by R. D. Brady
Laney felt tears press against the back of her eyes. “You’ve changed.”
His throaty laugh came across the line clearly. “I like to think I’ve evolved.”
“Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah. Henry and Jen are keeping the ETF busy.” He paused. “There’s something you need to know though, about Cain.”
“I know. I, uh, saw him. And my uncle.”
Jake was silent for a moment, and Laney wasn’t sure what to expect. Anger, maybe annoyance, that she hadn’t reached out to him. But he just chuckled. “I really need to stop underestimating you.”
She smiled. “You do have a habit of doing that.”
“I’m working on it. These coordinates you’ve sent, it’s where the girls are being held?”
“That’s what we think.” She quickly explained about Hakeem and what he’d revealed.
“Okay. So what’s the plan?”
Laney took a breath. “Drake, Cleo, and I will go in and get the girls out. You, Jordan, and the rest of your team will wait on the shore. We’ll get the girls to you. Your sole responsibility is getting the girls to safety.”
“We’re not helping you?”
“You are. The girls come before anything. If anything goes wrong, we need you there to get the girls out.”
He was silent for a moment. “Okay. We’ll wait for you.”
“Thank you.” She paused. “The girls’ families—do you know anything?”
“One of them, Isabel Somerfield, her father was killed trying to protect her.”
Laney’s heart clenched. Oh, God. “What about her mother?”
“She died from breast cancer a year after Isabel was born.”
“So she’s alone?”
“There’s some extended family, but no one close.”
Laney wasn’t sure if that meant she should hope Isabel was Victoria—simply because it would disrupt fewer lives. “And the other girl?”
Jake paused. “Her name’s Susie. She’s from outside Boston. She’s got a mom, two brothers, a sister, and a very involved extended family.”
Jake’s words were straightforward, but she heard a little something behind them. “You know them?”
“Jen and I met them not that long ago. Susie’s disappearance is what clued us in to the missing kids.”
“And the family? They’re a good family?”
Jake’s voice softened. “Mary Jane’s an incredible mom. And she’s got great kids. The father, he died last year in a car accident. Jen and I think he was a Fallen. The other daughter, she’s fifteen, she’s just starting to come into her abilities.”
Laney wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t considered one of the children coming from a Fallen. But she also couldn’t miss the pride in Jake’s voice when he spoke of the girl’s family. “You like them.”
“They’re a good family. They’ve been through a lot. They deserve some happiness. And I really hope Susie isn’t Victoria. Have you figured out a way to identify her?”
Laney looked down at Cleo, who was stretched out next to her. “Yeah. I’ve got that covered.”
“Good.”
“We’re about twenty minutes away. I’ll text you when we land.”
“We’ll be right behind you.”
“I have no doubts.” Laney paused, knowing she’d conveyed everything she needed to convey, but not feeling quite ready to hang up yet.
“It’ll be okay, Laney. You’ve got this.”
She gave a small laugh. “Not so sure about that.”
“We have reports that Elisabeta’s in Manhattan.”
“Yeah, I heard that too. But it doesn’t make any sense. I can’t see her being that far away. Not when she’s so close to her goal.”
“You think she’ll show up?”
Laney nodded. “I’m counting on it.”
CHAPTER 100
Laney, Drake, and Cleo had touched down only an hour ago at the West Michigan Regional Airport. Laney had almost forgotten she was wanted by the world until Drake handed her a hat and sunglasses as she prepared to get off the plane.
Luckily no one had raised the alarm, which was amazing, especially when Drake had to haul Hakeem out of the plane and into the car. But the only time anyone noticed them was when Cleo was slinking her way down the plane stairs and into the SUV. Two kids saw her, but by the time they got their parents’ attention, Cleo had disappeared from view.
After that, they made the trip to Lake Michigan in little time. Now they stood on the bank across from the island, hidden by the tree line. A dozen guards had been stationed throughout the acreage across from the island, but they were all human, and Laney and Drake knocked them out easily and tied them up.
“Well, that is definitely more of what I expected,” Laney said as she lowered her binoculars. The island looked impenetrable. Guards roamed the shoreline, and a giant fortress of concrete and sharp corners rose from the center of the island.
“Samyaza does like to set a scene, doesn’t she?”
“Has she always been so dramatic?”
“Oh, yes. Remember that lovely time period when people placed the heads of their enemies on pikes? Guess who started that little practice?”
Laney shuddered. And this was the woman who currently held two small, defenseless children—and who had already tried to kill dozens more. “We need to get over there. Any ideas how we can do that without being seen?”
Drake looked up at the sky. “It’ll be dark soon. We’ll take a boat.”
Laney shook her head. “They’ll hear the motor.”
“Who needs a motor when we have your power and mine?” Drake looked around. “Should we be worried about your cat?”
Cleo had disappeared into the surrounding wood, but Laney wasn’t worried about her. She could still feel her, and she knew Cleo was keeping track of her as well. “No. She’s just stretching her legs. She doesn’t like being cooped up in planes. I can call her back when we need her.”
