by Nina Croft
The man nodded. “We do.”
Ethan opened his eyes, stared up into her face. “What now? You kill me?”
“No. Now we wait for confirmation from my team. Then you get ready for your father’s funeral. I’ve considered the options, and you can give a show of grief, and afterward you hand over power to me.”
“Why would I do that?”
A wicked smile curved her lips. “Because if you don’t, I’ll hunt down your mother and your sister and kill them.”
But the threat didn’t seem real. Too distant. All he could think of was Sadie, and inside, he screamed her name.
Chapter Thirty
Something woke her.
Her head hurt and her mouth felt dry.
“Sadie, wake up.”
A stranger’s voice. Urgent. A hand shook her shoulder. She didn’t want to. She’d been dreaming of Ethan. She was safe in some far-off place and time.
The shake came again, and she pried her eyes open.
A man stood over her. Tall, with sandy hair and gray eyes. She’d never seen him before. She blinked a couple of times, trying to clear her mind.
What had happened?
That bastard Ethan had drugged her.
“You need to get up. Your guards are dead.”
“Who are you?”
“My name’s Si. That’s all you need to know. Right now, we have to move. I got the two men who took out the guards but there will be more, and they’ll be coming here for you.”
“Who?” God, she wished her head was working better.
“The Conclave, but they’re being controlled by the Federation. Or rather, someone using the Federation to do their dirty work here.”
“Who are the Federation? And why the fuck are they coming for me?”
“Obviously, someone wants you dead. I was sent to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The strength was returning to her limbs. She could feel her body warming as she came around from whatever drug he had given her.
“Why?”
“Not part of my briefing.”
That was irritating, because she could have really done with some clue as to what was going on. She wished her mind would recover as fast as her body. Where was Max?
“My dog?”
“I don’t know, but we have to move.”
She dragged herself out of bed and crossed to the window. Down below, shadowy figures circled the building. A lot of men. As she watched, two ran across the lawn and disappeared inside the front door.
She tore her attention from the window as her rescuer pulled a pistol from inside his shirt and tossed it at her. Footsteps slammed on the stairs. She stepped to the side out of the line of the doorway and stood next to Si. She held herself ready as shots fired through the wood into the mattress where she’d been lying only a minute ago.
As the door opened, they both shot at the same time. The first man in the doorway crashed to the ground, and she took the shot at the one behind him.
Si crossed the room. Shoved the bodies out of the way and kicked the door shut. She stared at the holes in the mattress. They’d obviously been expecting her to be there. Who else knew?
Ethan.
She had to get to him.
She peered through the window. They were not going to run out of people to shoot anytime soon.
“We can’t take them all.”
“We won’t need to.”
What the hell did that mean? She was prevented from asking by the pounding of boots on the staircase. This time, they halted. Probably something about the bodies caused them to hesitate. Bodies would do that. Sadie dived for cover as the door crashed open. Shooting from the floor, she hit the first in the knee. He crashed to the floor, and she shot him in the head. Her new friend took out the second.
She had a small breathing space and she really had to ask. “Who are you?”
He reached up, tugged down the edge of his T-shirt. A design was tattooed into his left chest, over his heart. A gothic C. She’d seen something like it before.
“You’re Conclave?” Somehow, she hadn’t been expecting that. But then, she had no clue what she had been expecting. “Did Ethan send you?”
He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“He’s all right, then?”
“Not exactly. He’s being held in Scotland. He sent me back to save you.”
“Back?”
“Haven’t you worked it out yet? I’m from the future.”
No fucking way. She stared at him. Then something crashed through the window, and she grabbed it and hurled it back. It exploded on the lawn.
She peered out the window.
“Fuck, they’ve got a fucking grenade launcher.” They really did mean business. They were going to have to jump, but they would be taken out as soon as they showed their faces.
“What—?”
“Wait.”
Wait for what. To get annihilated?
Everything went quiet. She raised her head over the edge of the window. Bodies littered the lawn. A lone figure stood among them, heading toward the house.
Rose.
Others of the Tribe fell into position behind her. Jake, Dex, Ryder, Chase. She almost collapsed to the floor as the strength went from her muscles.
She hadn’t heard them come. Then she realized she was still wearing the reflector device. She ripped it from her head. “Jake.”
“Thank God.”
The relief in his voice reflected her own.
The man tapped her shoulder. “I’m going to leave.”
“No wait. You need to tell me.”
“I can’t tell you more. I can’t risk influencing what you do.”
“Just one thing. How? Why now?”
He considered the question for a moment. “You activated the transmitter of the TM.”
“The TM?”
He grinned. “Time machine. Look, one day you’ll know everything. For now, I have to leave. Tell your friends not to shoot me.”
“Jake, there’s someone coming out. Let him go.”
“Who?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Turning her attention to Si, she dipped into his mind but hit a wall; he was shielded somehow. She wanted to ask him more, but he was already heading out. She waited as he appeared down below. The Tribe parted for him, and he disappeared into the shadows at the perimeter of the house.
