“Done,” she said, tossing her head, blonde hair flipping over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Shawn stared around, marveling at the smallest things that were now signs that the world stood still. Three birds were frozen mid-flight above as they entered the tree line. A butterfly, beautiful now that it could be seen clearly with its wings horizontal to the ground, hovered nearby. Nothing moved. Nothing made a sound. Except the seven of them.
“Let’s go.” Duncan surged forward, and the rest fell in behind him, with Isaac and Shawn bringing up the rear.
“Well, this isn’t horrifying, is it?” Isaac smiled at him from his left side. Shawn chuckled but didn’t reply.
“Pretty sure the moment he sees me, he’ll find a way to kill me,” the other man continued. He kept his eyes forward, not bothering to glance around.
“Why? You said he’s your uncle. Do people in...uh...your line of work not care about family?”
Isaac snorted. “Of course we do. It’s just as important as it is to others. That’s the issue.” He glanced at Shawn. “Look, I...I know you don’t care for me, but I want you to know that this means a lot to us, stopping Jaxon. Not just to save my own skin, and Emma’s, but you, too. Everyone here.”
Shawn took a moment to consider his words before replying. He glanced up at the rest of the group ahead of them, barely out of earshot as they jogged.
“It isn’t you as a person,” he said finally. “Although the criminal past puts me on edge still. That, and this whole situation we’re in is kind of, well, awful. We’ve been thrown together because of horrible events that, if they hadn’t happened, would mean I’d still be hunting you down. And Emma, too. Just for being associated with Vance.” He shrugged using his shoulders and hands together. “Just the way it was back then.”
Isaac nodded, his expression thoughtful instead of offended. They rounded a bend to see a small rectangular building in the distance. The group picked up their pace as one.
“Take this, for example.” Shawn gestured at the location they closed in on. “How the hell do we know what you’re taking us into is really what you say it is? We don’t. Aaron can’t hear anyone who’s frozen. Meaning we could be running into a trap. That lack of trust is keeping us all on our toes, not just me.”
“I get it.” Isaac’s breath was coming out a bit faster, puffing out of his mouth now. “I just wanted you to know. We’re with you until the end, whatever the end may be.”
Shawn smiled at him, a full grin that lifted his nerves, even just for a moment.
Slowing as they reached the compound, he noticed three frozen armed guards standing in a semicircle about five yards away from the only door in the building. The group passed them and approached the bunker’s entrance.
“All right...” Duncan panted, his hands on his knees. “Release it. Let’s get in there.”
Mari frowned. “You should catch your breath first. I can hold a little longer.”
He shook his head, waving a hand. “I’ll be fine.”
She hesitated, staring out into the woods that surrounded them.
Shawn did the same, suddenly unable to shake the feeling that the muzzles of sniper rifles were somehow aimed right at them and that he’d feel his body torn apart by gunfire the moment she released her hold on time. He inhaled slowly, uneasy. “Wait...”
—-
Charlie watched the Synths approach Vance’s bunker through high-powered binoculars, a hunger in his heart.
There she is. She’s right there.
Emma was jumping out of a white van on the side of the road, tucking her brown hair behind both ears. Her lips moved as she said something to Duncan, who responded, turning his back on Charlie.
My plan didn’t work. They didn’t stay in Salt Lake, dammit. He hesitated, staring at the group, thinking hard. Emma. I want nothing more than Emma. Right now. Ditch Chelsea and take my real prize. The urge was overpowering, and he lowered the binoculars, rubbing his eyes.
“What? What do you see?” Chelsea was close to him, close enough for him to smell her sweat. In his frustration, he nearly whirled and shoved her off the roof of the dilapidated building they hid on. They were a little less than a mile away from where the van was parked, from where Chelsea said the entrance to Vance’s bunker was.
“The Synths. They’re here.”
“What? Why the hell would they come here?”
“I have no idea. Why would Emma return? It’s obvious they’re here by their own will. Unless...unless she’s used her power on them all? Convinced them to turn themselves into Vance?”
