IN TOO DEEP || Liam Dunbar [3]

TWENTY EIGHT

When she found out Chris Argent had come into town, Katherine had been more than shocked.

Firstly because no one had told her, and secondly because he was helping them deal with Gerard. They spent a short time catching up before she turned the conversation serious. You have to deal with Gerard, she'd told him quietly, or I will.

After that, things had gone quickly and plans were devised.

They were going to take out the hunter's armoury, supplied by Gerard.

Mason and herself would go to the school and bait Nolan into following him to an abandoned zoo on the other side of town to meet 'the pack'. In reality, it would just be Liam and Theo. The others — Scott, Lydia, Malia and Argent — would be waiting for the armoury to empty of guards for reinforcements in hunting. When they had their window, the four would sneak into the armoury and take out whatever they were able to.

The slight hiccup was that nothing went to plan.

Gerard had anticipated them coming at the opportunity and had every weapon removed and moved somewhere else. Scott and Malia nearly died in the process of getting out; there were motion triggers that would suck the oxygen out of the room in case of a fire. Absolutely would've without Lydia using her banshee abilities to scream the air locked door open.

In their escape, they managed to take something that could be important.

A world map with seven red dots, all spaced out across the globe.

Greenland.

America.

Brazil.

Egypt.

Russia.

China

Germany.

They had no idea what it meant. Even Chris, who had been raised by Gerard Argent, understood what it could be. They kept it safe with Chris regardless.

In the hours that followed, Katherine was surprised to see Theo drop Liam off in her driveway. Both his hands were bloody along with his shirt, and he moved with his shoulders drawn up, as if he was afraid or ashamed.

She met him at the front door.

"It didn't go well?" She guessed softly. Liam didn't have to answer; the tears he was holding back were enough. "Come on," she murmured, tugging him inside. "You go upstairs and get comfy, I'll grab snacks and we can watch movies tonight, okay?"

He sniffed once, nodded, kicked off his shoes, and started his way up the stairs.

As she promised, Katherine went to get snacks.

Automatically, she grabbed pop tarts. There were a few different kinds so she grabbed them all, along with a carton of chocolate milk, popcorn, ice cream and then some frozen raspberries. When she got upstairs, he was curled up in a ball under her bed sheets with his hands over his ears.

She immediately dropped everything and ran to him. "I almost killed him," he choked out without moving.

Shit it really didn't go well.

Okay, I'm the calm one right now and that's okay. Deep breaths.

"Who, if you don't mind me asking?"

A choked breath; "Nolan."

Well, it could've been worse—

Katherine no

"I'm going to run your back, is that okay, Liam?" A jerky nod. She moved her hand to do so. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know."