She closed her eyes for a moment, coming back from the dark place where death seemed to be inevitable. Then she headed down the stairs. Max’s sleek body lay sprawled at the bottom. Rage poured through her and she ran down the last few steps and crouched beside him, reached out with a hand and touched his side. He was warm—thank God—and his heartbeat was steady, but he was out cold. She stroked her hand over his glossy fur, found where a bullet had grazed the side of his skull, but he’d live. She’d call him some help once she was away from here.
There were also two men dead by the front door. Probably guards Ethan had left to stop her following him. She exited the house and straight into Jake’s arms. He hugged her, and she buried her head in his shoulder and took some deep calming breaths.
Jake tightened his grip for a moment, then put her away from him.
“Thank you,” she said. “But why? How?”
“Ethan called, told us what he was doing. We left straight away.”
“But why?”
“Because you’re family, which makes him family.”
She bit her lip. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to go all mushy and emotional, and she’d never live it down.
“We have to get away from here,” Jake said. “Rose knocked them out, but with this many it won’t be for long.”
“We need to get to Scotland.”
“There’s a helicopter waiting.”
She thought for a moment. She didn’t want to put whoever had Ethan—Lauren, she presumed—on alert. “Can we buy ourselves a little time first?”
“What do you h
ave in mind?”
“Find their leader. Find out how he confirms the mission is done.”
“Good idea.”
He searched the prone bodies, coming to a halt beside one. He crouched down. Slapped the man’s face a couple of times and he groaned. Jake concentrated for a moment, then pulled the radio from the man’s belt, pressed a button. “This is 5567. Mission completed.” And he closed off the call. “Tie them up. Put them in the house.”
It was another half hour before they were ready to go, and she was itching with the need to move. Dawn was already lighting the sky.
“So who was your friend?” Jake asked as the helicopter rose into the sky.
“Conclave.”
“Ethan sent him?”
“In a manner of speaking. You’re never going to believe this.”
“He was from the future?”
“How the fuck did you know that?”
“I’ve got a clever wife.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Ethan didn’t know how much time had passed. He closed his eyes, kept his mind an empty void, because he couldn’t bear to think about Sadie. He just wanted it all finished.
At the click of heels on tiles, he opened his eyes. Lauren entered, followed by two guards at her shoulder. She came to a halt in front of him, staring down. He’d never prayed in his life before, but he did so now. That something…anything…had gone wrong, that Sadie had escaped.
“It’s done,” Lauren said. “She’s dead.”
The words made it through the fog in his mind, and inside, he screamed.
She reached down, patted his arm, and every muscle in his body locked up tight. “Look on the bright side,” she murmured. “She probably didn’t even wake up. She wouldn’t have felt a thing.”
He was going to kill her. Whatever else he did this day, Lauren would die. No doubt, he’d die along with her. He didn’t care. He’d be doing the world an immeasurable favor. Forcing the grief from his mind, he slowed his breathing. He needed to think straight. He wouldn’t have Sadie die for nothing.
“Where are your new friends?” he asked.
“They left as soon as we got the news. They’ve gone to deal with the rest of your little Tribe.”
They must have flown to Uganda. At least he hadn’t given away the exact location—he didn’t know it. Just the airport. Would they be able to get a fix on Jake and his people from there? He didn’t know. Christ, he needed to get a warning to Jake somehow.
“You can’t do anything about it,” Lauren said. “You don’t know how powerful these people are.”
At least she was only guessing and couldn’t read his mind. Now the other two were gone, he could at least keep his thoughts to himself. “Neither do you.” He studied her for a moment. How much had they revealed? “Do you know where they come from?”
“Of course not. I presume some super-secret government group even we haven’t infiltrated. Don’t worry. I’ll find them as soon as I have the Conclave’s resources behind me. Now it’s time to go.”
The guard unfastened the cuffs from his wrists and ankles. He stood, stretched, rolling his shoulders. Lauren tossed him a bundle of clothes. A black suit, white shirt, and a black tie. He stripped and dressed in the clothes.
It was his father’s funeral. He’d almost forgotten that. So many deaths.
Lauren left him afterward, though the guards stayed in the room. Could he take them? Probably. But after that—what? He had no clue how many people Lauren had here, but he was guessing plenty. His best bet to kill her was the explosive device. He had to bide his time. From the window, he watched the guests arriving, rolling up in their big black cars. He recognized them all. In a way, they were his family. Some were good, others not so good, but all had condoned things beyond acceptability. No one was born with the right to rule. Hereditary power could only be a force for evil. He’d come to see that. Before, he’d been blinded by his own need to discover the truth.
He made to turn away and then went still as a car drove up the drive and halted in front of the house. Fergus climbed out from the driver’s seat and Ethan swore under his breath. Something made the other man look up and they locked eyes.
Stupid bastard. What the hell was he doing here?
He glared and hoped Fergus took it to mean—get the fuck out of here. But he didn’t think so. Fergus gave a slight shake of his head and headed off around the side of the house. Would he have the sense to keep out of Lauren’s way? If he remained in the open, he might stay at liberty until after the service. Lauren wouldn’t want to make a fuss. And afterward…hopefully it wouldn’t matter.
