The voice didn’t ring any bells of recognition. The dipshit had done his homework in approaching from a blind corner that negated the possibility of a shot. The only hope included stalling for time until reinforcements arrived.
“Walk away from this. She hasn’t seen your face.”
“I don’t leave loose ends. Send her down or die with her. Your choice, for the next sixty seconds.”
“Is that why you had your partner killed?” Amid the threat and attempted stall, Caden needed to obtain information to follow the criminal food chain. The prick had no reason to lie.
“He was too stupid to survive. Would’ve talked eventually.”
“Interpol already has a line on your ass. You’re wasting time here when you should be running.”
“You’re full of shit and stalling. They got nothing on me. And your time’s up.”
The silence was deafening.
Movement to his side snapped his gaze to Kaylee.
“I’m gonna check to see if the balcony’s clear.” Kaylee’s grip in the dog’s fur diminished her shake.
She’d taken one step before he grasped her upper arm and hauled her back. “No. They’ll be looking for that. Stay here.”
He’d do anything to wipe the fear from her gaze. Like oil floating on water, her layers ran deep, separate, and complex. There were no words of assurance. He couldn’t lie. Their chance of survival diminished with each frantic heartbeat.
The connection they’d formed allowed him into her deepest motivations, understanding her need to protect as well as assert dominance over her life. Kidnappers had stripped her confidence then murdered a stranger she’d promised to help. Now, in her eyes, a need for revenge surged. Retaliation wasn’t justice and would stain her soul. He briefly mourned the loss of innocence.
Stealthy movements downstairs defied definition as he tried to form a mental picture of their furtive actions. Compelling them to talk at least gave him their location.
“We got your DNA from your last visit in the woods. Only a matter of time before you’re nailed. Give it up now and save yourself a bullet in the head.”
More glass shards hitting the floor defined another angle of entry from below. Another approach he wouldn’t see coming until they stepped farther into the great room or to the stairway. “How’s the stomach feeling? Bet you’re tired and achy.” A friend who’d suffered through hepatitis had complained of those symptoms.
The subsequent sounds propelled a sour wad of dread to his throat. He met Kaylee’s gaze and saw stark terror. Sloshing. Someone poured a liquid.
“You smell that? It’s gas. They’re gonna burn us alive.” Tears tracked down her cheeks. “There’s no reason for us both to die. They must have at least one man posted at the corner of the house to keep us from getting out. They’ve waited weeks to plan this.” After laying her gun down, she stood, searching his eyes for either permission or strength to do what she felt right.
“Hell, no. Not gonna happen.” Caden wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her tight, his grip letting her know she wasn’t going anywhere.
The sound of breaking glass behind him coupled with the pop of gunfire from the stairway didn’t alarm him as much as the faint smell of smoke wafting up from the first floor. Instead of poking holes in the glass with bullets, the intruder on the balcony had used something solid to break it.
Kaylee wrenched free and scooped up her gun, aiming toward the side wall of windows and glass doors. Thick shades obscured all but the outline of her target yet didn’t stop her from firing. “Fucking bastards. You may get me, but I’ll take at least one of you along for the ride.”
Caden hurled his own leaded response down the stairs.
“I think I got him.” Frenetic shaking of her gun hand defied the prospect of a true aim. Within seconds, her entire body shook.
Wood splintering by his head snapped his attention to the hallway. The hiss of the bullet’s passing kicked his adrenaline rush into overdrive. He traded shots with a masked man taking cover behind the stairs. His own bullet thudded in the stair tread. Matt’s verbal lashing circled his thoughts.
Calm and concentrate.
He’d just taken aim when the intruder pivoted with the simultaneous bark from a pistol, his body bucking forward into the spindles then falling to the floor. The crimson stain blooming on his back would soon coagulate from the growing heat.
Lucas was on the back porch.
