by R. D. Brady
Yoni made a beeline for Dom’s lab. If the government had been here, Dom no doubt had locked himself in there as soon as they left. He was probably terrified.
“Dom?” he yelled. “Dom, it’s Yoni.” His foot hit something, sending it sliding across the floor.
Yoni went still. No, no, no. He scurried down on his hands and knees and reached under the table to retrieve the object. Please let me be wrong. Please let me be wrong.
But as his hands wrapped around the object, he knew he’d identified it correctly in those few seconds. He pulled the eyeglasses out, the masking tape still holding the edge of the glass in. Dom’s glasses.
But where the hell was Dom?
CHAPTER 74
Over Western West Virginia
The cold air blew on David’s face. He knew that wasn’t right. Why would the air be blowing so hard? There was something tickling at the back of his brain. Something important he was supposed to remember. He sunk a little farther into the darkness. He didn’t want to remember. The wind was biting, but inside his mind he was warm. Rahim smiled at him. “Open your eyes, David.”
“No. It’s cold out there.”
“I know. But you need to open your eyes.”
He snuggled deeper into the dark. “No. This is good.”
“Open your eyes!” Rahim yelled.
David’s eyelids flew open. Air rushed past him as he fell toward Earth. The plane. He’d managed to wrestle himself into a parachute harness after setting the controls, slamming in the last buckle as he leapt from the plane. He’d just gotten clear when the missile hit. The concussive blast had sent him flying head over heels, knocking him out.
His head still felt woozy, only in part due to the lower level of oxygen in his first few minutes of flight. God, he was cold. He felt like his thoughts had to push through a swamp before he could understand them.
Below him, he could almost make out trees. He frowned. The AAD should have released by now.
Too close. I’m too close. He grabbed for the ripcord and yanked. The parachute unfurled. His head snapped back as he shot straight back up in the air. His vision tunneled as spots appeared at the edges.
He fought the darkness now, but it was slowly creeping over him. He needed to stay awake long enough to get his feet under him. He was going to hit hard. There was no avoiding that. But if he could get his feet under him and tuck into a roll, he could offset at least some of the damage. If he didn’t, he’d break just about every bone in his body.
He forced his eyelids open, flashing back to church when he’d be struggling to stay awake during a boring homily.
Come on, David. You can do this. You can do this.
But it was no use. The dark would not be held at bay. He saw the ground clearly before his eyes shut. He knew he needed to prepare, get into position for landing, but his body didn’t seem to be responding to any of his commands. Rahim flashed across his mind, and pain lanced through his heart.
I should have taken the time you wanted. I should have told you every day how much I loved you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.
His mind tensed, but his body just dropped, as unresponsive as a crash test dummy’s. He would not survive this. In his mind, he said goodbye to Bas and Angelica. But it was the image of Rahim he clung to.
“It will be all right,” Rahim whispered. “Whatever happens, it will be all right.”
He waited for the pain, knowing it would start with his ankles snapping as he landed, or maybe his shins. But the first hit didn’t come from beneath him. It came from the side. Something slammed into him. Then he was rolling and rolling before the darkness took over.
CHAPTER 75
Inez, Kentucky
The large farmhouse sat quietly in the night. A porch light was on, and another dim light shone weakly through the window. It was close to four a.m. Laney wasn’t surprised that everyone was sleeping. She was actually happy. With everything that had happened, if anyone could sleep, that was a good thing.
She and Drake had caught a replay of Mary Jane’s press conference when they’d stopped at a coffee shop. It had been a risk, but they’d overheard people speaking about the conference, and Laney needed to know what was happening. No one in the shop had even glanced at them, their horrified gazes focused on the screen. Drake had had to pull Laney away. She, too, had been unable to look away.
On the good side, she knew Molly was safe, but those images . . . Laney knew it would take a long time for Molly to get over what had happened to her. When Henry had been tortured, it had taken him time. But a kid as young and innocent as Molly? Laney wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to get past it.
Drake moved a little closer to Laney, his arm brushing against hers. “Is there a reason we are not announcing ourselves?”
Laney shrugged. They had slipped past the security of the farmhouse. There had been over a dozen guards, both Fallen and non. The Fallen couldn’t sense either Laney or Drake, making it relatively easy to slip past them. No one else would have much luck in the same attempt.
Now they stood at the edge of the trees. They’d been here for two minutes, just watching the house.
“Are we waiting for something in particular?” Drake asked.
“No,” she said but didn’t move.
“The guards will be along any minute.”
Laney nodded but still stayed where she was.
“Laney.”
She didn’t take her eyes from the farmhouse. “I keep trying to figure out how I could have changed all this. What I could have done. All these people, their lives have been completely upended. All these children are now being hunted. Did it have to come to this?” Tears pressed against the back of her eyes. “Was there something else I could have done to spare them?”
Gently, Drake turned her chin toward him. He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “No one could have done more, Laney. In each moment, you did what you thought was best, without consideration for what was best for you.”
