by R. D. Brady
And everyone else is probably focusing on Laney.
Jordan beached them, and Jake was quickly over the side. “Clear.”
“Where is everybody?”
Cleo’s roar provided the answer. Jake nodded toward the wall. “That way.” He took a step, but a shape blurred toward him. “Shit.”
“Do not shoot!” Drake stopped twenty feet away, two small children held in his arms.
Jake put a hand on the muzzle of Jordan’s weapon. “Hold. Drake?”
Drake nodded and walked toward them—but a half dozen shapes blurred behind him.
“Get down!” Jake yelled.
Drake dove for the ground as Jake opened fire. Jordan tossed a grenade, lighting up the path. And Jake could see more people coming.
“Incoming!” Jake yelled.
His men spread out, offering suppression fire.
Drake rolled to his feet and pushed the two children toward Jake. “Laney wants you to get them out of here.”
“She’s in trouble?”
Drake nodded, and Jake could see the fear in his eyes.
“I’ll go with you,” Jake said.
Drake shook his head. “No. She was clear. Getting these two to safety is your priority. She wants them out of harm’s way. We’ll find you when this is over.”
Jake looked down at the two girls. Tears streamed down their faces, although they made no sound. They were probably in shock. He knew he needed to get them away.
He looked back at Drake. “Take care of her.”
“With my very life,” Drake replied before sprinting back up the beach, zigzagging between the Fallen and dropping them as he passed. Jake’s men continued to engage them, firing chest shots.
While Jake got the girls onto the Zodiac, Jordan backed up with him, never taking his finger off the trigger. Their men leapt into the craft as Jake started to pull it away from shore.
“We’re not helping her?” Jordan asked.
Jake let out a trembling breath. “No. We’re following Laney’s orders. These two are our priority. Let’s go.”
Jake heard a roar and knew Cleo was in the thick of things. He also noticed that the lightning blasts had slowed. He hated leaving, but it was Laney’s order. He just hoped that what she wanted didn’t get her killed.
CHAPTER 109
Laney was a blur of motion, not thinking, just moving—block, move, strike, duck, hit. Her lightning bolts struck randomly; she was unable to focus on specific targets, so she just made sure it didn’t come near her or Cleo. But it was thinning the herd.
Her bullets depleted, she twirled from Fallen to Fallen, her knife slashing and stabbing, necks being broken. She didn’t know how many she had taken down. Sometimes she even got close enough to command them to defend her against their comrades.
She had never been more scared in her life. She could hear Cleo somewhere to her right, but she couldn’t stop to look. Please let her be all right.
Her energy was beginning to wane. And then she misjudged a punch, fading when she should have moved, and took a hit right in the stomach. Her breath left her, and she fell to the ground. Cleo let out a roar but couldn’t reach her.
Laney’s hands went to her throat. Her voice was gone. She couldn’t command the Fallen to do anything.
A man came at her, and she rolled out of the way, kicked him in the face, wrapped her legs around his neck, and yanked him to the ground. She rolled to her knees. Movement caused her to move to her left just in time to avoid a kick to the face. She punched the man in the groin, rose to her feet, grabbed his leg, and pushed it above his head. He crashed down onto his back, and she kicked him in the face, knocking him out.
Feeling like death warmed over, she looked around, surprised that no one was charging her.
That was when she saw the circle of Fallen and nephilim surrounding her. They’d been toying with her.
Hakeem stood directly in front of her, smiling.
Laney forced herself to speak. She needed to stall, to give herself some time to recover. In this fight, seconds counted.
She opened her mouth, but her voice didn’t carry above the music.
Hakeem replied. She couldn’t hear his words either, but it didn’t take a genius to figure them out. “Goodbye, ring bearer.”
CHAPTER 110
Drake knew he had never run so fast in his life. The fate of the two girls, along with the men he’d entrusted them to, had been pushed from his mind, shoved away by his all-consuming need to get to Laney. When Fallen blocked his path, he showed them no compassion.
At the same time, he had a horrible sense of déjà vu, knowing he had raced to save her like this before—only to lose his own life.
And he didn’t care. He would gladly trade his life ten times over for hers.
But as he crested the hill, he stared in horror at the scene below him. Laney was surrounded by over a dozen Fallen, with Hakeem in front of her.
And in that second, Drake knew two things for certain. One, Hakeem was going to kill her. And two, even with all his abilities, he would never be able to get to her in time.
CHAPTER 111
Laney reacted as fast as she could, but it wasn’t fast enough. She dodged a hook to the head only to take a hit to the shoulder. She stumbled back, and someone grabbed her shoulders. Without thinking, she stepped to the side and tossed him over her hip. She stomped his face, then slammed a sidekick into the Fallen charging her.
A Fallen grabbed her left shoulder, and she reached back and snapped his pinky while kicking another in the chest. She ducked the man coming from the side, having to release the man behind her, who kicked her in the back and sent her flying forward. She knew he had broken some of her ribs. She staggered to her feet.
And then the bullet punched through her chest.
Laney’s eyes went wide, her breath disappeared, and her knees turned to liquid. But there was no pain. Shouldn’t there be pain?
