by R. D. Brady
Laney strained to hear. Then the sound of a gunshot cut through the night.
Yoni grabbed Laney’s arm. She knew he was getting ready for them to run.
She hunkered down, shaking her head. “Listen,” she whispered.
Branches snapped from the direction of the gun blast. A wind blew toward them, and Laney could just make out the blur as it raced up the tree across from them.
Laney’s heart began to gallop. Only a Fallen or nephilim could move that fast. Two more blurs moved into the clearing underneath the tree, pursuing, searching.
She knew the Fallen could sense one another, so the men in the clearing knew their quarry was nearby. But they might not know that she and Yoni were as well.
Laney wasn’t sure what was going on. She didn’t know if she should help somebody or just let them all just kill one another. So for the moment, she stayed silent.
The man in the tree leapt down, landing on one of the men. The movement was fast, but not so fast that Laney didn’t catch a glimpse of his face in the moonlight. Maddox?
The man Maddox landed on let out a yell, and his partner turned.
But Maddox was faster. He pulled the first man up from the ground and used him as a shield. Bullets immediately dotted the man’s torso.
Laney leapt to her feet and lit up his partner. The man collapsed to the ground.
Maddox’s head whipped around toward her.
Laney moved from behind her cover, careful to keep from pointing her gun at Maddox. “Maddox, I’m with the SIA. I’m here to get you out.”
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Yoni getting to his feet, keeping his weapon trained on Maddox. Apparently he wasn’t yet convinced that Maddox was a good guy.
“You’re human,” Maddox said.
Laney nodded and then stopped. She shrugged. “Sort of. I’ve met your sister.”
She reached the man whom she’d shot. His wounds were already beginning to heal. Laney pressed the muzzle of her weapon against his chest and pulled the trigger twice. The man’s chest exploded in a burst of blood. Satisfied that his heart was now beyond repair, Laney stepped back.
Maddox watched her with a bemused expression on his face. “And who exactly are you?”
“My name’s Delaney McPhearson.”
Maddox jolted, but then the man he was holding began to stir. “Excuse me a sec.”
He reached down, picked up the man’s weapon, shot him point blank in the heart four times, then let him drop.
He turned back to Laney. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Good things?” she asked.
“Well, that depends on the source. According to Amar, you’re the end of us all. According to Clark, you’re the savior.”
Yoni interrupted. “Any chance we can save the meet-and-greet for later? We need to move.”
Maddox raised an eyebrow.
“Yoni Benjamin, former Navy SEAL, current Chandler Group operative. All-around badass,” Laney said.
Yoni nodded. “The woman don’t lie.”
“Come on, time to get you out of here,” Laney said.
Maddox shook his head, pointing at his neck. “’Fraid not. This little thing will kill me if I step off the property.”
Laney stepped closer, noticing for the first time the collar padlocked around his neck.
“Is that a dog collar?” Yoni asked.
“Technically it’s a cat collar, but regardless, I need to get it off,” Maddox said.
“Pretty big cat,” Yoni mumbled.
“Okay, so where’s the key?” Laney asked.
“Back in the barn.” Maddox nodded his head in the direction from which he’d come.
“Of course it is,” Laney muttered.
CHAPTER 89
Outside Johnson City, Tennessee
Henry yelled into the phone. “How long?”
He was sitting in the copilot seat of the quiet, stealth-modified helicopter. He’d purchased it a few years ago, in case it was ever needed on one of the Chandler Group’s projects in more contentious areas. He’d never imagined he’d be using it in the States.
Henry could tell Clark, who was on the other end of the line, didn’t have such a fancy toy available. The agent was yelling into the phone to be heard above the noise of his own chopper. “Ten minutes away. We’ll meet you outside the northwest gate.”
“No. Laney’s sure to be on the property by now. We’re landing inside.”
“Henry, that’s suicide. We don’t know how many men are in there. And you don’t know she’s there.”
Henry pictured Laney’s face as she realized that both Jake and Rocky were dead; her look of concern when she heard that Maddox was missing. He knew her. She was taking this risk to avoid anyone else getting hurt. She was inside the estate. He had no doubts.
“She’s there. I’m willing to stake my life on it.”
“You are staking your life on it. They’ll see and hear us way before we can get close.”
“Not me. They won’t know I’m coming. My team and I will rappel in and create a landing zone for the rest of you.”
Henry knew Clark was thinking of the dangers. Henry pressed his case. “It’s Laney. You’re the one who keeps saying she’s the most important person in this mess. If we wait, we could be too late.”
Clark’s sigh was barely audible, but Henry caught it. “All right. How long until you’re in place?”
Henry glanced at his watch. “Seven minutes.”
“We’ll be right behind you.” Clark disconnected the call.
Henry put down the radio and glanced over his shoulder. The Witt siblings looked back at him, waiting. “We’re going in as soon as we get there.”
“We’ll be ready,” Jen said.
Henry nodded, taking in the head-to-toe body armor they each wore, the high-powered weapons in their hands. Mike and Jordan had been trained for this. But Jen? She was born for this.
He felt a flicker of hope. They’d get to Laney before it was too late.
