Ray grinned, his teeth gleaming in the shadows. “Sure, an accident I engineered. A little shot of fentanyl added to those stupid quit smoking patches he wore and he was probably having a grand ol’ time behind the wheel. Guess who got the last laugh, huh?”
The fucker was dead. Enraged, Scott charged. The phone he’d been holding went flying, sending a crazy beacon of light into the air. As he connected with Ray’s shoulder a spasm of pain ricocheted through his arm, and black dots leapt before his eyes. The gun hit the path and bounced.
Tracy screamed.
And then he was involved in a life and death struggle and there was no time for anything else. Ray was in better shape than he looked, the blows he landed connecting with Scott’s ribs and fractured arm. But Scott had vengeance on his side, the pain numbed by his need to avenge his family.
They traded shots until both were gasping for breath, circling each other like a couple of warriors. Ray lurched for the gun at their feet, and Scott swore, too far back to stop him from reaching it first.
He turned and raced toward Tracy and the kid, “Run, he’s got a gun.”
A shot rang out, narrowly missing them as it kicked up rocks near their feet. Tracy picked up the boy and jumped off the path, running helter-skelter through the trees. They got about a quarter mile back in the bush when her foot twisted and she went down hard, rolling to protect Dustin. Scott followed, manhandled them up, and continued moving. There was no time to make sure they were okay, they needed to stay alive first.
Another shot blasted through the forest, this time accompanied by a searing burn to his side. Shit, he’d been hit.
Things got real after that.
“You keep running. Stay to the shadows,” he wheezed. “I’m going to circle back and try to take him down.”
“No,” Tracy hissed. “It’s too dangerous. Scott, please.”
He squeezed her arm, frustrated there wasn’t more he could do to keep them safe. “You’ll be okay, I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He turned her into his arms, sucking back a harsh gasp at the resulting pain.
“I love you, Tracy.” He dropped his mouth to hers and tasted tears. “Don’t cry, honey. We’re going to make it out of here. Have faith.”
A crashing noise in the bush off to their left told him he was out of time.
“Go.” He pushed them away from the noise and faded into the undergrowth, stopping only long enough to make sure they were on the move, then he turned and embraced the night, becoming predator instead of prey.
* * *
Lucas gasped and hunched over, his side on fire. What the…? He’d been sitting on the bank of the creek wondering what he was supposed to do next now that he’d helped to save Mike’s kid when the pain hit him. The moment he heard the report of gunfire he was on his feet. He went airborne and tried to get a handle on where the sound originated, but couldn’t hear over the pounding of his heart. Scott was in danger; he knew it in the depths of his soul.
He raced over the dark landscape, a shadowy form, blending with the forest. At first there was nothing, then he caught a glimpse of white and ducked, coming in low over the boy and the woman. She seemed to have been injured, her body listing sideways as she held onto the child. They were running through the dense undergrowth of the forest, fear turning their faces a ghostly white.
Lucas landed and waited for whatever was chasing them to appear. Suddenly, a man broke cover so close to the boy that the woman shrieked. She threw up her arms to attack, but was no match for the man. He threw a sharp jab, catching her near the ear and she went down. Then he grabbed the kid and started to haul him through the bush.
Lucas reached out to stop him but his hand went right through the guy’s arm. He couldn’t believe there was nothing he could do to stop him. What was the use of being an angel if he couldn’t help anyone?
“Humans have the freedom to choose the path they will take,” the Lord said.
Lucas clenched his fists. “The kid isn’t being given a choice,” he growled.
“You may only shed light, my son,” the Lord replied.
A light. What was a light going to do?
Scott appeared out of the surrounding darkness, his face grim. Lucas was so happy to see his buddy that it took a moment to realize he’d placed himself directly in the line of fire. The man stood his ground, a gun aimed at Scott’s head, and his arm wrapped around the kid’s neck.
Desperate to do something, Lucas flew forward, landing between the two men. Scott’s eyes widened and Lucas grinned. “Happy to see me, buddy?”