Laney shook her head. “But we’re still here. Maybe if I had gotten to Samyaza sooner or had explained to the government sooner . . .”
“None of this would have changed. There was no way to get to Samyaza earlier than you did. And if you had told the government sooner, all of this would have simply happened sooner. Governments, they don’t see the individual. They see the threat. Whenever they learned of the Fallen, this would have happened. It was unavoidable.”
“But what they did to Molly . . .”
Drake winced. “That was beyond cruel. And I know you blame yourself for allowing that to happen. But every bad thing in the world is not your responsibility. You need to stop taking on unnecessary blame.”
“I know. I just wish I could have helped her. I wish I could have spared her that.”
“You are not alone in that feeling.” Drake nodded toward the farmhouse. “I am sure that house is full of people who feel the same. And I believe that the world is full of people who feel the same as well.”
Laney took a shaky breath. “I hope that’s true.”
“I have lived a long time, Laney. And there are two things that have been proven over and over again: Those in charge always try to maximize power. And most people are basically good.”
She looked up at him in surprise. “You really believe that?”
“I do. But the good tend to be quieter than the bad, more easily cowed. But they will always outnumber the bad. Humans, you are complex and confusing, but the large majority of you are good. Don’t forget that.”
She studied him. “Who are you? Where is the arrogant illusionist I first met?”
He leaned forward, placing a kiss on her forehead. “He is here if you need him. But right now, I think this is the Drake you need.”
“How many Drakes are there?”
“As many as you need.”
She leaned forward, and he wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes, breathing in his warmth, his strength. “Thank you.”
; “No need to thank me.” His voice shifted, taking on a lecherous tone. “Not when you can show me.”
She pushed him away with a laugh. “And the moment is ruined.”
“I thought you missed Vegas Drake?”
“I didn’t say I missed him. I was just curious as to where he had gone.”
“Ah, my mistake, then.” He extended his arm to her. “Shall we?”
She nodded, taking his arm. They stepped out from the trees and started toward the farmhouse. They had only gone a dozen feet when Laney stopped.
Drake frowned down at her. “Laney?”
She smiled, slipping her hand from his as the door opened. Tingles ran over Laney’s skin. The lights in the house flashed on. Henry stepped out onto the porch, his eyes scanning the darkness before falling on Laney. A smile broke across his face.
“Laney’s back!” he yelled into the house before running for her. Laney met him halfway. He wrapped her in a hug, twirling her around. Jen appeared, pulling Laney into her own hug. And she realized this was what life was. Caring about people, connecting with them.
She met Drake’s gaze over Jen’s shoulder. He nodded at her. And she smiled. He was right. People were basically good, if given the chance. And these people here were all proof of that. And she would find a way for them to live normal lives again.
She would.
CHAPTER 76
The kitchen was packed with people. Laney sat at the table with Nyssa snuggled in her lap. Cain was doling out pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, and everything else he could make as fast as he could make it. He’d already sent food to the other building for the rest of the kids and guards. Henry, Jen, Danny, Lou, Rolly with Susie in his lap, Matt, and Jordan Witt were all around the table, catching Laney up on what was happening.
Cain filled up another tray with plates before nodding at Lou and Rolly. “I’m going to run this up to Molly and the boys. Could you two bring the girls? I think it would do Mary Jane and Molly some good to see them.”
Rolly stood, hugging Susie to him. “Happy to.” He started to follow Cain from the room.
Laney stood, holding Nyssa. “I’ll be right back,” she said to everyone before walking with Lou from the room. She stopped Lou at the bottom of the stairs. “So how are you?”
Lou didn’t meet her eyes. “I’m good.”
“Lou,” Laney said quietly. “I know how hard going after Molly must have been. I am so proud of you.”
Lou darted a glance at Laney before staring back at the bannister. “I couldn’t leave her there. What I went through was bad, but what she went through . . .” Her bottom lip trembled. “You should have seen her, Laney. She was just so scared. And then when Zane—” Lou cut off, taking a deep breath.
Laney hugged Lou tight with one arm, a dozing Nyssa in the other.
Lou’s shoulders shook. “She didn’t deserve that.”
“No, she didn’t. And neither did you.” They stayed there for a little while, just sharing the pain. And Laney wanted nothing more than to take Lou’s from her. But that was not one of her abilities.
Finally Lou pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you ever apologize for crying. Crying’s not a weakness, Lou. It’s a sign of how strong you care. And that is not a bad thing. Emotions, how much we care for others, that’s what moves us forward when we want to pull back. It’s why you went after Molly even though it must have scared the heck out of you.”
“I guess.”
Laney ran a hand through her hair. “You’re stronger than you know, Lou.”
Lou gave her a small smile and then took Nyssa from her arms. “I’ll take her up, and then I’ll stay with Molly, just in case.”
Laney squeezed Lou’s hand as she stepped on the first step of the staircase.
Lou paused, looking down at Laney. “I’m really glad you’re back. We all are.”
“I am too.”