Chelsea made a face. “She didn’t even know about her power up until she ran.”
He nodded slowly, recalling the single run-in he’d had with the Evo he craved. “I don’t think she knew about it when I ran into her outside of Boston. But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t learned about it since. Figured out how to use it.”
“True, but...still. She ran. If she was loyal to my boss, why disappear?”
“Unless that was her mission all along. To seem as if she betrayed Vance only to gain the trust of the others first.”
They knelt in silence for a moment.
“You said Jaxon wants Vance.” Chelsea rocked back on her heels, black hair framing her face. “What if she’s teamed up with the Synths? What if they’re there to kill Vance instead?”
“And why would they do that?”
She shrugged. “If Emma had a big enough grudge against him, pretty sure she’d try. And now she has a team of superheroes to help do the job.”
Adrenaline peppered Charlie’s insides. Shit. What if she’s right? When I bumped into Aaron in Boston I did hear that Vance was the one who ruined Shawn’s life, but...but I heard nothing about plans to take the Russian out.
“I say we go in now. Roast them.”
Charlie looked through the binoculars again just as a wave of déjà vu hit him. The group had vanished. Glancing at his watch, he let out a short laugh. “And Mari to the rescue.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Hush. I’m trying to think.” He stared at the van the Synths had exited moments before. Although now, who knows how long it’s been since they arrived? They could have killed Vance by now, if that truly is their plan. And if it is, well...Jaxon would have to understand. Lowering the binoculars, an idea hit him. “Chelsea, go downstairs, quietly, and retrieve my black briefcase.”
“The one I asked you if you needed up here and you said no?”
He glared at her over his shoulder. “Chelsea, dammit...”
She held up her hands. “I’m going, I’m going. God, you’re cranky.”
As her footsteps faded behind him, Charlie kept watch on the van. Something’s not right. If Emma convinced them to turn themselves into Vance, the time stopper wouldn’t be using her powers.
He watched, thinking. If Vance still shows up on the map when Chelsea brings me my case, we’ll wait. With the Synths all in there right now, not to mention Vance’s Evo guards, we can’t attack. But if his dot is gone, I’ll call Jaxon now and we’ll tear this place apart.
—-
“It’s just...too easy. Isn’t it?” Shawn stood at the front door to the hidden bunker. He eyed the three guards carefully placed a few yards away.
“Probably because once I unfreeze and pull open this door, we’ll get a face full of gunfire.” Mari shrugged. “But we’re here now, dammit, and I’m not turning away unless we get shot at or outnumbered.”
Duncan groaned. “I’d rather we all stay alive.”
“We will. I won’t let any bullets come near us.” She smiled at him. “But we have to hurry. Everyone ready? Everyone in contact with someone else?”
The entire group nodded. Mari inhaled deeply and glanced at Isaac, who stepped forward. “Please tell me it hasn’t changed...” he muttered. He let his thumb hover the keypad and jerked his chin at the door.
The world sprang to life and Isaac quickly punched in the code he
’d received from Grant while healing from his injuries so many months ago.
Shawn kept a wary eye on the guards, but they did not turn around. He grinned until a thought hit him. Unless they want us to break in...? He swallowed and forced the idea away. There was absolutely no way Vance knew they were there.
Isaac pulled on the door handle. It opened with a clunk. He reached out, placing his hand on Mari’s shoulder. Without turning to see if the guards heard, she froze time. “All right, in we go.”
She boldly strode forward, and the rest of the group followed. All they could see at first was a small room and an open door frame. Glancing inside, Shawn saw a long, brightly lit hallway that led away from the entrance. As the group piled in behind him, he took note of the two very well-armed guards, one on either side of the door they had come through.
“This is unreal.” Emma’s voice echoed down the hall as they made their way deeper into the bunker. “I mean, I’ve seen you freeze time enough, but hell. Using it to break into this place, get past guards...” She shook her head. “I’m impressed you never used it for something, I dunno, bad.”
