Chek nodded a ‘hello.’
“Hi.” I waved my hand once.
“We believe Cesar has an underground unit similar to the Bladangs’. We’re not sure how far out it extends. For all we know, we could be standing above it now.” Kellan pulled me into his side protectively.
“The original purchase documents are dated in 1909. There was an extensive reconstruction project that commenced, but no permits or county docs indicating what was completed. Of course he used human workers so they’re all deceased and useless.” Kalel sighed. I could see the frustration in his features.
Chek took a map from the pile and set it in front of me. “This is an architectural drawing of the perimeter from what we could see. We can’t get too close, which is why we need you to go in. Once we have the specs of the inside, we can get in. Going in blindly, though, would only be a bloodbath.”
“Won’t it be a bloodbath anyway with all those vampeens roaming outside?”
He averted his eyes to the paper between us. “Every war has a built-in number of sacrificial lambs.”
“Wow. That makes me feel better.”
“There’s no way to avoid it. Every man who agrees to a contract with us knows the risk, just as every human signing up with the military knows the chance of peril.” Auggy’s deep voice was gruff, rough. It fit his words this time, the way he spoke of death as an everyday occurrence that was no big deal. Those were the thoughts spoken by someone who was accustomed to it, a tough vamp with an even tougher attitude.
“How close will we get today?” I asked, wanting to focus on something different.
“All of us will get you within a mile of it. Then Kalel and Chek will take you the rest of the way. We’ll have a radio if you need backup, but it’s for emergencies only,” Kellan advised.
I took a deep breath. “Well, let’s get this done and over with.” The guys started to leave. “Auggy, a word, please.”
The military brute turned back to me; he was unreadable. “Yeah?”
“Have you apologized to my aunt yet?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” he bit out.
“When it comes to my family, it most certainly is. She was distraught after you left with the High Authorities that day, and given the amount of time she’s spent with me lately, I’m assuming you haven’t dug your head out of your ass and made up with her.”
He growled. “Like I said, none of your damn business.”
“Augustine! Do you love her, for crying out loud?” My hands gripped my hips; I felt my forehead creased with lines from my frown.
“Of course I do,” he huffed.
“Then stop acting like the hard-ass you are and let love be your soft spot. She deserves a good man, and if you’re not willing to make the sacrifice for her, then she’ll find someone else who will. My aunt has never wanted for male attention.”
He looked me up and down. “You’re bossy for such a little thing.”
“And you’re being stupid for a guy with brains.”
He puckered his lips. “I’ll call her later. Can we go now?”
“Yes.”
I followed him through the upstairs to a staircase in the back. The stairs led down and dropped us off in the kitchen. He pushed through a swinging door into what I guessed was a sitting room at one time. The back door was open already, indicating it was the way the others had left.
Stepping outside, I saw the other Kalel, Check and Kellan huddled beyond the shore of trees.
“I put the maps in my car,” Kalel stated.
“Good.” Auggy brushed past the men and headed deeper into the forest.
Within twenty-five minutes, at top vamp speed, we were a mile out from our target.
“Your best vantage point is in the trees,” Chek whispered.
“We’ll get you as close as possible, but then you’ll have to climb.” Kalel looked at me, checking to see if I was still with them.
“Okay.”
“Be safe, babe. I’ll be nearby if you need me.” Kellan gathered me close and kissed my lips. He was soft and reverent, yet quick, as if he knew danger was lurking.
“Out of curiosity, why can’t all of you come?”
“Too many bodies to hide. It increases our risks of getting caught. All it takes is one leaf crunching.” Chek squared off with me. “I promise we’ll keep you safe.”
“For what it’s worth, I trust them,” Kellan said.
I nodded my head. I reluctantly withdrew from his embrace and went to Kalel. He placed an arm around my shoulders. I looked up at him. “Let’s go.”
He gazed down at me. “Let’s go.”