Hakeem jumped back “Damn it! Who shot her? No weapons! That was the rule!”
Laney collapsed to her knees, then fell backwards. And that’s when the pain arrived. It screamed through her as blood bubbled up her throat. I’m going to die. Time slowed down and sounds became muffled. She was vaguely aware of Cleo bellowing—in pain or anger she didn’t know. And through their bond, she could feel Cleo frantically trying to reach her.
No, Cleo. Save yourself.
Hakeem knelt down and grabbed her by the hair. She barely felt it. He leered at her. “Who’s the bitch now?” he asked.
He punched her in the face, and her whole world went black.
CHAPTER 112
Drake had never been so scared in his life as he was when he saw Laney drop. He emptied the magazine of the gun he’d grabbed from one of the downed humans and shot every single Fallen he saw in the head as he made his way to Laney.
When the magazine was empty, he tossed the gun to the side.
The gun he’d used to shoot Laney.
It was the only way. It was the only way, he repeated to himself as the image of Laney dropping replayed in his mind. He bulldozed past half a dozen Fallen before they’d even realized he was there. And when they did, they turned their attention away from Laney—who lay on the ground, her blood slowly draining from her.
All thought, all emotion left Drake. He simply fought—efficiently and brutally. From the corner of his eye, he saw Cleo reach Laney with an ear-shattering roar. One Fallen tried to reach Laney, but Cleo turned as if psychic and leapt across Laney’s body, slammed into the Fallen, and sank her teeth into his throat. The message was clear: any Fallen that approached would receive the same treatment.
Good girl, Drake thought, turning his attention back to his own fight. It took only three minutes, but each second felt like an hour. And Drake was supremely aware of Laney’s blood pooling around her. Hold on, Laney. Please hold on.
Finally the last Fallen was down. Half had taken off running at the sight of Drake, Hakeem the coward among them. Drake
yanked back the arm of the last man, practically ripping it from his socket, then shoved him away, sending him sailing.
He sprinted for Laney.
With a roar, Cleo barred Drake’s way, her teeth bared.
Drake stumbled to a stop and put up his hands. “Easy, girl, easy. I just want to help her.”
Growling low in her throat, Cleo moved toward him.
“Cleo, I don’t want to hurt you. Please get out of the way so I can help her.”
Cleo stopped and stared into his eyes. Drake didn’t move, but his anxiety grew. He didn’t want to hurt the cat, but if she didn’t move, it would soon be too late.
Finally, Cleo stepped aside.
Drake sprinted forward and dropped to his knees next to Laney. He cradled her head in his lap and put his hand over the wound in her chest, which still oozed blood.
The wound he had caused.
“Come on, come on,” Drake begged. “Come on, Laney. Come back to me.”
Cleo inched forward and lay her head right next to Laney’s. Her eyes were on Drake.
Drake ignored her, pouring all his focus into Laney’s wound. He had spent his time since she’d woken up keeping his distance, telling himself she needed time. But now, it was crystal clear that neither of them had the luxury of time.
“I have waited lifetimes for you. Don’t you dare die on me. You will live. Do you hear me? Do not make me wait another thousand lifetimes to be with you. You are supposed to live. You are supposed to be with me. So damn it, come back to me.”
He hadn’t used this skill in eons. He wasn’t even sure it would work. He felt the warmth spread through his hand, but he wasn’t sure if that was just her blood or something more.
“Laney, open your eyes. Please open them.”
When he’d seen the Fallen surrounding her, he’d known they would kill her. His only desperate hope had been to injure her so badly they’d leave her alone. Because he knew if he injured her, he could heal her as well—a small gift from the maker.
His hand began to glow. The healing was agonizingly slowly, but it was happening: the blood flow slowed. Then the wound itself began to glow.
At last, the warmth in Drake’s hand began to recede, and the glow dimmed and disappeared altogether. He pulled his hand away and looked down at the wound. Or at least, at the spot where the wound used to be. All he saw now was untouched skin.
“Laney?”
She groaned, and her eyes opened. “Drake?”
Cleo let out a whimper and licked Laney’s cheek over and over again. Laney reached up a hand and scratched Cleo behind the ears. “I’m okay, girl.”
Cleo rested her head on Laney’s shoulder with a purr.
Drake sucked in air, feeling like he hadn’t taken a breath since Laney had been shot. Since he had shot her.
“What happened?”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re all right.” He gently took her into his arms; Cleo gave him a disgruntled look. “We need to get out of here before these guys wake up.”
Laney looked around, shock splashed across her face. “What happened to them?”
“Me and Cleo, and a little bit of you. Come on.” He pulled her into his chest and knew she could feel his heart hammering away. And in that moment he made a decision: he was never letting her go.
CHAPTER 113
Jake, Jordan, and their team had hustled the girls back to the airfield. His men had set up a perimeter around the plane, which was idling outside the hangar. As soon as the medical team looking over the girls gave the all clear, they would take off.
Jake had seen the needle punctures in their arms, which made him see red. And both girls were exhausted. Jake just hoped there weren’t any serious medical issues with either of them. He hadn’t called Mary Jane yet, because until he could tell her that her daughter was fine, he didn’t want to get her hopes up.
