Jax stood an inch from Casper. His mask had been torn away to let Casper see all the hatred he felt at that moment-the rage and the pending doom. Jax grabbed Casper's head and snapped his neck like a twig on the ground.
Lola turned to see that the door she'd unlocked was wide open, and the moonlight shone through in strings, lighting up the hay-filled barn. She saw Melissa standing in the door frame, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. Her fingers touched the pendant around her neck, and the stone was bright, a shine that mimicked the moon. Jax was quickly over to Casper's friend and pressed his hand into his chest. The man choked and gave a final warning when he saw in Jax's eyes that he was not getting away.
"You can't save her. He's coming, and he won't stop until he has her."
"I guess I'll die trying," Jax growled and pulled his hand back with the man's heart crushed between his fingers.
Lola's head snapped to the side when she felt a hot breath fanning her neck and a large hand covering her mouth. Ash was leaning down, assessing the bar, and gently grabbing the edge. He looked up, a faint regret eminent in his eyes, and his eyes twinged with pain.
"This will hurt," he said and pulled the bar as his hand shifted to the back of Lola's head.
He let her fall onto him. Melissa squeezed her eyes shut when Lola's screams were muffled by her head pressing against Ash's shoulder. Melissa covered her face with her hands. She couldn't bear the sight of her best friend writhing in pain, and Lola's face contorted as she grabbed Ash's shirt.
"You're okay," he said and stroked the back of her head.
The bar fell to the ground. After three bounces, it stopped, and Ash turned his head and locked eyes with Jax.
Lola looked up from Ash's shirt and felt the pain slowly dying down. Melissa was panting in fear by the door. She hadn't taken a single step inside the barn.
Lola looked around. Her eyes landed on Jax, and she pushed away from Ash and ran into his arms. Jax wrapped them tightly around her. His hand pressed on the back of her head, wanting to bring her closer.
Seeing that Lola was all right gave Melissa the courage to step inside. Her feet moved slowly, her heels clicking against the stone floors, and she looked around at the blood and bodies on the ground.
The heart next to her feet was particularly gruesome, and the champagne stirred in her stomach, trying to escape.
Melissa looked away. She felt Ash's hand on her shoulder and leaned against him.
Lola looked back, and Jax loosened his grip on her.
"How did you find me?" she asked.
Jax glanced at Melissa.
"We didn't. Melissa did," he said and clenched his jaw.
Jax was having an internal war over the fact that he hadn't been the one to find his mate. He hadn't even known she was missing until the last few minutes before Melissa came to find him.
"How?" Lola asked and looked lovingly at her best friend.
Melissa turned from Ash. The thoughts spun in her head.
"I don't know. I just sensed it, I guess," she said, and her arm fell to her side.
Lola nodded and smiled. "I'm glad you did," she said.
Ash's brows furrowed, and he stepped in front of Melissa.
"A car is driving up," he warned.
Lola's eyes shot wide open, and she grabbed Jax's hand.
"It's them. We have to go," she said and tried pulling him with her, but it was the equivalent of pulling a rock with a string, and their hands slid apart. "Come on, we have to go!" she said frantically and looked at the guys.
Melissa was already by her side, wanting to leave as soon as possible, but why weren't the guys following?
Jax and Ash looked at each other. They shared a silent message, and Jax shook his head.
"You two hide in one of the stalls. We can't leave until they're all-" he said and paused for a beat. "Disposed of," he continued.
Lola looked quizzically at them. Seeing the two vampires on the ground was more than enough for her. She did not have it in her to face another group.
"We have to leave," she said, hoping the desperation in her voice would be enough to convince them.
"They're closing in," Ash warned.
Jax sighed and grabbed Lola's hands. "Hide," he ordered.
Ash grunted. The annoyance grew, and the pending threat outside meant having a conversation now was not ideal.
He grabbed the girls and dragged them to a stall. He kicked open the door and threw them in, not very gently but quickly enough so they couldn't oppose him.
"Stay down and stay quiet. No matter what, don't you dare step a foot outside." He looked around the stall and raised a brow. "The hay-ball looks comfy, take a nap," he snapped and slammed the door shut.
Melissa's eyes grew runny, her nose was turning red, and she heaved a breath before sneezing.
Lola scanned her face and saw the blotches that started to form.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
Melissa wiggled her nose, and another sneeze was working itself up.
"Now may be a good time to-" she started before sneezing again.
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand, and her eyes reddened from the irritation.
"To tell you that I'm allergic-" she said and sneezed again. Melissa's breaths started to sound like a broken engine. "-I'm allergic to horses," she whispered quickly and sneezed three more times.
Ash leaned up, peeking down from over the stall door. "You're kidding me," he spat.
Melissa shook her head and buried her face in her arm. Lola cast a worried glance and narrowed her eyes slowly.
"Just finish this quickly so we can leave," she said.
The hay strings poked into her skin and rasped against her legs. She wrapped her arms around Melissa and held her close to try to muffle the sounds of the sneezes but also to feel her presence.
They heard a car engine being turned off outside. The sound of doors opening and shutting made Lola wince because she knew what came next. Their footsteps crushed the grass, and they entered the barn.
"Where is she?" a gruff voice asked. He was quite formidable in a white button-down and a black dress coat. He spoke slowly, with purpose and dedication.
Ash and Jax turned to each other, a confused mask placed over both their face.
"We have no idea who you're talking about," Ash said and crossed his arms over his chest.
The formidable man didn't seem amused or angered by the nonchalance shown by the two guys. He stepped forward, his polished shoes entering a small pile of blood from the body of his associate lying dead on the ground.
"Blonde with blue eyes, beautiful from what I've heard. Maybe this description helps aid in our search?" His words were eloquent and slow, showing that he was in no hurry at all. The two men behind him were silently watching from a distance.
"Sorry, haven't seen her," Jax said and held the man's gaze.
"It's a shame. I was hoping to make this business clean and quick. But if you insist on playing the fool, I will gladly tear this barn apart, panel by panel, until I find from where her heart is beating." His eyes moved over the wall and down on the stall where the girls were huddled. His lips curled up, and a quizzical look sparked in his dark eyes as he looked back at Jax.