“You’re real. I thought it was all a dream,” Scott whispered.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” the man snarled, and that’s when Lucas got another shock. The man holding a gun on his best bud was none other than Ray Farrell. Talk about having the wool pulled over your eyes. Ray had been like a father to them. What the hell was going on?
“I’ll explain later,” Scott said, as though he’d heard the question. “Right now, I could use a hand taking care of this piece of shit.”
“Shut up,” Ray screeched, spittle flying out of his mouth. His hold on the kid tightened. “Shut up or I’m going to put a bullet between your eyes, money or no goddamn money.”
Lucas had heard enough. His wings outstretched, he delved into the mind of his old agent, searching for a way to end this insanity. Instead, he saw the reason for his immortality and Mike’s loss of a family. Sweet Jesus, this man had destroyed so many lives in search of the almighty dollar. The urge to squeeze his brain like a pimple was overwhelming.
“Do this and you are no better than him whom you seek to punish,” the Lord warned.
The vengeance filling his soul demanded restitution, deafening him to God’s word. Lucas applied more pressure and Ray groaned in agony. The hand holding the gun trembled and his finger pressed the trigger. The gun went off. The bullet slid right through Lucas’ spirit body barely causing a ripple.
He let himself be seen and grinned the devil’s smile at Ray’s look of horror.
A pained grunt from Scott wiped the smirk from his lips. Lucas swung around in time to see his friend fall to the ground grasping his thigh.
His rage turned the heavens black.
“Beware, my child, for he knows not what he’s done,” the Lord counseled.
He swore and tightened his grip on Ray’s brain, torturing in the only way he knew how.
“Lucas, stop,” Scott pleaded, and finally the words sank in.
The fury slowly drained, leaving Lucas empty.
He lifted his hands and placed them on Ray’s shoulders. Then he closed his eyes and prayed for his enemy.
Chapter 30
Tracy crawled from the ditch and froze, not believing what her blurry eyes were seeing. She blinked hard and tried to focus on the scene playing out in front of her. Scott stood a few feet away facing the man who’d chased them through the woods. A gun was pointed at his head and Dustin dangled from under the man’s arm. The poor kid was on his toes, stretched as if on a rack, his chubby fingers clawing at the forearm around his neck. Scott’s phone lay on the side of the trail, the flashlight casting an eerie glow over the landscape. Trees rocked back and forth as though bearing witness to the unfolding events, and the wind and rain seemed to decide now was a good time to kick up the melodrama.
Her head felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it, but even that wasn’t enough to explain what appeared to be the corporeal image of Lucas Carmichael, complete with a magnificent set of pigeon-gray wings, standing between the two men. A radiance emanated from the form, the rays shooting toward the heavens. Angry words she couldn’t make out for the ringing in her ears were spoken, then suddenly the gun went off in an explosion of smoke and light. Scott dropped, blood soaking his jeans.
Tracy screamed again, her heart competing with the reverberations of the blast.
“Scott,” she cried. “Oh my God, Scott.”
She struggled to her feet and hobbled to his
side, the sobs tearing her chest. The bullet had ripped through the meaty part of his thigh. The sulfur scent of the gunshot blending with the metallic odor of fresh blood turning her stomach inside out. Her teeth clattered and her hands trembled so hard she was scared she’d add to his pain, but she had to stanch the wound so she buckled down and did what needed to be done.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he gasped. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Never mind me,” she answered. “You need help.”
He lay on the gravel, the cords in his neck pulled taut with agony. She glanced over her shoulder at the wings of the angel and tugged her shirt over her head. Shivering in her bra, she applied it to the injury and cringed at Scott’s deep moan of agony, tears making it hard to see.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” she whispered.
“Is he going to make it?” Lucas asked, his voice startling her with its normalcy.
She looked up into a set of worried eyes and acknowledged the bond between the two men was strong. “He needs proper medical care. I’m no doctor.”
