Chapter 18 ~ Definitely A Player

Maddox’s POV ~

In the two days since Henri was rescued.. his body has bounced back. The doctor is keeping him in a medically induced coma so as not to stress Amadeus. We had also ascertained Tammy was sent to spy on Venom.. Delaney has decided to let her heal completely before she questions her.

Brock and his team are due back today.. and I’m only a little concerned. Delilah wants to speak with him privately.. and I just hope she doesn’t kill him..

Henri was brought to my infirmary.. which may have been a little subterfuge on my part. If her dad is here.. she won’t leave him.

Delaney came bouncing into my office “Hey Buddy Roe! Where’s Delilah? I thought she’d be at the hospital..but nope. Did she head to the diner already?”

I shrugged “Seriously, Delaney? I have no idea what she gets up to.. After the Brock episode.. she is fairly reserved around the majority of us.. only Valerie gets all of her.”

Delaney smiled sadly “His words hurt her.. and not because they were the same words she had heard growing up.. They hurt because she cares about Brock.. and thought he cared about her.. For all that she is an extremely mature young woman.. she is still very young.”

Delilah mind linked me 🐺 I need you.. Send backup.. fourteen clicks east of Bartholomew road.. Taking heavy fire.. two men down. The link cut and I was already halfway to the door.. I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even think. I had no idea what was happening.. I only knew she needed me..

Venom and Delaney were on their bikes.. with Snake and Axe in the truck.. Hunter and I went wolf.. We shot diagonally across the forest.. while the others took Hogan Rd.. to Bartholomew..

I crested the hill. And Blue was standing over a man’s body.. Hair standing up and teeth bared.. watching the tree line. I scanned where she was looking and spotted a sniper.. using a holly bush for cover.. I signalled Hunter.. and we flanked him.

Hunter distracted him.. long enough for me to get the drop on him.. I had him on the ground.. when Venom and his ranks opened fire on the remaining gunmen.. My eyes automatically searched for Delilah.. Blue was still standing over the man she was protecting when we arrived..

The man I had tackled was waking up.. I linked Snake and had him load the man up in the truck bed. I yelled “Any other prisoners?” At the negative response.. I told everyone to sound off.. and made my way to Delilah.. who had shifted back and was holding the man’s head in her lap.. crying and telling him to wake up..

I ran over and handed her a shirt.. Only to look at the face of the man. I gasped and screamed for Delaney.. Laying in Delilah’s lap was a critically injured Brock.

Delaney assessed his condition and yelled he needs surgery NOW! And we loaded him into the back seat of the truck… Venom hauling ass back to the compound.. I could hear Delaney on the phone with Doc

“Prep OR.. I’m coming in hot with a sucking GSW to the chest.. Collapsed lung and hang plasma.. Not blood. He’s losing too much to regenerate yet.. Meet us at the emergency exit!”

It has been three hours.. Delilah hasn’t taken her eyes from the doors of the operating room. She hasn’t spoken a word. I just sat beside her and held her hand.. Every few minutes.. she squeezed my hand in gratitude.

Derek and Manic were both squatted against the wall.. opposite the OR.. just waiting.. Derek growls “What the fuck? Who the fuck attacked us? Who would dare?” Delilah leaned into me.. “I was headed home.. Had just pulled off Highway Eighty.. when I spotted Brock.. I sped up to catch him before he turned off Bartholomew.. Just as he turned off.. he was hit.. he flew a good fifty feet back.. the guy beside him. My Goddess. His head exploded from the round that hit him. I don’t know where my bike is. The man that shot him is laying close to it. So that should help find it.”

I shook my head. I just let her ramble.. she was in shock..and I figured it was easier to piece together the information she had.. instead of asking direct questions.

Delaney finally stepped out.. Exhausted and completely covered in Brock’s blood. Delilah flew into her arms.. and I wrapped mine around them both. Delaney said “The bullet shattered two ribs.. pierced his left lung.. and nicked his aorta.. it exited just below his C-5 vertebrae. The next few hours are crucial.. We need to pray.”

Delilah whispered “Let this be a lesson, you ungrateful bitch. I’m coming for what you stole from me.” I said “What? The fuck is that?!” She said “That’s what the man said.. The man in the trees. He said “Tell Delaney.. I am always watching. Then he said that other shit.. I screamed at him it wasn’t Delaney he was fucking with. It was me and mine, now.. and I would be coming.”

Manic asked “Who was he? Did he give you a name?” She shook her head no.. “But that doesn’t matter! I know what he looks like.”

Delaney said “Describe him.. Gizmo.. listen to her description and get on it.” Delilah said “Around 5’10.. black hair and brown eyes.. fairly muscular.. around forty five or so. You favor him a little bit, Maddox.”

I yanked out my phone.. scrolling through pictures.. I held it up to her.. and asked “Is this him?” Delilah nodded and told them “That’s him. Who is he?” I snarled “Marcus Walters. And he came after our people because he wants me.”

Delaney said “He came after us because he wants me dead.” Delilah growled “The fuck you say! He couldn’t get through me once. I want him to try again! Who in the fuck does this asshole think he is?” I whispered “My father..”

Venom snarled “You are mine.. boy! Not Walters! And I will make sure that mother fucker understands that!”

I felt my heart swell with love for that man.. He essentially taught me to be a man.. to be who I am.. He and Delaney gave me a life.. a loving home.. and made me feel safe. He’s right! I am Maddox Quinn! And Marcus Walters is nothing to me!

Delilah went to sit with her dad.. and I sat with Brock.. Derek and Manic wouldn’t leave him.. so I let them know I had a few things to take care of.. and I would check back in soon.

Delaney and Venom were already in the conference room with Gizmo.. when Hunter and I walked in.. Delaney looked at me..with red rimmed eyes “I’m sorry, Buddy Roe. I knew he would come.. but I never once suspected he would go after our people..”

Shaking my head “Don’t you dare! This is on him! We place blame where it belongs! We never apologize for the actions of others.. especially homicidal maniacs. Where are we on this? Anything?”

Venom said “Where were they staying? I want to know how the fuck they flew under our radar.. and for how long?” Snake said “We will figure it out.. There’s a lot on our plates right now. The Vikings.. Unger and the Alphas.. now Walters? That’s a shit ton to deal with.”

I agreed “He’s right.. and we need to start connecting the dots. The Vikings are done.. Cabot and Dylan are in it up to their eyeballs.. and somehow, Unger is involved with them. At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me, if Walters is running the show.”

Venom said “He’s not running it.. but he’s definitely a player.