We took off, Chek leading the way. We curved northeast as we got closer to the property. Chek slowed in front of us. He turned back to me. “No talking past this point.”
I swallowed hard, nodding my head in understanding.
“I can read your thoughts without Kellan around. Open your mind if you need me.” Kalel ran his hand over my hair.
“Okay.” My voice was barely a whisper.
Chek took the lead again while Kalel fell behind me, protecting my back. Slow but steady heartbeats came into my hearing range as we got closer. The footsteps were quick and graceful, but not silent. These vampeens weren’t expecting anyone. It was obvious they felt safe here.
Chek abruptly stopped in front of me. He backed us up behind a large oak tree, the trunk just wide enough to conceal us. He peered around the corner, but popped back quickly. I deduced that there was a vampeen nearby.
Kalel checked around the other side of the trunk. His eyes drifted from right to left, obviously watching the clueless vampeen.
Once the coast was clear, Chek directed us closer to the home. We had to hide several more times. The closer we got, the more vamps there were. Once we were within earshot of the compound, Chek help me scale an oak tree. He and Kalel were close behind me.
Chapter 28
We were close to the top when Chek abruptly leapt down, hitting the ground with a small thud. A second thud fell behind his, meaning I was alone in the tree. My eyes widened as I gazed upward.
A slender redhead with dazzling green eyes alight with fire glowered down at me. The lack of a heartbeat indicated she was a vampire. She squatted, perched two branches above me. She clutched a flechette pistol, and it was aimed at my chest.
My heart took off, and my veins illuminated in a flash. She drew back at my light show, cocking her head. It was the momentary distraction I needed. I jumped ship. Kalel and Chek caught me and we took off in the opposite direction of the compound, my glow fading the farther we went.
The girl wasn’t deterred for long. She was on our tail in an instant. I heard the whistle through the air. Chek dove, the arrow slicing through the shoulder of his shirt. It didn’t slow him down. He was back up and running in no time.
We bypassed Kellan and Auggy, who took off after us.
“Don’t you guys have any weapons on you?” I grumbled in a hushed whisper.
“Yes, but we can’t be caught fighting on the vampeens’ territory,” Chek stated.
We’d traveled at least two miles by now. I was growing frustrated with them, so I took matters into my own hands. I stopped, spinning on my heel to face the woman. She’d halted the moment I had. I heard Auggy curse in the distance behind me.
“Stay back!” I shouted in my mind, knowing Kellan would hold them.
“Who are you?” I asked. “You’re obviously not one of them.”
She lifted the pistol, pointing at my chest. “I will ask the questions.” She had a thick accent, Russian if I had to place it, though I’d never seen a Russian with auburn hair before.
I decided to wield my powers in this situation. “I can shoot electricity from me that would flatten you before you could pull the trigger.” I thought of things that angered me, like Kellan’s outburst and the destruction of my car; my skin blazed blue.
“I guess we’ll have to see who’s faster.” Her finger hit
the trigger, the stake flying towards me.
I focused on the threat she presented. I threw my hand out in front of me. Electricity shot from my hand. I gasped. It didn’t reach far enough to knock out my target, but it did burn the stake to a crisp in midair. It fell to the ground with an audible plop.
“What are you?” Her tone had bite. She was fiery.
“Who are you?” I countered.
She was trained; I knew that much. She’d concealed her emotions, facing fear head-on like a pro. She was also dressed in a hunter green jumpsuit with a brown utility belt holding an array of weapons. She was definitely skilled.
“It does not matter who I am.”
She withdrew another weapon. This one was a traditional gun. I cringed internally. Hitting the bullet this time would cause the casing to explode.
“Answer this, then. Are you with or against Cesar?” I asked, trying to stall her.
“What do you think?”
“Against, but I never assume I’m right.”
She sighed, dropping her arms and concurrently her weapon. “You are not fun. You don’t make my blood boil.” She scrunched her forehead.