Faint tendrils of flame licked along the hardwood downstairs, gaining height and speed with every heartbeat. In minutes, it would climb the stairs. Air filled with toxic chemicals and particulate matter, expanding, rising to the cathedral ceiling and flowing like a menacing cloud. Visibility would soon be nil while smoke and carbon monoxide stole precious oxygen.
“There’s one down, Caden, but I can’t put out the fire. It has you blocked off from the front. Go out the back or side.” Lucas sacrificed his position to deliver the warning. Thickening smoke decreased visibility and obscured the origins from subsequent rounds fired.
Knowing his brother would circle around to add cover fire, Caden focused on retreat. Glass defined one wall of the room while shards littered the floor between supports on the other. Kaylee’s shooter’s stance remained rigid as she waited for a target to appear from behind the billowing curtains. “I think I hit one but don’t know if he’s dead or even on the balcony.
“We don’t have time to wait. We have to go.” Nudging her weapon down and Kaylee behind him, Caden opened fire to mark a horizontal strafe along the remaining glass. Loud crackling preceded large chunks crunching to the balcony floor. He reloaded and pocketed an extra magazine from the bedside table.
A brisk wind had kicked up and blew the curtains inside, waving from nature’s blown raspberry. With no visual confirmation of a hit, he had no idea if he was about to step out and inherit targeted lead or just a light breeze. Damien’s growled warning mixed with intermittent whining mimicked his concern.
“We should separate, each take a side.” Kaylee pulled her T-shirt over her mouth and nose to filter smoke.
“No. You follow me. We stay together.” Gripping her hand, he added. “Be ready to fire but watch what you’re shooting. Lucas is out there and circling around to us. I don’t know how much company we’ve attracted. By my count, there’s at least two more.”
Flames already crept along the south decking when he peered out in search of immediate threats. Extreme heat and smoke choked his thoughts and cut off one avenue of escape.
The staccato beat of firecrackers below confused him until realizing the blaze had found his stored ammunition. Multiple mini-explosions cloaked any shots fired by the enemy. Though the assassins wouldn’t have stayed inside the burning inferno, they might’ve been in range to take a hit. His brother should realize the need to steer clear.
Friendly fire will kill just as fast.
Vague movement off the home’s north corner snapped his gaze to a black-clad form running for the wood line.
Lucas? Distance and a hunched posture defied identification. Fuck!
If he jumped directly off the balcony, he’d risk taking a stray shot from his own ammo supply, not knowing if fire had finished consuming both gun cabinets. Shifting their jump-off point toward the corner of the house might leave them more exposed to remaining gunmen and risked the balcony floor giving way beneath them.
“After you land, keep low and behind me. I’m gonna jump first with Damien. You stay to my right. Nail anything that fires at me.” Using his body was the only protection he could offer. Sweat glazed both their faces with second-story visibility narrowing to mere inches.
“I’ll cover your back.” Kaylee stepped out from behind him.
Knowing they had minutes to escape, he couldn’t take time to clear the way. The floor under his feet shook, the ominous creaking a forewarning of imminent disaster. Thick clouds of smoke engulfed the entire structure, which denied visibility between himself and the tree line. Gunfire
from killers or his own store of ammunition exploded rapid-fire as he visualized flames spreading through his den. He was out of options.
Tucking his gun in his waistband, Caden scooped Damien up in his arms and threw one leg over the balcony. “Climb up, Kaylee. Tuck and roll when you land, then head to the trees for cover. Don’t hesitate and don’t look back.” He didn’t need to tell her to have gun in hand, or that she’d land among glass and burning embers.
Caden waited until she’d straddled the wooden railing before leaping as far as he could. Damien’s violent struggle against his hold hindered a controlled landing as his bulk negated flexibility. A combination of whine and growl erupted from the dog’s throat.
Heat seared Caden’s back and head with the flames shooting through the cleared space of the once-spacious windows.
Free fall and a prayer.
A second of panic.