Lauren appeared at the door. “It’s time.”
Ethan followed her out of the house. It was one of those rare days in Scotland when the sun shone, the sky a deep blue that reminded him of Sadie’s eyes. He stood at the entrance to the estate’s small cemetery, shook hands with the people he intended to kill. Fergus came to a halt in front of him.
Ethan took his hand. “Sadie is dead.”
Shock flared across the other man’s face, then sadness. He glanced at Lauren, who stood at Ethan’s side, and Ethan gave a small nod. Fergus moved away without another word, his shoulders tense, hands fisted at his side. Ethan had wanted his friend angry—that way he would make sure he stayed alive, and if Ethan failed, he would find a way to get to Lauren.
He was on autopilot as he stood at his father’s graveside, before the Conclave, and spoke of his father. His gaze kept slipping to the right. His mother’s grave with its ornate marble stone. Had they actually buried someone there or was the grave empty? Did it matter? If he succeeded and destroyed the Conclave, his mother would be safe. Even if she never knew it.
He finished up. “My father was a good man, and he followed his beliefs.”
Which hadn’t always been those of the Concave. After all, he’d let Ethan’s mother go. He stepped aside for the minister to approach the grave. They were lowering the coffin now.
“…we therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
Ethan ignored the drone of the voice and searched the area, found Fergus standing in the shadow of an oak tree, well outside the potential blast zone. Lauren stepped up closer, followed his gaze. “Don’t worry, we’ll pick your friend up afterward. I don’t want to spend my life looking over my shoulder.”
“Fergus is a good man. You could use him.”
“You think he’d ever work for me after I kill you. I’d never trust him. Now, let’s finish this. They’re waiting for you. Get this done, and we can get the hell out of here.”
The minister had finished speaking. Everyone was looking to Ethan, and his eyes skimmed their faces. At least there were no children. Most were Conclave. A few others. The minister. There was always collateral damage. He’d learned to accept that. Now he wished there was some way he could warn the man.
He stepped up to the head of the grave, where the earth was mounded. A smooth shiny pebble lay on the surface and he glanced up straight into Fergus’s eyes, giving a small nod.
Ethan went down on one knee, bent his head as though in prayer. His hand reached out as if to pick up a handful of earth, but slipped his fingers beneath the soil. Found the detonator and closed his fist around it.
He stood up tall, held Fergus’s gaze as his fingers tightened—
“Don’t you goddamn dare press that button.”
The voice sounded from behind him, so familiar that for a second he thought he must have conjured her up.
Sadie.
How?
He whirled around and there she stood, all black leather and attitude, and he could feel an inane grin tugging at his lips. He shook his head. Maybe he was already dead.
“Don’t be an idiot. And drop that detonator—it’s making me nervous.”
He didn’t let go, but turned the device over, found the deactivation switch, and disarmed the explosives, then slipped it in his pocket. Sadie nodded. Then she strod
e around him and stood staring at Lauren, her eyes narrowed, filled with hatred.
As Lauren opened her mouth, the two guards at her shoulders collapsed to the ground. She closed it again. Looked around her.
Jake stood a little way off, a rifle hung loosely from his hand. Rose at his side, and she waggled her fingers in his direction. Others of the Tribe stood in a circle, guns in their hands, but they made no move to stop the fleeing mourners.
Lauren backed away, but Sadie pulled a pistol out from the back of her jeans, and the other woman went instantly still.
“You shot my fucking dog, you bitch.” Sadie raised the pistol and shot her between the eyes.
Ethan blinked at the loud retort, still trying to get his brain working. She was alive. “How?” he asked.
“Long story,” she said. “But basically, you saved me—thanks for that.” Then she scowled. “Mind you, you wouldn’t have had to save me if you hadn’t goddamned drugged me.” She pointed the gun at his chest. “Don’t ever drug me again.”
He shook his head, his mind still not making sense of this. Then she dropped the pistol and she was in his arms. And nothing else mattered.
She was no longer wearing the reflector device and he let his mind fill with everything he felt, his wonder that she was here when he’d thought her dead, his hopes for the future, all his love.
“I love you, too.”
He kissed her until they both ran out of air. “We saved each other. That means we belong together. A lifetime.”
“Longer.” A slow smile curved her lips. “As many lifetimes as you can take.”
Epilogue
“Christa thinks that when we set off the countdown mechanism on the time machine, that we did something else as well. Presumably switched on some sort of transmitter. But transmitting what and to whom—and more importantly to when. We have no clue.”
Ethan had been busy—he had a lot of clearing up to do—and had missed the latest meeting. “So someone in the future picked up the signal, which told them you lot existed, so they sent someone back to kill you all.” Ethan frowned. “But how come they arrived before the countdown was activated?”
Sadie shrugged. “Hey, we’re talking time travel here—maybe they wanted to arrive before the signal, so they could stop it.”
