by J. C. Diem
My father nodded reluctantly. “You have a point.”
“I’ll call him and see if he can spare some time to run some tests.”
“We don’t have to go back to New Orleans, do we?” I said uneasily.
“Jerry lives in Chicago now,” Mark replied, to my relief. I wondered if it was a coincidence that EERI had wiped the city of its vampires recently.
Mark and my father headed upstairs to the coms room. Kala wandered to the kitchen to search for more food. Reece was staring off into the distance, leaving Flynn and me as alone as we were likely to get. Now that the truth was finally out, I had a question for him. “You knew all along that he wasn’t my Dad, didn’t you?” He’d told me he could always tell when people were related. His senses were more finely tuned than most shifters.
“I knew,” he confirmed. “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t think it was my place.”
I could feel that he was worried that I was angry with him. “It’s okay, Flynn. It wasn’t your responsibility to tell me.”
He sent me a relieved grin that widened when Zeus’ ears perked up at the sound of Kala opening a box of cookies. He scrambled into the kitchen before she’d even placed them on a plate. “What do you want, fleabag?” she teased. “One of these?” She held a cookie up, taunting him with it. “Pity you can’t jump high enough.”
Gathering himself, he sprang upwards and clamped his mouth over her hand, cookie and all. “Damn it!” she swore. “When will I learn not to tease him?”
Flynn doubled over with laughter as she washed the dog slobber off her hand. I wiped tears of mirth away and Zeus trotted back to me wearing a pleased grin. He leaned against my leg and I thumped his side fondly. Reece stared at this wistfully and a trifle jealously. His abrupt turnaround was confusing. He’d pushed me away for so long that it was difficult to believe he truly wanted me now.
Kala handed out cookies and Mark and my father returned to join us. “Jerry has agreed to help us,” our boss said. “He’s made time for us tomorrow afternoon.”
“I wish I could go with you,” my dad said. “Unfortunately, I’m being sent on a mission again.”
I couldn’t suppress my disappointment. I was used to him disappearing, but I wished he didn’t have to leave so soon. He loved me, but he had obligations and a duty to keep US citizens safe. “I want to thank you,” I said suddenly, surprising him.
“For what?”
“For being my father and for raising me with values I can be proud of.”
“And for teaching you to be a crack shot,” Kala added slyly.
“That, too,” I agreed.
My dad smiled and instantly seemed younger, as if a weight had been lifted off him. “Losing Katrina almost destroyed me,” he said. “If I’d lost you as well I wouldn’t have anything left to live for.”
I knew exactly how he felt. I’d had the same reaction when I’d severed my bond to Reece. I’d been left bereft and heartbroken, hence the reason I’d gone in search of my mother. It was eerie that she and I had both sought to end our lives. Was it just dumb luck that we’d failed, or had Fate been behind it? Could it be possible that Fate had been acting as a puppet master even when I’d just been an embryo? If so then she was even more powerful than I’d realized.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“When do you have to leave?” I said to my father.
“Tonight. My flight leaves at eight.” That only gave us a few hours to spend together. It wasn’t nearly enough after weeks without seeing him. He felt the same way and turned to Mark. “Could I borrow a sniper rifle? I’d like to see if Lexi’s skills have grown rusty.”
An expression that was startlingly close to excitement swept over Mark. I could understand why. My father’s skills were legendary. People came from all over the country to learn from him when he performed training sessions.
My eyes widened in alarm when I realized I’d left most of my belongings in our base in Texas. My sniper rifle was among them.
“Relax,” Kala said, accurately guessing what I was thinking. “We brought your gear with us. It’s in the SUV.”
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said to my father. I stood and moved so quickly that nearly everyone was shocked. Only Reece didn’t start at my eerie speed.
“You’ll need these,” Mark said with forced nonchalance and I halted. He tossed me the keys and I caught them deftly. Slowing down so I wouldn’t freak everyone out, I walked over to the door that led to the hallway rather than sprinting. I entered the garage and retrieved my duffel bag full of clothes from the back of the SUV. The black backpack that held my sniper rifle was nestled beside it. I snatched it up as well.
Returning to the main area, I left the duffle bag near the door and shouldered the backpack as my father joined me in the hall. I mentally told Zeus I was heading out to the range. Knowing it would be too noisy for him, he settled down on the floor beside Kala, hoping for another opportunity to steal a cookie.
I knew the team wanted to give us some time alone, but I also knew they were dying to see my dad in action. I shared a look with him and he nodded his agreement. “You guys can come, too, if you want,” I said.
Mark was standing almost before I’d finished making the offer. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said with a grin.
Zeus’ hope for another snack was foiled when Kala stood as well. “Wait for me!” she said then raced to the kitchen and put the cookies in the fridge. I wasn’t sure it was the best place for them, but it was better than leaving them out for my furry guardian to devour.
Reece and Flynn didn’t want to miss out on the action either. They joined us as we trooped out into the main hallway. We stopped at the armory halfway along the corridor. My father entered with Mark and they returned with a sniper rifle, ammo, several pairs of binoculars and a couple of sheets of canvas for us to lie on. Zeus followed us outside, but chose to perform a sweep of the perimeter rather than following us to our destination.