Henry glanced behind him. Kevin Chang was in the second chopper, and had another three guys with him. He knew Clark had at least that many, maybe even a few more. And there were more still, speeding toward the area by air and by car.
“It’ll be enough,” Henry muttered as he turned his eyes forward again. It has to be.
CHAPTER 90
Laney ran through the trees behind Maddox. She could make out lights ahead, and as they moved closer, she saw the outline of the barn.
Maddox stopped at the edge of the trees.
Laney glanced up at him. “Maddox, do you feel anyone near?”
Maddox nodded. “Yes, but I don’t think they’re in the barn. The house, maybe the trees. But I can’t tell about the Fallen.”
“Well, I guess that’s as good an assurance as we’re going to get,” Laney said.
Yoni slipped back to join them. He’d disappeared to do a little reconnaissance on his own. “I didn’t see anyone. There’s a tree over there that will give me a bird’s-eye view. I should be able to cover you from there, at least as you cross the open space. Give me two minutes to get into position.”
Laney nodded. “Okay.”
Yoni disappeared. She and Maddox waited. Laney counted down the seconds. At two minutes, she tapped Maddox. “Let’s go.”
Maddox sprinted across the open space. Laney could barely see him in the shadows. The night vision goggles were no use here, not with all the light; they would just blind her.
The barn door opened up ahead, and a shaft of light spilled into the yard. Laney sprinted for it, slipped through the door, and closed it behind her.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Giant cages covered the space. But the area was completely wide open.
Laney felt exposed, vulnerable. She raised her gun, straining to hear any noise. She heard a scuffle to her right, and Maddox appeared from a doorway, holding up his hand. “Found it.”
Laney rushed over. “Any problems?”
<
br /> “No, the place is empty. I think they may be out looking for me.”
Laney took the key from him, and Maddox turned around and kneeled so Laney could reach his neck. The guy was seriously tall.
One quick twist, and the lock clicked. Laney pulled the padlock off.
Maddox undid the collar. “Thanks.”
“No problem. Now let’s go.”
Without a word, Maddox headed back for the large barn door. He flattened himself against it, listening for any noise outside.
Laney did the same, and as she did, her gaze roamed over the cages again. “What are the cages for?”
Maddox went still, his eyes darting back to the cages. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice.”
Laney’s voice was serious. “Maddox, what was in here?”
“Her name’s Cleo. And I’m guessing she’s out there, looking for me.” He looked down at Laney. “And I’m guessing she’s looking for you, too.”
CHAPTER 91
The chopper flew through the night air, barely making a sound. In the back, Jordan and Mike attached themselves to ropes, ready to rappel down. Henry and Jen didn’t have ropes. They wouldn’t need any.
Henry looked everyone over. “Everyone good to go?”
They nodded.
Henry’s eyes stayed on Jen.
She nodded again. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Henry spoke into the radio. “Kevin, you good to go?”
“Affirmative. Ready to jump,” came the reply.
“Follow us in,” Henry said before ringing off.
The pilot skimmed the tree line, speeding to the southwest corner of the property. From the satellite image, he knew there was a good-sized clearing there where Clark could land his choppers.
“Thirty seconds,” the pilot warned.
Henry nodded, looking out the open door to the ground below.
The pilot flew over a tall oak and the clearing appeared below them. He hovered in place. “Go!”
Henry didn’t pause. He jumped from the helicopter, rolling when his feet touched the ground. He sprang back up, his weapon raised.
Jen was already on her feet. With her eyes glued to the trees, she covered her brother’s descent. The Witt brothers disengaged themselves from their ropes and ran to set up a perimeter to cover the other chopper.
Henry strained to hear if there was anyone nearby, but all he could hear were the SIA choppers inbound.
“Henry!” Jen pulled her weapon to her shoulder and let off a burst into the trees. Henry felt a tingle along his skin. A nephilim was nearby, and it wasn’t Jen.
Returning gunfire came from the trees.
“Take cover!” Henry yelled as he sprinted for the tree line.
Jen reached it just ahead of him. “Let’s flank them,” she said.
Henry nodded, and was moving into place when the gunfire cut off. With a quick glance at Jen, he ran to the sniper’s nest, where he came to an abrupt halt.
Jordan was already there, a shooter at his feet. Jordan emptied his magazine into the man’s chest. Michael had already taken a knife to the other shooter’s heart.
Henry looked at them, dumbfounded, “How—?”
Jordan smiled. “You guys have a weakness. You’re so focused on using your radar to figure out where the threat is, you forget that we humans can just sneak up on you.”
CHAPTER 92
Laney sprinted through the trees toward the edge of the property, Yoni next to her and Maddox just ahead. She stopped short when she heard the gunfight.
“Henry. It has to be Henry.” She looked at Maddox. “Go to them.”
Maddox shook his head. “I’m not leaving you here.”
Laney grabbed his sleeve. “Listen to me. Our guys need to know we’re here. They need to know how many men there are, what the layout is. They need to know you’re safe. You can tell them all that. And you can run a hell of a lot faster than we can. We may be able to get out of here without getting into much of a fight. So go. Tell them.”
