by R. D. Brady
“I see. So both of the girls are gone, and McPhearson is still alive. Is that correct?”
“Um, yes.”
“So tell me, why are you still alive?”
He frowned. “Samyaza?”
“You said you watched McPhearson heal. Why didn’t you kill her and the archangel?”
“I—I thought you would want to know—”
Elisabeta lashed out. “That McPhearson was dead! That is what I wanted to hear. I am not hearing that. I am hearing failure at every turn. Gerard is alive. McPhearson is alive. The girls are gone. Tell me, what have you done for me lately, Hakeem?”
Hakeem dropped to his knee, his hand to his heart. “Samyaza, I am your most loyal servant. I would do anything for you. Even die for you.”
She stepped closer and ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, I know.”
She crushed his throat with her hand. His eyes bulged. “Maybe you can at least die correctly.” She pulled the knife from the sheath at his waist and plunged it into his heart over and over again.
She stepped back as he fell forward. “Well, look at that. You did die for me. Good boy.”
Hilda walked up behind her and handed her a towel. “Ma’am.”
Elisabeta wiped her face. “Report.”
“There have been no further sightings of McPhearson. And her legal status remains unchanged.”
“The children?”
“We have reports that Jake Rogan is headed to Boston with a child. I believe they’re returning her to her family.”
“And the other?”
“There’s been no sign of her.”
“Or McPhearson.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Well, I guess I know which one is Victoria. Elisabeta looked out over the water. “What about the blood on site?”
“It was contaminated. It’s unusable.”
Elisabeta counted to ten to keep herself from Hilda’s throat. Hilda was an incredibly capable assistant and not easily replaced. And none of this was her fault.
Her gaze went to Hakeem. If only I could kill him again.
“All right. McPhearson still remains a fugitive. That hasn’t changed. What about our other project?”
“They’ve reached the tomb. They said they should have something to report in a few hours.”
Elisabeta nodded. Good. One avenue to immortality had been closed. But it wasn’t the only one. And Delaney McPhearson was way behind in that particular race.
“Good. And make sure my doubles are seen. Tip off the paparazzi.” She waved to Hakeem’s corpse. “And have someone take care of this.”
CHAPTER 116
ASHBURNHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
The blue house looked quiet as Jake rolled to a stop at the curb. Dawn had barely broken across the sky. He’d tried to reach Mary Jane last night, but she hadn’t answered the phone. No doubt the toll of everything was catching up with her.
In the rearview mirror, he saw a pair of bright blue eyes. “You’re going to make a lot of people happy this morning.”
Susie took a drink from her sippy cup in response.
Jake smiled. She had become agitated halfway through the flight home, and no one had been able to calm her until Jake had taken her in his arms. He walked up and down the plane, telling her how happy her family was going to be to see her, and she began to settle, finally letting her eyes close. But when he went to set her back down, she woke up, grabbed his jacket, and wouldn’t let go. So Jake settled into a chair with her curled up in his lap. She fell asleep again, and so did he. When he awoke, it was to her little hand on his cheek and her blue eyes staring into his.
Now he climbed from the driver’s seat, opened the rear door, and started unbuckling Susie from the car. Getting the car seat strapped into the SUV had been a humbling process. Eventually the pilot had taken pity on him and done it for him, explaining that he had three kids and that it just took practice.
With Susie securely snuggled in his arms, Jake walked up the path to the house. Susie laid her head on his shoulder, and Jake rubbed her back. Almost there, sweetheart.
He opened the screen door and knocked softly, not wanting to startle the whole house awake. It was a few minutes before he heard someone moving toward the door. It swung open, and Sean stood there, wiping his eyes.
“Mr. Rogan? What are—”
His jaw dropped, and he just stood staring at Susie for a moment. Then he yelled, “Mom! Mom! Come quick!” He took off running up the stairs.
Jake looked down at Susie. “Well, I guess we’ll let ourselves in.” He stepped into the foyer.
Sean appeared at the top of the stairs, pulling Mary Jane by the arm.
“Sean,” she said, “what are you—” Her gaze fell on Susie, and she sprinted down the stairs, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Susie!”
Mary Jane pulled Susie from Jake’s arms and dropped to the floor, hugging her daughter to her chest and sobbing. Sean dropped down next to her, his shoulders heaving. Molly and Joe appeared at the top of the stairs as well, looking fearful.
“Mom?” Joe called out.
Jake realized they couldn’t see their sister from their vantage point and probably feared the worst. “It’s okay,” he said. “Your sister’s home.”
Molly and Joe looked at each other before running down the stairs. They skidded to a halt in front of their mom, then piled onto the crying fest on the floor.
Jake felt tears press against the back of his own eyes. Quietly, so not to disturb them, he let himself back outside and headed down the path.
“Jake!”
He turned to find Mary Jane running down the path toward him, Susie still held protectively in her arms. “Where are you going?”
“I didn’t want to intrude.”
She grabbed his hand. “You’re not intruding. You brought my daughter back. You—” She swallowed, tears sparkling in her eyes. “Stay—for breakfast. It’s the least we can do.”
Susie reached for him, and Jake took her little hand in his with a smile. “Yeah, I think I could do that.”