Jordan jogged out from the hangar. “Not done yet. But the doc says so far, they look good. He thinks they may have been sedated, and he’s pretty sure blood was taken.”
Jake curled his hand into a fist. Bastards. “Are the girls awake?”
“They woke up during the exam. They seem pretty calm.”
“Are they in shock?”
“Probably. But Doc says overall, they look good.”
“Well that’s something.”
“So, what’s the plan? Are we really going to wait here while Laney’s in trouble?”
“If we leave, the girls are unprotected. And we know Samyaza will come for them as soon as she can. The minute the girls are cleared to be moved, we need to go.”
“So we’re leaving her,” Jordan said.
Jake whirled on him. “Do you think this is what I want? It’s Laney back there. You know what she means to me. Romance, no romance, she’s my family. But she’s right: we need to start fighting smart, not by emotion. Her leaving? That was the right move, as much as we all hated it. It bought us time. And right now, the right move is to get those girls to safety as soon as the doc okays them to go.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Well, I hate it, so I’ve got you beat. But this is war, and we’re soldiers. And we’ve been given an order. Are you planning on disobeying it?”
Jordan looked at him for a long moment before shaking his head. “No. But I don’t have to like it.” He returned to the hangar.
Jake continued surveying the area around them. No, and I don’t have to like it either.
CHAPTER 114
The doctor had given the girls the all clear. He’d run some rudimentary blood work, and everything had come back clear except for traces of a mild sedative in their blood. He would have to run more extensive tests back at his lab, but for now the girls were free to travel.
The nurses who would accompany them on the plane ride were getting the girls settled in. Jake planned on calling Mary Jane on the flight, once they were safely in the air.
Jordan stepped up next to him. “Any word?”
Jake shook his head. He had meant what he’d said to Jordan: the girls were their priority. But the idea of leaving Laney behind when she could be in trouble… He was having trouble physically placing himself on that plane.
“We’re doing the right thing, right?” he asked quietly.
“Victoria needs to be protected. There’s no doubt about that.”
Jake stared out into the darkness. Come on, Laney. “Jordan—”
Jordan clapped him on the shoulder. “Go. I’ve got the girls. Henry is sending people to meet us as soon as we land.”
Relief flooded through Jake. “Okay. I’ll—”
A shadow separated from the darkness and streaked toward them. Both men had their weapon in their hands in an instant.
Jake paused, his finger over the trigger. “Cleo?”
The black panther stopped in front of them. Dried blood was around her mouth and along her coat. Then with a second blur, Drake appeared beside her, Laney in his arms.
Jake’s whole world came to a stop as he rushed to Laney’s side. “Laney!”
Jordan was already running for the plane and calling for the medical team.
Laney’s jacket was covered in dried blood, and in the center of the blood was what looked like a bullet hole. Jake felt his knees weaken, and his gaze rose to meet Drake’s.
“She’s all right, Rogan. No permanent injuries.”
“How can you say that? She’s been shot.”
“That’s already healed.”
Jordan returned with a doctor, a nurse, and a gurney. Drake gently lowered Laney to the gurney, pushed her hair from her forehead, and stepped back. The gurney was whisked into the hangar. Cleo followed.
Jake had glimpsed Laney’s untouched flesh through the hole in her jacket. “She’ll be okay?”
Drake gave a stiff nod, his gaze never leaving the doorway where the team had disappeared with Laney. “Yes.” He turned to Jake. “Laney gave me instructions for you involving the girls.”
“She did?�
�
Drake nodded, a small smile on his face. “I’ve found she seems to have a plan for everything.”
Jake smiled in return. “That she does.”
CHAPTER 115
Elisabeta’s driver pulled to a stop next to the dock. Hakeem had contacted her just a few minutes ago, and she had stopped him in the middle of his recounting of events. She had a feeling she’d want to see his face when he explained how he had failed so spectacularly.
The speedboat was idling, waiting to take her over to the island. Not waiting for the driver, she flung open her door and strode toward the boat.
Hakeem stepped off and initiated a deep bow. “Samyaza.”
“What happened?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“The ring bearer arrived just after you called. We surrounded the house after she entered. We had her.”
“Had?”
“The archangel with her—he shot her.”
Elisabeta reared back. “Shot her? You expect me to believe the archangel shot her? There weren’t supposed to be any weapons. It was supposed to be a long, painful death.”
“It would have been. But the archangel must have gotten a weapon from one of the boundary guards.”
“Why would he kill her? The wound would have left her unable to defend herself. He only made it easier to kill her.”
Hakeem wouldn’t meet her eyes.
“Hakeem, you did kill her, didn’t you?”
“Uh, well, she was down. It was a mortal wound. It should have killed her.”
“Should have? She’s still alive?”
“Um, the archangel… he, um, healed her.”
“He what?”
“I watched. He healed her.”
“You watched?”
Hakeem straightened. “Yes. I knew you would want a full report.”
“I see. And the girls?”
“Uh, they took them as well.”
Elisabeta rolled her hands into fists. “How?”
“Laney and her cat distracted us. The men charged the front, and the archangel must have slipped out the back with the girls.”