Lucas gave a sharp nod, then returned his attention to the man he called Ray.
“Let the boy go, he’s not part of what is between us.”
Ray’s voice squeaked, and Tracy almost felt sorry for the guy. Except that he’d shot the man she loved and deserved whatever the angel had in store for him.
“I let him go, then what? You going to let me go?” he whined.
“What do you think?” Lucas drawled. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t just come to us if you needed help. We were your friends.”
The past tense didn’t go unnoticed. Ray snorted. “Friends. I did come to you, you son-of-a-bitch, and you laughed in my face. Thought it was some huge joke. I needed you, man, and you weren’t there,” he mumbled. “You weren’t there.”
Lucas’ hands turned white on the other man’s shoulders. “So you had me killed? All for the sake of some money? And what about the people I hit? Did you stop for one selfish second and give them a thought, you asshole?”
Dustin cried out and Tracy whirled just in time to see Ray go flying backward as though propelled from a cannon.
She opened her arms and Dustin ran into them, burying his head into her shoulder. Poor kid, he’d been through so much. They all had.
Lucas followed after Ray and stood over his crumpled body. “Get up, you bastard. Get up and accept your fate.”
Ray crab-walked backward, fear turning his face into a grotesque mask. “Leave me alone, you monster.”
Lucas’ chuckle was harsh and vindictive. His wings arched. “Takes one to know one, old friend.” He held out his hand. “C’mon, get up.”
Dustin squirmed his way loose and stared in awe at the angel. “Do you know my daddy?” he asked, his voice husky from Ray’s abuse.
Lucas froze. His wings stretched and quivered, seeming to have a life of their own. The dark feathers picked up a light from within, touched with moon-dust at the tips. It was the most beautiful thing Tracy had ever seen.
“Lucas,” Scott begged. “Let him be. He’s not worth it.”
He shifted, trying to sit up, and Tracy hurried to help, scooting to the side and bracing him with her shoulder. His weight bore her forward and she could feel the dampness of blood under her fingers from his side. He needed help, and he needed it soon.
“Dustin, honey, bring me that cell phone, will you please?”
“Stay right there, kid. You’re not going anywhere.” Ray had risen behind Lucas and held the gun pointed at the boy.
Lucas spun, knocking the gun from Ray’s hand in an impressive kick that sent the weapon flying into the brush.
“You’re starting to piss me off,” he growled, and grabbed him by the collar, forcing Ray to his knees. “If I were you, I’d start praying. They don’t take kindly to child abusers where you’re going.”
He looked at Scott and grinned. Tracy could see the boys they had been in that expression. Trouble, pure trouble.
“Okay kid, you can do like the pretty lady asked now. I got this piece of sh… dirt, under control,” he said.
Dustin ran over to the fading light of the phone and brought it back to Tracy. She glanced at Lucas, then dialed emergency.
“We need help. A man’s been shot.”
“Take it easy, ma’am,” the dispatcher soothed. “Can you tell me your name and where you are located? We’ll have someone there soon to help.”
It only took a few moments, but it felt like a lifetime. Tracy explained the details as best she could, all the while keeping a worried eye on Scott’s pasty face. When she got off the line, she leaned over and placed her lips to his, and was relieved when they softened and moved against hers.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His eyes crinkled at the edge and he smiled. “About damn time.”
Chapter 31
Lucas frowned at Ray’s prone body. “Why’d you do it, Ray?” He stared down at the shell of a man he’d known for half his life, when the truth was, he hadn’t known him at all.
Ray sat with his back to the trunk of a slender spruce, his knees bent and hands dangling between them. His attention remained focused on Scott and his woman. He shook his head as they kissed.
“I didn’t have a choice.” He glanced up and then away. “I’d gotten in with the wrong group of… friends, and they played hardball. It was either get them their money, or kiss my ass goodbye.”
“So you decided, what? Pick one of us off and the other would fold?” Lucas said conversationally, while inside the volcano bubbled.