CHAPTER 117
GALETON, PENNSYLVANIA
Laney felt a presence next to her on the bed. She opened her eyes and saw Cleo sleeping quietly next to her. She ran a hand through her coat. Hey, Cleo.
Cleo slowly turned her head to look into Laney’s eyes. Better?
Better.
Laney looked around the room. A familiar figure was sitting in the chair next to her bed. Drake’s head was down, his eyes closed. He looked almost the same as he had when she’d woken up in the cabin in Alaska.
“Hey,” she said quietly.
He sat up. “Hey.” He leaned forward, studying her face. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore. Pretty much everywhere. Apparently you shouldn’t jump right into fighting dozens of Fallen if you haven’t worked out in six months.”
Drake smiled. “I will have to keep that in mind.”
Cleo snuggled closer to Laney. Tired.
Go to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.
Good, Cleo thought back at her as she drifted back to sleep.
Drake nodded toward the cat. “She hasn’t left your side. I think she missed you.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” Laney paused. “Drake, who shot me?”
Drake went still. “Uh, we can talk about it when you’re feeling better.”
He rose from his seat, but Laney grabbed his hand. “Don’t go.”
He looked down at her, his eyes filled with pain.
Laney patted the bed next to her. “Sit.”
He still hesitated.
“Please,” she said.
With a nod, he sat on the bed next to her, his whole body tense.
Laney had awoken on and off through the night, but while she slept her subconscious seemed to have worked something out. “I was shot in the chest,” she said.
Drake wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“And you healed me.”
He nodded, still refusin
g to meet his eyes.
She took his hand. “You shot me, didn’t you?”
“Laney, there was no other way. I couldn’t reach you in time.”
Laney closed her eyes, reliving that moment. The Fallen had surrounded her and then charged. Her voice was gone, her strength was failing. She had known in that moment that she would not survive the fight.
And then she’d been shot.
“You know, when we left Alaska to see my uncle, I spent some time researching Achilles.”
His head jerked up.
“There was one interesting story. Apparently Achilles found himself fighting Telephus, the son of Heracles. Achilles wounded Telephus. But then the oracle explained that Achilles could heal the ones he wounded. So, in exchange for Telephus showing the Greeks the way to Troy, Achilles healed him.” Laney paused. “You knew if you shot me they would stop; they would think I was done. And then you’d be able to heal me.”
“I didn’t know. I hoped. I haven’t used that ability in forever. I could have killed you.”
“But you didn’t. You saved me.”
Laney stared into Drake’s eyes, and he stared into hers—and it was as if the entire world disappeared.
Then she heard her uncle and Cain down the hall. She looked around. “Are we in Pennsylvania?”
Drake nodded. “Yes. I figured you’d want to see your uncle and Cain when you woke.”
Laney was touched. “Thank you.”
“That’s what I do. I’m an all-service archangel.”
The door opened, and her uncle poked his head in. “I knew you’d be up. She’s up!” he yelled down the hall.
“Be in in a minute,” Cain yelled back.
“He’s bringing in some breakfast for us all,” Patrick said. “I know you probably won’t be able to eat much, but I thought if it was okay, we could eat in here.”
“I’ll just get out of your way,” Drake said.
“No,” Patrick said quickly. “I’d like you to stay. We made enough for you too.”
Surprise flickered across Drake’s face. “Well, then I’d be happy to. I’ll go see if I can help.” He disappeared through the door as Patrick stepped in.
Patrick took the spot Drake had vacated on the bed. He put a hand to Laney’s forehead.
“I’m fine, Uncle.”
“Well, you look like you went ten rounds with Mike Tyson.”
“All things being equal, I think I would have preferred Tyson.”
Laney heard the unmistakable sound of a child’s laugh, and her gaze flew to Patrick.
He put up his hands. “We need to discuss a few things.”
“Before we do, can you bring me my jacket?”
“It’s covered in blood and—”
“I know, but I need it.”
Patrick gave her a long look before going to retrieve it.
Laney waited anxiously for him to return. Please let it have worked.
Patrick returned with the jacket and handed it to her. She looked carefully at the camera lens on the lapel. It looked undamaged. She let out a breath. “ I think it’s okay.”
Patrick looked surprised. “You were recording?”
“Dom was. I need to speak with him. Can I use your—”
Patrick handed her his phone. Laney dialed Dom.
“Patrick?” Dom answered.
“No, it’s Laney. Did you get—”
She could practically hear Dom’s smile on the other end of the line. “I got it. I got it all.”
CHAPTER 118
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Henry disconnected the call and walked back to the bedroom. When the phone had rung he’d left the room so he didn’t wake Jen.
They had only gotten back to Baltimore three hours ago. The ETF had held them for hours, refusing to let them go, and Henry had thought Seward was going to have a stroke when he realized Jake was missing. It had ultimately taken the intervention of the US Attorney General to get them released, and Henry still wasn’t sure how he had even gotten involved. According to Brett, the ETF had been recalled, essentially removed from any dealings involving the Chandler Group. Brett didn’t know why it had happened, but he thought it was a very good sign.