Pain shot through his right ankle and up his leg on landing. Twisting his body to the side to not land on Damien yielded more searing pain along his left shoulder from glass shards and burning debris. A gasp imported smoke to seize his lungs in a coughing fit.
The dog yelped as it scrambled for balance and away from the living wall of fire. Visibility increased slightly but night vision was shit between the smoke irritating his eyes and the ever-increasing flames engulfing his home.
Beside him, Kaylee’s landing manifested in a thin cry before she rolled to her feet and snatched her gun from her back waistband. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just rolled over something hot. I think—” Before she could finish, her body bucked forward from the force of a shot. The angle of impact indicated the dirtball fired from the north.
“Kaylee!”
“Fuck.” Her legs crumpled even as her arms grasped for his shoulders. Sweat and pain glazed her eyes, both heightened by the burning inferno.
Damien growled his rage, bolting north through the glass and smoking debris. A stream of yelps indicated his acknowledgment of painful footing.
Scooping her up, he couldn’t risk assessing the damage until finding cover. Even retrieving her gun would cost precious seconds he couldn’t afford. Time a shooter could use to end them both. He prayed the vest took the hit and would leave her with only a bruise or broken rib.
Flying embers danced in the breeze flowing toward the road, a dazzling display of chaos. Ash covered the ground while cinders died out after contacting dew-laden grass. Despite moisture on the ground, hundreds of acres of forest would be razed if the fire departments didn’t respond quickly.
Damien’s fury roared above the fire. Smoke would obliterate his tracking ability and make him more vulnerable.
Another shot kicked up dirt as Caden raced for the woods. He’d never been a man of prayer, but with Kaylee’s life at stake, he offered a silent supplication in their bid for safety.
An exchange of bullets with none striking his vicinity indicated a second shooter had joined the fight. Lucas providing cover.
“Damien, come!” Distant snarling growls gained volume as the shepherd returned and kept pace beside them. Behind a large oak, he took refuge while praying Kaylee’s body armor bore the lead intended to snuff out her life.
Kneeling down, he laid her out on a thick carpet of leaves. The fact she stirred against him and was regaining consciousness bolstered his spirits. Her groan preceded a frantic, uncoordinated effort to gain her feet. “Let me up. I can run. Vest shot.”
“Hold a sec and catch your bearings. I have an exit strategy.” Within seconds, his searching yielded the smashed bullet wedged in the material. An inch lower and he might have been saying goodbye.
Now the vest was weakened and might not protect her from another hit. “We’re gonna slip through the woods a short distance then run for the gulley. It lies perpendicular to the road and will gives us some cover, but we’ll have to climb out about two-thirds the way down. There’s a bunch of brush piled up. We can hightail it through the woods till we come to the end of the lane. Ethan will be waiting for us.”
“They won’t be expecting us to do that?”
“Doubtful. Even if they do, they won’t expect us to climb out before the end unless they’ve thoroughly scouted the property.” Caden scanned the surroundings before continuing. “The wooded area extends for miles and offers more refuge. Unfortunately, we don’t know how many of the shits are here nor their whereabouts.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The roar and heat of the fire had diminished with distance, but smoke permeated everything. Ambient light highlighted the evidence of their struggle in dirt smudging her face and the smoky aroma worn like a halo.
As expected, she rolled to all fours then stood while gingerly twisting side to side in testing for injury. “I’m good to go.” Her wince when stretching to the right cited minor damage. Protection from a bullet’s penetration didn’t equate lack of pain. At the very least, she’d have some bruising.
Lucas knew they’d head toward the road, but understanding his older brother wouldn’t give up the fight weighed heavy on his mind. There was a time to engage an enemy and a time to step back and assess. Lucas rarely knew where to draw the line.
A few hours ago, he’d lain sated with Kaylee in his arms. Now, with each heartbeat, he expected a bullet to drop them in their race for survival. “Hunch over when you run for the ditch. You’ll make a smaller target.”