“My friends and I don’t want to hurt you. We don’t care what you were doing there, but if you have information that would help us, we’d like you to share it.”
“No.”
“What if we shared our info?”
“I do not trust a lightbulb,” she sneered.
I frowned. “How long have you been assigned to roam here?”
She narrowed her hazel eyes at me. “You are beginning to make my blood boil.” She raised her weapon again.
I huffed. “Fine. I get it. You’re an assassin or a spy or some fancy vamp double-oh-seven. My point is, if you’ve been assigned here for a while, wouldn’t it be nice to cut your trip short, to have a little time to relax? If we work together, then we can both be done a lot quicker.”
“You are no spy. You have no pizzazz.”
My light show vanished. I glanced down at my black jeans, dark green Converse sneakers, and black tank. Okay, so I wasn’t dressed in an upscale designer one-piece with custom pockets and a cut that emphasized women’s curves. It didn’t mean I didn’t have a little bit of talent in the spy department.
“In the time that you averted your eyes, I could have tranquilized you and then decapitated you. Proof that you are a child playing with matches.”
I shrugged. “But you didn’t. Why?”
“You have not proved to be a threat. I only attack those who attack me first.”
“Come out of hiding behind me.” I heard the men softly approach.
The girl’s eyes widened and her breath caught as she gazed beyond me. Behind me I heard three men breathing, and one not.
“You have powerful friends.” She stared over my head. She’d locked eyes with someone.
I turned, surprised to see Kalel caught up in this woman. I’d never seen that look on his face before. It was one of awe, one of instant attraction. I smiled. Well, well. It seems Kalel had finally met his mate.
“Help us help you,” Kalel stated.
Her eyes glittered, her chest rising and falling in quick rhythm. Oh, my. Was she turned on just at the sight of Kalel? Things immediately shifted to awkward.
“Um, would you two like a room?”
She cut her eyes at me. “Not funny. The earth is full of energy, full of life. To be pulled so strongly towards one life source is mother shouting for your soul to listen.”
“So you’ll help us and we’ll help you?”
She glanced back at Kalel before meeting my gaze. “I will help him.”
“Fair enough.” I felt the tension behind me dissipate at Kellan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me.
Kalel closed the gap between him and the woman in an instant. He stared down into her eyes. “I’m Kalel.”
“I am Francesca.”
They studied each other for what felt like hours. “Is this how it was supposed to be between me and you? I’m feeling a little gypped right now,” I said to Kellan.
Kellan chuckled lightly. He kissed my neck. “I’d like to think we had a similar experience when we kissed.”
No sooner had Kellan stated it than Kalel captured Francesca’s lips. Heat radiated off the pair. Their connection was palpable. I averted my eyes, not wanting to intrude further on their intimate moment.
Kalel and Francesca gazed into each other’s eyes.
“You are the one I have been waiting for.” Her voice was breathless.
“And you are who I’ve been waiting for, only I didn’t even know it.” Kalel sounded dumbfounded; I couldn’t see his face to confirm it.
“Are they for real?” Chek asked. I looked over my shoulder. The male had a brow raised and an expression that said he thought this was drama class, not reality.
“When did this operation turn into a couples retreat? Let’s go, Kulani,” Auggy roared.
Kalel secured Francesca’s hand in his. I watched whimsically as the couple walked beside each other. At that moment, I knew nothing could distract them. They were caught up in the whirlwind of love at first sight. I’d never seen anything like it. I didn’t even think it existed until now. Sure, I was heavily attracted to Kellan at first glance, but it wasn’t instant love. I grew to love him quickly, but it wasn’t instantaneous like this.
My heart warmed for Kalel. He deserved this. I just hoped Francesca proved worthy of his love and adoration. None of us knew anything about her, aside from the fact that she was a trained spy.
We were just about to step foot into the clearing for the abandoned home where we started when Francesca froze.
“You did not go in here, did you?” She seemed afraid, worried; the opposite of what we’d known of her thus far.