Maddox handed his weapon to Yoni, but his eyes stayed on Laney. “Once I reach them, I’m coming back for you.”
Laney nodded. “We’re counting on it. Now go.”
Maddox disappeared into the night.
Yoni nudged Laney. “We need to move.”
As she followed him into the dark, the roar of a giant cat cut through the air.
“What the hell was that?” Yoni asked.
Trembling at the sound, Laney pictured the giant cages in the barn. “I’m guessing that’s Cleo.”
As quietly as they could, they made their way through the underbrush. Up ahead, Laney could see where she’d cut through the trees on her way in.
She tapped Yoni on the shoulder. “We came in through there.”
Yoni nodded, moving forward.
Laney jumped as another screech from the cat pierced the night air. It was closer this time.
“What kind of cat do you think that is?” Laney asked.
“Big,” Yoni said, putting up a hand to stop her. Ahead of them was open space about fifty feet. Yoni looked around, pausing to listen. Laney did the same. There didn’t seem to be anyone around.
Yoni grabbed Laney’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Together they sprinted into the clearing, their feet pounding the ground. The cover of the trees was only thirty feet away.
To Laney’s right, the shadows moved, and fear lanced through her. She flashed her light across the shadow—and saw the cat for the first time.
It was a black leopard on steroids, full of fury.
And it was leaping right for her.
CHAPTER 93
Amar stomped up the stairs. He had wanted to be part of the hunt for Maddox. Maddox would be a truly worthy opponent.
Instead he stripped off his metal claws, flinging them on a side table as he passed. Damned responsibilities.
He climbed the stairway to his project hub. Only his translator was working there tonight; all the other humans had been sent home while the rest of his brethren gathered in the ballroom downstairs. They were making plans for the next stage—and for what to do about Delaney McPhearson.
Amar smiled. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with her.
He pushed open the door to the workroom. “This better be important, Jeff.”
“It is, sir. It is.” Jeff thrust a printout into Amar’s hands.
Amar glanced down at the stack of papers. It was easily ten pages, single-spaced with very little white space.
He eyed Jeff, who still had remnants of dinner, or maybe lunch, on his tie. Probably both. “How about you summarize so I can get back to my plans?”
“Uh, yes sir. Um.” Jeff mopped his brow with the bottom of his shirt. “This is the last of the translation.” He paused.
Amar circled his hand in the air. “And?”
“And that term you were looking for. It’s there.”
“The root race?”
“Yes.”
Amar scanned the pages quickly. “Does it mention anything about the fifth root race?”
“Um, yes, page eight, at the bottom.”
Amar quickly pulled out page eight, scanning it. Finally. Then his eyes narrowed and he looked up. “Has anyone else seen this?”
Jeff wouldn’t meet his eyes. “No, sir. You said for your eyes only.”
Amar stepped forward, crowding Jeff into the table. He could smell the man’s sweat. “You’re lying.”
Jeff swallowed. “He said I had to. Said he was your boss.”
“Who said?”
“Mr. Thompson.”
Gerard. Of course. “And has he seen these translations?”
“Uh, yes, yes sir. I sent them to him right before I called you.”
Amar trailed his fingers along the table. “You sent him the results before contacting me?”
Jeff’s breaths came out in pants, and Amar was pretty sure the man was only a few seconds from a full-blown panic attack. “Um, I thought, I mean
he said—”
Amar put his arm around Jeff’s shoulder. “No worries, my friend. You’ve done good work here. And now everything’s been translated?”
Jeff nodded. “Yes. That’s everything.”
“Excellent.” Amar slipped his arm around Jeff’s neck and pulled tight. He used his other arm to lock the chokehold in place.
Jeff thrashed, grabbing at Amar’s arm, his eyes wide.
Amar ignored his futile gestures, pulling his arms tighter. Soon, Jeff stopped moving. Amar held on a little longer to make sure the man was dead and not merely unconscious.
Finally satisfied, he let the man drop. Jeff hit the floor and rolled onto his side.
Amar turned and headed for the door. Gerard knows. I need to move quickly.
In the distance, he heard gunshots and smiled. Well, at least the Maddox problem was being handled. He wanted to go join the fun.
But there were plans to be made. Very important ones.
CHAPTER 94
Yoni emptied his gun at the giant cat. It dodged out of the way. With an angry roar, it leapt again, swiping at Yoni.
Laney shoved Yoni to the ground, rolling him away. The giant cat landed silently on its feet precisely where Yoni had just been standing. It turned slowly toward them both.
Laney stared back at it, terrified. The cat was black, but somehow it had spots, like a leopard’s, that were even darker than black. Yet it was bigger than any leopard she’d ever seen. It must have been at least eight feet from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. And it stood almost five feet at the shoulders.
The giant cat stared at them and licked its lips.
“Oh my God,” Yoni whispered. “Don’t move, Laney.”
Laney didn’t think she could move even if she wanted to. She was literally scared stiff.
There was a rustling from behind the cat. Two men appeared, weapons in hand. The cat let out a roar.
“Shit!” one of the men yelled before they both opened fire.