Hakeem groaned behind them. Drake reached back and snapped his neck.
Laney cringed. “How many times have you done that now?”
Drake shrugged. “Not sure. Lost count. Are we bringing him?”
Laney stared at Samyaza’s man. He’d been coming to every thirty minutes. If they left him, he could awaken and warn Samyaza. If they brought him, he’d be dead weight.
“Until we know Samyaza is inside and the kids, yes. So I guess we’re bringing him along.”
Drake sighed. “Wonderful.”
CHAPTER 101
Laney pulled out her phone and typed a quick message to Jake. Land on the southeast beach. We’ll bring the kids to you.
“We good?” Drake asked.
Laney nodded.
When Cleo had come back, she had spotted a canoe not too far away, and she and Drake had retrieved it. Luckily, Hakeem had stayed unconscious the whole time. Laney really wished she had some amobarbital, like the SIA used; it would make this easier. Drake had suggested just killing him, but even though she knew who he was, Laney still couldn’t condone cold-blooded murder. So they were taking the man.
Drake loaded Hakeem into the canoe and pushed it into the water. Laney waded toward it and jumped over the side. Cleo slipped into the water behind her and started swimming toward the opposite shore.
Drake slipped in behind Laney and nodded toward Cleo. “Will she be okay?”
“Oh, yeah. She likes to swim.” Already it was difficult to make Cleo out in the dark.
Drake put an oar in the water, but Laney shook her head. “I’ve got this.” She looked toward the sky and called on the forces. It felt good to feel the familiar tingle, the power spreading out from the ring and through her blood. She focused on the canoe, and Drake stumbled, catching the side to keep from tipping over as the canoe shot forward, pushed by the wind.
Drake leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Head to the left. It’s darker. We can slip in easier.”
She focused on where he pointed a
nd tried to ignore the heat of him right behind her. She squinted, looking for Cleo, and finally spotted her. More to the left, she told the cat.
Laney steered the canoe to the shadows. She kept her focus on the wind pushing them forward even as she felt a tingle roll over her skin.
Drake leaned up next to her and spoke in a low voice. “There’s a Fallen along the beach. Thirty feet in. I’ll take care of it.”
Stay in the water, Laney thought to Cleo.
She brought the canoe aground in the shallow water. As soon as it stopped, Drake was out and disappeared into the shadows. Even though she knew the Fallen couldn’t sense the archangel, Laney was still tense.
A grunt of pain sounded from up ahead, then Drake rematerialized from the dark. “We’re good.”
She noted the blood on the knife in his hand, but didn’t comment. Come, Cleo.
She nodded to Hakeem. “What do we do with him?”
“We’ll have to stash him somewhere until we find the kids.”
“He’s been out for only about thirty minutes each time. We’ll have to move fast.”
Drake hauled Hakeem out of the canoe with one arm and slung him over his shoulder. “We’ll stash him behind some rocks.”
Laney jogged behind Drake. Hakeem groaned when he was tossed on the ground.
“Right on time,” Drake said, then snapped Hakeem’s neck. Laney gathered some seaweed and driftwood and draped it over him. She shrugged. Good enough.
“Not yet.” Drake plunged the knife into Hakeem’s heart and twisted.
Laney grabbed his arm. “What are you doing?”
“He’s a risk, Laney. You know that.”
She knew he was right, but it just didn’t sit well,
“It’s done now, and it’s on me, not you.”
Laney met his gaze before turning to look toward the center of the island. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 102
Laney and Drake made their way toward the house, staying away from the path. The island was crawling with guards. Laney had hoped they’d be able to sneak in, but they’d seen a dozen different men already. Sneaking in wasn’t an option. She hated not having more time to get the lay of the land. But with both children in danger, time was of the essence.
But they also couldn’t simply fight their way through everyone. Stealth was the best shot at getting the girls out safely. This area only seemed to have those three though, so it was possible if they took them out, no one would notice for a little while.
Or their shift’s about over, and we’ll be uncovered shortly.
But most importantly the three guards were human, which meant once they went down, they’d stay down for a while.
“One for each of us?” Drake whispered.
“Sounds right,” Laney said.
Cleo remained at Laney’s side, but Laney could feel her eagerness.
“Ladies first.” Drake waved them on.
Laney crept forward, Cleo at her side. Laney waited until she had reached a tree only six feet from one of the men. She looked down at Cleo. Ready?
Yes.
Laney focused on a tree across from the men. A wind slammed into it, breaking off one of its long branches.
The men whirled toward the sound. “What was that?”
Laney and Cleo burst from their hiding spot. Cleo pounced on one of the men, cutting off his yell. A blur raced past her, and Laney knew Drake was going for the man farthest away. Laney spun, slamming a back kick into the back of the third man’s lower back. He grunted in pain, his back arching. She yanked him by the shoulders, pulling him back, and then her hands were around his neck, twisting in opposite directions. He dropped like a stone.
Cleo stood over her kill. Drake had taken down his man as well.
Drake looked at Laney, his head tilted to the side.
