fault her mother had been injured so badly she died while giving birth. Wasn’t her fault he abided by Harlow’s wishes to keep Lucy away from his family and the club. She had every right to ignore him. He hadn’t immediately asked for forgiveness when he explained why he gave her up for adoption. War didn’t feel he deserved it.

  When his phone pinged, the sound echoed in the silence of the woods.

  Lucy: I’m currently in Norway, and it’s morning here.

  Warryck: On assignment or vacation?

  When Lucy set out to find him, she’d enlisted the help of a friend from college who was adept in computer manipulation. Lucy’s words, not his. Lucy learned the basics of hacking and started helping the family track down the Ministry using her new skills. The government had been alerted. What Lucy had done didn’t warrant being thrown in jail as far as he was concerned, but they saw it differently.

  Lucy: A little of both. I am taking a couple extra days to enjoy the town where I’m staying. It’s a shifter town, and it feels nice to be around those who are different like us.

  Warryck: It’s a town of Gryphons?

  Lucy: Gargoyles as far as I can tell. I’ve only seen one of them shift, but he has family here.

  Warryck: I know you can handle yourself, but please be careful. We don’t know enough about their kind.

  Lucy: I will be. Now, what are you up to? How’s the university?

  Warryck: I’m sitting in the woods enjoying spring break. I turned in my notice, so I’m contemplating my future at the moment.

  Lucy: Does your contemplation include joining the Hounds?

  Warryck answered honestly: Maybe? I do miss riding with Mav. I still have a few weeks left in the year, and I’m going to be busy tying up a lot of loose ends. After that???

  Lucy: I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I hate to cut this short, but I gotta run. Thanks for reaching out. Talk again soon?

  Warryck: Of course. Take care.

  Their conversation might not have been all that personal, but it made Warryck feel good. His daughter had answered immediately, and she even thanked him. That made him feel like shit. His own kid shouldn’t have to thank him for texting her. Maybe next time he’d actually call.

  Before the full week was out, Warryck was ready to go home. Go back to the land of the living where he wasn’t alone. That was when he knew he was truly ready for a change. Never before had he felt such a deep-seated need to be around others. Around his family. He’d spent the week trying to figure out why the sudden change. Maybe it was Lucy’s presence. War was finally ready to get to know his daughter.

  He’d never shared this spot with anyone, but now he wanted Mav there with him. When they set out on their journey, he figured this would be a good place to start. To show his twin the peaceful place he no longer felt the need to hide from others.

  Dogs barking in the distance drew Warryck’s attention away from the future and back to the present. In all the times he’d camped at that particular spot, he’d never heard dogs. Never ran into other campers or hikers anywhere close by. Gryphon senses were heightened, but unless they were in their animal form, they weren’t extraordinary. War turned up the bottle and took another pull of whiskey. He didn’t drink to numb himself. Not any longer. After Harlow passed away, War found himself drinking quite often. Now, he did it because he liked the taste of the smooth, amber liquid. It had been a long time since he felt the sadness that came with his wife’s memory. Time did heal all wounds. Well, at least it had his. He couldn’t say the same for Ryker.

  His older brother’s pain seemed to always thrum right below the surface. It made sense why he latched onto Lucy. It also made sense why Ryker had issues with War giving her up to Harlow’s family. It had been over twenty years, and War still felt the contempt and judgment from his oldest brother. Being twins, War and Mav had a closer bond than with the others. The younger brothers, Hayden and Kyllian, were closer in age, so they had a bond as well, but Ryker was the loner. He cared for all of them in his own way, but it was always at an arm’s length.

  When the barking receded then ceased altogether, War put it out of his mind, choosing to focus on the upcoming months. For the first time in as long as he could remember, War was looking forward to the future. He didn’t know what it would bring, but he was ready for a change. Ready to spend time with Mav. With all his family. And that included getting to know Lucy better. He had already asked her forgiveness, which she’d said there was nothing to forgive. She understood his reasoning. Understood the promise he’d made to her mother.

  Closing his eyes, War let the coolness of the night air wash over him. Instead of getting into his tent and sleeping, he remained seated against the tree. When he woke the next morning, his ass was numb, and his body was damp from where the dew had fallen overnight, but he felt alive. Ready for whatever the future held. Ready to go home and plan. Instead of remaining in the woods the whole week, he got to his feet, and after making sure the fire was extinguished, War packed his gear and headed home.

  The weekend passed with War looking at websites, mapping out the first leg of his trip with Maveryck, even though it was several weeks away. The thought of not answering to anyone but himself was getting his adrenaline going. He needed to channel the fire into his last few weeks of school so the kids he was teaching didn’t get a raw deal. He’d signed on to be a professor to make a difference, and he vowed he would do that, no matter how badly he was ready to be done with teaching. While he should have been going over notes for upcoming classes, he just couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the future with Mav by his side.

  Chapter Four

  Kerrigan

  KERRIGAN awoke to a woman’s voice singing what sounded like a hymn. It wasn’t one she was familiar with, but the words spoke of pearly gates and streets of gold. Definitely not her type of music. Maybe the nurse at the emergency room was religious. Turning her head toward the sound, Kerrigan opened her eyes. The singing stopped, and plain, brown eyes set deep in a nondescript face stared back at her. Kerrigan then took in her surroundings. Definitely not a hospital. The dingy, gray room was devoid of anything on the walls, including windows. The only light came from an oil lamp sitting atop a small side table.

  The pain in her ribs wasn’t as bad as she expected when she pushed herself up to a seated position. When she threw the covers back so she could stand, a firm hand tugged the material the other way. “You need your rest,” the young woman said.

  “Who are you? Where am I, and how long have I been here?” There was the barest hint of pain from her ribs, but they wouldn’t be nearly healed if she had only been there a few hours.

  “You’re somewhere safe. Brother Steven saved you when your car broke down.”

  The name Steven didn’t ring a bell. The man who’d stopped had said his name was Stanley. “Saved me? He was supposed to take me to his brother who’s a doctor. I need to go. My parents—”

  “You’re in no condition to leave. Brother Silas has tended to your wounds, and you are supposed to rest.”

&n
bsp; Kerrigan took in the woman’s appearance. The clothing she wore was as drab as the room. A beige cotton tunic topped a long-sleeved, white T-shirt. Beige cotton pants matching the top completed her ensemble. Maybe they were scrubs, and she was a nurse. Her hair was braided down her back, and she wore no makeup as far as Kerrigan could tell. “What is this place?” She tried to sit up again, and again, the woman pushed her down. “I really wish you’d stop pushing me.” Kerrigan was getting pissed, but she was in no condition to put up much of a fight. “Where am I?”

  “Like I said, somewhere safe. I’m going to tell Brother Gideon you’re awake.”

  “Wait. Who are you people?” Kerrigan had a bad feeling with all the “brothers” the woman had spoken of.

  Ignoring her, the woman stepped out of the room and shut the door behind her. When the lock clicked from the outside, Kerri shivered. She pushed herself to sitting, hissing through the pain. Okay, maybe she was worse off than she originally thought. While she waited on the woman and this Gideon character to return, Kerrigan thought back to how she’d gotten there. Dalton beating her. Her car breaking down, and the man – Stanley – insisting he take her to his brother’s. It sounded like he had lots of brothers.

  “Kerri, you are a fool,” she mumbled to herself. She didn’t know what day it was or how long she’d been out of it. There were no windows to show whether the sun was shining or if it was still night. For all she knew, they could have drugged her for weeks.