“No,” Ray barked. “It wasn’t like that. I thought I could just teach you a lesson. I didn’t expect you to go and die on me.” He dropped his legs, and then shifted them again, agitated.
“And what about the woman?” Lucas asked.
Ray’s gaze flashed fearfully to Scott and his girl. “What woman?”
Lucas folded his arms and stared.
Ray looked up belligerently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” Lucas crooked his brow. “’Cus I just read your mind. Are you sure you don’t want to change your story? Restitution begins with the truth, my friend.”
“Quit your preachin’, it’s too late to change what I’ve done.”
Ray had made some serious mistakes, there was no denying that. Lucas had been shocked by what happened in his case, but horrified when he saw the replay of Ray deliberately hurting that dog, then killing the homeless man, and finally the ME working Lucas and Natalya’s death. What happened to the kind and generous person they’d met all those years ago?
“I don’t know what the future holds in store for you, but if you want any kind of chance at redeeming your soul, you need to make reparation.”
He decided to let the other man stew it over for a while. “Stay put. I’m going to check on Scott. You better hope to hell he’s going to be okay, or nothing’s going to save your ass.”
Turning away, Lucas stopped to grab the gun and remove temptation, then he started toward Scott but hesitated when he saw the kid shivering and staring into the forest.
“You okay?” He wasn’t comfortable around kids in the first place, and with this one, it was even harder.
“Yeah,” he said, his attention fixed into the distance.
Okay, that went well.
Lucas took a couple steps, swore under his breath, and turned back. Practice what you preach, asshole.
“I do know your dad,” he blurted when Dustin looked at him. “You asked me that earlier and I never answered.”
Dustin’s eyes lit up and then turned angry. “Where is he? Why isn’t he here? Doesn’t he even care about us anymore?” His voice climbed, little chest heaving like a set of bellows. Tears formed on the ends of his lashes and dripped down his face.
Lucas felt like the slime on the bottom of a pond. “Of course he cares. More than anything.”
He crouched down and met the boy’
s distraught gaze. “Your dad misses you so bad. If he knew you were here right now, nothing could keep him away.”
He squeezed the child’s arm and stood. “Running away won’t solve your problems, kid. Your dad needs you to be a big boy and take care of your family now.” He hesitated a moment, not sure what else he could say to help this family he’d wronged so badly. “Can you do that?”
Dustin looked down at his feet, then squared his shoulders and slowly nodded. “Yes, sir.” He looked up with tear-bright eyes. “Can you tell my dad I love him?”
It was Lucas’ turn to glance away. He swallowed the baseball in his throat and dipped his chin. “Yeah, kid. I’ll do that.”
They both stared into the forest for a moment, then Lucas clapped him lightly on the back, checked to make sure Ray was where he’d left him, and continued on to Scott.
“How you holding up?” He asked, and noticed the clasped hands of his friend and the woman doc.
Scott grinned, though it came off as more of a grimace as he shifted his leg to a more comfortable position. “Well, you know. A day in the park.” He laughed, then held his side from the resulting pain.
Lucas didn’t like the obvious signs of shock, but had to admit the woman had done a good job of patching him up. “Help should be here soon.” He turned his gaze on the doc. “I’m going to have to disappear.” He held out the gun, butt first. “Can you handle one of these?”
She looked at it like it was a snake, then reached out with trembling, bloodstained fingers and wrapped her hand around the handle. Lucas let go and she almost dropped it, but then she recovered and set it in her lap, her gaze fearful but determined. Hell of a woman.
He refocused on Scott, hating the fact there wasn’t more he could do. “I won’t be far. You need me, call. You got that?”
Scott looked as though there were things he wanted to say. He glanced at the others and nodded. “I miss you, bro.”
Aw, shit.
Lucas coughed to cover his emotions, his chest one gigantic ache, and unfolded his wings.
The Guardian (Mended Souls Book 1) Page 14