“Everything okay?” Jen sat up on the bed, her hair a mess and her eyes clear. She had been dead asleep when the phone had rung.
“Yeah. Jake’s going to stay at the McAdamses for a little bit. He said he wanted to make sure the security for Susie was taken care of.”
Jen grinned. “And that, folks, is a big fat lie.”
Henry sat next to her and leaned back against the headboard, pulling Jen with him. “Yup. But let’s him lie for a little bit longer.”
“Any word on Laney?”
“She disappeared with Drake, Victoria, and Cleo. And she was hurt pretty bad.”
“I hate this. I hate that she’s out there and can’t come to us.”
“We’ll figure out a way.”
Henry’s phone beeped, and he looked down at and read the text. Then he grabbed the remote and tuned to a news station.
“What’s going on?” Jen asked.
“I don’t know. Dom said we need to watch.”
The news was broadcasting a video of a brutal fight, apparently taken from the point of view of one of the combatants. But it was the words at the bottom of the screen that made Jen gasp and Henry feel lightheaded: Delaney McPhearson Fights Off Multiple Attackers in an Attempt to Save Two Abducted Girls.
“Henry,” Jen said softly, touching his arm, and he realized just how tightly he was holding her.
He released her quickly. “Sorry, sorry.” He turned up the volume.
“We’ve received word that while Delaney McPhearson was shot during the altercation, she is in fact alive and remains hidden. Although, I would argue she may not have to for much longer. The existence of this tape calls into question the case brought against her. I think it is safe to say that the US government will be spending quite a bit of time deciphering the actions on this tape and investigating Elisabeta Roccorio.”
Henry muted the set as the program went to commercial.
The two of them sat there in stunned silence before Jen reached over and switched the TV off. “She did it,” she said quietly.
Henry, still wrapped up in the horror of what Laney had been through, turned to her. “What?”
Jen gestured to the TV. “Laney. She figured out a way to come back to us. The world will have to investigate Elisabeta. Laney’s going to come home.”
It took a moment for Jen’s words to register. When they did, Henry smiled and pulled her close. “Thank God.”
His phone rang, and he wanted to ignore it, but it was Patrick. Wiping his eyes, he answered, still smiling. “Patrick, did you—”
“Hi, big brother.”
He grasped the phone. “Laney.”
CHAPTER 119
GALETON, PENNSYLVANIA
Laney stood on the porch, watching the little girl walk slowly up to Cleo, who lay on the ground. The girl’s blue eyes sparkled as she carefully leaned down to touch the giant cat. Cleo purred and rolled over. The girl jumped back and ran for Cain, who scooped her up into his arms with a laugh.
“She won’t hurt you, little one.”
Cleo walked up to the two of them. Holding the girl, Cain leaned down, and the girl reached her hand toward Cleo’s face.
Cain smiled. “Good girl.”
And Laney smiled as well. Cain looked content.
“He has a way with her,” Patrick said, stepping up next to her.
“He does.”
“What do you know about her parents?”
“She was born to Fiona and Iain Somerfield. And from all reports, they adored her. Fiona died a year ago—cancer. But Iain, he picked up the pieces and made a life for them.”
“What will you do about him?”
Laney shook her head, a lump forming in her throat. “He died trying to protect her.”
Her uncle made the sign o
f the cross. “She was loved. For her first years then, she was loved.”
Laney saw the joy on Cain’s face as Victoria toddled after a butterfly. “She still is.”
“What about extended family?”
“Both her parents were only children.”
“So does she have any other family?”
Cain laughed again, and Laney said, “She always has a family.”
“So we’re keeping her?”
“Not sure we can just keep her, but we certainly can’t let her go. Henry’s working on the legal angles.”
“You spoke with him?”
Laney smiled. God, it had been good to hear his voice. He had been shocked when he’d seen the recording. It had been a risk wearing the wire. And an even greater risk sending the recordings to the news station. They weren’t exactly reliable, but they seemed to be beginning to grasp the situation. It hadn’t been an easy choice to put everything out there, but at this point, it had been the only move. Laney’s absence from the world had emboldened Elisabeta, and that could not be allowed to continue.
Henry had wanted to come to Pennsylvania immediately—in part just to see Laney. But she knew he also wanted to see Victoria. Unfortunately, until the governments rescinded some of their warrants, he needed to stay away.
“Did I hear a helicopter a little while ago?” Patrick asked.
Laney nodded. “Henry sent more men. Drake’s checking them out.”
Patrick raised an eyebrow. “And should I ask you about Drake?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I don’t know what to say anyway.”
Patrick was quiet for a moment. “When Henry told me who had taken you, I was not relieved by what I read about the man online. I mentioned it to Cain, and he said I had nothing to worry about. He said if Drake was with you, he would let nothing harm you. And the way Drake watches you… I think Cain was probably right. He would lay down his life for you.”
Laney gave him an abrupt nod. Dom had sent her the full recording from her camera; what had been sent to the news channels was an edited version. She had seen and heard Drake’s anguish. And she knew Patrick was right. Since she’d woken up, she had been struggling to figure out what she felt for him—and what he felt for her. But there was so much going on, she’d been pushing the thoughts off.