We took the narrow path through the trees that led to the outdoor range. Snow coated the ground, but it wasn’t deep enough to hinder us. The canvas would keep us dry, if not warm. The cold didn’t bother me, of course. I hadn’t even bothered to wear a jacket.
My dad surveyed the targets with a raised eyebrow. The farthest one was only fifteen hundred yards away. “This isn’t going to be much of a challenge,” he said. It was a fact rather than a complaint.
“I can fix that,” Flynn said and took off at a sprint. He continued on until he was well past the last target. He was nearly a mile away when he stopped. Taking something out of his pocket, he pushed snow into a pile and placed the object on the top.
My eyesight was excellent now, but it wasn’t quite good enough to see what my father would be shooting at. Kala raised the binoculars that Mark had handed her. “There is no way a mere human could possibly hit that,” she declared then lowered the binoculars and flicked my dad an apologetic glance. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he said dryly as he placed one of the sheets of canvas on the ground. I handed him my backpack and he used it as a brace. Lying down, he sighted through the scope.
I remained standing and used my own scope to see what Flynn had put on the mound. I could see why Kala was so skeptical. The target was a dime. It was held upright by a shelf made of snow.
“A hundred bucks says he misses,” Flynn said to Mark when he sprinted back to us.
“Done,” Mark replied, accepting the wager and they shook hands. Both were grinning widely. Mark was absolutely confident that his longtime friend wouldn’t miss.
Everyone raised their binoculars to watch while my father tested the wind and readied himself. Taking a deep breath, he went absolutely still then pulled the trigger. I knew the shot was true even before the bullet hit the target. The shiny coin spun off into the trees in a burst of snow.
“I can’t believe you hit it!” Kala exclaimed. She and Mark high-fived each other. Flynn silently
took his wallet out and handed a hundred dollars over to our boss.
“Never bet against my Dad,” I said proudly and he turned and winked. To anyone else the shot would have been impossible. If I’d still been an ordinary human, I’d never have pulled it off.
“Now it’s your turn,” he said and stopped Flynn before he could sprint off with another coin. “Move the target back another eight hundred yards.”
With a sly look at me, Flynn blasted past the mound he’d made and created a new one. He placed another dime on the top, packing snow behind it to keep it upright.
“Wow. Really?” I complained to my dad. That distance was pushing the limits of the bullet. My custom made rifle wasn’t quite as powerful as the one he was using.
“I have faith in you,” he said as I flattened out the second canvas sheet. Kneeling, I took my rifle out of the backpack, assembled it then lay down. Remaining prone as well, he watched the target through his scope. Even for me, it was going to be difficult.
Slowing my breathing, I mentally prepared myself to take the shot. Sensing a puff of wind coming, I waited for the air to become still again. Sighting down the scope, I focused on the dime. It was so tiny with distance that it would have been almost invisible to humans. My focus narrowed until the target was the only thing I saw. Everything else faded into the background.
I went to take a deep breath then dimly realized I’d stopped breathing a while ago. I stopped thinking and pulled the trigger. Time seemed to slow down as I followed the path of the bullet with my eyes. It had just enough force by the time it reached the mound of snow to smack into the dime and knock it to the ground.
My heart hadn’t just slowed down while I’d been focused on the target, it had stopped beating altogether. It kicked back into motion again and I took a breath as the others made sounds of amazement. My dad shook his head, but he wasn’t really surprised. “I always knew you’d surpass me one day. I just didn’t think it would happen this soon.”
“The only reason my skills have increased this much is because I’m not human.”
Hiking his thumb over his shoulder, he indicated the rest of the squad. “Most of your team are shifters. None of them can shoot like you.”
That was a point that I hadn’t considered before. “Being half werewolf, half vampire has helped. My vision was never this good before.”
“Thank you for the demonstration, Philip and Lexi,” Mark said. “We’ll leave you two alone so you can catch up.”
Kala was clearly disappointed that she wouldn’t get to see more of my dad’s skills, but she dutifully followed the others back to the base.
My father knew how exceptional our hearing was and he waited for them to be out of range before he spoke. “How are you holding up?”
“It’s been pretty crazy since I joined the team,” I replied. “My life has changed so dramatically that I barely feel like the same person anymore.”
“Some things may have changed physically, but you’re still the same girl inside.”
“Am I?” I asked, meeting his eyes. “My mother was a vampire and my biological father is a necromancer. Doesn’t that kind of doom me to turn evil?”
“Absolutely not,” he said firmly. “How many innocent people have you killed?”
“None,” I admitted. Then added, “Yet.”
“Even after Katrina turned you and had you under her control, you refused to take a life. If you were going to turn to the dark side, I’m fairly certain it would have happened by now.”
Looking away, I fiddled with the scope on my rifle. “There’s something you don’t know about me. I did something that most PIA agents would kill me for.”
“You raised some zombies,” he said almost conversationally and smiled faintly at my surprise. “Mark told me.”
“You walked away after you saw me turn into a werewolf. How can you still love me after you know what I’ve become now?”