“Not all of us are criminals.”
Emma looked at Isaac. Both remained silent.
The hallway turned sharply to the left and led them a few more yards where it finally opened up to a large common room. Adrenaline spiked in Shawn’s stomach as he regarded the fifteen or so people frozen in the middle of what looked to be a delicious dinner of pancakes and eggs.
“I’m so glad I can’t smell that.” Aaron, his fingers trailing along the scar on his cheek, stared at the food as they weaved through tables and people, aiming for another hallway on the other side of the room.
“We ate, like, an hour ago. On the way here.” Lucas eyed up a large man carrying a fistful of knives from one cluster of Vance employees to another.
“It wasn’t enough,” Aaron complained.
“Never is with you.” Duncan let out a nervous laugh. “I swear, you could eat every hour and never be full.”
Aaron grinned. “Every half-hour.”
A chuckle rippled through their group as they entered the hallway. “Stay close together,” Mari chided. A large metal door loomed up ahead and they all quickened their steps. “And hurry.”
“That leads to all the sleeping quarters.” Isaac jogged up next to Mari. “Vance will be back there. Probably in his study, or whatever he calls it. At the very back, past all the rooms.”
She nodded and shot him a half-smile.
Duncan spoke up. “Remember, when we get there, only the Synths and I go in. Emma and Isaac, you stay back until signaled.”
“You don’t have to go over the plan again. We remember from the million other times we talked about it.” Lucas ran a hand through his short hair as they approached the metal door.
“Yes, I do.” Duncan frowned at him. “People tend to panic. And if something happens to any of us, well, I want it drilled into your heads.” He clapped Lucas on the shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll be fine, though. Mari’s fully charged.”
She snorted. “What am I, a battery?” Waving a hand in the air, she waited until the entire group was in contact with one another. Turning, she let her hand hover over over the door’s handle. She unfroze time, pulled it open, and froze once more.
Standing a few feet in front of the doorway was a woman holding the hand of a small child, who was mid-laugh.
“Ah, fuck.” Emma groaned. “Now what?”
Mari eyed the distance between the door jamb and the people in their way. “We’re squeezing past.”
“Aren’t you glad you didn’t eat a shit ton of pancakes now?” Lucas shoved Aaron playfully.
“Gosh, you’re hilarious.” The blond man slipped around the woman with ease. “So glad my fat ass was able to make it through that.”
“You guys...seriously...this is...” Shawn took his turn, passing around the frozen people.
“This is what?” Isaac said, making his way past the child at the same time.
“Serious.” Shawn grinned at him, and the group laughed.
“I think we’re all going to need a drink after this.” Emma stretched after she was past the blockade. Turning, she watched Duncan follow.
Bringing up the rear, Mari shuffled past Emma without a word. She looked around at the doors that lined the new hallway they traversed.
“Up here.” Isaac took the lead again and brought them to a closed door at the end on the right. The group gathered together outside of it.
“All right.” Duncan looked at each of them in turn. “Let’s go over this one more time. I don’t care how annoying it is, you’ll thank me later.” He swallowed, then continued. “The Synths go in, with me behind them. Mari, you unfreeze at my command. If there are others in the room with him, that is our time to subdue them. Shawn, I want you to be the one to restrain Vance. Using the element of surprise and the fact that he knows you’re hunting him, it is my hope that we throw him off. Now,” he glanced at Mari. “You freeze the moment Vance moves, talks, or even breathes in a suspicious manner. If he doesn’t, we can question him, discuss the issue at hand, and gauge his reaction. If we need leverage, we have Isaac and Emma. If it goes downhill, we freeze and run back the way we came. Hopefully, though, the man will see reason and agree to help us.”
“He’s not coming with us.” Mari crossed her arms. “No matter what.”
Duncan scoffed. “Fuck, no. None of us are that stupid.”
She swallowed and straightened. Glancing at the rest of them, she nodded. “We ready?”