Lou headed up the stairs, and Laney watched her go. What she’d said was true: There was a core of steel in Lou. She had been through so much, and yet she still loved with all her heart. And as scared as she was, she had gone after Molly. It took strength to do that. And not everyone was that strong. Lou would be okay. Helping Molly, it would actually help Lou as well.
Henry, Matt, and Drake stepped from the kitchen before Laney could reenter it. The looks on their faces were not happy. Dread coursed through Laney. “What?”
Henry nodded to the door. “One of the perimeter guards just contacted us. We have visitors.”
CHAPTER 77
Laney stood in the middle of the open space in front of the farmhouse. Headlights appeared in the distance, making their way toward her. Tingles ran over her skin.
“Two,” she said to Matt, who stood next to her.
He nodded but didn’t reply. Jen and Jordan were with the kids in the other building. They would get them out if things turned sideways. Cain, Lou, and Rolly were upstairs with the McAdamses.
The headlights shifted closer. This guest had not been expected. And had not been given their address. Not that Laney supposed she should be surprised he’d found them.
The Range Rover came to a stop twenty feet away. The driver stepped out, but the headlights made it difficult to make out more than their general shape. Then the driver stepped in front of the lights.
“It’s good to see you again, Dr. McPhearson,” Bruce Heller said.
Laney crossed her arms over her chest. “It still remains to be seen if the feeling is mutual.”
Bruce smiled. “I can understand that.”
The back door of the car opened, and another man stepped forward. Laney tensed. There was something familiar about his shape. It almost looked like—
She gasped as David stepped into the light. He kept a hand on his ribs, and it looked like one of his eyes was closed, but he was somehow standing in front of them.
“How?” she asked.
He tried to smile as he nodded back toward the SUV. “A little divine intervention, I think. I managed to get out of the plane with a good three seconds to spare. But I would have been roadkill if someone hadn’t intercepted my fall.”
“Speaking of which, why don’t the two Fallen who are with you step out of the car?” Laney asked.
Bruce grinned wider. “I’ve never seen that ability of yours. You really can sense them. Amazing.” He shifted his head back toward the car. “Come on out.”
Both passenger side doors opened. The first woman who stepped into the light Laney had never seen before. At first she’d thought she was in her forties. She had a slim athletic build with a short brown pixie cut, but as she stepped closer, Laney realized she had misjudged her age by at least two decades. She had to be close to sixty, but she held herself with a quiet physical confidence.
The second woman stepped forward and nodded at Laney. “Good to see you again.”
Laney couldn’t help but smile. “Maldonado. Good to see you too.”
“I took your advice. On the Day of Reckoning.”
Laney knew immediately what she was referring to. When Maldonado had dropped her off at the estate after the disastrous meeting with the External Threats Task Force, she had asked Laney what she should do if Elisabeta’s threats came true. Laney had told her to save as many as she could. “And how did that go?”
“Very well. And it felt good.”
Laney nodded. “I know what you mean.”
Bruce frowned, obviously not understanding what they were discussing. Laney saw no need to clue him in.
“And you are?” Laney asked the other woman.
The woman stepped forward offering her hand. “Susan, Susan Jacobs.”
Laney shook her hand. “Jacobs. Interesting last name.”
Susan smiled, keeping her gaze on Laney. “It’s got a long, rich history. My family were some of the earliest settlers in the country. My line settled in Salem.”
Laney jolted.
The woman nodded. “Yes, I’m one of
those Jacobs.”
The Tome of the Great Mother had been buried in the grave of George Jacobs, buried in 1692, one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. He’d been identified as a witch by his granddaughter, Meg, who later recanted her testimony against both her grandfather and a Reverend Burroughs. But her recantation came too late. But she recanted anyway, even though by doing so she was signing her own death warrant. She sat in jail in Salem awaiting her own death when the trials were brought to an end by the governor.
Bruce cleared his throat. The woman rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes. We are part of those Jacobs.”
Laney looked between Susan and Bruce. “‘We?’”
Bruce cleared his throat. “As I was about to say, I’d like you to meet Susan Jacobs, the head of the American branch of the Followers of the Great Mother.” He paused. “And my mother.”
CHAPTER 78
“Your mother?”
With every possible variation of this conversation that had run through Laney’s head, none had wandered down this particular road.
David winced. “Not to be demanding, but any chance we could move this conversation inside? Where perhaps there might be some coffee and a really soft surface to lie down on?”
Laney realized just how bad off David must be to ask. She glanced at Matt, who nodded back at her. “Of course. Do you need help, David?”
“I would not be adverse to a shoulder to hang on to.”
Laney started forward.
David grinned. “Don’t suppose Drake is around?”
Laney laughed at the mischievous smile on his face. “Sorry. I’ll have to do.”
“Any other tall, muscular men that could offer some aid?”
Laney slipped an arm around his waist. “How hard did you hit your head?”
“I think it’s the oxygen deprivation. I’m feeling a little loopy.” David stumbled as they began to walk.
