Echoes at Dawn

by Maya Banks

Page 9

 

  “I thought I told you to lie down. I don’t want you to make your injuries worse. ”

  “I’ll be fine,” she said quietly.

  “How is your breathing?”

  “Good,” she huffed out. She was still a little short of breath, but nothing that was going to kill her. She’d already survived unimaginable events.

  The light went off as all the doors closed and the van pulled away. She and Rio rocked and swayed as they went over a series of bumps.

  “Is your house far?” she asked.

  “Up the river,” he said shortly. “It’s a short drive to where we’ll put in. ”

  “The river?”

  “Yeah, we’ll take a boat the rest of the way. ”

  She was gripped by a sudden chill and she wrapped her arms around her waist, ignoring the slight protest offered by the arm she’d broken.

  She couldn’t shake her unease. So far Rio had proven to her that he was a man of his word. But the farther he took her from civilization and all she knew, the more her panic increased.

  She’d learned the hard way that she could trust no one. Her entire life had been spent on the run, moving from town to town, house to house, always shrouded in secrecy. And then when her parents had been murdered, she and Shea had split up and running had become their reality.

  Had she traded one hell for an n Tellereother? How did she know Rio wasn’t working for people who wanted to cash in on her gift just as the others had? Was he even now taking her to some isolated laboratory, hidden so deeply that she’d never be found?

  She began to shake, and she hunched forward, pulling her knees to her chest and ignoring the pain the movement caused.

  “Grace?”

  She ignored the question in his voice and laid her forehead on the tops of her knees, sucking in breaths.

  His hand slid through her hair, gentle and comforting. “Hey, what’s going on? You’re shaking like a leaf. ”

  She lifted her head and stared through the darkness. “I’m scared. ”

  He scooted closer until his leg touched her feet and she could feel his warmth wrapping around her. “Of?”

  She took another breath and opened herself to him, hoping that she’d get something from him, some hint of his true intentions or at least if he was genuine or not. He’d claimed that he’d heard her, mentally, and she remembered his voice in her head but she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t imagined it.

  “Of you. Them. All of this. I’m scared that I’ve traded one kind of hell for another. Same prison. Same horror. Just different jailors. ”

  At first she thought she’d angered him. Then she assumed he’d rush to reassure her. But he did nothing. For a long moment he was silent.

  “You’re smart to be wary,” he finally said. His statement took her by surprise. She hadn’t expected this. “You’ve been through a lot. There’s nothing I can say that’s going to make you think any differently. You’re just going to have to see for yourself and make up your own mind whether you trust me. ”

  He wasn’t saying anything she didn’t already know, but it seemed different coming from him. And she supposed it didn’t matter to him one way or another whether she trusted him or not. She assumed he was getting paid to do this and not acting out of the goodness of his heart. For that matter, she wasn’t entirely certain what he was, who he was or what his connection to her sister was.

  She opened her mouth, intending to get clarification on just that, when the van ground to a halt.

  Seconds later, the back opened and Diego stood there motioning for them to get down. Rio went first and she crawled after him. When she reached the edge, he and Diego both reached to lift her down.

  She landed softly on her feet.

  “Can you make it?” Rio asked.

  “Yeah. ”

  She stared at her surroundings and saw the inky black water of a river that snaked through the landscape. The moon was high overhead but covered by a thin layer of clouds, moving rapidly through the sky.

  “Let’s go,” Rio murmured, taking her arm.

  He led her to the water’s edge and into an aluminum boat with an outboard motor operated by a hand-held lever. She stepped down and wobbled when the boat swayed. Terrence, who was already in the boat, quickly steadied her and held on to her hand while she made her way toward the front.

  Diego motioned for her to take the bench directly in the middle. Rio came to sit beside her. Diego and Terrence took the front while Alton and Browning settled in the back. Alton took position to pilot the boat and a moment later they eased away from the bank and slipped downriver.

  It was eerie traveling through the dark waters. The only light was from the sliver of moon visible through the hazy cloud cover. Unease gripped her and she warily stared swarout of t from side to side but she couldn’t even see the shoreline. Only the dim shape of passing trees and what looked to be thick, junglelike terrain.

  Fear knotted in her throat. Heavy silence was thick like fog. Only the gentle purr of the motor as they pushed farther down the river echoed through the still night.

  Her heart thudded and adrenaline surged through her veins when she saw a burst of light to her right. She whipped around to see a flaming torch make two circles in the dark before quickly being extinguished. Rio uttered what sounded like an animal call, though she sure as hell didn’t know what kind of animal made such a sound and she wasn’t in any hurry to find out.

  There was an answering call from the shore and then the sound faded as they continued on their way.

  “What was that?” she whispered.

  “Shhh,” Rio said. “Not now. Remain quiet. ”

  Chastened, she hunkered down and stared straight ahead. This whole scene was something straight out of a horror movie or some terrible remake of Anaconda or something. She half expected something to explode out of the water and rip their boat to shreds then swallow them all whole.

  She hated the dark. Hated being scared shitless and hated the thought of what was in the water below them.

  She only hoped that wherever the hell they were going, they’d get there soon.

  Moments later, her prayers were answered when the boat turned and glided into a dark inlet off the main stretch of the river. Alton beached the boat, and Diego and Terrence quickly hopped out to pull it farther onto the shore.

  “Let’s go,” Rio said shortly.

  He urged her forward and Diego was waiting to lift her out of the front. Rio came next, followed by Alton and Browning.

  She paused a moment to gather her bearings and stop the endless shaking of her knees and legs. Rio bumped into her then put his hand on her shoulder to steady her.