Shawn glanced around the small group. Everyone mumbled or nodded, but it was obvious they were each on edge. Whether they stood on the balls of their feet, held their hands clenched at their sides, or pursed their lips and darted their eyes back and forth, it was clear they were all completely terrified. He swallowed. Please let this work. Please.
Mari took a deep breath. “All right. Let’s do this.”
They all touched. Mari unfroze time, whipped open the door, and froze the world again. Peering into the room, Shawn swallowed and blinked.
Ivan Vance sat facing them on a plush grey couch with red pillows. He held a rocks glass in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other. His pale blue eyes bored right into them. An uneasy feeling washed through him, but Shawn stepped forward with confidence. Vance didn’t move a muscle.
“Fuck.” Shawn stopped just inside the room. “Well, that’s terrifying. It’s like a wax museum or something. He’s just staring at us.”
Aaron stood next to him, also staring at the Russian. “Gives me the creeps. But I can’t hear a thing other than you guys. Lucas?”
“No one else is in here. It’s just Vance.” Lucas had been surveying the long room, jogging around it to ensure no one was hidden, but now rejoined the group.
“Good.” Duncan exhaled and ran his fingers over his beard. The Synths turned toward him. “Let me do the talking. Even if he tries to manipulate or antagonize you, don’t speak to him. Aaron, listen to his thoughts. I need you to be the one to warn us if he gets any ideas before he makes a move. Lucas, you’re to stay near Shawn. Two Grims appearing out of thin air should scare the shit out of him. Now, Mari, I want you to—”
“You think I scare that easily, do you?” Vance said.
There was a brief moment of shocked silence, then everything erupted into chaos. Mari shrieked and whirled around. Shawn cried out, heart already thudding, and backpedaled into Lucas, while Aaron slammed into Duncan.
“Mari, what the hell? Freeze!” Duncan crouched low, although there was nothing he could do other than leap at the Russian, who still sat calmly on the couch, booze in hand.
“It is frozen! It is!” Mari stared at Vance as he leaned back on a cushion and began to laugh.
“Duncan, you should have known better,” he said. Swirling his drink, he took a sip. “I did not just donate money for your little experiments.”
“Aw, shit.” Shawn breathed. “Does every
fucking person have powers now?”
Vance let out a chuckle. “According to Lab 14, actually, about sixty percent of the population is born with an Evo ability.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Nice to finally meet you face to face, Grim.”
Shawn winced but stepped forward. “About time, you murdering piece of shit.” He jumped forward and grabbed the Russian, pulling him up by his throat. The rocks glass tumbled to the concrete floor, shattering.
Vance gripped Shawn by the wrists but otherwise didn’t put up a fight. “Murdering? Who did I murder, hmm? When did I pull the trigger?”
“Oh, don’t try that shit on me.” Shawn shook him. “Give me one good reason. One. I’ve wanted to snap your neck for years.”
“Just one?” Vance grinned. “You obviously need me for something. It is why I am still alive. It is why you snuck in here instead of sending your psychotic brother. Who, by the way, would not have done much to me.”
Shawn frowned. The fuck is he talking about?
“Let him go.” Mari stepped forward, shoulders set, eyes hard.
Everyone looked at her. She kept her gaze locked on Vance.
Shawn slowly loosened his grip and lowered the Russian to the floor. Vance smiled at her and straightened the white button-down shirt that clothed his large frame.
“Why were you at the lab?” Duncan asked quietly, startling Shawn. No. He needs to stay back. We have no idea what Vance can do yet. I told myself I had to protect them, my family, and now look. Mari can’t freeze him. Aaron can’t...oh...
“He’s not affected by powers of the mind,” Shawn blurted.
“Smart young man.” Vance chuckled. “So, what brings you here to my hidden lair?”
“You’re really not helping yourself by laying the evil villain stuff on so thick.” Aaron glanced at Duncan. “I guess this explains why I can’t hear his thoughts.”
Grim Vengeance Page 6