“Yes, why?” Kalel stiffened.
“You must go, quick!”
“What? Why?” He panicked.
“The air. When you go inside, tiny molecules seep into your pores. They are what they call molecular trackers. You are in danger.” She shook her head. Her eyes watered as she met Kalel’s gaze. “There is no way to get them out. Whoever owns that house now knows where to find you.” Her face crumbled as she slowly backed away.
“No! Don’t go!” Kalel cried.
She spun on her heels and took off. Kalel dashed after her, but Auggy and Kellan caught him.
“Don’t be stupid. If you’re with her, then they’ll track her with you. She’s safer away from you for now,” Kellan declared.
Kalel’s nostrils flared, and his chest rose and fell in rapid succession. His hands balled into fists repeatedly in quick blurs of motion. “Let’s go. I have a chemical chamber at the lake house. It can maybe cleanse our cells.” He jerked out of Kellan and Auggy’s hold and flew to his car. He peeled out before we could even get to our vehicles.
I turned to Auggy, anger furling inside me. “How could you? Why didn’t you sweep the house? Don’t you check for chemicals, for traps, for anything of the sort?”
“It was abandoned over seven years ago. The county records show it belonged to a — ” He cut off mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing at the house. “Shit!”
“Who was it registered to?”
“Edna Maxwell,” he reluctantly answered.
“This was my grandmother’s home?” I stared up at the two-story home. What a twist of fate. My grandfather had a home twenty miles away all these years, yet interacted with his family only once or twice a year. Perhaps he watched them from afar? I didn’t understand his logic. Worse, how was this once beautiful home destroyed so quickly? It’d been less than a decade since her death…
“What the hell, Auggy?” Kellan bit out. “Even I would have caught on to that one.”
“At least we know who will be tracking us,” he stated.
“Yeah. The enemy!” Kellan grabbed my hand and zipped o the car. He chided himself. “I can’t believe I was so stupid! This whole time, we’ve been aiming to be careful wh
en Cesar knew we were there. Why didn’t he attack us then? It doesn’t make any sense. We were on his turf, one at a time, and yet he did nothing.”
I climbed into the car. Kellan stared ahead at nothing. I studied the perimeter of the forest. Slowly vampeens approached the edge.
“Go! Drive!” I cried.
Weapons began flying towards us. Kellan got the car in gear right as the first vampeen leapt onto the car, the sheer force of his jump denting Kellan’s roof. Kellan sped off, but the vamp held tight.
“Swerve the car,” I commanded.
Kellan drove the car in a maze-like pattern down the dirt road, trying to shake the vampeen. It wasn’t until he could take a sharp ninety-degree turn onto the main road that the vamp flew off the car into the trees.
“I know what he was waiting for,” I stated, awareness hitting me like a ton of bricks.
“What?” Kellan didn’t take his eyes off the road.
“Me. He knew at some point that you would have to bring me in. Now he has a permanent way to track me.”
Kellan was quiet, but his expression screamed danger. I’d never seen him look so lethal. He appeared ready to shred anything in his path, from a kitten to a giant. He ground his foot on the gas pedal until it hit the floor of the car.
I watched him closely the rest of the drive. He remained in control of the car the entire time, though he did push it to the max. His Beamer surprisingly didn’t give out, though.
He parked the car in the Bladangs’ driveway and was outside opening my door before I could get my bearings. He pulled me to him. He stared at me harshly. “I swear I will get whatever the hell it is out of you.” His brows furrowed. He was biting the inside of his mouth. That’s when I realized he was angry at himself on top of the situation.
I placed my hands on his cheeks. “Stop. I know you didn’t do this on purpose.”
He stepped backward, away from my touch. He laughed grimly. “I’m always going off about protecting you and taking care of you, and then I lead you right into the arms of danger. How’s that for being a great fiancé? Oh, and then I’m stressed and constantly losing my temper on top of it all.”
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