  “It’s not far,” he said quietly. “Just a hike through the jungle about a quarter mile. I didn’t want to hit the inlet closest to the house. We’ll circle around back and go in through one of the escape routes. ”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like you’ve got a place like my parents did. ”

  “You could say that. I don’t much believe in paranoia. In my line of work, expecting the worst saves your ass. ”

  She couldn’t argue with that.

  He urged her forward once more, but he kept his hand at her elbow, while Terrence and Diego led the way. Every once in a while they’d stop and hold back a tangle of vines and branches so Grace could pass and then they resumed their journey through the dark. It was so dark, she could barely make out Terrence’s hulking figure in front of her.

  A few minutes later, they stopped and Terrence and Diego bent, pulled aside what appeared to be camouflage netting and then pulled open a wooden door from the ground. It reminded Grace of a storm cellar, only this was flush to the ground and not readily visible.

  Diego dropped down and Terrence stood guard at the entrance, motioning for the others to precede him. Rio held on to Grace’s hand until she found her footing and Diego was waiting, his hands around her legs as she descended. />
  The smell of dirt and mud was heavy. The ceiling was low and she had to duck, even at her height, so she didn’t bump her head. This was no high-tech escape tunnel like her father had constructed. It was a tunnel carved into the earth, with no lighting, no support.

  She ran her hand along the side of the tunnel and felt snned i dirt and a tangle of roots.

  Then Rio flipped on a flashlight, blinding her momentarily. He handed it ahead to Diego, who shined it down the tunnel to light their way. Rio then moved in front of Grace to follow Diego, but he reached back to take her hand.

  She found comfort in the gesture as he pulled her along behind him. He held her hand tightly, his fingers laced with hers as they plunged ahead.

  They came to a halt a few minutes later and Rio pushed in front of Diego and entered a code into the electronic keypad. The barricade that looked like a solid wall of steel suddenly parted.

  Once again, Rio reached back for Grace’s hand and pulled her inside the door. They were in what looked like an ordinary mudroom.

  “Shoes off,” Rio said, a slight quirk at the corner of his mouth. “I’m kind of picky about getting my floors dirty. ”

  She wasn’t entirely certain he was serious until the others started shucking their boots. She toed off her worn sneakers and then he unlocked yet another door.

  This time, when they entered, it was into a spacious room that looked precisely like a normal residence. It was a living room, with couches, a coffee table, and a huge fireplace, although she noticed it wasn’t a traditional wood-burning hearth. It looked like a gas log.

  There was a multitude of comfortable-looking leather chairs and a huge big-screen TV mounted above the fireplace. It looked like a veritable man cave. The perfect bachelor’

  s den.

  Rio flipped a series of switches, and more lights came on until Grace was blinking rapidly to adjust.

  “Welcome to my home,” he said in a somber tone. He extended his arm with a slight flourish. “Mi casa es su casa. ”

  CHAPTER 12

  SAM Kelly stood on the deck overlooking an expanse of Kentucky Lake, gripping the railing as he leaned forward. He was waiting for Resnick to call him back, and he found he had little patience to play a waiting game.

  When it came to his family and the members of his KGI teams, he was fiercely protective. With Rio’s cryptic call, he now knew that both were in danger and they all had to be careful of every step.

  Already he’d sent Nathan and Shea away. Shea was still vulnerable and fragile, though she was improving with each day. Sam worried, though, that this would set her progress back. Hers and Nathan’s both.

  He sighed wearily. Sometimes the weight of so much worry wore him down. It was a burden shared by his brothers, but it didn’t make it any easier for Sam to bear.

  The door leading out to the deck slid open. Light footsteps and then a warm, soothing hand slid over his back. Sophie. His wife. The mother of his child. How could it be possible that she meant more to him with each passing day?

  He turned, seeking the comfort of the hug he knew was coming. And sure enough, her slim arms wrapped around his waist and she went into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

  He tucked her head underneath his chin and savored the sweet scent of her hair. Of her. Nothing ever felt as right as Sophie did in his arms.

  She pulled away and tilted her chin up so she stared into his eyes. “What are you out here fretting over?”

  His mouth formed a grim line. “I hate this, Soph. I hate it all. I wonder sometimes if this family will ever find true peace. When does it end?”

  She reached up to touch his jaw, tracing a line with her fingers before stopping at his chin. “I know you’re worried about Nathan and Shea and now R vcaped Wiio and not knowing where he is. But Nathan will be fine. Joe and Swanny are with him. ”

  He caught her hand and kissed the soft skin of her palm. “I love you, you know. ”

  She smiled. “I do know. I hate to see you like this. Always taking on the burden of responsibility by yourself. You have so many others willing to share it with you. Garrett. Donovan. Even Ethan. Your parents. We’re a team, you know? We’re family. And family supports family. ”

  He trapped her in his arms and hung his arms loosely around her waist. Then he leaned in to kiss her. “How did you get so damn smart, Mrs. Kelly?”

  Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “I’ve been told ever since I came back into your life what family is for and what it’s all about. Maybe it’s time I started dishing back what I’ve been served. ”

  He lowered his head until their foreheads touched. “You’re a pretty special woman, Sophie. My woman. My wife. My love. I don’t want you to ever forget that. ”

  “And you’re mine, Sam Kelly. You damn well better never forget that fact, mister. ”

  He chuckled and then kissed her again. He was about to suggest they go inside and find some extracurricular activities to indulge in when the sat phone beeped an incoming transmission.

  He grimaced. “I have to take this. I’ve been expecting a call from Resnick. I need to tell him what all Rio had to say. ”