Guilt and sorrow warred on his face before he responded. “I didn’t walk away because I stopped loving you. I couldn’t handle losing my daughter after watching my wife turn into a monster. Your young friend was instrumental in making me see that you were still you. Even if you did turn into a ravenous animal for three days out of every month,” he joked.
“Kala called you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “It was Agent Bailey. He told me to stop feeling sorry for myself,” he said ruefully. “He said that you would always need me, especially once I told you about your true parentage. He urged me to do so sooner rather than later.”
“When did this happen?”
“Shortly after the mission in Bradbury.”
“Was that when Mark was going to give me time off to visit you?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way I’d planned.”
“Nothing ever does,” I said sourly. “Fate makes sure of that.”
“I’m not thrilled with the idea of you being her puppet.”
“I’m not the only one she’s using,” I pointed out. “Did you think it was just dumb luck that Mom threw herself in front of your car?”
His eyes widened as he realized just how far back Fate’s manipulation went. “I wish I knew what she had in store for you.”
“So do I,” I agreed. All I knew was that I’d have to save the world. I had absolutely no idea what I was saving it from.
₪₪₪
Chapter Twenty-Eight
We practiced target shooting for the next few hours until it was time for my father to leave. I offered to drive him to the airport near Denver, but he had a rental car that needed to be returned.
“Let me know the test results,” he said to Mark as we lined up outside to see him off.
“Will do,” Mark replied and they shook hands. He shook Flynn and Reece’s hands as well then bent to place a kiss on Kala’s cheek. The look she gave him was bordering on steamy.
“Don’t even think about it,” I whispered to her.
She sent me an innocent look. “What?”
“You know what,” I glowered and she grinned cheekily. I made a mental note to make sure she and my father were never alone together.
“Ready?” he asked me and I climbed into the front passenger seat. I told Zeus I’d be back in a minute and he sat down to wait for me.
We drove to the gate in silence then I gave him a hug that made his ribs creak. “I love you, Dad.”
He stroked a hand down my hair then kissed my temple. “I love you too, sweetheart. I’m so glad we were able to stop the vampirism from spreading through you and Reece.” My surprise that he included Reece must have shown on my face. “I know he treated you badly, honey, but maybe you should give him a second chance.”
I scowled at his advice. “I’ve given him plenty of chances. He always lets me down in the end.”
His gaze was disturbingly astute. “Was it always his fault?”
“Does it really matter?” My reply was bitter.
“He’s strong, but I’m not sure anyone could fight Fate.” Knowing how stubborn I could be, he gave up. “I’d better go or I’ll miss my flight.”
“Have a good trip,” I said lamely and climbed out. I had no idea where he was being sent on his next mission. As always, the location was classified.
I opened the gate for him and waved until he was out of sight. Zeus wasn’t alone when I returned to the compound. Flynn was with him. He tossed a stick and the Rottweiler took off after it.
“My Dad said you were the one who talked him into accepting the fact that I’m a werewolf,” I said when I reached him.
“We may have had a brief chat,” he said nonchalantly.
“I owe you big time,” I said and hugged him.
“You don’t owe me anything, sis,” he argued and tugged my hair just like a real brother would have. “As I recall, you saved my mind when the hydra put me under its spell.”
Hunting down the stone golem had been the last mission we’d been on together. “Did you guys run
into any trouble after I left on my stupid plan to confront my undead mother?” I hadn’t been gone for long, but anything could have happened while I’d been away. I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed anything important that might relate to the task Fate had set for me.
“Nope.” Zeus returned and eagerly shoved the saliva encrusted stick into his hand again. He dutifully sent it sailing off into the distance. “Nothing terrible ever seems to happen unless you’re around,” he teased me.
“The curse of Lexi,” I said with a grin. “Don’t worry, something horrible will happen soon now that I’m back.”
He hesitated before asking the question that was on his mind. “How did you and Reece end up back together?”
“We’re not,” I said a trifle more harshly than I’d intended. I knew I was going to have to tell this story and I didn’t want to have to repeat it. “Let’s go inside so I can brief the whole team.”
He grinned at my terminology and saluted me. “Whatever you say, Agent Levine.”
“Smart ass,” I muttered. Zeus realized we were about to head inside and discarded the stick. He pushed his way past us and drank down half a bowl of water that had been left for him in the kitchen. Mark, Kala and Flynn had taken good care of him while I’d been gone. He’d changed from being a barely tolerated nuisance to being loved by everyone.
Mark had made more coffee and was waiting for us in the living room. Reece’s eyes settled on me and tenseness seemed to seep out of him at my reappearance.
“We’d all like to know what happened to you after you went in search of Katrina,” Mark said.
Picking up my coffee, I sat down and curled my legs beneath me. Zeus sat on the floor in front of me. He wasn’t about to let me out of his sight again. “I was on my way to see my father when Reece contacted me,” I began. “He told me he was going to bite Gloria and that I needed to release him from our bond.”
All eyes swung to him and he flinched. He didn’t give them the excuse that he hadn’t been in control of himself.