The wild mass of hair swirling around her face gave the appearance of an avenging angel, but its movement in the breeze would act as a beacon. Gently, he finger-combed it to remove bits of glass and debris. Lightly twisting it into a rope, he tucked it under her vest. “There’s a lot of briars in here.”
Caden turned and peered through the murky shadows, avoiding the pull to survey his once-beautiful home. A glance in that direction would cost him precious night vision.
With the support of his hand at her elbow, he urged her through the thick brush. They had about thirty yards to go before breaking cover in a run for the ravine. Thorns tore at their shirts and jeans. Twice, he stopped to listen then assess Kaylee’s stamina.
Until several months ago, he’d never contemplated his own death. Flashes of Ciera’s lifeless body resting in a shallow grave urged him to move faster.
When in open ground once more, he resisted the urge to carry his greatest treasure. Expecting the biggest threat to come from his right, he kept Kaylee on his left, using his body as a barrier.
At the edge of the ravine, he helped her down, each sliding among the leaf litter, twigs, and other debris. Twenty yards at a steep angle passed quickly but sheltered them from anyone waiting farther ahead in the woods.
“Listen, this gulley is a bit rough traveling. Step carefully, there’s lots of holes. It also shallows out in places so stay low. These bastards will probably have someone waiting close to the end. When we near the pile of limbs and a fallen tree, we’ll climb out on the other side. From there, we’ll cut across toward the lane.” It was the best impromptu plan he could devise. “Close your eyes while you catch your breath. It’ll help you adapt to the lower light quicker.”
“I’m good. Let’s move. I’ll follow.” Her words came out in a harsh whisper.
Years of playing cops and robbers with four siblings followed by years in the department supported his assumption of how and from where his other brothers would converge. For now, he needed to get Kaylee to safety.
The roar of the fire receded with their steady pace along the ravine’s bottom while small rocks and fallen branches granted treacherous footing. With his gun in one hand, he scanned the ridges ahead on both sides. The orange inferno prevented him from assessing the rear, but the probability of thugs hanging around after their initial attempt to capture Kaylee seemed unlikely.
Scattered clouds filtered patchy moonlight to give him glimpses of their path while jagged terrain graded downhill until they reached a small patch of marshy ground. When he’d first walked the property before purchasing, there’d been a sm
all pool of water from melted snow. Beyond it, piled limbs provided a home and limited protection for a family of woodrats.
When he stopped, Kaylee bumped into him.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“It’s okay. From here, we go up the other side. Once we reach the tree line, the wooded path we’ll take is thick with briars, but there’s a few deer trails that’ll make it easier going.”
Shadows covered her face, but her emotions radiated loud and clear. He could have lost her in the fire or to some prick’s bullet to the head, yet here she stood, next to him, determined to do whatever necessary to survive.
“Caden, I…”
Like minds came together as they closed the distance and his lips covered hers. Insanity surrounded them in the distant roar of the blaze and the uncertainty of their future, but he claimed that minute in time, giving and taking with a hunger he’d never quench. Background sounds were little more than a nuisance as they each conveyed without words, what roiled inside them.
When she pulled back and opened her eyes, he knew in that instant what he’d always lacked in a relationship. A union that could bind for eternity and withstand a nuclear explosion. All they had to do was persevere and outmaneuver the bastards after them.
Her petite hand cupping his cheek held him in thrall. How could one small woman capture his heart in such a short time?
“Thank you…for everything.”
Two souls merged as one, the bridge forged by tragedy, determination, and a fervent desire for healing, then fortified by trust and mutual attraction. It was all etched in the touch of her hand and the depth of love in her gaze.
“Once we’re on the trail, we’ll head east. Stay close. We’ll keep Damien tight, but with all the smoke in the air, I don’t know how effective he’ll be.”
Bound By Shadows (The McAllister Justice Series Book 2) Page 21