“What?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Nothing. It’s just nice to see you in action. I’ve missed it.”
Laney wasn’t sure whether he meant the last time they were in Vegas, or farther back in time. And she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
Drake pulled his man up. The man groaned in pain.
“He’s still alive?”
“I thought you might want to ask him a question or two.”
“I won’t answer any—”
Drake pulled the man’s pinkie back and broke it. Then he crushed his hand over the man’s mouth so his cries were muffled.
Laney stepped closer to the man. “There are two little girls. I want to know where they are.”
The man shook his head.
Drake grabbed the man’s index finger. The man shook his head and screamed, the sound muffled by Drake’s hand. “Answer the lady’s question,” Drake said.
This time, the man nodded. Slowly, Drake removed his hand from the man’s mouth.
“Where are the children?” Laney asked.
“I’m not sure.”
Drake yanked the man’s hand up.
“But, but, there’s a lot of activity in the basement. I’m not allowed down there. Only the boss’s special guard.”
“How many guards are there on the island?”
“About two dozen.”
“How many in the basement?”
“I—I don’t think any. We’re all stationed outside.”
It made sense. Elisabeta wouldn’t want any of her guards to know what was going on. They might try to take the immortality for themselves.
Drake punched the man in the back of the head. He pitched forward.
“Drake!”
“What? We got what we wanted, and I didn’t kill him. Win-win. Now, shall we, ladies?” He gestured up the path.
Cleo moved ahead. I like him.
Laney shook her head. I am not telling him that. His ego is already too big.
Cleo huffed out a laugh.
Drake leaned down to Laney’s ear. “I think she likes me.” He paused. “I think you do too.”
Laney had no response for that, so she just picked up her pace.
As they approached the mansion, Laney sensed six more Fallen within a few dozen yards. But none of the Fallen could sense the intruders, and they were able to sneak around them without any trouble. Soon they were just beyond the halo created by the lights of the house. It was a two-story concrete building. Laney found nothing warm about it.
“There’s no one ahead of us,” she whispered.
“I’m going to go do a quick scouting and see if I can find an entrance to the basement from the outside,” Drake said.
Laney grabbed his arm. “You’re not going to try to go in without me, right?”
“Who, me?”
“I mean it. We’re coming with you.”
He sighed. “Fine. But let me scout alone. I’ll be back in a minute.” He blurred out of sight before she could respond.
Cleo sat next to Laney, her warmth helping fight away the chill. Children here.
You can sense them?
Cleo nodded.
Is—is Victoria here?
Yes.
Laney jolted. She had known this was true, but part of her was still having trouble wrapping her head around it. Her mother, the mother of all, was a child. And she was inside that building.
A slight wind ruffled Laney’s hair, and then Drake was beside her. “There’s a side door around the back. I think the stairs to the basement are near it.”
“Did you sense anyone?”
“No Fallen. But I heard movement inside. Human staff.” Apparently Samyaza’s paranoia survived across lifetimes.
Laney stared at the building, feeling how surreal this whole moment was. “Okay. Well, time to rescue my mother, the toddler.”
CHAPTER 103
Drake led Laney and Cleo around the side of the building. The trees were closer to the house here, and there was less open space to cross.
“Where is everybody?” Laney asked. She could feel the Fallen out on the grounds, but none were near the house. There were no human gua
rds either.
“Samyaza has always been both paranoid and arrogant. She doesn’t want any Fallen near her precious project, and she’s only worried about people getting on the island.”
“Well, her paranoia and arrogance are our gain.”
“Follow me.”
Drake blurred toward the door. He had it open in a second, and Cleo and Laney slipped inside. Voices could be heard down the hall, but they quickly disappeared down the basement stairs.
Cleo sniffed the air, and Laney could sense her confusion.
What’s wrong? Laney asked.
Children—upstairs and down.
Did they split them up?
Both upstairs and down.
Laney frowned. Cleo was registering the children in two places at once. We’ll try downstairs first.
She tapped Drake’s arm and nodded toward the door across from them. Drake silently crossed opened the door. Laney and Cleo followed.
They had entered a short hallway with three doors—one on either side and one straight ahead. Laney waited for a beat, but heard no sounds.
Cleo?
No one.
Laney moved to the first door. It opened it onto a large room with two hospital beds and a bunch of medical equipment. On a board near the door were printouts. Laney scanned them quickly. They discussed the vital signs and basic health of “Subject 1” and “Subject 2,” both two-year-old girls.
“Laney,” Drake said quietly. He stood by a refrigerated container.
No.
She hurried to his side and looked inside. Her stomach rolled. There were rows of vials filled with blood. One side of the refrigerator was dedicated to the blood of Subject 1 and the other to Subject 2.
“They don’t know which is Victoria,” Laney said. “So they’re draining both of them.”
“They’re taking as much as they can each day while keeping the girls alive.”
Laney’s mouth hung open in horror. She knew Samyaza was evil, but this—this was a whole new level of depravity. “We need to destroy these. She can’t have even a drop.”
